In light of recent events about incidents involving a duck and a gentlemen, I, like many others, have the desire to say something. I'm not really interested in what was published in the magazine, the TV show itself or the views about religion, race or sexuality that seems to be scattered all over the place like pieces from a clay pigeon. What I am noticing, is that something seems to be broken. And I wonder "What?".
As I attempt to evaluate this question, I can't help but notice something that happened in my life about a week ago. I was reading the Bible, as I normally do, and finished reading the book of Isaiah. Instead of merrily going to the next book in sequence, Jeremiah, I took a few days off from reading. Why? Because I couldn't bear to read about the destruction of Jerusalem; it was too heavy and depressing. The hard part about reading Isaiah and Jeremiah, two of the major prophets in the Bible, is that they unswervingly point out how far from God his people have gone, tell of the coming destruction in graphic poetic detail, weep over their people, tell how much God loves them and wants to restore them if they turn to him. Basically the prophets can be an emotional roller coaster. One I desperately needed some time away from for a few days. Reading these prophets prompted me to ask what they would say to me and my country. I'm not a fan of my answer.
For starters, they would tell us how we think we're following God, but are really doing whatever we want and using his name. They would lay out all the ways in which we are hypocrites and remind us of all the ways in which God has not let hypocrisy stand. They would tell us of our coming destruction, to which we would get angry and want to kill them. In spite of our actions, they would call us back to following God, forsaking all foreign and alien ways in which we've prostituted ourselves. They would weep, cry out and get emotional over us, for how bad we've gotten and how much God doesn't want us to be this way. They would leave us with hope, hope that even though destruction comes, we can rebuild, for God is merciful and forgiving; all we need is to turn from our wicked ways.
As I write those words a part of me says, "we're really not THAT bad," to which my natural response is duh. We're arguing because we can argue; its sort of what we do. But as a part of me wants to write it all off as a bunch of silliness, another part of me answers back, 'that's exactly what Jerusalem said'. I find myself standing between a social perception and an inward conviction. That we're ridiculous and there's something very serious about the heat of our ridiculous argument. To which I want to respond, "Why so serious?" Because something very serious is at stake.
Our hearts. This whole duck vs pluck thing has gotten out of hand. It's obviously struck a nerve, and the press is loving it, fueling it and hoping to make as much money off it as possible. Facebook is also a mess. I've seen multiple comment threads with double and triple digit comments as people fight for their opinions and keep the internal fires growing. Something is wrong. And it has little to do with the particulars someone decided to publish in a magazine.
Sin is sin. Whether its homosexuality, bestiality, pornography, hatred, lying, stealing or whatever. It all falls into the same category. Our social perceptions try to tell us some sins are worse than others, and that some sins aren't sins. Regardless of our social perceptions about sin, we all sin. We all sin. We ALL sin. No one is pure, no one is blameless, we all sin and have fallen short of perfection. Anything stated to the obvious is a lie, it might be well meaning, but its a lie. It might make us feel good to think we're not as bad as other people, to grade and rank our own personal sins versus our perceptions of others, but that only shows how utterly ridiculous we are to think that we're some how better than someone else. It's false righteousness. Which was a huge problem the prophets addressed, which makes them worth reading, especially now. Especially in the season of darkness.
Every year, near the winter solstice, we celebrate Christmas: the darkest day of the year, or at least it used to be. This season was chosen because of what it represents, darkness overcoming light, but only for a time. For after the solstice light comes back into the world. Jesus is described as the Light of the world; Christmas is the celebration of light overcoming the darkness, of the darkness being revealed and cast out, of hope being restored. Hope that the world does not have to be trapped in its sinful and hateful ways, but set free. This is the true meaning of Christmas. This is what we celebrate in the darkest times of the year.
Darkness separates, isolates and tears down. Light unifies, opens eyes and brings together. That unity is found by accepting that we are all sinners and that God loves us and that he wants better for us. He wants us to walk in the light as he is the light. That light begins and ends at the cross. Because sin has a price, judgment. Not social judgment: Godly judgment. God's judgment against humanity for all the ways we've treated God, each other and the creation he put in our hands. That judgment has to exist, we can't wipe it way, or else there is nothing wrong with the way we treat each other. There is something very wrong with the way treat each other. We treat each other like we cannot change. We treat each other like we cannot be forgiven.
Every duck needs forgiveness; we are all ducks.
Forgiveness creates equality. Forgiveness is the beginning of walking in the light. Its the melting point of our hardened hearts. Its the thawing that takes place over time as we cast aside the social lies and perceptions that so easily ensnare our hearts and minds. Its the freedom to cross battle lines and call for peace, even if both sides ardently disagree. Its the awareness of our own wrongs and the desire to be free of them. This freedom through forgiveness is found at the foot of the cross. That the judgment we have earned and deserve may pass over us. That even though our world may be fraying at its social edges, we can still be united through the price Jesus paid for our forgiveness. That one day we can live in peace and harmony and leave all this silliness behind.
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