I’ve
sat with Andrew in Monitor FM’s studio discussing our disagreements about
Jesus’ virgin birth and resurrection.
I’ve never been able to forget the caller who said, “Hitler, Stalin,
Amin, and Mwenda will all have a special place in hell.” Wow. I
fear God’s judgment too much myself to declare it to another.
Social media now shows us how
deeply engrained such sentiments are into misplaced theories
of Christianity.
Those commentaries miss what it means to be “Christian?” Though our contemporary times frequently use
the term, “Christian” it is only used in the Bible three times (Acts 11:26;
26:28; 1 Peter 4:16.) Many
scholars conclude
this first usage of the word, “Christian” was actually an insult to those who
believed in Jesus of Nazareth’s resurrection.
The second time is when an imprisoned Paul tries to persuade King
Agrippa to believe, and King Agrippa flippantly asks, “Do you think that in such a
short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” Lastly, Peter uses the word, “Christian” to
explain suffering without shame. Thus the very use of the name
Christian should never entail a sense of towering over one’s opponent. Instead to be “Christian” means coming to be
near and suffer with those suffering. It
is in that relinquishment of hunger for human dominance that we become truly
“Christian.”
As we suffer we process through faith. How did we get here? Why is this world so full of pain? The Bible teaches that humanity is made in
the image of God (Genesis 1:26, 27.) All
humanity possesses infinite dignity.
Yet, sin enters into the world (Genesis 3.) Then all havoc breaks out. Pain is part of life. Our bodies fail. Sickness catches us all. Our work is frustrating. The corrupt prosper. All will die.
We can blame others for the mess of humanity. However, we are all guilty (Romans 3.)
The Bible speaks of a day coming when like the
creepiest of science fiction movies not only will every deed be exposed, but
every thought and motive will also be on display (Matthew 12; Luke 12; Hebrews
4:12.) No one will come away blameless. The Radio Katwe rumors of Rwanda may not be
true, but Jesus makes it clear that somewhere in heaven is stack of files,
photos, and videos of our most embarrassing moments. We’ll all be on our knees begging for mercy when
twitter leaks our secrets (Philippians 2:10.)
Thus the best we can do in this life is act justly, love mercy, and walk
humbly (Micah 6:8.)
With such fear and
trembling, but hope of forgiveness we live a Christian ethic that makes many
friends (Luke 16:1-14,) and treats others as we want to be treated (Leviticus
19:18; Matthew 22:39; Mark 12:31-33; Luke 10:27.)
With this Christian ethic of shared suffering
because of humanity’s shared failings I offer humble suggestions.
First, can we stop the name
calling?
An old pastor, Dr. Royce
Dickinson once told me, “Always, describe people the way they describe
themselves.
Otherwise we are name
calling, and stripping people of their dignity.”
I’m using the word “gay” now as homosexual
seems offensive.
When a few use courser
language let us either ignore it or call it unacceptable to our civil
community.
With the same reasoning, can
we cease to use the term “homophone” or “homophobic?”
The terms assign the motive of fear and
hate.
Let’s allow God to sift our
motives.
Second, Uganda is a
sovereign nation.
She has the right to
make her own laws.
History tells us only
emperors try to tell sovereign nations what to do.
Those of us who don’t hold Ugandan
citizenship can speak as friends offering advice (as Ugandans also speak to
us.)
However, let us not take the place
of God and attempt to direct history.
After all history calls those who attempted to direct history names such
as “emperor” and “dictator.”
We wouldn’t
want those name assigned to us.
Third, Andrew, Fox Odoi,
and others went to court and raised an important issue of justice.
The Anti-Homosexuality Act was passed in
Uganda’s Parliament without quorum.
All
laws that are just must be established by respecting constitutional
process.
The Anti-Gay bill did not
follow a just process.
Fourth, since we’re all
guilty let us very cautiously offer anecdotal evidence of hypocrisy.
I’ve been a respected husband, father, uncle,
coach, teacher, pastor, and mzee to my community, but I’m just as guilty of
hypocrisy as any.
I’m thankful to all
who treat my failings with grace.
Fifth, Andrew raises a
contemporary Christian proverb, “Love the sinner.
Hate the sin.”
It’s a good attempt to live out a difficult
Christian ethic.
Yet, I think Tony Campolo
recently said it even better, “Love the sinner.
Hate my own sin.”
Wow.
Preaching is a horrible task for those who
have the courage to wrestling with their own hypocrisy.
Countless Scriptures have men and women
speaking for God to indict cultures of sin.
Pastors are accountable to call, “Sin,” “Sin.”
Yet as they do that they know they are guilty
of all they are addressing.
No wonder
Isaiah said, “Woe to me (Isaiah 6:5-7.)”
Grace needs to continually be applied to our preaching against sin
simply because the pastor needs so much of it.
Paul said it well when he
wrote, “
Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor
idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men, nor thieves
nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the
kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you
were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord
Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God (1 Corinthians 6:9-11.)”
If Paul planted a church in
Kampala it would be made up not only of reformed gays, but reformed street
thieves, religious conmen, corrupt government officials, drunkards, bang
smokers, and sensationalist journalists.
I hope Uganda’s pastors have similar visions today.
Yes, Andrew gets it right
that the best pastoring helps people become new.
Churches must
When we pastors don’t lead
in the process of redemption we should repent before we demand another’s
repentance.
Andrew also gets it right
that Uganda is not a theocracy and Christianity is itself very divided on many
issues related to gays.
Most importantly
Andrew gets it right when he writes, “Jesus said he came to earth to save sinners,
not to dine with the holy.”
 |
| Alexander McKay |
lead in the process of human
redemption.
Yet, I think Andrew misses
that a significant part of being a religious leader is being a prophet.
Contemporary health and wealth pastors miss
it when they think being a prophet is profitable way to predict the
future.
Instead being a prophet is a
lone voice of truth to intimidating earthly authorities and howling mobs.
Uganda’s history has had many.
Some were missionaries like Alexander McKay
who spoke against slavery, war, human sacrifice, and homosexuality.
Some were leaders like Bishop Festo
Kivengere who with a pure heart proclaimed his love for Idi Amin while calling
Amin’s killings evil.
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| Bishop Festo Kivengere |
Those voices of the past
remind us again – The colonial impulse to control is wrong.
Sexuality should be practiced between a man
and woman who are married.
Murder is a
heinous sin.
We’re all guilty, but
redemption is possible.
Thus we’ll
preach not only on homosexuality with which a small percentage struggle, but
also address our more pervasive sins of greed, prejudice, and lust.
We’re all part of the sin problem.
Those prophets of old were
advocates in policy debates.
Their voices
should still be heard.
In a society
where there are many religious thoughts we should listen well to all whether
they are rabbi, guru, haji, or pastor.
Each represents millions who have found enduring truth in their
religion.
We dare not make the mistake
to exclude any just because religion is part of their reasoning.
In fact, we’ll find when we’re really in
trouble frequently we’re healed at a religious hospital, educated by religious
scholarships and schools, and someone we meet at a religious gathering helps us
find a new job.
If we turn to religious
leaders for health, education, and business it seems hypocritical to exclude
them from participating as citizens in governance.
Andrew closes his column
with a story of a gay Christian in Uganda.
It’s heart breaking.
How about if
the next time I’m in Uganda Andrew and I go visit him with the same grace we
give one another?
Friendship is about
loving one another when we know each other’s failings.
Then we gently point to the ultimate friend,
Jesus of Nazareth who ultimately makes us into something new.
Bottom line:
Andrew has well pointed out Biblical holes in
the Anti-Homosexuality Act.
Yet, I think
Andrew’s closing story is a whisper of God that a day will come when Andrew
combines his journalistic excellence with a pastor’s calling.
