Let’s talk about his and her restrooms for a moment.
Bear with me. As I write this, an ongoing debate is raging
in the news and all over social networking. The whirlwind is all about washrooms
provided by various businesses for public use.
Only it’s not really
about that – or, it’s not only about that.
When did the public restroom become a test-room for public
policy and a cause for such unrest?
On the surface, the focus is on welcoming people of all kinds into the bathrooms of their choice, no matter what genders they are, have
been, desire to be, or claim to be. But that's not the real issue.
One camp says the issue is about LGBT acceptance and freedom
of gender identity. The other camp claims predators (of any gender or sexual persuasion)
will seize upon this newfound lavatory liberty to fake their gender identities
and harm others in bathrooms. (No one seems to be mentioning this much, but the
new policies also include fashion fitting rooms in certain stores.)
I find it almost
astonishing that bathrooms have become battlefields.
That’s how far our society has sunk. We’re fighting about
restrooms. No one seems sure where this public potty policy (or commode controversy?)
will lead, but it’s pretty clear we’ve all
gone to pot.
I’m not aiming to plunge into this debate here or flush out
raging comments from either camp. I just feel the need to state a few basic suggestions:
1. Parents, please accompany your own youngsters into bathrooms and
fitting rooms. Whether potential predators are present or not, it’s
a sound policy. There’s a reason plenty of people (even adults) don’t visit
public restrooms alone anyway (except for one-seater bathrooms). Simply put, a
public privy is seldom private.
2. Respectfully stating one’s position on matters of faith and ethics is
important. Standing up for principles counts for plenty, and we
should all do so with intelligence and compassion. A little research reveals
this isn’t just a one-store policy. It’s possible to aim for a target, but
still miss the mark. Instead of wondering what’s under someone else’s clothes,
can we wrestle with what’s in our own hearts?
3. No matter what bathroom or fitting room you feel you fit,
God wants to welcome you into His own household of faith. He loves you, and He invites you to
enter His presence by His grace.
Maybe it’s time for believers
to leave the toilet talk for a moment and step up in faith.
We need to approach the one and only holy throne of grace,
interceding for our whole nation. Let’s call on the Almighty to turn hosts of hearts
to Him. Let’s bring faith and grace and mercy and godly love out in the open
and bring rest and refreshment to all those who need His living water – no matter
which water closet they choose to visit.
We can, and we must. And it’s time.
“All the ends of
the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will
bow down before him, for dominion belongs to the Lord and he rules over the nations.”(Psalm
22:27-28, NIV)
Image/s:
Restroom icon – adapted from public
domain artwork
Bible verse graphic – created on quote
generator
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