Today I'm going to share some of my own thoughts and tomorrow I've invited several friends to comment.
(Disclaimer: today's song does have some adult language in it. Almost certainly an homage to Tony Campolo.)
You say you always treat people like you like to be
I guess you love being hated for your sexuality
You love when people put words in your mouth'
Bout what you believe, make you sound like a freak
'Cause if you really believe what you say you believe
You wouldn't be so damn reckless with the words you speak
Wouldn't silently consent when the liars speak
Denyin' all the dyin' of the remedy
Tell me, brother, what matters more to you?
Tell me, sister, what matters more to you?
If I can tell what's in your heart by what comes out of your mouth
Then it sure looks to me like being straight is all it's about
It looks like being hated for all the wrong things
Like chasin' the wind while the pendulum swings
'Cause we can talk and debate until we're blue in the face
About the language and tradition that he's comin' to save
Meanwhile we sit just like we don't give a shit
About 50,000 people who are dyin' today
Tell me, brother, what matters more to you?
Tell me, sister, what matters more to you?
Years ago, my best friend came out to me. She had gone through something that was incomprehensible to me and she was both literally and figuratively battered and bruised, and in the midst of that, she chose to make herself incredibly vulnerable and share this with me. I don't know at that time if I was a very good friend to her in my responses, but her revelation drove me to seek more from those who were gay and lesbian and were in the Church. I met a few people online who were gay Christians and they shared with me their stories and their interpretations of the verses that are most commonly used to condemn homosexuality. For the first time in my life, I was looking at some of these verses in a new light.
At this point, years later, I'm still not sure where I stand on the issue of homosexuality and the Bible. I definitely believe in equal rights for those in the LGBTQ community. To me, that's a civil rights issue and I have no problem saying that I'm in favor of gay marriage, repealing don't ask, don't tell, provisions that prevent firing a person from their job because they're gay, etc. I also believe beyond a shadow of a doubt that homosexuality is something that a person is and is no more a choice than it is for me to be attracted to men and that being gay is no more sinful than being straight. But when it comes down to the “is it a sin” issue with regard to gay relationships, I'm a bit more torn.
On one hand, it seems to be pretty obvious. There are verses in both the old and new testaments that seem to speak plainly to the sinfulness of same sex relationships. On the other hand, there are verses that seem to speak pretty plainly about women as pastors and wifely submission in marriage, and I don't generally hear folks saying that women pastors or couples in egalitarian marriages are going to hell. There may be disagreement about whether or not it's appropriate or biblical, but I don't think that most are questioning the salvation of the local female pastor or the couple who believes in an equal marriage. Why is it that we're willing to accept and love those who hold those positions as fellow believers, but are so often unwilling to extend the same love and acceptance toward those who are gay? Why do we have a “live and let live” attitude toward an egalitarian couple, but feel that the gay couple must separate in order to be saved?
Recently, the ELCA met and agreed to ordain those who are gay and in relationships. During the meeting where this was voted upon, there was a tornado that struck the city. Rather than being glad that no one was harmed, John Piper determined that this was God speaking to this church about their “approval of sin.” I will say, absolutely and without hesitation that this kind of message is the “damn reckless” speech that Webb is speaking about in his song. In my mind, there's not a whole lot of difference between this kind of rhetoric and the hate filled garbage spewed by Fred Phelps and his crew (Webb wrote a song to him as well on this album).
Ultimately I'm not sure if I completely agree with Webb in the song. I think sometimes that an “us against them” mentality ends up causing more harm than good. I do appreciate that he's at least being willing to talk about the issue at all because too often, the church seems reluctant to address its own actions or attitudes toward those who are gay and certainly privately it's a tough discussion to have (no one wants to admit their own fears & prejudices). I know that for me, the song lead me to ask questions of some gay friends, not just about social issues, but also about spiritual issues surrounding them. It has certainly opened my eyes yet again and led me to some additional resources (I am currently reading Jesus, the Bible, and Homosexuality by Jack Rogers). But mostly, it has reminded me again that this isn't just an “issue,” it's about real people with real feelings. And that's something that we need to remember regardless of where we end up.
I invite comments from any readers, but I do ask that you please be respectful. Any comments that I deem to be abusive will be deleted. Thanks.
