Contamination
Just thinking about some of the things we might hear when we talk about going to the gutter. Contamination. For about a month I’ve been gluten free. Throughout this process, I’ve become very familiar with avoiding contamination. Even breathing in gluten or say, dipping your knife in peanut butter and then touching bread, then dipping the knife back in peanut butter contaminates the peanut butter. I avoid this by buying two peanut butters and marking each jar clearly. I even have a separate shelf for gluten. But through all my preparations and parameters, I know I still eat contaminated food. Since I’m doing gluten free on my own and I’ve not been diagnosed with Celiac disease, I find that I don’t worry about this too much. Sure, I’d like to completely get rid of gluten from my diet, but my family is not there yet and I don’t want it to be a point of contention for us.
How does this apply to the gutter? I mean, the Bible says that “bad company corrupts good morals,” right? Yes, actually, it does, but I think you’ll be surprised to understand the context and to whom Paul is speaking: 1 Corinthians 15: 32-34
32 And what value was there in fighting wild beasts—those people of Ephesus—if there will be no resurrection from the dead? And if there is no resurrection, “Let’s feast and drink, for tomorrow we die!” 33 Don’t be fooled by those who say such things, for “bad company corrupts good character.” 34 Think carefully about what is right, and stop sinning. For to your shame I say that some of you don’t know God at all.
Paul is actually talking to BELIEVERS, the CHURCH, fighting amongst herself! He’s not talking about getting down in the gutter with the porn stars, the prostitutes and the addicted. Wow. How refreshing.
The Porn Mobile, Courtesy of El Cinto
Why is the Porn Mobile offensive? From experience and observation, I would say that we are most deeply offended when this is our struggle. Nobody appreciates dirty laundry being aired for all to see and worse! talk about openly. Although being offended is not the same thing as righteous anger. That’s another post.
A wise man and author, Quinn Schipper, talks about this in his book, The Language of Forgiveness. I’m paraphrasing, but he shows how being offended is really a distraction to keep you away from the real issue: Either your own struggles or unforgiveness or probably, both. I don’t know what Craig’s wife said to one of the men who barraged her with hateful words, but I might’ve asked, “Sir, why is XXX so offensive to you? Is it something you struggle with?” I think that would have stopped him in his tracks. Maybe that’s going too far, but really, debate a young woman and her baby in the parking lot where the church meets?
That makes me angry at the church. Another good question to ask this man, “Do you think that a porn star is going to walk into your building? And if she did, would you treat her like this? Does she not deserve to be loved?” And God hasn’t called that man to minister to porn stars . . . yet. But he has called Craig and his wife and they faithfully follow Jesus into the gutter.
Maybe this guy’s gutter is the politicians. Because I am certainly not claiming to be perfect or without judgment myself, I immediately asked God to please show me if I’ve ever acted like this and if so, please root it out of me. I do not want to EVER persecute believers for where or who GOD as called them to minister.
The closest thing to porn stars and prostitutes I can come is politicians. There are high profile men and women called to minister to these people who I would only consider liars, oppressors of the poor and uneducated, completely selfish and morally corrupt, claiming Christ when necessary and leaving His teachings far behind when He doesn’t fit into their agenda. Not all of them, there’s perhaps one or two decent ones that you’ve never heard of.
Is that how this man feels about porn stars? Maybe. The main difference for me is that porn stars don’t claim to be anything but what they are. However, in God’s economy, do politicians and porn stars deserve to be shown the love of Jesus? Yes. Am I called to the gutter of politics? No or rather I hope not. I’m not sure I know what my gutter is yet. I have an inkling, but I prefer to wait for God’s call and commission. When He asks, as he did Isaiah, ”Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?” I will say emphatically, ”I’ll go. Send me!” Isaiah 6:7-8
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