Thursday, June 12, 2014

Words Matter

Words Matter

 “Zeal: a strong feeling of interest and enthusiasm that makes someone very eager or determined to do something”

 “Wisdom: knowledge of what is proper or reasonable : good sense or judgment"

      If you’ve been around me recently and engaged in any sort of deep conversation you probably have heard me use the term, “Zeal without wisdom,” when referring to certain political groups or people. The reason I’ve been using this term is because it is something I have felt that I have needed tempered in my own life and so I feel particularly sensitive to the phenomenon when I see it in play around me, and lately I’ve see it a lot.

      Before I start I realize there may be readers who don’t know me so let me preface this blog with a few disclaimers:

1. I’m a Christian conservative

2. I believe in traditional marriage…strongly

      Now onto the subject matter that has been bothering me for the last week since my participation with the Texas Republican Convention and the platform that was just adopted.

     Where to start?

      I remember in 2012 being blown away at the discovery of some Christians, and some that I even respect in leadership, deciding to just not vote in the Presidential election because they, “…couldn’t vote for a Mormon (Romney).” Thereby giving their vote, by abdicating their responsibility, to a man who has since spit upon our faith, our Constitution and our founding (Obama).

 —Zeal without wisdom.

      What they, and others, couldn’t seem to understand is that we were not hiring a pastor, we weren’t electing someone to the board of a seminary, we were not deciding on a head of a religious organization. We were electing the President of the United States of America. The Commander in Chief of our armed forces and the leader of our “executive” branch of our equally distributed branches of government. I focus on “executive” because ones theological leanings should not necessarily be a disqualifying factor for the position. And, I’d like to take a moment to point out, the Mormon faith is a lot more in line with mainline Christianity, as far as the conduct of ones character, than what we see in the White House now, this is a perfect example of well meaning people cutting off their nose to spite their face.

       Unfortunately, I experienced this same “zeal without wisdom” this past weekend when first reading the horrendously worded portions of our temporary, and what would become our permanent, platform.

       After a conversation last night with a fellow leader in the Young Republicans over the language of the document I felt a tearing in my heart because I could see why the words were chosen, and I could also see how they should never, ever have been included in our platform.

       I know that many who read this will disagree with me if you are upset with the platform, but I’m going to ask you for a moment to put aside your frustration as I will ask the same of the other side here in a little while.

       This is the exact language that was adopted into the platform:

       “Reparative Therapy - We recognize the legitimacy and efficacy of counseling, which offers reparative therapy and treatment for those patients seeking healing and wholeness from their homosexual lifestyle. No laws or executive orders shall be imposed to limit or restrict access to this type of therapy.” 

        I know that the words concerning homosexuality were chosen out of a place of love and not necessarily of judgement, specifically “healing” and “wholeness.” If you truly believe that someone is leading a life that is harmful to themselves and others, I ask you, what is the most loving thing you could do for that person? You call them out and let them know that you think their lifestyle is harmful and you want to help them, wouldn’t you? Would it not be cruel to do otherwise?

       Ok, that being said, they should have never, ever, ever been allowed into the platform. Other that the last sentence underlined, everything else was unnecessary and hurtful to the entire party and could, in the long term, hurt the very goal of this amendment. The Republican Party platform is not a place to disseminate specific personal ideological agendas. It is not a mission statement for a religious entity or a pulpit for dogma. For example: I found it repulsive that the Log Cabin Republicans were not allowed a table at the convention. You want to talk about behavior that is antithetical to Christ? I say, it is the alienation of an entire group of those who you say need Christ, while using the platform to preach to them about their lifestyle. I’d rather the authors of these amendments try doing that face to face, but they are probably too “busy.”

        By denying them their ability to be heard at the convention, and then decrying their lifestyle to the nation we have become no better than the atheistic demigogs who are trying to forcefully wear away the Christian foundation of our country. WE have become the thought police we say we so despise.

       There is a huge difference between strongly coming out in support of “reparative therapy” and its validity as an option to those who are seeking it, I support that 100%, and outright endorsement, that I can’t support. The amendment should have started and ended, with a statement strongly opposing government infringement upon the private decision of an individual to choose or not choose the treatment(s) they so desire. To come out strongly in support of traditional marriage would have been great, but to bloviate on as if the platform was a blog upon which you could merely give your own opinion was unnecessary, and I’ll go as far as foolish. This was not the time nor the place to discuss the morality of a lifestyle and the intricacies of whether or not it is a chosen lifestyle or not.

 Here is the amendment on homosexuality:

        “Homosexuality - Homosexuality is a chosen behavior that is contrary to the fundamental unchanging truths that have been ordained by God in the Bible, recognized by our nations founders, and shared by the majority of Texans. Homosexuality must not be presented as an acceptable alternative lifestyle, in public policy, nor should family be redefined to include the creation of special status for homosexual behavior, regardless of state of origin. Additionally we oppose any criminal or civil penalties against those who oppose homosexuality out of faith, conviction, or belief in traditional values.” 

        I mean, in all seriousness, this is as bloated as the federal government. All we needed to say was we support traditional marriage and oppose the persecution of those who hold traditional values, both personally and professionally. But instead we have become the very demon we are trying to fight. We must stop demonizing every left wing group that demands synchronicity of thought or destruction if we are going to do the same.

        I do not support the end goals of the LGBT movement, I do not. But this is not the way to a stronger party, this is the way of destroying our party. And if our party goes, our country goes with it. 

Zeal: a strong feeling of interest and enthusiasm that makes someone very eager or determined to do something”

without:

Wisdom: knowledge of what is proper or reasonable : good sense or judgment

       In other words, foolishly flailing about. We will draw attention to ourselves by doing it, but I doubt it is the attention we want.