If you know me, you may know that I advocate for the rights of our GLBT (Gay, Lesbian, Bi, Transgendered) brothers and sisters. In one of the most recent issues of Group Magazine, Group decided to produce a themed publication. They went with Sexual Sin. Though most of the magazine was very well done, and in fact the whole magazine was well produced, Group chose to take a stance on the sinfulness of being queer (and though it is my knee-jerk reaction to not use that word, according to very many of my friends who happen to be GLBT, queer is the word to use and isn’t the least bit offensive). Someone please correct me if you are offended by it, and if you are Gay or Lesbian, Bi or Transgendered, then I will certainly discontinue using it.
Anyway, The magazine dealt with all ranges of sexual sin such as porn, adultery and homosexuality. What I was so upset at is that they drew a line in the sand without considering that there are very many people who are also just as well educated and biblically learned who disagree with Group’s interpretation of scripture.
After having a phone conversation with Rick Lawrence, chief editor of Group Magazine, I decided to continue my relationship with Group and Simply Youth Ministry because I realized that our differences didn’t get in the way of our purpose: partnering together to love and serve Christ by loving and serving youth and their families. Instead of walking away, I wrote the following letter that was graciously published in their latest issue:
Matthew 11:20-24. This is the Gospel reading that was read during the Eucharist I attended after reading the latest issue of Group Magazine. And it couldn’t have come to me in a more timely or appropriate manner. Though I appreciated most of the articles regarding sexual sin such as the ones dedicated to porn, adultery, etc., I get greatly agitated when people claim that being gay or lesbian is sinful.
I understand that Group’s goal was to address the need for youth workers to better minister to these groups of youth. But our motivation in ministering to GLBT youth shouldn’t be to only share the love of God with them in hopes to cure them from their “sinful sexual identity”. Unlike alcoholism, homosexuality isn’t a disease that one can choose to overcome. Yes, many GLBT individuals choose to live as their heterosexual counterparts do by living promiscuously, having sex outside of marriage, and not respecting God’s holy gift of sex as the ultimate way of consummating love. However, when two same-sex people have decided that they love God, love each other, and want to live together for the rest of their lives, how, then, can we judge that as an abomination or perversion? Seriously? We are calling what is rooted in love, abomination? I get that the Old Testament and the ancients of the church spoke out vehemently against sexual deviance. Even today, most people will agree that the debauchery aforementioned has to do with lust, dominance, and greed. Orgies were and remain to be vile. The few New Testament verses regarding sexual perversion are also addressing unnatural acts of erotic fornication. In no way should we consider these verses to be relevant to determining sexual identity; that’s like comparing apples to oranges.
Matthew 11:20-24 warns us, the churched, that His Truth is bigger than our often misconceived interpretation of what is right and what is wrong. And one thing I know for sure is that God’s Truth is rooted in love. Why, then, would we try to snuff the light out of our GLBT friends’ lives by judging them and determining them to be “abomination”? You know what is abominable? Something unworthy of love or incapable of loving. And if our hearts have hardened so much that we can’t recognize love when we see it, then friends, we’ve got bigger problems then trying to convert a homosexual!
Group’s goal wasn’t to start the debate. The debate’s been raging, and I doubt that many won’t change their opinions just by reading someone else’s point of view. Group’s goal was to open up the dialog. And since the dialog has started, I’m in.
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O.K., so I’ve already been told by a lesbian friend that she abhors the word queer. So, there you have. I won’t use that word anymore.
Hey out there, haven’t checked in in a while and saw this even though it is from September. Conversation is always good, particularly when everyone is willing to listen to everyone and not come in with closed minds.
Not sure of my feelings about the descriptor “queer”. I know people who use it, and those who do not like it.
Oh, and hey , hope you are doing great in the big city.
Thanks for reading, Bob! Yeah, I have many friends who feel weird using that descriptor. I am not passionate about using it, but do I do think the meaning of the word is going to evolve and not have such a negative connotation in the very near future. In fact, there are numerous book on the new genre, Queer Theology.
Life is awesome in the Big Apple. If you’re up here at all, call ahead. I’d love to see you!