Oppression

From our friends at Stupid Church People:

I have a suggestion for Christians.

Please take Christ out of Christmas. Now.

I don't think he would want to have anything to do with it to be quite honest.

While you are at it, take Christ out of the word Christian. Why? Because you suck as a representative. You really do.

So starting now, if I was you, I would begin to work really hard at disassociating Christ from everything you hold so dear... and you might as well start with Christmas. Oh, and your church...that would be a good idea to.

He's really better off on his own without you.

Isaiah speaks

"See how the faithful city
has become a harlot!
she once was full of justice;
righteousness used to dwell in her-
but now murderers!
your silver has become dross,
your choice wine is diluted with water.
your rulers are rebels,
companions of thieves;
they all love bribes
and chase after gifts.
they do not defend the cause of the fatherless;
the widow's case does not come before them."

Isaiah 1:21-23

Between the Bars

I fully believe with all my heart that all of the ingredients necessary to stop the spread of AIDS and to take care of those who are already infected, actually really exist in the Church, but not the church as is today. The Church today is arrogant, unrepentant, self-righteous, and hypocritical…we’ve got secrets, we’re hypocrites, we’re self-righteous, we’re not broken and I do believe that that gets in the way of our ability to be a space for individuals who desire to feel valued and heard.
I believe that’s what the HIV/AIDS pandemic represents. So we as the church of Christ, in our brokenness, have an amazing yet tragic opportunity in our hands, to be the true church of Christ, that values and listens with intent.

I’m gonna give you three things to walk away with:
This pandemic, both locally and globally, is feedback to the church. We are unwilling to have difficult conversations with the outside world.
The pandemic is a flag. Every people group that have been infected or affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic is basically a group that is looking and dying to be heard and dying to feel valued.
Two things my patients have asked of me both verbally and non-verbally, as I have walked with them on their journey in HIV/AIDS
1. Don’t lie to me, please be trustworthy. Don’t be a hypocrite. Be authentic.
2. Don’t leave me, don’t ever leave me. No matter whatever circumstance.
Those are two things we learned in the sand box. I feel like if we could walk those things out, that we would be the ultimate in terms of serving, not only the HIV community, but all communities.

Dr. Becky Kune, MD
AIDS specialist/researcher/activist
(speaking last year)