God and Facebook

So the other day I decided to chime in on a FB post. I know, probably a bad idea, maybe a very bad idea. We almost all have had the experience of getting "hooked" by a snarky comment or loaded meme. Either we enter into an actual exchange, which often leads nowhere, or we end up having a never-ending conversation in our head. We continue needlessly occupying our mind space and draining our vital energy. Nevertheless, I have since that time removed FB from my phone. Now I only check occasionally, and try to make it a point to not let precious time slip away indefinitely, nor to enter into every "teachable moment" that my ever fixing, helping, wanting-to-illuminate-inner-self desires to share.

This particular post was actually a share of a pro-gay beer add. The person who posted it and her husband often post things which in some manner or another would be considered "Christian bashing", yet they both (I am sure) consider themselves to be thoughtful, caring, socially aware, and willing-to-help kind of people. The husband actually started a company called "Inner city Peace" and although I am not familiar with all the ins and outs of what they do, I do know in their mission is the idea of helping African Americans, presumably in the inner cities. Despite this call

and action to "Peace", I believe they are actually completely blind to the fact that they often spread violence in their energy and words towards those with whom they disagree, namely Christians.

I decided to chime in, primarily because often I have found their posts are so misguided and confused about what being a Christian actually means. They seem to hold some kind of false idea that the moment one sees ultimate truth and saving Grace in Jesus Christ and accepts and embraces that He indeed is the Savior of the world, that somehow they magically become total masters of every aspect of their fallen nature. Fear not though, lest these wretched Christians fall short — they shall indeed be mocked and scorned by the ever more peaceful, intelligent and

enlightened secularists, ready to judge with an iron rod!! Yes the irony is palpable....and a little painful (Forgive them Father, for they know not . . .) I was actually tempted by one of the husband’s posts to begin calling him Saul.

Anyway, the pro gay beer add was accompanied by the very bold post she had written that said: "homosexuality is NOT a sin, Love is love". So I thought I would chime in with a very basic concept of sin. Mainly, the idea is that sin is anything that misses the mark of perfection (God's) of which we All fall short, so that basically every human being is in fact a sinner. The conversation proceeded on and she informed me that she did not believe any of that (which I knew). But my point was—for those that do believe those things—there really is no distinction. I also went on to illuminate that if others are pointing at someone else for their sinful behaviors that they in fact would be walking in their own sin, as we are called to love our neighbors and not judge our neighbors. “None is righteous, no, not one.” (Rom. 3:10)

Then the truth really came out, What she is really upset about is that people actually think there is such a thing as sin (which she believes does not even exist ), and that because they have this belief system they say things like “homosexuality is an abomination", which is in and of itself offensive, hurtful etc.

So we get to the crux of the matter. I let her know firstly that I had been perplexed by her bold statement, because generally the word sin is used to describe things and actions within the context of an objective reality. I will admit, that was not 100% honest, but I was trying to illuminate a broader picture not only of sin itself, but as to how this term is actually used. If you do not even believe that sin exists, and there is in fact no such thing as perfection—ultimate and only good—and take the notion that all of reality is really a subjective interpretation, then to make a bold statement about what is sin and is not might be better left unsaid. I did let her know that I agree, even within the Christian community this is a divided issue and there is a broad spectrum of views and approaches on the subject.

I personally find it a bit amusing that some straight people (such as herself) have such convicted ideas on this issue. I had recently listened to a podcast between two gay men, both Christians who had very different approaches and understandings on this issue. I thought to myself during this exchange with her: does she realize that there actually are gay people that would categorize homosexuality as a sin, and consider it an abomination? Has she ever examined for herself what that might mean, and why it could be categorized in such a way?

And this really brings me to one of the areas that really is of interest. Is there actually an objective fabric to reality, or is it merely subjective. Is there an intelligent being which creates the very structure of reality and that indeed within this structure there is a moral component written into it's very fabric. The Christian says: yes. It seems that people that reject this either in some measure, or completely, do so mainly from a similar line of thinking as this person above with whom I shared my FB exchange. Somehow, some of these rules and ideas are hurtful and cause harm. Somehow man has come up with these ideas and juxtapositioned them onto society and all they do is make life difficult and hurt people.

I fear this approach is all upside down. When understood in proper context the things that are written were not somehow invented and juxtaposed but rather understood or received through revelation. The fabric of reality has been understood and attempts are then made to explain that fabric. One can acknowledge its truth or deny it, but the repercussions of denying that truth will be felt. In other words you might want to honor your emotional reaction to the law, instead of the law itself, but you will reap the repercussions of what that means. “God so loved the world that he gave his Only Son” (John 3:16), so that he could bear the burden of our sinful nature, that we might be born in him. No other sacrifice is necessary, free grace. 

This is a reciprocal relationship. We honor God's commands in a reciprocal relationship: as we honor him, we walk upheld by the very fabric and Intelligence of Being. It may require sacrifice. Jesus sacrificed his being, his physical body and we too are called to take up our cross. We have free will to do so, yet when we do, his burden is easy and his yoke is light. When we deny this unseen world and work against the laws that are written, there will be natural consequences. Not out of a punishing God, but rather by the very nature of his goodness, calling us to his fold. As human beings, the great commandment is to love the Lord God with all our heart, soul, and mind and love our neighbors as ourselves. We cannot be in harmony and love our own being if we are in rejection of the very fabric of our existence (made in his image).

In the Eastern Vedic tradition the idea of sacred mantra or sound is that these sounds were imparted to the sages. We see in the Bible revelations. Often these are people in high states of meditation or prayer, who receive information of Truth, ultimate Truth. This is not man imposing ideas on reality, but rather reality revealing itself to man, and man in turn trying to preserve and impart this wisdom through the ages.

One can discuss and debate about what is sin and what is not: If one decides something is a sin, then how does one reconcile that? These are all good questions and discussions, and like most things in life, one must decide where priorities lie. One of the most beautiful things in this podcast with the two gay Christian men, was that although they had taken very different stances on what to do in regards to homosexuality and their work in the church (they were both active in the church, one a pastor) the way they spoke to each other and the words they used were beautiful and uplifting. Over and over I heard: "I honor you", " I respect you”, “we have so much in common”, but....

This is what being a Christian is about, thinking about the objective nature of reality, trying to understand what that means, societally and in our individual lives. We all bear our crosses. We have a free choice to take up that cross, even Christ himself chose to take up the very literal cross of his Father's will. (“My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will” (Matt. 26:39).

This cross that reaches upward toward that which is good, and perfect, runs through us in vertical relationship with our Father. We are answering His call in as much as we can see and are able to understand from where we are in this very moment. Even in all our brokenness and sin, he waits with open arms and calls us up to Him. Horizontally, our cross reminds us we are reaching out to the world in love and empathy. We are the body of Christ carrying our crosses.