Category: Prayer Request

Thoughts on restoring religious freedom

/ CD Hamman / Leave a comment

If you are reading this, I ask that you please read the entire post. You are free to disagree, but I will delete any reply that I determine to be disrespectful, or in poor taste.

I’m going to try to put this as simple as I can. Laws attempting to restore religious freedoms became necessary when activist judges and courts started declaring that certain businesses must accommodate everyone’s lifestyle.

Now typically the business that have been targeted have been Christian owned. Many are simple mom and pop type places like bakeries and florists shops, and wedding photographers. The activists that tend to target these businesses want to force everyone to celebrate their new found legal right to get married.

I’m sorry to have to say this, but no one, individual or business should be forced to support or provide services against their conscience. We are not talking about things that a person can’t change, like skin color, gender, or ancestry. We are talking about chosen lifestyles. We discriminate against people every day for behaviors. Yes, many try to claim their behavior is because they were born that way. Sorry, there still has not been any evidence of a gay gene, a hate gene, an anger gene, a drunk or stoned gene, or any other gene that determines how one must choose to behave or live. So far, the only evidence has shown that a person may be born with a propensity to behave or respond in certain ways. And yet, even then, there is evidence that nurture can chance nature. Once we accept the fallacy that “I behave like this because I’m born this way,” then personal responsibility simply has to also go out the window.

Before I continue, I must clarify, that certain professions must never be permitted to refuse service, those being primarily public safety and health professionals. And a true Christian in these professions, I do not believe, would refuse to do his or her job. I also would not support a business in general, refusing to serve anyone. However, they can and should be allowed to determine acceptable behavior for their establishment. We all need flowers, groceries, pictures, and baked goods. But when you try to force someone to help you celebrate a lifestyle that they do not agree with, for whatever reason, you have crossed a line. Many of the businesses that have been the targets of these activist lawsuits have gladly done business with members of the gay and lesbian community; except when they were asked to help those individuals celebrate a gay marriage. Now my first response to this is that it just is not reasonable to want someone, no matter how good they are, to provide services for something they don’t feel they can support in good conscience. That’s like walking into a Jewish or Muslim owned meat market and demanding that they sell you pork. Or expecting a divorce attorney to represent you in a criminal case. That’s just not smart.

Bottom line, if you want to celebrate a marriage, or any event that your baker, caterer, wedding planner or photographer may be opposed to, then be civilized enough to accept that they can’t provide you with their best for that occasion, and find someone who does.

Now, to the Christians…Folks, we blew it a long time ago. It’s time we start cleaning up our own acts, and hitting our knees, instead of simply blaming the gays or politicians, or whoever else we want to blame. We have let the devil into too many of our churches. Granted, that’s been going on since the days of the early church. And we still haven’t learned. We preach against homosexuality, yet find every possible excuse to justify our own sin, divorces, extramarital affairs, lust, anger, hateful attitudes, gossip, or even stealing. It’s not even uncommon for these things to take place at the church. And we too make excuses for our own failures and sin, using the age old excuse, “I can’t help it. God made me this way.”

Ladies and gentlemen, I’m under conviction myself here too, so if I’m stepping on your toes, then good, because I’m also stepping on mine. I certainly have no room to simply point my finger at anyone. I too have been guilty of divorce and gossip, and even hateful attitudes. But, I’ve been forgiven for my sins, and that is not the way God expects His children to live. Daily I still have to approach God’s throne and ask for a fresh filling of his Holy Spirit. Frequently, I say or do something that the Holy Spirit convicts me of, and I repent. I may be the only Jesus someone sees today. And I do not want to be the reason that someone rejects Christ.

We also need to be very much aware of how we treat others. First, we can’t love those outside the church if we don’t love our brothers and sisters inside the church. The world will know we are Christians by our love; for each other, and for others. I certainly do not agree with the lifestyles chosen by those in the GLBT community. But I also do not believe that we have any right to be hateful toward them, any more than we have a right to be hateful to the drug addict, the drunk, the unwed mother, the prostitute, our brothers, our sisters, or anyone else. We will not win people to Christ by being hateful. If you provide a service, and yet you feel you cannot in good conscience provide it for anyone in any lifestyle or circumstance, you can still be loving in your refusal to provide the service. We all work with many different people, from many different backgrounds. Regardless how we feel about them, we still, as representatives of Christ must treat them with human dignity and respect. Hating the sin does not mean hating the sinner. Loving the sinner does not mean loving or accepting the sin. Be a friend. Be Jesus. I’m not saying it’s easy, but make the effort. And let the Holy Spirit do his job. I have been blessed to know some wonderful people whose lifestyles and behaviors I do not necessarily agree with. I am pleased to call them my family, and my friends. And I pray for them to know the transforming power of Jesus Christ. I trust that one day they will. In the meantime, I love them, and try to let Jesus shine through me. I want to see through His eyes.

My response to President Obama

/ CD Hamman / Leave a comment

So, our President pointed out this week that Christians have committed atrocities in the name of Christ, just like ISIS and other radical Islamic groups are doing today in the name of Islam. As I read the words that he spoke, and have thought about them I can’t help but feel like he is actually trying to justify the atrocities currently being committed by these terrorists.

Sadly, Mr. President, you were partially correct in saying that Christians committed atrocities during the crusades. Yes, sadly, there were some serious crimes against humanity committed by the crusaders. However, the purpose of the crusades was not to forcibly spread Christianity and murder all who opposed it. The primary purpose of the crusades was to liberate the Holy Land, and others, which had been brutally attacked, and taken over by, guess who… radical Muslims, who declared it to be their God given duty to destroy any who do not believe exactly as they do.

And yes, as I studied the history of Christianity in seminary, I was appalled by the atrocities that Christians, Catholics and Protestants alike, have committed in the name of Christ, even against each other. I have been disgusted at the way our leaders have often behaved. But the sins of the past in no way provide a defense, or excuse for the atrocities currently being committed. And to reference those past actions and failures of others is nothing more than a poor attempt to overlook, excuse, or even worse, to justify the current crimes against humanity being committed by isis and other terrorist groups.

Mr. President, if that is the best you can do, tell us that we shouldn’t get on our high horse because of past behaviors of others who claimed to be Christians, while our nation and the world are under attack from a violent and dangerous enemy, then you are unfit to lead this nation. You should resign, as you have shown that you are unwilling and unable to take any real action to protect or defend the United States, and our Constitution against any enemy. In fact, you are beginning to sound like an apologist for them.

Finally, may we who confess to be followers Christ, fall on our knees and pray for our nation, and for forgiveness, as a nation. We must also pray for our leaders, that they may have the wisdom and the courage to lead us back to honoring God, as well as to stand up against evil.

My thoughts on Robin Williams’ suicide

/ CD Hamman / Leave a comment

This week the world lost a talented actor and comedian. But the death of Robin Williams also brings to the spotlight a very serious health problem, depression. It does not have to lead to suicide. Many people condemn the individual who had taken this drastic and tragic step to end his or her pain. I can’t. I won’t.

I know all too well the pain that leads one to contemplate such a drastic step. I have thought about it many times through my entire life. Fourteen years ago I even wrote the note that I was going to leave behind. Suicide has nothing to do with the desire to die. I do not, and have never wanted to die.  I simply wanted to end the pain that I was experiencing, and that I felt I was causing my family. I truly, at that moment thought that my family would be better off without me. I’m one of the lucky ones though. Upon completing my suicide letter I felt a relief. I re-read it and and immediately destroyed it. I also sought professional help. Find a trained counselor. Preferably a Christian counselor.

To those who may know someone battling depression, come along side then and love them. Encourage them. Pray for them.  Depression is an illness. Sadly, or is a hidden problem. And our nice Christian, churchy platitudes don’t help. But prayer and love work wonders.

Finally, do not assume that one who has taken this extreme step is automatically condemned to hell. First, it is not our place to judge. Second, let God be God. I can only hope and pray that there was once last chance for that person to seek forgiveness. Not to mention, the friends and family left behind really don’t need to hear that.

My prayers go out to, not only the family ams frowns of Robin Williams,  but to all who have lost a friend or family member to suicide.

And to those battling depression, or contemplating suicide, please hang on just one more day. Or, if need be, just one more minute. I know you may be feeling all alone,  but you are not alone.