Chris Michael KirkI’m engaging in a discussion with JT here and keeping an eye on the Blogalogue between Wallis and Klinghoffer. I keep coming back to the conservative assertion that Jesus’ message was solely spiritual in nature. His life and teaching, in this view, were all about saving our souls and connecting us in relationship to God. While I’m not opposed to that idea, I think Jesus’ message was much more engaged in the stuff of earth.
This relates to the “Con-Dumbs” post. In this view it seems that Jesus came to save your soul, but doesn’t have much to offer you besides “Just Say No” teetotalism. Interestingly, it seems that God has a lot to say about issues like gay marriage and abortion (though they are hard to find in Scripture), but little to say about poverty, war, and injustice (which are found everywhere).
In his latest post, Klinghoffer is arguing that “idolatry” is the big offense that prophets, ancient and modern, should be concerned about. I don’t completely disagree, but I can’t resonate with the image of a needy God demanding his due. In thousands of years, have we not found a better metaphor for God than the powerful, worship-demanding King? And even if this is true, why are only abortion and gay marriage considered idolatry? Why is my abundance and others’ poverty not idolatry as well?
In California this week, couples are getting married for the first time. Is this idolatry? Does it piss God off? If so, which pisses God off more: a commitment to a monogamous relationship between two parties that love one another or a breaking of vow in divorce and adultery resulting in message kids and destroyed community. I can’t image God throwing lighting bolts at these two lesbians who have been together for 34 years and finally, today, were able to be married. That’s not the God that I seek. Which is good, because I’m pretty sure that God doesn’t exist.
Thanks for reading my late-night rant.
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2 Comments
I keep agreeing with you. I need to find something to argue with you about!
I think something that a lot of people forget regarding gay marriage, is that they don’t want to inflict their beliefs upon the good church-going people. (Although the gay pride parades might indicate otherwise to some…) I think we need to remember that they just want the same rights that everyone else has. This is not an issue of whether or not Christians should accept gay people (although they should, in my opinion). This is an issue of gays and lesbians being able to receive healthcare benefits for their spouses and being able to file on the same tax form. I just want to remind the high-and-mighty people that you don’t have to accept gay people if your head is really that far up your butt. That’s fine. But that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t have the same legal rights everyone else does.
(This is good therapy. I should start my own blog instead of hogging yours.)
Hog away. I appreciate your comments, Jillian. It’s good to reconnect with you and see you’re doing well.
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