Month: April 2015

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judgment day

photo-1427348693976-99e4aca06bb9Recently, it seems, I’ve heard an amplified chorus of the call to withhold judgment…

“Do not judge, lest you be judged.”

It also seems such is one of the most repeated biblical truths both Bible students and non-Bible students like to proclaim. No doubt the call to refrain from judgment is a wise practice indeed. The loophole, no less, lies in the meaning of the word, “judgment.” Too often it seems we equate the withholding of “judgment” — the rendering of consequences, a condemnation, or an eternal pronouncement, perhaps — with an absence of right and wrong. Let’s be clear:  some things are right; some things are wrong; the challenge is that we often disagree on “some things.”

For example, I watched the University of Kentucky men’s basketball team, as they struggled emotionally in their post-game press conference, after being heralded all year as “the team to beat”… with so many saying it was impossible for them to lose… with one former professional coach even quipping that UK could be a playoff team in the NBA’s Eastern Conference. And then Kentucky did the unthinkable; they lost.

Here then were these 19 & 20 year old men, who are supposed to have something to say, albeit arguably just experiencing one of their greatest emotional letdowns of their young lives. Question: how many of us at 19 & 20 had the maturity to handle all things well? … especially with all the world watching?

So it was of little surprise that one player would do something wrong when asked about a member of the team to which they lost. Kentucky’s Aaron Harrison used a crude, racial term to describe Wisconsin’s Frank Kaminsky, likely believing the microphone would fail to pick up the slur muddled slightly under his breath. Harrison’s behavior was wrong. There is no arrogance in that assessment; there is no condemnation nor feeling that any other is better than Harrison. It is still true that Harrison’s behavior was wrong.

After the conclusion on the NCAA championship, much of the sports world will turn their attention to the infamous tournament this weekend at Augusta National, The Masters. Earlier I witnessed an ESPN commentator talk about the return of Tiger Woods. Woods is returning to the professional golf circuit after a two month hiatus. The question of the commentator was, “Which Tiger will show up?” … the one that dominated the sport for so many years, winning his first major at age 21? … or the one that has never been the same since his four month leave of absence in 2009-2010?

Woods sadly left the sport after very public revelations regarding his multiple, extra-marital affairs while married to Elin Nordegren. Please let no one pounce upon Tiger or rant about his obvious error. But also let no one act as if his error was not obvious. Tiger’s infidelity was wrong.

I found this particular commentator’s comments fascinating because in his posing of the question — as to “which Woods” it would be — the commentator never acknowledged that Woods dominance dissipated when his personal, moral image was pierced.

Granted, none of us need our moral failings repeatedly or disrespectfully rehashed by another — especially publicly — but it’s also ok to  acknowledge the existence of moral failings; it’s ok to acknowledge right and wrong.

There’s no automatic arrogance in that acknowledgement. It’s not condemnation. It’s not compassion-less. It’s also not judgmental.

Respectfully…

AR

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head, heart, & feet

unsplash_526360a842e20_1If something is good, right, and true, it should change us from our head to our heart to our feet. Such has long been my mantra about faith. If a faith is good, right, and true it should totally change us… establishing the reasoning in our head, molding the emotions of our heart, and prompting the action of our feet. If any of the three are omitted, the validity of the faith may be in question. On a day such as Easter — a day unlike any other in the course of history — I find myself examining all three…

The reasoning in our head…

The Intramuralist will always advocate for a respect for all religion. Note that a respect does not equate to accepting all religion as equally good, right, and true. Hence, when I examine the world’s religions solely from a position of intellect, I don’t find myself spending much time, for example, on wrestling with the validity of Scientology. When I take note of the fact that the Church of Scientology was established by a science fiction writer, who taught that, Xenu, the dictator of the “Galactic Confederacy”, came to Earth 75 millions years ago, bringing billions of people here who were then killed by hydrogen bombs — etc. etc. — I will be respectful of Scientology, but I do not question if it’s true.

My head is most affected by the resurrection at the core of Christianity. The bodies of all other religious leaders are dead and decaying in a tomb somewhere. Jesus Christ’s dead body, however, was never found, and multiple persons attested to seeing him alive after his death. My head simply can’t let go of the unparalleled uniqueness of that account.

The emotions of our heart…

If a faith is good, right, and true, it should magnify the most virtuous, contagious, character change. Granted, we each are still capable of error, but for the most part, love, selflessness, compassion, humility, and empathy should be magnified — and magnified not only in singular, limited aspects of life, but magnified in how we interact with all people.

It’s the glaring flaw in the Islamic extremists desiring to murder the “infidel”… in the unaffiliated Westboro Baptist Church known for their hate speech… and in the plethora of people last week on Facebook — often in the supposed name of Jesus — on both sides of the religious freedom issue — who also utilized hate speech. My sense is so many of us have allowed our faith (or lack of it) to mold only a portion of our heart; it’s as if we only allow it to affect certain compartments — selfishly holding onto places were we say, “Sorry, God, but that doesn’t apply here.” No faith that is good, right, and true will advocate or encourage such justification.

The action of our feet…

Knowing what we know, therefore, and feeling what we feel — meaning our heads and hearts are totally submitted to the teachings of our faith — even to what’s humanly hard to comprehend — our feet should be moved into action. Our faith prompts our service…

It’s what I witnessed from afar in Mother Teresa, a selfless woman who intentionally chose to live among the poorest of the poor, attempting to meet more of their physical needs…

It’s what I witnessed in Chuck Colson, a once ruthless man who was so changed that he established a worldwide ministry to give hope to the hopeless — to encourage the imprisoned…

And it’s what I witnessed in my sister, a beautiful young woman who inspired so many so deeply, holding onto her positive, confident hope in Jesus, even as the shadow of death closed in.

A faith that is good, right, and true changes us. It changes our head, heart, and feet. It’s also contagious. Thanks, God…

Respectfully…

AR

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c’mon feel the noise

photo-1415226581130-91cb7f52f078There are times the noise in my house is too loud. Sometimes it comes from one of my kid’s rooms. Sometimes it comes from my spouse or me. The reality is that when the noise is too loud, no one can hear.

Like many, I have been watching the ongoings in Indiana surrounding the passage of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Also like many, I have yet to read the bill in its entirety.

My desire is to understand what this bill says and what it doesn’t — what it means and what it doesn’t — but transparently speaking, it’s hard to discern accurately because I can’t hear. There’s too much noise.

What I do hear is the rhetoric. What I do hear are the chants. What I do hear are the passions and protests and bold proclamations from all corners of the room telling the rest of us what to believe. And you know what? Sometimes I get sucked into believing them — allowing my emotion to determine reality — forgetting that I haven’t read the bill in its entirety.

The reality is that Indiana’s religious freedom act is similar (but not exact) to the law in 19 other states and the federal act signed by Pres. Clinton in 1993. It’s similar to the law Arkansas is currently considering. The specific language of the law has varied slightly as varied courts have made varied judgments. While the aim is to provide legal exemptions when primarily a business’s religious beliefs are substantially burdened, the concern is that the language creates the possibility of legalizing discrimination. Such is why Indiana congressmen are beginning this morning to discuss a so-called “fix” — ensuring LGBT customers, employees, and tenants are not discriminated against. Note that any time discrimination is believed to be the reality, more than simply someone — understandably — will make a lot of noise.

Therein lies a significant problem, no less. The noise on all sides keeps us from having the tough conversation this country needs to have. We need to respectfully discuss whether or not religious freedom ever equates to discrimination. And if it does: is that constitutionally allowed?

Because of the deep emotion already embedded in this topic, many of us will struggle with anything less than 100% agreement from another. Some obviously feel justified into verbally pounding another into like thinking — believing we all must agree on what discrimination is, is not, and what’s ok in the name of religion. And if we don’t agree, the other person must be either ignorant or idiotic. Way too many (on television and social media especially — outside the confines of real relationship) are generously justifying the ignorant and idiotic identifications. That’s concerning, as we will not make wise, lasting progress when we justify the use of tactics eerily similar to bullying — as outlined in our most recent post. Forcing a person to believe what we believe only magnifies the disrespect and prolongs the lack of a solution.

The reality is that multiple admired individuals disagree on how to legislate religious freedom and therefore if/how/and when to mandate compliance…

  • Is it ok to mandate that a Christian homeschooler adhere to all public school policies?
  • Is it ok to mandate that a Muslim inmate shave his beard? … or a Muslim t-shirt maker prints a satirical picture of Muhammad?
  • Is it ok to mandate that a Jewish deli serve ham?
  • Is it ok to mandate that any Christian, Muslim, or Jewish baker, photographer, florist, or leader serve at a gay wedding?

Is it ok to force another to contradict practices consistent with their faith? Is it ever ok to discriminate? And better yet: can we have that conversation?

I’m not comfortable adding anything to the “no shoes, no shirt, no service” mantra that is based solely on sexuality, ethnicity, or any other demographic, entire people group categorization. I also believe we must specifically discuss what is discrimination and what is not — and where can we be more respectful of all people… that includes respect for the LGBT community — and the Christian homeschooler, Muslim inmate, Jewish deli, baker, photographer, florist, leader, etc.

If a religious freedom law becomes an easy escape clause allowing people to be treated poorly, that does not seem wise. But if opposition to any law becomes a tactic designed to silence all opposing opinion, that seems equally unwise. Both ignore the deeper conversation that needs to be had.

What’s the relationship between religious freedom and discrimination? I’d like to have that conversation, but right now, there’s too much noise.

Respectfully…

AR