Andrea Tries: Speaking in Chapel (CCHS April 2015)

SUPER EDIT!
Video has been recovered! Enjoy. :)

Op-Ed: The Cherry-Picked Gospel

With this latest round of discrimination disguised as religious freedom taking place in my hometown of Grandville, Michigan (search "dieseltec grandville michigan" if you haven't seen it yet), I feel the need to write about this issue. I just cannot handle it anymore. I am so sick of a small group of ultra-conservative Christians vocalizing a minority view of Christianity that gives the rest of us Christians a bad name. You may ask, how could one group of Christians be giving a bad name to another group of Christians? Aren't they all supposed to be loving toward others, avoiding passing judgment on people they don't like, and shining a light for Christ in a world of darkness?

Huh, that's what I learned in church school too. 

However, there is a minority of Christians that is beginning to speak up quite loudly and "claim" their religious freedoms by denying service to members of the LGBTQQIAA community because the Bible teaches that homosexuality is a sin. They have taken it into their own hands to be the judges and juries of their fellow human beings. They spout off about their religious freedoms being trampled because of Obama and our country's departure from its strictly Christian roots. 

Really? Your rights as a Christian have been trampled? When was the last time you...

• Didn't get Christmas Day and Easter off from work? (obviously, some careers require employees to work on Christian holidays, but many places of employment are automatically closed on those days.
• Couldn't access movies, TV shows, or music related to your Christian faith?
• Couldn't find a store that sold items you need to practice your Christian faith?
• Were pressured to celebrate another religion's holidays, particularly a religion whose values conflict with your own? For example, when was the last time you were expected to observe the month of Ramadan by fasting during daylight hours? 
• Were wished a Happy Eid al-Fitr or a Merry Purim? When was the last time you wished a Merry Christmas or a Happy Easter to a stranger without wondering whether they even observe Christmas or Easter? (I'm not saying that you are a bad person if you do this, I know I have done this without thinking, but at the same time, it's an example of a microagression)
• Found out that your church or place of worship had been bombed, shot up, or burned to the ground?
• Returned to your car to find that it had been vandalized because of a Christian bumper sticker?
• Were threatened, harmed, or detained for praying in public?
• Swore an oath with your hand on a Qur’ān, a Tanakh, or a copy of the Book of Shadows? 
• Saw a politician or community leader harassed or criticized for openly declaring their Christian faith?
• Heard of a politician being labeled a heretic, extremist, or terrorist for making decisions based on their Christian faith?
• Encountered a person who had never heard of Christianity?
• Were criticized or socially penalized for not knowing the customs of other world religions?
• Were treated unfairly at work or fired from your job because people knew you were a Christian?
• Encountered a city that did not have a church or place for you to worship?
• Had your identity reduced to your religion? 
• Held a fundraiser for your church or faith-based group and then had it investigated on suspicion of terrorism?
• Couldn't find friends who were Christians? 
• Couldn't send yourself or your kids to a Christian school because there was none where you lived?
• Heard of anyone being denied for adopting a child because they identified as Christian?
• Heard of anyone being denied custody of their kids because they identified as Christian
• Were accused of attacking another religion because you complained about your Christian faith being under attack?

(List derives from http://itspronouncedmetrosexual.com/2012/05/list-of-examples-of-christian-privileg/)

But its not just the blacks, Mexicans, and gays that are trampling our rights! We as conservative Christian (white) Americans are being discriminated against because of the degeneration of our country!

Let's talk about that. What was the last time you...

• Were the only white person in the room/building/school/company/church?
• Had to move to a neighborhood where you were the only white person?
• Were threatened, avoided, glared at, or profiled because you were white?
• A store clerk kept an eye on you to make sure you wouldn't steal something?
• Saw or read a news report in which absolutely no white people were mentioned?
• Had your ideas or opinions discredited or criticized because you were white?
• Couldn't find American food, American music, or American books in a store?
• Heard someone tell you that they don't know how to cut your hair?
• Heard someone say, "You have a lot of money/property/education/articulateness/whatever for a white person"?
• Couldn't protect yourself or your children from people who don't like you because you're white?
• Had to give your kids The Talk? Not the sex talk, mind you, but the "society is unequal, be wary of law enforcement, keep your head down, don't put your hands in your pockets" talk?
• Experienced systemic racism? (and if you try to tell me that systemic racism no longer exists in America, I'll tell you that you need to look a little closer.)
• Were called "a credit to your race"?
• Were called a thug, bum, low-life, illegal, alien, nigger, or terrorist?
• Couldn't find posters, cards, picture books, dolls, toys, or magazines that featured white people?
• Felt isolated, out of place, outnumbered, isolated, or feared because of being white?
• Were told that you got a job or promotion because the company needed to fill a quota or was acting on affirmative action?
• Worried about whether your whiteness would get in the way of any of your social, political, or professional goals?
• Couldn't find band-aids, makeup, or flesh-toned clothing that did not match the color of your skin?
• Had your kid come home from school saying that he or she learned in school that it's wrong or bad to be part of a family that is white and made up of a married mommy and daddy and their biological children?

(List derived from Peggy McIntosh's Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack)

But the homos! They're taking over and I'm starting to be discriminated against for being straight!

Uh, seriously? When was the last time you...

• Couldn't see your loved one in the hospital or find out what happened in the case of an emergency?
• Heard that an engagement or a wedding was anything but a positive thing?
• Were afraid to touch, hug, or kiss your loved one in public?
• Were criticized for living with and starting a family with your loved one?
• Were not comforted or supported after the end of a relationship?
• Couldn't find any examples of heterosexual romance or relationships on TV, in movies, or in books?
• Couldn't find a heterosexual role model?
• Saw consistently negative portrayals in the media of straight people?
• Were the only straight person in a group/class/school/workplace?
• Were asked to stop talking about your relationship or family activities because someone told you they don't agree with your lifestyle?
• Were accused of being a child molester or trying to turn people straight?
• Were denied paid leave from your job when grieving the death of your loved one because your boss thought your relationship wasn't legitimate? 
• Were asked, “how does sex work for you?” or other way-too-personal questions?
• Couldn't get a reduced rate for health, auto, and homeowners’ insurance policies because you were in a committed heterosexual relationship?
• Heard someone use "that's so straight" as an insult?
• Were accused of forcing a "heterosexual agenda" on someone?
• Had to petition a court for joint custody (instead of having it granted automatically) when you and your loved one welcomed a new child into your family?
• Were the victim of straight-bashing or other acts of violence because you were openly straight?
• Couldn't marry the person you loved because it was illegal?
• Had your basic civil rights taken away by people who disapprove of your straightness?
• Heard someone say that being straight is unnatural, perverted, disgusting, or an abomination?
• Heard a religious leader or members of your faith community say that being straight is a sin?
• Were fired because you were straight?
• Had someone ask you when you came out or when you realized you were straight?
• Had someone patronize you by saying that you brought all the hate on yourself by choosing to be straight?
• Had to wonder if your marriage was legal once you crossed a state line or border?
• Had to comfort your kid because another kid's parents wouldn't let your kid come over and play simply because you were straight?
• Heard that God hated you and you were going to hell because you're straight?

(List derived from http://itspronouncedmetrosexual.com/2012/01/29-examples-of-heterosexual-privilege/#sthash.MYZExlL1.dpuf)

And here's a burning question I've had since this whole freedom of religion thing blew up - would these people tolerate being denied service by a gay atheist in the name of religious freedom? Or would they take to the news media, wailing about the dissolution of Christian values and the discrimination they are facing at the hands of gays and atheists? It's hard to claim discrimination when you're part of the majority. Minorities (racial, ethnic, religious, political, cultural, and orientation-al) face discrimination and microaggressions every single day, but we don't allow them to complain about it because we try so hard to pretend it's not a problem and that they have no right to complain. Then, when even a hint of aggression happens to a person from the majority, it's all over the news and portrayed as a heinous crime. Will we see any stories about a Christian being denied service by a non-Christian? Will anyone even dare to do that, given how protected the Christian faith is the U.S.? 

I don't want to argue theology or Christian morality with you here, mostly because then I would be doing exactly what I'm telling other people not to do (i.e. foist one's opinions on someone else as absolute truths), but I do want to say that, no matter what your views are, those views do not give you the right to discriminate against or mistreat your fellow human beings. When did we forget what our mothers always taught us - "if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all"? When did it become noble to abide by the First Amendment instead of the Golden Rule?  Even if a law give you permission to discriminate (or at least a legal shield if you did so), acting a certain way in the name of religious freedom is the opposite of what Jesus would have done. The Bible was not meant to be cherry-picked.

"Love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:39)," even if your neighbor isn't white, straight, and Christian. 

"Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position (Romans 12:16)," which includes the poor, the hungry, the sick, the immigrants, the LGBT, the Muslims, the people in the middle east, and the people who you believe are tearing apart the fabric of America.

"Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone (Romans 12:17)," not just what is right for white, Christian, conservative, upper-middle class American citizens.

"If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites (or Americans) in any of the towns of the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them (Deuteronomy 15:7)," and maybe don't take away their health insurance, Medicare/Medicaid, early childhood education, or veteran benefits.

"Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God." (Proverbs 14:31)

"One who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth and one who gives gifts to the rich—both come to poverty (Proverbs 22:16)." Does this not sound like our political system?

"From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." (Luke 12:48b)  It is not okay that the top 0.1% of America (318,000 people) has more money than the bottom 90% (286,200,000 people) COMBINED. If the top 1% paid the same tax rate as everyone else, the Republican politicians would not be justified in cutting necessary social programs because of "budget constraints."

Ask yourself this - are the politicians who campaign on a conservative courageous Christian platform REALLY representing your understanding of Christianity? Their platform is aimed at restoring our liberties and steering American back to the Christian nation it was mean to be, but what would a country look like when it's guided by the passages above? Are these politicians promising to enact policies that help everyone when the policies are actually discriminatory toward minority groups (defunding ACA, slashing Medicare/Medicaid, blocking immigration reform, etc.)? Do these politicians fight for the good of everyone, American and non-American alike, or do they pursue action like indefinite war, genocide, and the destruction of economy and resources in other countries? Do they stand up for the rights of people who aren't courageous conservative Christians, or do they use their courageous Christian conservatism to highlight the moral divide between "us" and "them"? 

As far as I can tell, none of the current presidential candidates is going to get my vote. I just can't get behind someone who takes from the poor to give to the ultra-rich, prioritizes war and military over necessary social services, holds the government and legislative progress hostage in the name of Christian conviction, or condones (or worse, commits) hateful action  disguised as Christian freedom.