Yes, I Have Issues

[Mark Pettigrew]

When someone living in today's culture tells you that you have "issues," it's rarely meant as a compliment. But really, it seems to me that people who have made a lasting mark on the world have almost invariably had issues of one sort or another. People such as Jesus and John the Baptist and Martin Luther and Martin Luther King have all had "issues" which varied in their specific nature from one person to the next. Ditto for great inventors and scientists, and for most other people who have radically altered the course of history. Such people have almost invariably been passionate, some might even say obsessive, about specific things.

(By the way, if the fact that I just described Jesus as a person disturbs you, remember that traditional Christian doctrine teaches that Jesus was "fully God and fully man". Describing Jesus as a person is in no way a denial of his divinity.)

Jesus had serious issues with hypocrisy, judging by the substantial portion of time which he spent talking about that issue. I wouldn't describe hypocrisy as the sole issue which concerned Jesus by any means, but it certainly was one of the issues which frequently occupied his thoughts. If we are Christians, and if we are not similarly disturbed by hypocrisy, I think that it would be reasonable to question whether or not we are really people "after God's heart," to use a phrase once used to describe King David.

Martin Luther King had "issues" with racial injustice. He could have lived a much longer life on earth if he'd just kept quiet. Thankfully, he spoke his mind instead. Complacency in the face of evil was not an option for him. It shouldn't be an option for us, either.

Inventors such as the Wright Brothers have often been obsessive in their pursuit of things other people have thought to be impossible. While others were content with the status quo, they were not. They had "issues" with the way things were, in terms of things such as science and technology, and they pursued the resolution of those issues with great passion.

Therefore, it's disingenuous to accuse people of having "issues," in a tone of voice which suggests that they are inferior on account of that fact. If indeed their opinions or goals or methods are flawed, then those flaws ought to be ruthlessly exposed. But the mere fact that those people are passionate about certain things ought not to be regarded, in itself, as a character flaw. True leadership demands strong and passionate commitments, and people need true leaders now as much as ever.

If you were to describe me as a man with issues, I'd be the first to agree. I've developed strong opinions on certain subjects over the years, and I can sometimes be very passionate when discussing those issues.

Recently, I happened to be discussing the subject of abortion with someone I'd met during my work day. I discovered that we occupied opposite sides of the ideological spectrum with regard to that issue, which made for some fairly passionate arguments on his part and on mine. That wasn't the first time that had happened, by a long shot. Contentment is sometimes a desirable state of mind, but not always. When it comes to injustice, contentment can be just another word for complacency. Personally, I am filled with great discontent whenever I contemplate the current sad state of affairs in the United States and elsewhere with regard to abortion. I don't enjoy arguments for their own sake, but in a world filled with injustice, I believe that well-reasoned arguments are sometimes a necessity, if the only alternative is to remain silent in the face of evil. Admittedly, such interactions are sometimes very challenging, especially when dealing with people who are ethically obtuse, scientifically ignorant, and unwilling to carry their own argumentational premises to their logical conclusions. Such dialogue is necessary nevertheless.

On another evening, the subject might shift, and a person might find that I am likewise passionate about the lack of integrity which characterizes many professing Christians, whether one is talking about a lack of compassion for the poor or a lack of genuine desire to reach out to unbelievers with the gospel of Christ or a lack of appreciation for all of the artistic gifts with which many believers have been blessed, and for the hard work which is often involved in developing those gifts.

Other "issues" of mine include the prevalence of Christians who cannot tell the difference between true authority and authoritarianism. I am disturbed by people who are unaware of, or indifferent to, the fact that God is "no respecter of persons". In other words, God does not play favorites. Therefore, neither should we.

I have devoted this site to the arts, in part, because I believe that God has gifted me with insights pertaining to things which need to be done in order for the church and individual Christians to more effectively use the arts for the kingdom of God. But what you have to understand is that my "issues" in relation to the arts do not occur in a vacuum. They occur in the context of my total life. My life is dedicated, despite my obvious imperfections, to the goal of serving God to the best of my ability until Jesus takes me home. The arts are only a part of that bigger picture. A big part, admittedly, but only a part.

As for the question of whether or not my passionate commitment to certain issues will ever result in my making a significant impact on the world, I don't know the answer to that question. All I know is that God will hold me accountable for the manner in which I have used or abused the opportunities which have been presented to me. While the legacy I leave on this earth is a concern of mine, I'm a lot more concerned about my heavenly legacy, because God's final evaluation of my life will trump all other evaluations of the same.

I am aware that I am as vulnerable to error as any other flawed human being, but that doesn't absolve me of my moral responsibilities on this earth. All I can do is my best to speak the truth as I see it, trusting that God's grace will compensate for any unintentional errors on my part. And I really look forward to the day when the triumph of truth will resolve my issues once and for all.

Meanwhile, if you can't deal with being in the real or virtual presence of a person who is passionate about certain issues, then you probably will not enjoy being a part of this online network for very long. Fortunately, I know from personal experience that there are others in this world who are genuinely committed to the same issues which motivate me. United with one another in pursuit of our common goals, I believe that we can do remarkable and very worthwhile things.