Bless Us With Anger?

Yesterday at the inaugural welcoming ceremony, Bishop V. Gene Robison offered an invocation for the nation and the president-elect.  The openly-gay bishop is the subject of much controversy and has come to serve as a representative for the inclusion of gay clergy within the church.  In his inaugurate prayer, Robison prays the following:

“Bless us with anger – at discrimination, at home and abroad, against refugees and immigrants, women, people of color, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.”

“Bless us with freedom from mere tolerance – replacing it with a genuine respect and warm embrace of our differences, and an understanding that in our diversity, we are stronger.”

While there are other issues that I have in his complete prayer (to read Robinson’s entire prayer click here), these two points are the ones that challenge me the most.  For clarity, I will begin by stating that I do not agree with Robison nor do I support the principles and theology he stands for.  I believe that he is misleading so many who are desperately trying to reconcile their faith with their same-sex attractions and he will be held accountable for his actions.  The theology and philosophies he promotes is one of the most critical frontline issues that the church faces today.

His prayer for tolerance confirms what we’ve known to be true all along.  It is not tolerance that is being asked for, but unfettered acceptance.  Of course, I can and will extend the respect that any creation of God should receive.  This is necessary as a mature believer.  However, to ask that I “warmly embrace” a teaching and belief that so counters the truth is unacceptable.  I’m afraid we will not be united on that front so I won’t belabor this point.

But this is what I find most interesting:  “Bless us with anger.”

Really?

While I do not desire to see anyone treated with disrespect, I will not ask the Lord to “bless me with anger.”  I ask that He will guide me and give me discernment and wisdom in the midst of righteous indignation.  (If I am pursuing God’s will and what pleases Him, I won’t need to ask for righteous anger, it will come naturally.)  I will ask for guidance and compassion when I see a gay-identified person (or anyone else) treated with contempt and disrespect.  And, I will also ask for guidance and compassion when I see religious liberties attacked and compromised under the category and agenda of gay rights.

If Gene Robison truly means what he says in his prayer, then I ask how that anger will be received when it finds its expression through those who, based on religious conviction, have been discriminated against and denied their religious freedom.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Christ gives us several scenarios in which we can be “blessed.”  Too often, we perceive blessings as those things which make us happy.  We cannot pray; “Bless us with these things so that, in the end, we will get what we want and be justified in what we believe to be truth.”  In the Beatitudes, “blessed” does not mean ‘happy’ but rather it describes a state that is achieved when we embrace the responsibilities, qualities, and character of being a citizen of God’s Kingdom.  We will be in a state of being “blessed” when we walk in humility before God and each other; when we passionately pursue righteousness on every level; when we are utterly sincere in our thoughts and motives towards God and there are no idols that contend against Him (pure in heart); and when we constantly acknowledge our spiritual poverty and are dependent only on Him and upon nothing else that we believe will bring us satisfaction and happiness.  We will be “blessed” when we pursue the agenda of God’s Kingdom and no other.

So, I’m afraid that I cannot join Robison in his prayer for anger and discomfort.

I’m still working on that overdue character-study that Jesus assigned a long time ago.