The One Where I Get All Philosophical

I've noticed that a pattern is beginning to develop as far as Sunday mornings go. After church is over, I am hesitant to get up and move about and talk to people. Not because I'm lazy, or transfixed, or scared. It's because I'm deep in thought, and I once I start down the path of asking myself all these questions, I don't want to have to interrupt myself.

It's probably a good thing that I'm not allowed to sit and be antisocial and introspective, because the questions that always come up on Sunday mornings are sobering. I always leave church in a state of solemnity, and I don't really like it. I'm not comfortable with all these thoughts and questions that invade my mind every week. Probably because I don't have any answers. Here are some of the topics swirling around in my brain today.


Homosexuals

Let me start by saying that I believe the Bible is very clear on this topic. God says that homosexuality is a sin. I also think that homosexuality is a sin. So there's no problem there. The thing I'm uncomfortable with is what my pastor said one morning. He made it clear that our church accepts homosexuals. He didn't say whether or not our church condones the practice of homosexuality. But he did say he wanted our church to be known as the church that doesn't turn them away.

So it go me thinking: do other churches turn homosexuals away? Are homosexuals even interested in going to church? Is this even an issue? Why would a gay or lesbian person want to attend church? They know that churches contain Christians, and Christians condemn that lifestyle. So why would they even darken a church door? And if our church makes a point of inviting them to be a part of our gathering, then does that mean that my church thinks that homosexuality is okay?

And what happens if we actually did have homosexuals in our church? Would we have to make a disclaimer every Sunday, saying that we love them and that God loves them, but we really hope they turn from that lifestyle? And what about those verses in the New Testament about church members who blatantly and defiantly live in sin? The church leaders are supposed to talk to them in private and ask them to repent, and if that person does not, they are asked to leave the church.

Christians are supposed to be light and love to all people, but we also can't ignore sin. How do we reconcile the two? Where is the line?


Justice

This one is even more difficult to wrap my brain around, because it's more vague a concept. I hear that word a lot in church, and I have to confess, I don't really know what it means. So I looked it up in the dictionary. It has to do with being good, fair, right or righteous, and honorable. Doing the right thing, following and upholding the law.

Then I looked up justice in a concordance, to see what the Bible has to say about it. The Old Testament laws have a lot to say about not perverting justice, or denying someone of justice. It also admonishes kings and leaders to make sure to administer justice, and not turn ignore wrong-doing. But the Bible also says that ultimately, it is God who brings justice.

Our church makes it clear that one of our purposes is to bring justice to our community. And you know what? I really don't know how to do that. Am I not promoting justice by following the law? Is there more to it than that? I am not a judge or a cop. I cannot make others obey the law. How do I bring justice to others? Does that mean that I go out and punish whoever has done them wrong? What if they did themselves wrong?

I feel like whenever people talk about bringing justice to the world, or to a community, they are specifically referring to poor people. How does one bring justice to a poor person? Are the majority of poor people in their present financial situation because someone else made them poor? And if someone made them poor, is there someone who is also keeping them poor? And if so, how do we fix that?

I'll be honest. I think that the whole "justice for poor people" is a flawed, liberal idea that says it's our job to get poor people out of there poverty. I'm all for charity, and helping someone in need, but I don't think you can make a poor person rich just by giving them money, or buying them a house, or a car, or whatever.

If a person is irresponsible with their finances, or they are holding onto an addiction or habit that ties up their income, then poverty isn't the real problem. The problem is that they are choosing irresponsibility and sin, instead of taking care of their needs.

Of course we need to love those people, and we should try to help them, but you can only go so far. If they don't want help, or if they want someone else to pick up the slack for them, then we shouldn't be enabling their crooked thinking and living by continuing to give them money.

Again I say: where is the line? Should we continue buying groceries for someone who is already receiving welfare from the government for groceries, but they spend most of that money on cigarettes and alcohol? God tells us not to forget the widows and the poor. But how can we bring justice to someone who has brought injustice on themselves?


Oppression

There is one song that we sing in our church that talks about how we are all "city lights." We are to bring light to every dark corner of the world. One of the lines in that song says that we must shine for "the rich who still oppress." And it ties in with the whole justice idea. But I fear that it's just another liberal line, that poor people are poor because they are oppressed by rich people. And rich people are rich because they are greedy and oppressive.

I had to look this word up in the dictionary as well, because I didn't have a clear sense of what it meant. The first definition by Merriam-Webster is: to crush or burden by abuse of power or authority. Now I know that money is power. But I feel like a lot of people hate those who are wealthy because they think that the wealthy got to that place by stepping on everyone below them.

I thought that wealth was gained by good, old-fashioned hard work, saving, discipline, and smart investing. Do these things oppress? I think not. So how does a rich person oppress? Do they flaunt their wealth to those less fortunate? Do they make a habit of employing people to work for them, and then not pay them enough?

Also, what defines wealth? How much money does a person have to have before they are considered rich? And what does this have to do with oppression? Can one be oppressive simply through inaction? By not being charitable with the money they've earned, are they oppressing poor people? Where do these ideas come from?


Now, I love my church. They are trying their hardest to make a difference in our city by meeting practical needs, and it shows. But every once in a while, they say these things that make me uncomfortable, because I don't know exactly what they mean by them.

What do they mean when they say that we are a gay-loving church? What do they mean when they say our mission is to bring justice to the poor? What do they mean when they say we need to shine for rich people who oppress? And should I be okay with these things? Are these Biblical ideas?

And what if they are wrong? Does it matter? Is all the good work that they are doing negated by a few flawed beliefs? Are these deal breakers?

I struggle with these thoughts every Sunday when I come away from a church service. And I'm not any closer to figuring them out. I'm not specifically asking you for the answers, but you are free to chime in if you want.