Here is my story:
In my Counseling Psychology class, the few Christian students in the room openly admitted that they would feel uncomfortable counseling an openly homosexual person if it were not a Pastoral counseling situation where you could address the Biblical perspective on this. (The instructor has asked each one of us divulge this private information to the class, as part of getting to know yourself, and as establishing a 'confidentiality' between us all...to me it was just a false sense of intimacy). One of the students in the class took great offense to the Christians' disclosure, and she proceeded to lamblast the Christians in front of the class. She finalized her statement by reading this whole diatribe on Dr. Laura Schlessinger off of the internet....and the instructor let her!
Here it is:
For those of you that are not following the recent controversy that has to do with Laura Schlessinger: she is a radio personality who dispenses Advice to people who call in to her radio show. Paramount Television Group is currently producing a "Dr. Laura" television show. Recently she has become a convert to Judaism and has made some statements about homosexuals that have caused the Canadian anti-hate laws to censure her. The following is an open letter to Dr. Laura penned by a US resident, which was posted on the Internet.
Dear Dr. Laura,
Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and I try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can.
When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind him that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate. I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some of the specific laws and how to best follow them.
a) When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord (Lev. 1:9). The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?
b) I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?
c) I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanness (Lev. 15:19-24). The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offence.
d) Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?
e) I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself?
f) A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination (Lev. 11:10), it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this?
g) Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?
h) Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev.19:27. How should they die?
i) I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?
j) My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev. 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot.
Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them (Lev.24:10-16)? Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws (Lev. 20:14)?
I know you have studied these things extensively, so I am confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging. Your devoted disciple and adoring fan.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Throughout the reading of this, the non-Christians in the class just hooted and howled in laughter....along with the instructor (who before this whole situation had stated that he is a Christian!)
As she was reading this letter, denigrating the Bible and what the Word actually means, I kept my head down and I prayed. I was angry for His sake. How dare they laugh like this. "Remember, be angry and sin not. "
"Lord, give me the words to say." Silence. "Father in Heaven, You are not to be mocked! Please, tell me what to say in Your defense." Deafening silence. "Lord, PLEASE, tell me what to say!!" Silence. "Lord, they need to know the truth...what should I say to them?" Silence.
And then she was finally finished reading the letter and the class was still falling all over themselves howling, trying to regroup. And I could not respond in God's defense. God had not given me anything to say, so I had no choice but to be silent. My own silence was eating me up alive. I was so angry about their mocking laughter towards the Holy Bible, that I noticed that my hands were trembling.
I just shut down. I did not hear anything else that girl had to say. I got lost in my world with God. "How could You not give me something to say? How could you let Your Word get toyed with like that? How could you let the Christians in the room be belittled like that? Just how could You let our faith be laughed at and scorned like this? I was confident that You would tell me what to say!"
And then He spoke:"Be still and know that I AM God. When the time is right I will speak to them. I do not need to be defended. The Word does not need to be defended.Tonight My Words would have fallen on deaf ears. Besides, you were too angry to be my mouthpiece. My true message would have been lost in your emotions. Thank you for honoring Me with your silence."
And then there was silence. So there huddled down in the the "Valley of Be Still and Know," I finally got my answers. I got up, dusted myself off, and smiled. God in His magnificent wisdom knows all...and yes, He is in charge.
Throughout the reading of this, the non-Christians in the class just hooted and howled in laughter....along with the instructor (who before this whole situation had stated that he is a Christian!)
As she was reading this letter, denigrating the Bible and what the Word actually means, I kept my head down and I prayed. I was angry for His sake. How dare they laugh like this. "Remember, be angry and sin not. "
"Lord, give me the words to say." Silence. "Father in Heaven, You are not to be mocked! Please, tell me what to say in Your defense." Deafening silence. "Lord, PLEASE, tell me what to say!!" Silence. "Lord, they need to know the truth...what should I say to them?" Silence.
And then she was finally finished reading the letter and the class was still falling all over themselves howling, trying to regroup. And I could not respond in God's defense. God had not given me anything to say, so I had no choice but to be silent. My own silence was eating me up alive. I was so angry about their mocking laughter towards the Holy Bible, that I noticed that my hands were trembling.
I just shut down. I did not hear anything else that girl had to say. I got lost in my world with God. "How could You not give me something to say? How could you let Your Word get toyed with like that? How could you let the Christians in the room be belittled like that? Just how could You let our faith be laughed at and scorned like this? I was confident that You would tell me what to say!"
And then He spoke:"Be still and know that I AM God. When the time is right I will speak to them. I do not need to be defended. The Word does not need to be defended.Tonight My Words would have fallen on deaf ears. Besides, you were too angry to be my mouthpiece. My true message would have been lost in your emotions. Thank you for honoring Me with your silence."
And then there was silence. So there huddled down in the the "Valley of Be Still and Know," I finally got my answers. I got up, dusted myself off, and smiled. God in His magnificent wisdom knows all...and yes, He is in charge.
"If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. But rejoice that you participate in the suffereing of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name." I Peter 14, 13, 16
Halleluyah ! \0/
No comments:
Post a Comment