Your Droids Are Going to Have to Stay Outside
“Is it ok if I attend your service on Sunday?”
“Of course it is. Everyone is welcome” I replied without hesitation.
“You should know that I’m gay. Is it still ok?”
“Of course it is. Everyone is welcome” I replied. This time with less certainty as my heart broke. Did he really have to ask permission? Did he have to ask permission to gather with a group of Christ followers for worship? His experience said he did. He had been uninvited to church after church after church where “everyone is welcome.” Sometimes the uninviting was explicit. It was like the bartender from the cantina scene in the original Star Wars movie. “We don’t serve your kind here! The droids! They are going to have to stay outside.” Other times it was more subtle. All seemed ok until he wanted to join the band or teach Sunday School. That wasn’t allowed. He was ok as long as he just came to worship and put money in the offering plate. But it stopped being ok as soon as he wanted to get more involved.
I’ve never had to ask permission. I’m a white, straight, male. Not once in my life have I felt like I needed to ask if it was ok to participate in the life and ministry of the church. No one has ever explicitly or implicitly told me I’m not allowed to participate in the great commission. I’ve always been allowed… when I want and how I want. In a job interview once I was even told I was a perfect fit because I was young (at the time), married, white, and I played guitar. I was told I would fit in great with the congregation. Bam! Qualified.
I’ve never had to ask permission. I’ve never had to look in the mirror and wonder if it’s alight to be me. Growing up I never had to question if I was made in God’s image because in every children’s Bible and storybook Jesus looked just like me.
I’m white.
I’m straight.
I don’t have a uterus.
It’s quite an impressive resume, really.
Really?
Meanwhile,
Drag Queens are more of a threat than AR-15s. Thank God for the laws being implemented to protect our kids.
Replicas of famous sculptures from the 1500s should put some pants on so they are safe for kids. Thank God those crazy liberal, classical educators are being fired for their poor stewardship of our kids education.
Kids should never be allowed to read books in school that feature characters or stories that reflect the makeup of their own family. Having two moms or two dads is far too sexually explicit. I feel safer already.
I’ve never had to ask permission.
Come, Lord Jesus.