thailand, family, God

I heard that some straight people are complaining of harrassment from gays in this yahoo news article. I don’t have a personal campaign with this issue, so I’d like to limit this discussion to this post only. I have a traditional evangelical stance on it, and wish that the political process in USA will serve the majority of the people well.

A couple of years ago, I was in a LAUSD (los angeles unified school district) multiculturalism awareness training session, where a man and a woman came to share the views of the gay and lesbian community. I thought it was good to hear their stories first hand. But one comment the woman made upset me and I had to question her about it. She said something like, “The Bible cannot be a guide for this issue. Do you know that according to the Bible we can’t be throwing pigskins around like we do on many Sundays?”

I objected to how the sarcastic comment was not in line with what she was trying to do, namely, help us learn to tolerate each other, so we can all get along. She was wise and gracious in her answer, and indirectly admitted to her inappropriate comment. Then, this science teacher, Mary, suggested we stop talking about “religion” and be rational about this “cuz we all know that the Bible is not reliable [my paraphrase].” Boy, did she come across as being “rational”; but I was satisfied with the lesbian’s response and Mary got the final word on “religion” which she herself suggested would be rational not to talk about. The class was great, and I hope she learned something.

Church history does reveal a lot of crud that is embarrassing, even unbiblical. But, I wonder how other groups with a particular worldview are doing at being “tolerant” (or even “fair”). I mean, they don’t tolerate anyone who do not agree with them that conflicting metaphysical claims should all be accepted as “true”. And Rodney King had that great question. This and my previous post are things that come to mind more acutely as I find myself in a thoroughly Buddhist Thai culture, representing a Western evangelical worldview.

Israel is bombing the heck out of Lebanon, for many reasons I’m sure; but, the trigger incident was the Hezbollah abduction of two Israeli soldiers.

I’m wondering, with the Republican dominated US support of Israel, and the Evangelical support of the Republicans, are we expressing our opinion or a political theology? We don’t like liberation theology, but are we succumbing to another form of reader-centered criticism when it comes to our support of the modern Israelite nation? I know, in politics we must take sides; we’re the good guys, while Russia and China support the bad guys. But, that’s my point; is our church more concerned with a political ideology than good theology?

Read what Martin Accad, a theologian in Lebanon, has to say in Christianity Today.

I first came here at the age of seven, for five years, 1976-1981.  It was real fun, don’t remember much suffering, but do remember the sun and friends, and the food. My brother and I enjoyed a stable home with a mother who made it a priority to take care of us. Our dad was away a lot, and sometimes couldn’t come back home because of a coup d’etat. But, we’re all still alive.

After living in Chicago, Middletown (CT) and Los Angeles (and Milwaukee for one year), I’m back with my wife and two kids as traditional missionaries; it’s been over seven months now. How Thailand has changed in the past 25 years since I left. Bangkok is a great metropolis, like Seoul, where the younger people are very modernized and the rest of the country has its traditional values. Great opportunities for all kinds of ministry here.

The one thing I’ve learned in this 60th year of King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s reign is that people really love their king. It is unrealistic and irresponsible to imagine that we church people are going to win a soul if the Thais don’t see us loving our King of kings with more ferver and dedication.