national coming out day and the church

Anyone who pays the slightest attention to the media will quickly notice how Christians come across in the news. Other than the celebrity preacher's fall from grace and the overly-made-up woman on the Christian TV show, we seem to make headlines for boycotts, protests, and anti-something rally. The church is readily known for standing against stuff.

It's little wonder that a recent Barna update reports that a new study shows that only 3% of 16 - to 29-year-old non-Christians express favorable views of evangelicals.

Writing from the standpoint of our church, Pastor Dan stated that "our goal is to be known more by “who we are for” rather than “what we are against.” Who we are for is people. God is passionate about people."

I like that. I like the fact that we are going to be for people, that we are going to expend our energies in loving people, in standing up for the oppressed and harassed, the voiceless and maligned. This position aligns us with Jesus, and that is a good thing.

I am sure that there will be moments of confusion, and that will be misunderstandings and messes. I don't expect to hit the mark at every turn. But I know that our effort, our desire, our try will honor God, bless people, and move us closer to being the church that Jesus would be proud to call his bride.

I don't know how this will play out in my life. But I know that the days of sticking my head in the sand, busying myself with the life of "churchianity," and working to maintain the status quo have to come to an end.

I've been invited by a friend to attend a rally on the Penn State campus tomorrow. It's not a church rally--it's the Penn State rally for the National Coming Out Day.

Decision time looms...

Maybe it's time for the church, and for me, to come out on the side of loving people, even if we don't agree with the things they do or believe. Are we ready for the mess?