Facebook and YouTube are great. Seriously, I think they are great. They have brought this great big world around us in for a closer look. We can stay connected with family and friends through messaging, inviting, fundraising, posting, even the act of 'liking' in ways that we never have before. We can see pictures. We can watch videos. We can even see videos of energetic kittens and dating profiles gone bad, sweet marriage proposals and memorable father daughter dances, that otherwise we would not know that they actually happened or existed.
In the last two weeks I have happened across two videos through the facebook page of a friend and via yahoo news that I must address in my blog. Reluctantly I must do this, but with all the passion and determination that I have in my heart. To NOT address such an issue, would go against every fiber of who I am.
One of the videos is of Pastor Charles L. Worley of Providence Road Baptist Church. Located at 3283 Providence Mill Rd, Maiden, NC 28650. The video which you can search for on YouTube if you like, was posted to the church's website dated May 13, 2012, calling for the concentration and ultimate death of "queers and homosexuals." He speaks casually of loathing baby killers but finds no guilt in calling for the deaths of homosexuals. I am shocked that Pastor Worley believes that it is acceptable to kill anyone, given that he is a man of God. He explains that once quarantined, homosexuals would die off, because (light bulb) they can not reproduce. I wonder what Pastor Worley would like to do with the heterosexual population that keeps breeding these homosexuals.
The second is a video, which was filmed at the Apostolic Truth Tabernacle in Greensburg, Indiana (and can be found on their website, as well as on YouTube) is of a little boy standing up at a microphone singing at his church. He sings in front of the entire congregation "the Bible's right, somebody's wrong" twice before referencing "Romans one, twenty six and seven" and concluding with the line "ain't no homos gonna make it to heaven". A man who appears to be the Church's pastor Jeff Sangl, can be seen standing behind the child smiling as he listens to the performance. The congregation erupts in laughter and cheering. Just so you know, on it's own website the Apostolic Truth Tabernacle says "our doors are open to you regardless of your background or where you are on your spiritual journey." Wow...sign me up.
Now, let me give you my take on this. After all, this is my blog. I am not sure how it will be received, but in all honesty, I am not sure that I really care.
I will address Christianity, because I am a Christian, these people in the videos are 'Christians' (or what I believe to be 'Extremist Christians') and in no way is this meant to claim that other religions do not experience the same issues, it's just what I know. Those who believe that they know the bible best and say that homosexuality is a sin, will say things that sound like this:
"It says it, in the Bible, that Man should not lay down with another man." (Actually it refers to mankind, which can be construed in many ways).
OR
"God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve" (I find this so ignorant). Eve majorly messed things up, remember? Plus, with a divorce rate of 50%, we heterosexuals on the whole, half suck at it.
OR
In places like Leviticus and Corinthians it refers to 'Effeminates' (today's translation: gay men) as being evil or that they 'shall not inherit the Kingdom of God'. If you believe God created all people, then he created gays and lesbians, too. I personally have never met a gay person who I would consider evil. I will say that I have witnessed many a "Man of God" who is evil. And our court system has seen them, too. Repeatedly.
In Corinthians 6: 9-10 it goes on to list others who will not be accepted into the Kingdom of God:
*Revilers (those who use abusive language)
*Drunkards (I think we all know one or two. Some of us were actually raised by one)
*Adulters (No definition needed)
*Idolaters (those who commit false pagan worship or worship a creation of an image of a deity, prophet, saint, etc.)
*Fornicators (40 year old Virgins, you are safe)
Most of us are screwed.
And of course, none of this is really a big deal, because all you have to do is ask for God's forgiveness and you are in the clear. (Get ready, more sarcasm) It's like some kind of disclaimer: I am not supposed to do these things, but if I do, God will forgive me.
So, what on Earth is the big deal then?
Just in case you are not already aware, do you know what else it says Leviticus? No eating pig meat. No wearing of two different fabrics at the same time. No tattooing. No charging interest on loans, No having sex with a woman while she has her period.
Let's move on to Corinthians. In 1 Corinthians Chapter 14 Versus 34 and 35 it says:
"Let your women keep silence in churches, for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law. And if they will learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home: For it is a shame for women to speak in church."
Well...there goes the Christmas pageant. To hell in a hand basket.
Do we really want to pick and choose what we want to take from the bible and follow? I will tell you right now, gone are the days of church suppers, coffee hours, Sunday school gift baskets and a crap load of fundraising dollars if you tell the great majority of women they can no longer speak in church. You might want to have an athletic cup handy, too, just as a precaution.
The Bible was written and miraculously survived, literally through hell and high water, over the course of 1500 years. It has been translated and re translated and translated again. It has over 40 different authors, ranging from fishermen to kings. Authors who saw burning bushes, seas parting, apparitions and heard voices. Snakes and Donkeys talked. References are made to natural drug use in it's purest form and wine that flowed. Anything that man touches can be flawed. Anything.
If I am going to believe anything, I choose to believe this:
The Ten Commandments say:And the Lord said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them. And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua: and Moses went up into the mount of God.
— First mention of the tables in Exodus 24:12,13
1) Thou shalt have no other gods
2) No graven images or likenesses
3) Do not take the Lord's name in vain
4) Remember the sabbath day
5) Honor thy mother and father
6) Thou shalt not kill
7) Thou shalt not not commit adultery
8) Thou shalt not steal
9) Thou shalt not bear false witness
10) Thou shalt not covet
Why don't we just start there. Let's not tell two consenting adults what they are suppose to do or not suppose to do with their penises or vaginas anymore. It's none of our business. And this certificate of marriage that man has created, should be viewed as unconstitutional as long as any living person is denied access to it. We are all created equal. We have no right to deny someone access to their own happiness.
Many people throughout history have suffered through discrimination, and still do. Native Americans, Women, African Americans, Those that suffer with mental illness or who have disabilities, just to name a few. We have come a long way in recognizing our rights as Americans living in this country. Please, let's keep moving forward.
I believe in God. The God I believe in loves all of his children. All of them. Even you if you want to twist and misconstrue His word, He will forgive you. But wouldn't it be better not to have to ask for forgiveness? Wouldn't it be better to just worry about all that you are doing to live by His word. I bet you He would be proud of you, if you did.
