She went there. Right in the middle of dinner.
She went right out there and said it.
"You didn’t really hope for gay children, did you?"
DEAD SILENCE.
“I just think... any parent would want a normal child.”
BOOM!
An explosion of anger, hate and frustration, all directed toward Meredith, the one houseguest in "The Family Stone" that dared to call into question the legitimacy of homosexuality.
What is it about this topic, above all others, that ingnites such a flashfire of emotion? Just the mere mention of it can inflame heated debate in seconds, and turn friends and family against eachother with such ferocity that mending those relationships can take a lifetime.
What do we do about it? And specifically, what do we do when it's not just on TV, not just in the movies, not just a political agenda, but it comes into our own personal private home?
Those were the questions we grappled with at our last two meetings of THE DECODER RING. We watched "The Family Stone" and worked through our very strong reactions to the obvious agenda in the movie: that of the acceptance and encouragement of homosexuality and the promotion of gay adoption.
We slogged through all the arguments that the gay agenda rides on these days, from the ubsunstantiated claim of biological determinism, to the 10 percent myth, to the most dangerous lie of all, that "God made me this way." We watched scenes from several films that promote the gay agenda, the most prevalent being the Victim/Sympathy ploy, and the ever-popular Demonization of Opponents (Ad Hominem) argument.
There was SO much to go through that we just couldn't take it all in and process it. So we hosted an encore screening to address the developmental view of this disorder, to gain further insight and empathy for those who stuggle with it. And both times we went to the only place where we could gain clarity and direction: God's Word. The Bible spoke confidently and clearly about the fallen nature of man, and the need for redemption. Jesus calls all people to Himself, and never requires us to "clean up" before we come to him (Matthew 9:10-13).
So what is our response? To extend only grace and love in our one-on-one conversations with people who wrestle with ANY type of sin, especially this one. We are to reserve judgment for God alone, and rest in the comfort that He doesn't need our help to change lives. But He can make us witness to the wonderful transforming power of Jesus and the cross.
Our journey with the Lord is far from over. He has so much to teach us, and we need to be ready to face the difficult topics and let Him change our minds. And that's what THE DECODER RING is all about. See you next time. God bless.
We Will Try To Behave Like A Civilized Family
THE FAMILY STONE (2005)rated PG13 (for language and drug references)
Written and Directed by
Thomas Bezucha
Starring Sarah Jessica Parker,
Diane Keaton, Dermot Mulroney,
Rachel McAdams, Luke Wilson,
Claire Danes, and Craig T. Nelson.
By popular demand, join us for a special
ENCORE PRESENTATION
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18 at 6:00pm
ENCORE PRESENTATION
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18 at 6:00pm
at the Church Office!
MARK 5:19b - "Go home to your family and tell them how much
the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you."
Read more about THE FAMILY STONE at IMDB
MARK 5:19b - "Go home to your family and tell them how much
the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you."
Read more about THE FAMILY STONE at IMDB
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