A new GLBT resort in our county
A couple of people have sent me an email concerning a new GLBT resort in the works for our area. (GLBT = Gay, Lesbian, Bi-Sexual, Transgender). The information looks credible. You can see a web site promoting it here. NOTE that it contains some images that may offend, though none that are explicit. The email says that the chosen site is somewhere on the other side of the bridge from Ladd Landing, so that puts it near our youth minister John Pryor. 
Interestingly, the Employment link on the web site states that the owners have “a belief in God” and that worship services will be part of the program, and even hints that prospective employees should be like-minded on this.
The email calls this resort “a threat” and urges everyone to sign a petition (and pass it around at church too) and attend meetings of the Planning Commission and County Commission to try to get this stopped.
I realize that the Bible calls homosexual behavior sinful. But to tell you the truth, I’d be very disappointed in the people of Morrison Hill if we can’t do better than pass around petitions and march on government meetings to assert rights that we supposedly surrendered for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. How can we love our enemies or our neighbors or the people sitting next to us at church (any of whom may be tempted by homosexuality) by telling them to stay the heck out of our county?
Even though I speak like this, dear friends, I am confident of better things in your case. I have confidence that the Christians I know can come up with ten better responses to this situation, responses that lift up Christ in all the fullness of his grace and truth.
So, how about it? Tell us your best ideas (or whatever you think) in the comments.
UPDATE: Here’s a story in the Roane County News about the resort.
UPDATE 2: I received an email from the developer of the planned resort last night (addressed to “Dear Pastor”) in which he says that “Rosebud is not going to be a gay, nudist, resort of any kind, but that any mature adult 18 and over, no matter what their race, religion, color, sex, or life style, will be welcome there.” I visited the web site again, and now it contains none of the pictures that I previously warned you about, nor any reference to clothing being optional, nor alternate lifestyles. Sounds like a quick marketing switch to me!
UPDATE 3: The Knoxville News Sentinel now has a story on this, along with a string of interesting comments .
What Jeremiah Wright taught me about preaching
Barack Obama’s longtime pastor, Jeremiah Wright, has created a lot of trouble for himself (and Obama) with his preaching. I can only hope to do the same for my church members someday. For now, here are some lessons on preaching I have learned from watching Wright self-destruct.
- All of you MHCCers, should you ever run for national office, will be held responsible for every thing I say in my sermons and, much more importantly, all of my blathering in this blog. Therefore READ EVERY post, and be sure to distance yourself from my foolishness in the comments.
- It is possible to SHOUT while using a MANUSCRIPT. I usually think of the flamboyant, dynamic preacher as one who paces the stage and preaches without notes. But look at the video. Wright is even more tied to his manuscript than I am. So bring the ear plugs next Sunday.
- It’s probably not such a hot idea to use lots of profanity in the pulpit. So I’d better get busy rewriting next Sunday’s sermon.
My best life now: Joel Osteen
Today I think I’ll come out of the closet, and admit that I have become a regular listener and, yes, a fan, of Joel Osteen, the smiling preacher and bestselling author from Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas.
I haven’t read his books, and I don’t watch him on TV, but I listen to his sermons while I run - 7 or 8 of them over the past several weeks - and (here’s something I rarely say) my life is better because of it.
This doesn’t mean that I endorse everything Joel says, or everything he ever has said, or what he is probably saying right now to make me regret this. Those who criticize Joel for preaching Christianity lite are partially right, though not as right as they think.
Here’s how I like to put it: No Christian should listen ONLY to Joel. But EVERY Christian would do well to listen to him some.
No Christian should listen only to Joel. He just doesn’t get into the Scriptures enough, and there are whole sections of the Bible I can’t imagine him ever preaching on. (Sodom and Gomorrah: When God Blesses You With a Chance to Relocate!)
But every Christian would do well to listen to him some. Joel just has a way of pushing you back up on your feet and refilling your faith tank. It isn’t just positive thinking that he’s teaching, but rather faith-filled thinking. You could call it positive thinking that grows out of your identity in Christ.
In the few messages I have heard, Joel has told us (Us? He has a way of talking to a hundred thousand people one at a time) how God can help us let insults roll off us, how to treat people more considerately, and how each of us is responsible to develop and use the talents God gave us without worrying about the talents he didn’t give us. It’s simple stuff, profoundly preached, and it inspires people to live better lives.
I need to learn from that. Even if I think I preach the Bible more completely than Joel, I want to learn from him how to hone in on inspiration and life-change. Otherwise, why preach?
PS - I also get regular doses of Rob Bell and Andy Stanley too.
American idolatry?
A local church flies the American flag on a pole outside their church, with the Christian flag underneath. This is undoubtedly good flag-flying etiquette, because the American flag is always to be displayed in the dominant position. But what does it say about our theology?
A variation of the practice (seen in the smaller photo) is to fly the American flag and Christian flag side-by-side…with the American flag slightly higher of course, and the Christian flag on the same level as the Tennessee flag. In our own sanctuary for the past two weeks the American flag and Christian flag have been displayed on our stage, with the American flag on the speaker’s right and the Christian flag on the left. Again, this is good flag etiquette because it puts the American flag in the dominant role. But what does it say about our theology? At least in our sanctuary, the cross is the highest symbol in the room and it’s always front-and center.
I’m patriotic and I love this country. But we need to be careful what we say with our patriotism and our symbols. Do we truly put country before God, as our flag displays seem to imply?
We must realize that the church is an international organization, offering welcome, healing, forgiveness and a place in God’s family regardless of where a person comes from or what political or social views they hold. And we need to do more than realize it. We need to put it into practice.
