Don't Discriminate! Love and Serve All!

"It’s not discrimination when we are prevented from doing the discriminating. It’s not persecution when we are prevented from doing the persecuting. It’s not bullying when we’re told that we can’t bully others."

                                                      Benjamin Corey 


It is a bad human trait I guess. We criticize others, we look down on others, we condemn others. That is, we do those things if they believe differently, look differently, or act differently. Well, at least I do. There is that measure of pride within me, maybe that ancient attitude of self protection, that makes me want to put down and look down on others so that I can look and feel better than they.


Somehow in life, I always make myself feel morally superior to others. After all, whatever sins I may commit are not as bad as the ones that another person commits. I really am in fact trying to protect a fragile image of myself through pride. It's always about being the best, or at least better than most others. When that false pride rears its ugly head, I feel better about myself and I hide behind that mask of pretense. In fact, I am simply another white washed gravestone with stinking bones inside.


The quote above is by a new favorite blogger of mine (you can find him on the Patheos channel). Benjamin was referring to Christian's reactions in regards to the President signing an anti-discrimination law in regards to the LGBT community for federal workers/agencies. There were Christians who spoke up and have claimed/will continue to claim that this is discrimination against them and that this is persecution - the persecution complex.


This post is not about whether the LGBT community is right/wrong, sinful or not. This is about me (and maybe you) and our attitudes towards those who are different from us. Years ago, I would have felt morally superior to this community, towards divorced people, towards gluttons, and towards drunkards, just to name a few groups! I felt that if I didn't do certain things then I was somehow better and was also in better standing with God. After all, how could not think better of me when compared to _________ (put whatever sin you want on that line - go ahead do it - what is the one thing that you would never do, you morally superior person - lol).


Now that I will be turning the AARP age of 50 this fall, God has shown me much in this area - namely that I am not superior in any way. I had an alcohol abuse problem for many years. I am divorced. I've been an obese glutton. And yet - God still loves me. He accepts me where I am at. He does not condemn me in any way. In light of that unconditional love, what do I do? I discriminate against others. I look down on them still because they are just not like me. I tell them that their "sin" is somehow worse than my own and I deny them rights in society that I already have, but they are not good enough for. Ouch. Kind of hypocritical on my part. I'm bullying that other person or group of people and then when someone steps in and says you can't do that, I cry out that I am being persecuted and bullied. I somehow fail to see that my actions are just as bad as any other and why should I deny someone else something when claim those things in spite of my actions?


Again, this post is not about the LGBT community. It is about me. What is my attitude towards others? Do I show love and do I treat each person with complete respect regardless of whether I think that their actions or thoughts are right or wrong? Do I treat others in the way that I would want to be treated? If the government denied me rights because I was a Jesus follower and not a Buddha follower - how would I feel? Discrimination is discrimination. Persecution is persecution. Bullying is bullying. They all cut the same - lack of love.


In my spiritual journey, I seek to love all, regardless of their perceived shortcomings in my own mind. 30 years ago, this would not have been true. Two commandments: Love God and love your neighbor as you would want to be loved if they considered you to have shortcomings.


Blessings,
David


PS: Here is the link to Benjamin's article if you are interested:    http://www.patheos.com/blogs/formerlyfundie/so-listen-its-not-religious-discrimination-just-because-you-cant-discriminate/

Sharing My Spiritual Journey With You

My life has been a very public one. Whether it has been in church ministry, in business, or in political  or social activism, I have been in a spot light of some type. And yet so many people are amazed when they learn of my story behind the scenes, sometimes exciting and at other times an absolutely dreadful. I hope that through this blog that you will learn more of my story and that it will be an encouragement to you.


I have done a great deal of writing over the years, on many different subjects, but this blog will be different. This is where I want to record my spiritual journey. I'm doing it for myself mainly to help clarify what is going on in my head and my life, and yet I will leave it open for others, for you, to watch. Perhaps somewhere along the line, you will read something that will be one of those "aha" moments for you.


This spiritual journey is not about being a Christian. I'm not a Christian - at least not the type that you see so much of in the mega churches and in the political arena today. But I am trying to follow the teachings of Jesus in my own personal life. Yes, I said "trying....." I want to be a follower especially of the 2 great commandments, loving God and loving people.


So, what is my spiritual journey? For those looking at me from the outside, it was being baptized as an infant in the Catholic Church. It was finding Jesus through a sinner's prayer in 1972 as a young seven year old. It was attending a Conservative Baptist Church in the Northeast and then living my teenage years at a worldwide religious organization (Word of Life Fellowship) centered in upstate New York. At 19 I entered church ministry where I would serve for the next 15 years. I served as a pastor (youth, associate and senior) in several states with different denominations: Conservative Baptist, Independent Baptist, American Baptist, and the Presbyterian Church of America. Today I attend several different churches


But here is a brief snapshot of the inside spiritual journey which is even more varied (and that's what I will be sharing with you in the blog). I started out as a pretty strict moralist who would condemn anyone or anything that I felt was unbiblical. I felt it was my duty to call folks out. I loved Jesus and was not afraid to share that with anyone. I was, I am sure, pretty obnoxious at times! I served in several Baptist churches after attending 2 years of Bible school, but I kept having some nagging questions about some things that I was taught. 10 years after college, I went back to get my degree and as I studied, I confronted some of my nagging questions and I switched over to Presbyterian doctrine. I left the ministry in 1999 disillusioned with church in general and many preachers in particular, over politics and power. I haven't been a member of any church in at least 10 years and don't see that changing. I still detest the power and politics in most of American Christianity, but I feel great compassion for individuals. I seek to now follow the red letters (Jesus' words) and yet probably fail more than often succeed. I figure if I can get Jesus' words down, then maybe I can get some of the other author's words down!


I've gone through several life altering events in my life - game changers. One of them just this year. These game changers have shattered many ideas and beliefs that I have had, but instead of driving me away from Jesus, they have eventually brought me closer to His teachings - actually a new understanding of His teachings and even the teachings of the entire Scripture. With that, I now mentally live in a world where it is ok to live in the midst of questions, to not have answers, where it is ok to critically look at everything I have ever believed spiritually. And with that my spiritual journey has changed completely.


I won't be writing in the days ahead to show you where I have it all together. You will most likely than not see where I have more questions than answers. As someone who is attempting to be a Jesus follower, I have come to realize that this is a journey and not a destination.


If you are comfortable with your Christianity and you have all of your beliefs all tidy and lined up - you are not going to enjoy this blog. Matter of fact, you'll most likely get angry - just fair warning! Anyone who knows me, knows that my words can provoke deep emotions in others! (Depart now - the roller coaster is about to depart!). But if you, like me, have questions - if you want something deeper than what you see - if you are willing to challenge your current beliefs to find that deeper spiritual journey - then climb aboard! It should be an interesting journey.


Please also take the time to leave comments, to pose questions, to share experiences, to express pleasure or to express anger. Come join me and let's grow together.


Blessings
David