Obama, Acts 10, and Picnics
Yesterday, President Obama made it official that he affirms same-sex couples’ right to marry. It was bold – no doubt it will cost him votes, but it will also win him votes. Certainly Mr. Obama’s statement was to some extent motivated by informed political strategy, but I also feel like the President was speaking from his heart. He mentioned some of the same-sex couples who work on his staff that are raising children in healthy and loving environments. He talked about gay and lesbian service-people who have been encouraged by the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”, but still are unable, in most states, to receive the same status and benefits as married/civilly united opposite-sex couples. The President seemed to be moved by the stories of people in his life who are suffering this form of discrimination. He is convinced that it is unfair, and it’s time for change.
Acts 10 tells the story of Peter and Cornelius. Cornelius is a Roman soldier and leader of the “Italian Cohort.” He’s a gentile, not a Jew, and at this point in the Christian church’s infancy, Gentile’s were not the primary audience for the gospel, in fact, they were primarily still understood as “unclean.” But things are about to change – something miraculous and beautiful is in the works.
Cornelius has a vision in which an angel instructs him to send for Peter who is healing and preaching the gospel in the town of Joppa. Cornelius, though terrified, does as he is told. The story continues – around noon the following day in Joppa, Peter is praying up on a roof while a meal was being prepared for him. While he is praying to falls into a trance and he has this pigs-in-a-blanket vision:
He saw the heaven opened and something like a large sheet coming down, being lowered to the ground by its four corners. 12 In it were all kinds of four-footed creatures and reptiles and birds of the air. 13 Then he heard a voice saying, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat.” 14 But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is profane or unclean.” 15 The voice said to him again, a second time, “What God has made clean, you must not call profane.” 16 This happened three times, and the thing was suddenly taken up to heaven. (Acts 10:11-16 NRSV)
Immediately after his vision, the men sent by Cornelius appear, and they ask Peter come and speak with Cornelius. Peter accepts, and the next day we hear of Peter preaching the gospel to all of Cornelius’ household. While Peter is preaching, the Holy Spirit “falls” upon all who hear – Cornelius, and his entire Gentile household, are filled with the Spirit, just as the Jewish Apostles were at Pentecost. Change happens. Peter’s narrow vision of God’s grace is crushed by the weight of a Holy Spirit sized picnic basket from space, and the church is one giant step closer to what God intends for it. Peter’s heart changes for the better, and he now realizes that God shows no partiality.
I wonder if America isn’t experiencing this same type of experience as Peter did in Acts 10. It seems to me that it is. Too long, have people experienced persecution and the title of “unclean” because of their sexual orientation. Too long, have women and men in committed, monogamous, same-sex partnerships been discriminated against by laws that look no different then those of our past that have discriminated against African Americans, women, and other minority groups. Too long, have so many of us American Christians decided that it is we who decide who receives God’s free gift of grace and who does not. I’m proud of our President for showing some integrity and speaking his heart – I’m proud of him for leading. But most of all, I’m excited for more grace-filled picnics to fall from heaven, knocking us (the church, America, the world) on the head, expanding our menu and our guest list.