My latest fascination is with Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) This "church" has a doctrine that is anti...homosexuality, Jews, Catholics, Muslims, Swedes, Canadians, Irish, British, Mexican, and American. There reasoning behind this is either one of these groups is gay, or they allow a GLBT community to exist. Google, YouTube, or Wikipedia WBC and more than enough information will come at you about this group.
Last year, I attended a Friday night and all day Saturday class about building bridges with the GLBT community. The Andrew Marin Foundation's founder Andrew Marin came and spoke about the work his foundation does and what it looks like to be a straight, white, Christian male working in Boystown in Chicago. This class made me think of homosexuality in a completely different way, for the better. The more I thought about it, wrestled with it, and learned, I came to see that it is a sin in God's eyes. But how is that more of a sin than me gossiping about my friends, or taking a piece of Halloween candy from Will when I was eight? The truth is, it isn't. To God, sin is sin, no matter what kind it is. It is not my job to condem the GLBT community. It is my job to walk along side them and be an example of Christ in their lives so that one day, they may come to know him and have a lasting, real relationship with him.
So where does WBC get the notion that it is their predestined job to picket funerals of gay individuals, soldiers of the Iraq War, and (as they so tastefully put it) "fag enablers". My Bible does not say anything about Jesus hating gays. All I see is that we are a fallen world looking for restoration with our creator.
Sin is a terrible thing that eats away at your life. But sin is sin and equal in God's eyes. He loves everyone, no matter what their lifestyle, religion, or ethnicity. Is that a free pass to sin or that everyone is going to be restored? Not at all. Stay away from sin, and restoration comes from a real relationship with Jesus Christ. But does that mean judgment from one human on another is wrong? Yes. We are in no place to judge one another. So why do we so quickly start?
Jesus didn't die on the cross so the predestined could be saved. But so that we may have a chance at a relationship with our creator, the God of the universe, and we may one day be restored to a full and right life with Him.
I was thinking about hockey a lot this past week with the NHL playoffs well underway. Last night, my wonderful team, the Minnesota Wild, were eliminated by the Colorado Avalanche. It was, to be honest, heart-breaking. I cried a little.
With these thoughts about hockey, and all the reminiscing that comes with it, I was thinking about what professional hockey really is. And I have come to the conclusion that it is a group of guys that refuse to grow up. Yes, they have to deal with contracts, injuries, and being on the road. But when it comes down to it, it is guys that are playing a game they have worked their entire life to perfect and have put their entire hearts into.
When I watched the Wild shake hands with the Avalanche after being eliminated from the Stanley Cup playoffs, I could see along with everyone else watching, that they were crushed, while the Avalanche were gleaming with excitement. These boys were happy to play the game and were sad when it ended. Their boyhood dreams of winning the Stanley Cup were brought one step closer, or ended that night. This game is one of passion and commitment. Sometimes it pays off, and sometimes you are put in a situation where you need to grow as a player and work harder for your dreams.
