I don’t get angry that often; my negative reaction emotion tends to be sadness not fury. But I’m getting pretty ticked off regularly these days for lots of reasons. Here are three of those.
Immigration
There is so much more to the immigration debate than most people understand. First, most people who come without proper documentation are trying to make a better life for themselves. That’s it. Not trying to sneak in and take someone else’s job. Not trying to break laws. They’ve heard wonderful tales about life in the US and they grab hold to that hope and run for it. They are mothers and brothers, sisters and fathers, grandmas and grandpas. They’re children of God, not a different and thus despicable breed of human.
And look, I’m not so naive as to say we should throw open the borders–though, if I’m honest, I’m pretty sure that’s what Jesus would do….But it absolutely infuriates me that people proclaim “Christ is Lord” and then go home, take off their Sunday best, and post on social media vile and hateful things about people who were created in God’s image. Have mercy. Seriously, have some mercy!
Southern Baptist Convention
And then there’s the Southern Baptist Convention that is meeting this week in Dallas. Lord give me strength.
Same-Sex Marriage
The SBC has called for the Supreme Court of the United States to overturn the landmark decision in Obergefell v. Hodges which gave same-sex couples the right to marry.
I saw a comic strip recently that said, “If you’re against same-sex marriage, don’t marry someone of the same-sex.” It’s just that simple. But for some reason, that’s not enough for the SBC. No, they have to make a big show of condemning gay marriage. It’s against scripture, they say.
Things the Bible forbids
Just so we are clear, that’s a smoke screen. They–and we–ignore a lot of prohibitions in scripture. Wearing a poly-cotton blend shirt? Abomination. Eating leftovers that have been in your fridge for two days? You sinner! Own a business and pay employees monthly? For shame: the Bible says you shouldn’t keep a worker’s wages overnight, much less for a whole month. You can find all these laws and more in Leviticus 19. This chapter also cautions against making your daughter a prostitute, but I think we can all agree that’s fair.
Couples I’ve known
Personally, I have seen beautiful partnerships among people in the LGBTQ+ community. I once taught a senior adult fitness class that included two same-sex couples. This was long before Obergefell v.Hodges, so they were not married; but both couples had been together for decades and were deeply committed. Knowing them made me a better spouse, a better person.
What I think
I don’t know why the SBC has deemed this an issue worthy of their substantial disdain. I do know it has made me truly angry to see a group of people who have faced discrimination for far too long be further singled out by religious know-it-alls.
At Ecclesia, we believe you are loved and that there’s not one single thing you can do to change that. And we believe that includes everyone. Even heterosexuals.
Women in Ministry
The SBC failed to pass their ban on women pastors because the vote fell short of the two-thirds majority needed. Good news? I mean, I guess. But they only missed the count by 5%. Sixty-one percent of delegates say that women cannot be called by God to pastor churches.
What in the world? Let me get this straight: you have covered grace and love so sufficiently in your churches that you now have time to instruct the Almighty about who can hear God’s voice? Impressive.
A couple of years ago, I posted an open letter to the SBC on my blog. I doubt it was read on the floor of the business meeting; but feel free to click the link if you’d like to take a look.
Righteous Anger
Being angry is exhausting. However, if ever there was a time for righteous anger, we are living in it. Remember, though: scripture tells us to be angry and do not sin (Ephesians 4:26). So get angry if the situation merits it. But as Mary Whitaker, the 102+ year old matriarch of my church who died earlier this year once said, “You better get your LOVE right!”
