Acceptance seems a better Christian path

I‘m wading into dangerous territory here.

But after reading about Ruth Malhotra’s lawsuit last week, I’m wondering about her definition of the word “Christian.”

I realize my definition wouldn’t match that of the person sitting in the next pew, let alone in the church across the street. And I know the question is likely to instantly turn off anyone who doesn’t personally claim that label.

Very dangerous territory.

But I can’t figure out why Ruth Malhotra wants to wrap her religious identity around an issue the Bible never quotes Jesus Christ addressing.

Malhotra is the Georgia Institute of Technology senior who, according to a Los Angeles Times story, recently filed a lawsuit against her school. She claims it banned her from practicing her Christian faith by speaking out against homosexuality.

The Los Angeles Times story quoted the Rev. Rick Scarborough saying, “Christians are going to have to take a stand for the right to be Christian.”

This story troubled me because it seemed to unquestioningly accept the notion that to be Christian means to oppose the acceptance of gays and lesbians. I read the story and wondered where the quotes were from progressive Christians who see this issue very differently.

Many of the Christians I admire most are those who actively work to increase their churches’ openness on this issue. When they take a stand, it’s for welcoming gay Christians into their congregations and their clergy.

And no matter how they view homosexuality, most Christians I know don’t make that issue the central focus of their religious life.

I asked an 80-year-old friend, whose faith is much firmer than mine, about this question last week.

She does not look at the Bible as a Betty Crocker Cookbook of recipes to follow literally to create a good life. She points out that the book of Leviticus, which sets out the harshest rules about homosexuality, contains all sorts of proscriptions Christians not only ignore, but would be revolted by.

Instead, my friend believes the Bible should be read to discern its dominant messages and themes. She finds the core of her faith reflected in the words she believes that Christ did say.

She’s made a list of the passages from the Bible she wants to have read at her funeral. It starts out with the “least of these” verses in Matthew 25: “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me … just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.”

The Christians I admire most find ways to live out these far more important words in the Bible. Like my friend, they wrap their faith around enduring values of love, justice, truth, peace and compassion.

They act it out by bringing meals to homeless teens at Crosswalk, by building Habitat for Humanity houses or by caring for one of Spokane’s many refugee families from countries like Afghanistan.

In recent days they may have worn rainbow-colored ribbons at Lewis and Clark High School to protest discrimination against gays and lesbians. They may have joined a walk through the city last night drawing attention to the estimated 30,000 children who have been abducted and forced to become soldiers for the rebel army in Uganda.

They find all sorts of ways to act out their faith that don’t involve speaking words of discrimination or intolerance.

My friend has a batch of questions for the young woman in Georgia.

They start out with these: What does the gospel really mean to you? And what would you want to tell someone in deep pain about God’s love that would have the power to make his or her life better?

Perhaps in thinking through her answers to my wise friend’s questions, this student might discover new ways to define herself as a Christian.

Right about now, if you haven’t zipped off to read the Zits cartoon, you may be considering sending me your own definition.

I have another proposal: This week, if you’re a Christian, compare your answers to my wise friend’s questions with the person in the next pew and someone else from another church. If you aren’t one, compare your definition of the term with a couple of Christians you know.

If you find the experience intriguing or enlightening, send me an e-mail about the results.

I’ll be interested to hear what you discover.