What do I
think about Queers in regard to the Christian faith? I want to establish here
in the beginning that I’m not going to use the alphabet designation. Queers
keep adding groups. And that means more letters and/or symbols. It’s starting
to remind me of the name of Mr. Mxyzptlk in the Superman comics. No vowels
there either. I can’t keep up. We haven’t even got into sub categories. I’m an
oldster. I come from a simpler time. Now I have to ask my wife what in the
world we’re talking about when a new gender comes up. She’s very patient. She
explains. I’m just reverting back to using the word Queer.
I consider
myself fortunate that I’m not a pastor. I’m not a theologian. Don’t know Greek
except for really liking those sandwiches that aren’t pronounced like they’re
spelled. I have read the bible. I have several. When I see the scholars talking
or writing about the bible it sounds to me like they’re just making up words.
Then I look up the word and sure enough it means something. I don’t know all of
God’s different names. It’s just easier to stick with God. Let’s just avoid
getting into the trinity. This should be enough to establish that I’m not any
kind of expert. I’m willing to sign papers.
So I just read
what those people-that-are-all-the-things-that-I’m-not have to say on the
subject of the bible. Here’s a little of what I’ve learned. They can’t agree on
stuff either. They load up their scripture canons and fire it at the other
side. The other side loads up their canons with context and fires back. There’s
a lot of contextualizing skirmishes going on at any given time. Except for when
we get to the earth being flat and a big dome being over us that holds back the
water. That’s kind of a downer. But there you are.
As long as the
sides are just haranguing each other it really isn’t a problem. Well, except
for when real world consequences start happening. How about a nice Spanish
Inquisition? Or the Protestant Catholic wars? People of color not being
allowed? Divorcees being second class Christians? Women not having a place in
the church other than a pew seat and fixin’ food? Or women being subservient?
One thing I
can tell you for sure is that if I had known then what I know now I would have
asked for a pre-save agreement when I accepted Jesus and was held under the
water. One thing for sure is that I would have had it down on paper how long I
could have been held under. There would have been language in there that I
wouldn’t do anything hurtful or stupid to people should something come up that
was open to interpretation. My right to exercise my free will; to come and go
as I please would have been guaranteed. GUAR - AN - TEED! I would have used
someone like Sheldon Cooper to work out the details. It would have been
ironclad.
I can remember
some of my first conversational questions with the pastor of the Southern
Baptist church that we belonged to at that time. I asked the good reverend what
if a man living in a faraway country that never read a bible or had access to
knowledge about Jesus but he was a good man and lived a good life when he died
would he go to heaven? He answered “no.” he explained that was why missionary
work was so important. My first thought at his answer? Well, that’s bullshit*.
Queers can’t
get married in the church. Queers can’t be pastors. Queers are an abomination.
Queers are second class Christians. “Love the sinner. Hate the sin.” Bullshit!
That is one awesome load of bullshit! That is bullshit to infinity! Yes that’s
right, we’re talking bullshit to infinity and beyond here.
Wow! It only
took me seven paragraphs to get to what I’m talking about. If I remember
correctly this is supposed to be done in the first paragraph. Hey, like I said.
I’m not a scholar but I do know bullshit when I see or hear it. So do
unbelievers.
Look, we
already sound crazy enough with that whole bible story about the virgin birth
without dragging in all this other stuff. What stuff? This ‘love the sinner, hate
the sin stuff.’ It really doesn’t make any difference if those of the faith are
name calling each other. It does matter if those not of the faith are using
words like intolerance, bigotry, racist, homophobic, etc. Especially if they’re
right.
I have been
perusing religious, news and social media sites. The sanctimonious comments are
awe-inspiring, especially when combined with self-righteous back patting. Thank
you for being piously “true to the word!”
I think
everyone should have the opportunity to be singled out and have a sermon based
upon Romans 1 directed at them. Doesn’t really start off all that bad but the
dude starts getting worked up around verse 18 and ends a long list of
accusations with saying the person being talked about is worthy of death. I was
that person. I wasn’t even Queer. Well, as it turns out I was, according to the
good reverend.
After serving
in the Army for four years I had let my hair grow out after I was discharged in
1970. This was back in the day when I had hair. Since my faith in God had
served me well by helping me through some difficult times in the Army I decided
to get back in touch with my roots. Though I was saved in a Southern Baptist
church there was a regular Baptist church just down the street. It was the one
that my first wife and I had gotten married at. I went alone. I am glad that I
went alone.
Unsurprisingly,
I was the only long-haired hippie there. Also, I was dressed waaay too casually.
The pastor gave a sermon from Romans 1. He talked about long-haired freaks in
general before getting to the bible verses and then just scattered verses like
confetti throughout his attack. The congregation ate it up. Ate. It. Up. I
didn’t get really uncomfortable until I realized that he really was directing
his comments at me and really was pointing and gesturing at me. Just briefly I
thought that I was being a tad paranoid until I realized that the congregation
was staring at me as well and I was at the back of the church. I thought about
leaving but thought instead noooooo, I’ll just stick it out. I didn’t think
they would really go so far as to kill me on a sunny Sunday morning. After the
service I did walk out. Kind of glad that I sat at the back. That would have
been a much longer walk if I had been at the front. No one thanked me for
coming. No one talked with me at all. I do remember thinking that the time would
come that the church would need long-haired hippie people in their
congregation. That church is barely hanging on now.
I left church
for 40 years. And I am of the faith.
Just what a
faith in decline needed! More negative publicity! What will come of this?
Well, for one
thing there’s going to be a lot of collateral damage. These kinds of actions
don’t affect just the UMC. The number of people actively engaged in
Christianity will continue to decline across the various sects. Clergy will
have their lives destroyed. Families will feel betrayed. Thousands of churches
across the nation will be fractured, some hopelessly. The UMC is going to have
more empty buildings to put on the market. Smaller congregations will go away. Individual
UMC members are already leaving their church. Emphasis on ‘their.’
People need to
understand that whether its churches or the government the hardline
conservative elements are perfectly willing to see it all burned to the ground
as long as they stay TRUE TO their interpretation of what THE WORD means. They
have the headlines. They have the bully pulpit. Their way or the highway. The
conservative elements of the UMC will only increase in power as progressives
leave. The UMC will continue to encourage hating Queers in Africa. It’s gaining
them power and strength not only there but here as well. Religion used as a
force multiplier for intolerance.
The multitude
of good works being done by churches every day will continue to go unnoticed and
be unknown to the general population. Church people will continue to minister
to the poor, sick, needy, immigrants, and those needing love in general.
But what do the
people not of the Christian faith that are sitting out there taking all this in
think? What do Queers, their family, friends or just general non-believing
public think? Are they thinking “oh yeah, I want to get me some of that! I
really want to see what people that call me an abomination have to offer me!” Obviously
bigots that don’t like Queers in the first place will be drawn to the message. There
isn’t any way to measure what the population thinks other than what they do
with their feet. They will continue walking away from organized religion.
What do the
rest of us do?
Move to the front of the bus.
*I really like that word. I don’t use it much. A few years
back I kind of gave up cussing because I liked it so much. Let’s just say I
finally reached the conclusion that it was off putting. This is probably why I
like Pastrix Nadia Bolz Weber so much.
I have written
a number of other articles about homosexuality and the church including “TheTwo Great Commandments” at my Blog. I posted one titled “TheChurch of Just Us” at “Happy to be a Presbyterian” on facebook. That essay
was based upon "The Truth of our hearts" where I wrote about what the
UMC was doing to Pastor Frank Schaefer. I’ve written several others on different
topics like “Losing Jesus”, “Did Jesus brush his teeth”and "Finding Jesus in Charlottesville"
to mention a few. These links are provided so anyone that wants to know a
little more about me can.
