Condemn me for the truth, not lies.

Mark 14:53-65

       In the routine events of the day I am very likely to pass a good compliment my husbands way. He is very intelligent, funny, a good (honest) businessman, has a good heart and he is a hunk if I do say so.  How blessed am I? He may very well respond by saying, yeah, but you are prejudiced. I will counter with, 'yes I am, but it's (the compliment) still the truth'.

         I have been told that it is not conceit if you say how good you are at something and you really are. Truth is truth.

         In contrast, there are lies and damn lies as is the case in this reading. Jesus' accusers cannot get their story straight. They are coming up with half truth and lies in an effort to condemn him. Jesus comes right out and tells the truth as inconvenient as it may seem for him, for as we know he is killed in the end.

          It's the part about lies and damn lies that really gets my knickers in a knot.  Jesus was aware of the lies being told about him, in a similar fashion I bristle at the lies spoken about the gay community and the 'gay lifestyle'.  Lies that involve pedophilia, 'recruiting', casual mindless sex and more.  The lies make my blood boil even though I know to an intelligent person, the lies are transparent and laughable. Still others will follow the lies and condemn just as Jesus was condemned.  The inconvenient truth of the matter may be that in the gay community we probably do like sex more than the average person, we are more comfortable with our bodies and our sexual nature more than the average person. Promiscuity? I would say no more than the average person. After all it is the 'straight lifestyle' that brought divorce, infidelity, group sex and (excuse me) titty bars and pickup joints. I'd say the inconvenient truth is really that many of the accusers are more guilty of sexual sins than the average gay person.

         The issue is, and what needs to happen, is a separation of the facts from prejudice and misinformation. How can we do that? I think a major step is living out and proud within the community so that people see and know that we are the same as everyone else. Our marriages have the same blessings and blunders.  It behooves everyone to come out of the closet and be proud of how God made them, no matter how inconvenient a truth it may be for some. 

        If we as a community and as individuals are condemned, let us be condemned for the right thing and not misinformation and lies.  I will confess I love my husband with all my heart, all my mind and all my soul. This is an extension of my love of self and an expression of the love God has so graciously graced me with. If this is sin, I should be condemned.

They took Jesus to the high priest; and all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes were assembled. Peter had followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest; and he was sitting with the guards, warming himself at the fire. Now the chief priests and the whole council were looking for testimony against Jesus to put him to death; but they found none. For many gave false testimony against him, and their testimony did not agree. Some stood up and gave false testimony against him, saying, ‘We heard him say, “I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.” ’ But even on this point their testimony did not agree. Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, ‘Have you no answer? What is it that they testify against you?’ But he was silent and did not answer. Again the high priest asked him, ‘Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?’ Jesus said, ‘I am; and
“you will see the Son of Man
seated at the right hand of the Power”,
and “coming with the clouds of heaven.” ’
Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, ‘Why do we still need witnesses? You have heard his blasphemy! What is your decision?’ All of them condemned him as deserving death. Some began to spit on him, to blindfold him, and to strike him, saying to him, ‘Prophesy!’ The guards also took him over and beat him.