In some instances the difficulty may be due to the topic. Perhaps it's polarizing and/or heartbreaking to even discuss.
Sometimes the difficulty might be partially based on the person you're conversing with (if not completely).
There are still many people who really don't know how to communicate. I'm not speaking of political correctness; more of a consideration for the other person while you speak. Instead of trying to gain understanding they remain stubborn, indignant, and in some contexts ignorant. It's as if their attitude throughout the discourse comes off as a glaring insult. So glaring that once the discussion is done, all you remember is how they acted, because what they said didn't seem to matter as much.
So, how exactly do we have these conversations and convince people to be persuaded by what they're blindly ignoring? In my experience what we want is a change of mind. What they need is a change of heart.
11 Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts.
What's the 2-1-1???
Yea, I know. Nobody says that. Practically no one even says #whatsThe411 anymore. Well, Mary J. did have that one album. My have times have changed.
If you didn't notice, the scripture mentioned earlier is "E. 2:11". Let's think of the "E" in Ephesians as standing for emergency. Kind of like how we'd dial 9-1-1 if needed. Here's an interesting fact though. Dialing 2-1-1 will connect you to "essential community services"; essentially a community and referral service.
Sometimes people (even folks that we may know) need a little bit of help. They might be in a tight spot or circumstance and aren't sure where to go or who to turn to for help. A variety of services can be linked to by calling this number such as: Basic Human Needs Resources, Physical and Mental Health Resources, Work Support, Support for Older Americans and Persons with Disabilities, Children, Youth and Family Support, and Emergency Suicide Prevention.
Phew...I feel like that was a mouth full, and you're only reading this.
What's the connection? For those who were Jewish Christians at the time (waaaay back in the day), they felt that by having been circumcised, this allowed them to have pride in their faith. This was done in such a way that they would tell others who were not of Jewish descent, "You must be circumcised in order to be a part of the family". Since they weren't circumcised, they weren't "family". Well, as it turns out the circumcision did much for their body, but nothing for their hearts. As you may come to find out when you are involved in a line of thinking, faith, or discipline sometimes it's about what's in your heart more so than what you've done or can do involving your body.
Now let's go deeper...
There are many factions, schisms, and denominations within the Church (i.e. Christian Church Universal) on today. Some examples may be: haves vs. have nots, blacks/whites vs. other ethnic groups, gays vs straight, and so on and so forth. Why the division?! I don't know. Just like it was at the church of Ephesus, so it is here. People who are "claiming" that God only wants/accepts/invites certain types of people to be a part of the family. Sound familia-r? (Familia is the Latin root word from which family is derived).
16-18 Christ brought us together through his death on the cross. The Cross got us to embrace, and that was the end of the hostility. Christ came and preached peace to you outsiders and peace to us insiders. He treated us as equals, and so made us equals. Through him we both share the same Spirit and have equal access to the Father.
So...I thought we were equal, but uhm...apparently, that's not...the...case? #scratchesHead
It clearly states that in Christ dieing we all became equal, yet so many people will use their understandings (or lack thereof) to say that we're not.
When it comes to circumcision there are quite a few ways that you can think about this.
- Metaphorical-translating into a change being made
- Literal-physically cutting/removing
- Figurative-imagery to accompany the idea of physically cutting away for change to be made
One example to go along with these forms of circumcision would be in the case where you "have stuff on your heart", whether physically covering your heart or within your heart that needs to be addressed. Another example would be where your "heart is (literally) clogged"; needing to free the arteries (entryways) into your heart for a proper blood/oxygen flow. We all know what happens if too much of a bad thing gets near your heart...it gets attacked. Not everyone bounces back from those.
If you think about it, there are a lot of things that are "circumcised", when we look at it's denotation: to cut around, to cut trim, or to cut off. In most cases we think of it from a health/religious standpoint without stopping to think of a broader application of the term.
When it comes to folks who might not be "accepted" into God's family because of prejudices, biases, and difference of opinions we are literally saying that they haven't been "circumcised" enough to be a part of the family. "There's just something not right (about them)"; much of this being the argument against homosexuals, lesbians, transgender, and queer peoples not finding a home in the Church (which was once the case for Blacks in America).
Here's the thing though...even if I fed you the truth as long as you don’t want to believe it in your heart, you won’t believe it. For it’s not a man’s mind that makes him who he is, but who he believes to be in his heart, which reflects his inmost being.
2 live examples of how people's hearts were changed regarding homosexuality #notMemorex:
I had a conversation with a good friend of mine who went to seminary in Pennsylvania. Eventually they switched to another school to get their theological degree because this seminary in particular was not gay-friendly...I believe the politically correct term is "homophobic". In going to this school they were watched by professors and students. Why? Because they were openly gay. My friend would try to be involved in the Christian groups and as the story goes, the brothers/sisters in the group were "ordered" to report back what the gay "Christian" had said to ensure there was no rabble rousing. Witch hunt much?
Anyways the point of this particular example is this...during class one day my friend had a back and forth with the professor. As you can imagine being different caused them to be called out quite often. This professor (as many are) was known to "rip" students who didn't align with his beliefs. After that conversation was had and the class ended another student who rarely spoke to my friend and who wasn't personally involved in their life, said that their heart was changed by the conversation. This is all at a seminary (theological college, or divinty school)...in case you had forgotten.
"I never had a position on homosexuality. After watching what happened...listening to what he (the professor) said and what you said. Seeing what he was saying couldn't be right and you couldn't be wrong. You changed my heart."There's a particular church member I know who is involved heavily with LGBTQ rights and reconciliation for our church. The church member once told a story of how another brother just couldn't give in to the "temptation" of accepting people of non-heterosexuality as equals. This man was adamant against it; however, he continued to be in discussion and debate. Over time his heart changed.
As you can see in the second example, by that man's being involved his heart came to change. Sometimes when you don't understand something, involving yourself to learn more is a step in the right direction.
For the record based on my limited experience homosexuality is not a sin which would keep you from heaven and is beyond the saving grace of God. My experience includes going to a church which accepts ALL people. Intentionally engaging members of the church who are of alternative lifestyles (and observing them perform various church functions), living with gay men (one of which whom I have too many similarities to think of as “different”), having neighbors who are gay with children, loving a “brother” who is gay…and engaging the scriptures often used against homosexuality in an intense manner.
This experience has also been laden with deep reflection on who I am as an individual and what God has done in my life. When it’s all said and done sexually immoral sins are between God and the individual unless other parties are involved. There’s no room for you, I, or the Church to intervene. What good might we do in trying to "fix" something between the creation and its Creator? Taboo, difficult to understand, and unheard of does not equate to immorality. This is akin to someone saying that your preferred method of doing something is wrong, because you don’t do it as they do. We all know there are a million ways to skin a cat, all roads lead to Rome, and 2 wrong (i.e. left) turns makes a right (actually it's 3).
SN: If you multiply 2 wrongs you'll get a right... Wrong (negative) x Wrong (negative) = Right (positive). Since wrongs are seen as "negative" and rights are seen as "positive".
My prayer is that your heart might be changed to match that of Christ. I’d press on to try to convince you but then that means I’m working on your mind instead of allowing Christ to convict you, working on your heart.
If anyone comes up to you and has all of these reasons, Scriptures, and stories as to why homosexuality is not acceptable to God, reply to them with this phrase (after they're done with their diatribe); "What else you got?!" I'm hoping that it might frustrate them, if not lead them to dig deeper. Whether right or wrong, surely there must be more to the story that we've uncovered...some people stopped digging. This is equivocal to barely scratching the surface.
Why?
The quick skinny:
- Hearts need to be circumcised from time to time.
What does this mean for me? #theReader
You need to get a better understanding for your convictions. Are they based on what you think in your mind or due to the changes in your heart over time? Is what you believe mostly founded upon what you've been told or is there some experience that mixes in with that too?
For further insight: Read-Ephesians 2 (MSG)
For further insight: Read-Ephesians 2 (MSG)
This is F.U.N. (For Ur Needs) Use your KEYS
- Know that difficult conversations can be of great use
- Expect to deal with emotions
- Your involvement will lead to a change of heart
- Stay committed and open to conviction
Challenge
- Find out what needs to be circumcised in your life (i.e. Heart, Body, and Mind)
Bob Ya’ Head
This Is Your Life (Switchfoot)
