Rick Land & Russ Tapp: Blog

Isn't it amazing - what with all the complexity of the world we have heard nothing in the news this week but the details about Tiger Woods. Perhaps it is just me...I fail to see the need, relevance or actual importance of his sexual activity.  Down through history human beings dally and do all kinds of nutty things which are of absolutely no importance to anyone. I actually got out of the house yesterday with two different colors of socks!  Imagine the embarrassment if someone had noticed. 

In holy scripture we read hundreds of details concerning the private lives of old testament prophets, kings, queens, priests, rulers et al.  There are some pretty "seamy" activities in the private lives of the most powerful people down through history.  Does this have any relevance whatsoever during this season of Advent in the year 2009?   You bet it does! 

I was watching the history channel last evening and the subject was concerning the profiles and lists of activities kept by J. Edgar Hoover on practically every noteworthy individual in this country.  These documents can now be viewed and examined and we now know that he used this information to literally control not only the rich and powerful but his job at the FBI and his own personal privacy concerning his homosexuality.

There must be a point at which our humanity becomes irrelevant and our personal and private behavior is of no interest to anyone as long as it is credible, safe and legal.  Sex among Americans in general has been an inherent subject that is radically misunderstood.   Men seem to need more of it than women.  It drives "religionists" crazy. Sex coupled with anger has resulted in unspeakable behavior and death. We are inundated with sex in advertising - it sells. Everyone deserves to have their own individual sexual proclivities. Now it seems that parts of the Episcopal Church is going nuts and realigning themselves with African entities that are 800 years behind the times. The common folk down there are as vulnerable and easily manipulated as perhaps any culture on earth. It now appears that several American evangelical control freaks have influenced some of their like minded religious leaders in Uganda.  The judgements against LGBT individuals in Uganda is almost beyond belief - we have had international wars to stop genocide and yet this kind of thing is still around...now Ugandan fundamentalists want to kill and imprison individuals over who has sex with whom or who loves whom!  

I never cease to be amazed at the constant political issues surrounding national leaders, senators and congressmen who have sex with other people.  Perhaps we are missing something here? 

I would like to suggest we all take a private little test. Ready, here we go.

1. Describe your own individual sexual and emotional needs.

2. Describe your personal definition of guilt or remorse.

3. Describe your expectations of others based on your own personal religious, educational and ethical beliefs.

4. Have you ever consciously or subconsciously judged, critisized, maligned or spread false rumors about anyone?

5. If and when you feel vulnerable, alone and afraid what do you do?

6. Do you believe that sex is a social, religious or personal matter?

7. Have you ever considered your own personal vulnerability as a human being before establishing an opinion concerning the behavior of other people?

These questions actually have nothing to do with sex, religion or human behavior - these are questions concerning the basic way our brains function.  We have not yet evolved to the point where we understand that the brain is the "source point" of all human behavior. We put people in categories, races, colors, denominations, class, ability, on and on ad infinitum. 

I suggest a simple solution to our obessions with all human behavior...in the words of Jesus Christ - "he who is without sin let him cast the first stone". 

In this season of Advent, perhaps we need a strong reminder that Jesus brought to us a whole new way of thinking and we as "christians" of all people, after 2000 years need to stop running around like a bunch of pious hypocritical self appointed judges of humanity!