REJECTED

aplacetotalk was attempting to join and receive some support from a well known Christian denomination over the past few months. In that process I was asked to meet with the leadership of a local department of that denomination. I prayed throughout the process that God's will would be done, but I now realize that although I would say, and even pray for God's will I really wanted what seemed advantageous for the forward momentum of aplacetotalk. I constantly teach and say that it isn't about an organization (or Sunday morning club, like aplacetotalk) but that it is really about people! Meeting and ministering to people in the name of Jesus Christ and through the energy and power of Jesus Christ is the real goal. Yesterday a group from aplacetotalk built a handicap ramp for a gentleman who had some trouble getting into and out of his house. Yes we worked on a Sunday. I am not even going to take a touch of energy to validate our ministry yesterday. Well the leadership team from that "well known denomination" asked me a series of questions. At the heart of every question was the desire to know whether or not our participation in the denomination would damage their reputation. One of the questions was "What would you do if a homosexual group asked to use the aplacetotalk building?" Now there was a prior question that may or may not have led to this question. One revolved around the question of authority. This isn't a direct quote but the question was basically, How do you make decisions, or who will make decisions at aplacetotalk? I responded that we will discuss the decision as a group and try to come to a saying that pleases the group. I explained that we do things that way based on scriptures where we read "the saying pleased the multitude," like Acts 6:5.

So back to the question, "What would you do if a homosexual group asked to use the aplacetotalk building?" I responded to that question by saying "First of all, let me say that I am glad that I wouldn't have to make that decision alone. I would talk to the people and they would get to decide." Then the "leadership team" of the well known denomination asked me what I would do if there wasn't an agreement and I responded "Until there was an agreement we would have to wait." Later in the conversation I did say that if I believed that homosexuality was sin, just like gluttony, lies, gossip, and murder. I also added that if I believed there was any chance of influencing this imaginary group of homosexuals for Jesus Christ I would have to strongly consider allowing them to use the building. However; we can't forget that I wouldn't make that decision alone. I have no more rights to the aplacetotalk building than any other aplacetotalk partner or participant. We haven't discussed or planned anything about membership or partnership yet either so we need to nail that down someday as well. But that is a different blog post all together.
Anyway I am writing because I got a phone call today and the message was, and I quote "Hey Josh this is _(his name)_ uh, I talked to the leadership team and they said no on signing off on you guys mostly because of the willingness to have open homosexual groups come into the church uh if you need to call me back go ahead... talk to you later, bye."

Are you as surprised by this as I am? aplacetotalk was rejected by this little organization based on the possibility that some "imaginary group" may want to have an "imaginary cookout or meeting" on our property and we might have an "imaginary meeting" and discuss the possibility of allowing this "imaginary group" have an "imaginary cookout" on our property. I am so glad that I don't have to live in that "imaginary world" where human beings have imaginary authority over other human beings. I am so glad that I live in the real world where Jesus (the real King with the real authority) allows blacks, whites, racists, homosexuals, rednecks, democrats, republicans, fat people, skinny people, smart people, dumb people, alcoholics, drug abusers, rapists, rappers, bloggers, and even pastors live on His property and He doesn't toss them out just because they aren't perfect.