2009
That’s so Gay…You’re so Retarded
A couple weeks ago I was watching an Online Video Interview with a fairly well known Pastor of a Really Big Church. He had a ton of great ideas and experiences around leadership and doing church differently.
The problem wasn’t what he was talking about, but rather how he was saying it. After several references to Viagra and leaders needing to “growing a pair”, he said that a worship song they had done a few weeks back was “So GAY”. Then to top it off he referenced some story about a staff member recently acting ”RETARDED“.
Really? We can’t do better than this…In the world we live in…as followers of Jesus Christ…when I have so many friends who are gay…and know several families who are raising children with very real physical and mental limitations…we can’t do better than this?
How have we created a Christian Culture where we can call something bad or dumb – GAY or RETARDED, but we won’t call someone an asshole – cause that’s swearing…and we don’t do that. (btw – I am the first to admit that I swear wayyy too much…as you can see from that last sentence)
Every time I hear someone call something Gay or Retarded, the not-so-loving side of me wants to go grab my friend Steven and say, “Oh you mean like this? Gay like him?” Or drive our friends over who are raising a 9 year old autistic child and say, “Oh you mean retarded like this right? That outfit you’re making fun of is just like this child, right?”
I know that’s not the right response. And I know there are a ton of 2×12’s in my own eye…but when it comes to these two words… I just think we can do better.
Your Turn :: This week – Anytime you catch yourself saying Gay or Retarded in a condescending or derogatory way this week – Stop and publicly ask for forgiveness. Do that for this week, and I guarantee next week will be different.
honestly, if Wanda Sykes has to educate us on this one…we can do better…
