Who I Am Talking To

My last blog post garnered some reaction, both on the Twitter and in real life.

Most of the criticism went along the lines of ‘God loves wealthy people too”. I noticed this was always said by people in a position of relative wealth. In other words, they thought I was picking on them.

Maybe I was. Or maybe I was not talking to them.

My particular calling – or role, if you will – in life is nothing less than demonstrating the love of Jesus to the marginalized and enabling other followers of Jesus to do the same. All of my writing, all of my speaking and all of my public efforts are geared to those two ends.

This is a blog. Here, I write for a) those who are marginalized and b) those who do the marginalizing. I am not writing systematic theology. I am not trying to write The Definitive Guide to Religion, or How to Understand God in 5 Easy Steps. I am writing to let people who have only seen God used as a weapon against them know that God loves them. And to tell those who are using God as a weapon to stop.

Over 1/3 of our funds to do this work come from those who profess no faith at all. Nearly half of our donors are agnostic, atheist and/or gay – and yet they believe in our mission of loving without preconditions. People who shudder at the very name of Christians tell me that if they did believe in a God, it would be the one I believe in.

I recently announced on Twitter and Facebook that I was considering getting a Masters Degree in Theology. I only received two affirmations. One was from a dear friend who is gay. The other was a different friend who is an atheist. If the only people encouraging me to get better at this preaching Jesus thing are gays and atheists, maybe, just maybe I am doing something right.

Several weeks ago, I spoke at the local TEDx event. I had a long talk with an atheist gay man who could not believe that a Christian would even talk to him, let alone listen to how he had been hurt by the church. Another came up to me and wondered how I could be Christian and help gay people, because he thought those two things were mutually exclusive.

Those are the people I am speaking for.  Those are my people – and those are the ones I speak to and fight for.

Yes, I know Jesus loves privileged people. But it is because they are people, not because they are privileged. And they don’t need me to tell them Jesus loves them – the entire American culture tells them that, day after day.

So, if you are upset that my particular ministry and work does not tell you how to Live Your Best Life Now, or how you can have a Godly marriage (whatever that means) 1 or you think I don’t stand up for Biblical Values2, well, there are all sorts of people out there who will tell you all that and take your money. But none of those people will be me.

1 I have no idea what this term means. Did Abraham have a Godly marriage when he pimped out his wife to save his life?  God told Hosea to marry a whore… is that what you mean? Or having six wives, like did David, a “Man after God’s own heart”?
2 Biblical Values is another phrase I have no idea what is meant by people who use it. Jacob steals the birthright from Esau, Abraham sleeps with the chambermaid, David kills his mistress’ husband, Solomon has 700 wives and enslaves people. If I emulated any of those people, folks would think I was a congressman or something.

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  • TJ

    I understand you Hugh, but then again I am one of those people that you defend…ie Gay. When I speak the name of Jesus on FB all the other people who have been marganialized by “Christians” tend to attack me. Go figure, my Jesus(the one in the Bible) was kind to the “sinner” and attacked the right wing of his day. God usually does the opposite of what “Religion” says is the “right thing” to do. Keep up the good work Hugh. Stand in the gap! When God says “Whom shall I send and who will go for us?” Keep saying “Here am I Lord! Send me!”

    Tim

  • kellyathena

    Hi,
    I like your inclusiveness–Life loves everyone just because they're alive. I especially enjoyed your footnotes.
    Thank you,
    Kelly Athena

  • steve

    Good writing, Hugh. Get another degree, if that's the leading. You're an excellent communicator.

  • realsarah

    Love this, Hugh. Thanks for your post. I also agree that we need to continue to let people know that God is love. Why is that those who are practically bombarded with the message that God love them tend to get defensive when told they have to share that love with those who have been traditionally marginalized and who have NOT been inundated with the message of love, but have rather been alienated from the church and/or religion and/or Christians? There is plenty of Jesus to go around!
    I'm often reminded of the parable of the day laborers–those who come later to the table (perhaps exactly because they've been excluded previously) get just as much access to the kingdom of God as those who've been there all along. “Lifelong” Christians sometimes seem to have the hardest problem accepting this.

    (PS. I also loved your footnotes, especially your point on marriage, which is very accurate and VERY Biblical!)

    Oh, and PPS. I saw on Twitter that you were mentioning going back to school, and I had been meaning to respond with encouragement (and also envy…though I have an M. Div. and really don't need anymore education for what I'm currently doing, I'm a bit jealous of all my twitter friends who seem to be finding their way into various graduate programs!) All the best to you!!!!

  • realsarah

    Love this, Hugh. Thanks for your post. I also agree that we need to continue to let people know that God is love. Why is that those who are practically bombarded with the message that God love them tend to get defensive when told they have to share that love with those who have been traditionally marginalized and who have NOT been inundated with the message of love, but have rather been alienated from the church and/or religion and/or Christians? There is plenty of Jesus to go around!
    I'm often reminded of the parable of the day laborers–those who come later to the table (perhaps exactly because they've been excluded previously) get just as much access to the kingdom of God as those who've been there all along. “Lifelong” Christians sometimes seem to have the hardest problem accepting this.

    (PS. I also loved your footnotes, especially your point on marriage, which is very accurate and VERY Biblical!)

    Oh, and PPS. I saw on Twitter that you were mentioning going back to school, and I had been meaning to respond with encouragement (and also envy…though I have an M. Div. and really don't need anymore education for what I'm currently doing, I'm a bit jealous of all my twitter friends who seem to be finding their way into various graduate programs!) All the best to you!!!!

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