Are There Not Other Issues?

For the first time since he was a child actor, I find myself agreeing, at least on the surface of the issue, with Kirk Cameron. Over the weekend, Mr. Cameron, now a Christian conservative advocate, expressed disappointment with churches that focus mainly on issues of same-gender relationships. He explained that the attention of the church might be better spent on issues that genuinely support relationships, that lift up good and healthy relationships, and that shift the focus away from judgment of a segment of the relationship spectrum to providing for resources and support that is universal.

I admittedly softened the language here. Mr. Cameron actually stated that the church should be more concerned with issues of divorce and perversion than with same-gender relationships. He believes that those who practice poor relationship damage the faith. The church should attend to them.

While I agree that hyperbole around same-gender relationships has reached its crescendo, and that there are more pressing relationship issues in which the church might better involve itself, I also do not wish to condemn persons who are divorced or who practice poor relationship behaviors. Mr. Cameron fails to take into account the fact that each of us is a product of our upbringing, our social environment and the choices that we have made.

The church might better expend its energy and place its focus on supporting good relationships in and through religious institutions. This is more universal than issues of same-gender marriage or the astronomical divorce rate. I would argue, in fact, that the religious right rails against both of these from a stance of poor relationship.

The church can work at building relationships that include mutual and universal respect. It can work at creating and providing resources that build the honor, respect and integrity of all persons, even those who differ in form and practice from us. I argue that such resource and attention would both lower divorce rates and allow us to embrace same-gender relationships. Such attention and focus would allow the church to regain its position as a positive source of communal life. It may reclaim its position as an important and relevant component of post-modern culture.

While I agree in essence with Mr. Cameron's position, I cannot agree that we should use criticism or judgment as a tool for "fixing" destructive behavior. All that accomplishes is alienation and rejection. The church must instead become again a force for positive regard for all persons. It must spend its time and attention on uplifting, building, shaping new and mutually loving relationships. One cannot reject, criticize and reject when one is practicing the love of Christ. So, while you are on the right track, Mr. Cameron, you fall back into models of Christian behavior and belief that no longer work.\

Shiloh is a place where we work for justice and equality for all people. This congregation seeks to be a resource for positive relationship formation. And, of course, everyone is welcome here.