I just want to take a moment to say that moment I really shed my complementarian positions on relationships and leadership within the Protestant church was when I realized that, if I raised my daughter with the deep love for Christ and His people that I truly wished her to have, she might feel called to full time ministry of some sort.
I cannot imagine my baby girl crawling up into my lap, wrapping her arms around my neck and saying “Mami, someday I want to preach like Pawpaw” and me responding with anything but “Yes, darling, absolutely. You would be the best at that.”
I certainly cannot imagine looking her in the eye and saying “No, darling, you cannot. You are a girl, and God does not want you to preach in churches.”
Each and every complementarian out there needs to know that you should never dare tell your little girl that they can be anything they want, that they can do whatever they set their mind to, because in the ecclesiastical framework you are raising her within, it is a lie.
Let me take some time
to share my thoughts about faith, especially those who are Christian.
I’m less inclined to follow people on Social Media (Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, etc.) whenever I see any faith-related description in their profiles. “Warrior of God”, “Works in <insert church>”, a Bible verse - makes me close the tab.
Sorry for the frankness but let me make clear that I was once part of the born-again movement, so I know how these people think and act. Everywhere they try their best to “share” their faith, even in the virtual world, for it’s a burden for them to do so.
Or maybe I just feel uncomfortable when someone posts a Bible verse or share his religious view about a certain political or social issue. Much more those telling people that next month it’s the end of the world (so join us now and be rich quick!).
Or those alking about God (Praise the Lord!) on Facebook while tweeting Putang Ina! the next minute. Also those sharing those crazy “Share this photo or else you’re part of the devil” posts. Who are you to judge a person with the things he share on the internet?
The internet, I believe, is a public space. While it doesn’t forbid you to talk about your faith, I just feel it’s more effective if people translate their words into action. Likes and shares may be effective; but if overused, it cheapens the religion.
I have a lot of friends, co-workers and fellow bloggers who belong to a wide range of faiths, and I deal with them professionally. To be honest, I prefer to be surprised than you telling me your religion upfront.
Walk the talk. Turn the virtual into real. That’s the best way you can invite other people to join you in your faith story.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
—Jeremiah 29:11-13God and Gay Film Festival - Chicago
goovertherainbow.comAre these films a reflection of our suffering or reflections of our struggle for freedom in the Church?
If you look at Incompatible with Christian Teaching (Dirs. Anne P. Brown & Joe Kuehne), it shows the journey that the United Methodist Church has taken - of having to struggle and deal with this question of what is sexuality and what specifically is homosexuality. They deal with that both at a personal level and a political level. That’s the nice take-home about Incompatible with Christian Teaching (2009). Anyone and Everyone(2007) is beautifully directed. It has some of the best interviews including the parents - the Mormon parents - of a son who is gay. She [the mother], probably the star of the show, asks all the right questions. By members of LDS (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) asking those questions, there is hope when we start to talk about it. My own rector in Barrington - when Gene Robinson was elected - the church was in an uproar. What did my rector say, “It’s out in the open. Now, we get to talk about it.” Isn’t that a good thing? He scheduled a series of three or four meetings and invited the parish to come in, and the subject of the meeting was homosexuality. I attended the first meeting. It was a fascinating meeting.
….
Fleer left a final message for his audience.
I have a message of hope for all the people who are struggling to come out and rationalize what they’ve been taught and what new things they can learn. That’s why they should come to this film festival: to see what other people have discovered. It is eye opening and if you are open in your heart and mind and willing to recognize that you are not God, so you’re not infallible. You could be wrong. I could be wrong. Then there’s hope.
