The Mosaic

Nothing is static or fixed... 

My good friend Jonathan Merritt just published a children’s book that came out on Tuesday called My Guncle and Me. It’s a celebration of individuality and inclusivity that reminds young readers that what makes them different is what makes them special. Jonathan asked me to promote the book on my shared social media account with Cameron Vickrey called @reverendmamas. I decided in the caption to share the following:

Friends, I have to tell you a really important story - a story I'm not proud of, but a story that I hope will help you not give up on people.

When I was a sophomore in college I was asked by my English professor to write a paper defending a point of view. "Anything you're passionate about," he said. Do you know what I chose? I chose to write a paper on why homosexuality was incompatible with Christian teaching. I spent hours in the library writing that 18 page paper and pulling out those infamous clobber passages to defend my position. For whatever reason, homosexuality felt like such a threat to me and my faith.

Here's the miracle: 16 years later I am the senior pastor of an open and affirming Baptist church and my best friend, who I talk to every morning before work, is gay. We travel with him and his husband and are raising our kids together. And get this: I just signed our church up to be a vendor at Dallas's upcoming pride parade. I'm looking forward to wearing my stole and letting the gay community in Dallas know that this clergy person loves them.

So here's the thing: Nothing is static or fixed. The world is continually being reborn, including ourselves. Who would have guessed I'd be here now? Certainly not me. But, look, if we're serious about our faith, then we should see transformation, we should see growth, we should see ourselves changing our minds. That's not a vice, it's a virtue. It's a sign of being reborn.

Today I'm incredibly proud of my friend Jonathan Merritt who wrote this beautiful book about inclusion and celebrating difference. Please order yourself a copy and share it with the children in your life. Don't let them grow up defending a faith that doesn't welcome everyone to the table. When asked to write a paper on something they’re passionate about, let’s hope it’s about love and not bigotry. This book will help ensure that.

"In the world, people come in all shapes and sizes. Some fear who they are, so they put on disguises.
But my guncle has shown me that you can be what you wish. You can fly like a bird or swim like a fish.
You can move like a dancer or sing like a star. You can be who God made you whatever you are."

Be whoever God made you, friends. And don’t give up on people. Nothing and no one is static or fixed. And again, order this book!