Lesbian Coach Banned from Church League
A recent front page article said “A large influential church made the decision to remove a team from their league after a coach spoke honestly about being a lesbian.”
The league was a church sponsored league that was open others within the community and to non members of the church. After a phone call to the church announcing that one of the coaches was a lesbian some things became complicated. The church held a meeting with the coach in which she admitted that she was a lesbian and that there were possibly others on the team that were gay or lesbian. The decision was made to not allow inclusion of the team in their league.
Questions Questions
I have been asked by numerous people about my response to this situation so I decided to take some time to include you in my own process. It is really hard for me to be balanced in this situation since I have a burden for the gay community to know Jesus fully and to understand and receive His unconditional love for them. Coming from my personal history with homosexuality I have had my own experiences with biased responses from church folk.
I have toiled more over this article than any I can remember and am still insecure about whether or not it convey’s my heart but I want to get it out there so if you have comments, please leave them below.
I desire more than anything that we as believers in Christ would reflect the love of Christ to all people equally without prejudice. I also know my own human temptation to personal prejudice with those I don’t understand. Somewhere in all of this I hope we grow in our abilities to set aside our bias and spread the gospel in and through all situations without “banning” people without knowing them. The goal is to be honest with ourselves, listen to others, and respect all people – and to understand that respect doesn’t have to agree.
In most cases in scripture where we are asked to “not associate” with others it is concerning those within active fellowship of the church, not in an outreach function such as a church sports league. Well, I’d at least hope that this church had desires for their league to be an outreach since it is an open league.
You may also have strong reactions concerning this situation. What are they? Many people are really passionate about these issues and a great divide exists. This is a very costly situation at a deep kingdom level!
I’d like to invoke an evaluation for us to consider as we ponder the circumstances.
I would say that if at all possible the very best way to handle this would be person to person. The problem here is that the exclusion of the team has already taken place. It seems hasty since the church is called to be a messenger of the redemption of Jesus Christ.
I don’t want to in any way minimize the complexity of this situation but there are some things to think about that may help us all to think this through if not for this situation, for future reference.
What is or should be the response of bible believing and Jesus following Christians? We all know that that there are two sides that are responding to this issue.
1. You believe homosexual relations are biblically immoral?
Or:
2. You believe homosexual relationships are biblically acceptable?
No matter which side you feel passionate about the biblical encouragement on how to approach one another remains the same on either side of this divide.
Matthew 18: 15 – 17
“If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.”
In this case, someone believed that a lady’s homosexuality was immoral. The newspaper article said that someone called the church and told them about her lesbianism. I am assuming that they felt that the lady was sinful and a bad influence for the league. I question whether or not the “caller” knew the lady. Did they speak with her first? When they called the church was it to pray for God’s grace and restoration or was it just to “inform” them of impending danger - in their minds? Or, was it reputation damage control?
Maybe you are having feelings of resentment or judgment regarding the church, or church leader who made the decision. If you feel that the church or the church leader is wrong, see if you can talk with someone who is connected to the decision making process. Learn to know them better and learn from them. Maybe what you thought happened wasn’t really the truth. Remember, the newspapers are often wrong! And, there are always two sides to every story.
Before confronting someone–
Right or wrong, when we feel a burden to approach someone we believe to be “in sin”, it is very important to go through some personal inventories before the confrontation. We can be assured that if we approach somoene in love and personally, our hearts and minds will likely change and soften!
1. Consider these things:
a. Why are you confronting the situation? What is your motivation?
b. Consider your relationship with them.
c. Consider the true character of the person.
d. Consider your own shortcomings, your weaknesses.
Jesus confronted the Pharisees for their lack of personal life evaluation. (Matt. 7:3-5)
e. Consider their current circumstances or situation.
f. Consider God’s grace with you.
g. Consider God’s grace with them.
Dealing with other people’s lives is a dangerous and sensitive matter. Whenever we see things in Scripture about disagreement or conflict, there isn’t a timeline given as to how long it may take to truly get to the heart of a matter. There are specific processes laid out but these matters may take months, or even years to deal with. I understand in community relations we may not feel we have years to deal with something, but it is always good to begin with a personal approach and not be too quick to lay down the gavel.
1. Ask yourself?
a. Why do you feel passionate that this is a problem?
i. Is this situation very personal?
ii. Is it mainly a family or inner group situation?
iii. Do you believe this is primarily a harmful situation to an individual?
iv. Is this a community matter?
b. What feelings do you expect to be confronted in YOU as a result of this action?
Galatians 6:1-5
“Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load.”
Tempted in what way?
To inappropriate judgment?
To false mercy (enabling)?
Tempted in like weakness?
Are we willing to be involved in carrying someone elses burdens?
Romans 2:1-4
“You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance?”
In either case, pray for Gods incredible, transforming, redeeming kindness will penetrate all of our lives and souls. Become part of the answer to that prayer by being kind, generous, and loving towards others whose perspective you may struggle with. Loving your enemy can become a personally transforming relationship for you. It is in His kindness that changes us, not in condemnation.
Matthew 5:43-44
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
Luke 11:46
“Jesus replied, “And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.”
You believe that the team should be banned from the church league. How does this line up with Jesus asking us to go into the world? I can’t imagine a better way to minister to others regardless of where they are coming from than to play ball with them and rub elbows with them. We are told to be “in the world, but not of the world”. We too often focus on the “not of the world” part and do not go “into the world” enough. There are a lot of people who will not attend a fellowship gathering at a church but will join extracurricular church activities. Have you considered that maybe who choose to join a church activity might be looking for a closer walk with Jesus but they are afraid to come too close!
John 3:16
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Mark 15:16
“He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.”
I can’t believe what that church has done!
In any divide over spiritual convictions nothing is any better than to walk together and listen to one another whenever possible. If the door is closed, move away, shake the dust from your feet and keep moving forward with the Lord. Maybe God wants to do something in your heart. There may also be something that He is doing in the church that you are unaware of.
Luke 6:42
“How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”
I just want to see what they are made of!
Some people come into a church activity to “test” the water. In some cases, this is a dishonest attempt and the motives might be to challenge them rather than to look for something positive. This would be inappropriate. It is not really fair to go into an organization incognito to test their responses. It is better to go in honestly if you feel there will be problems ahead.
“Well, being gay is just wrong!”
That depends on how you define “gay”. Being gay and engaging in sex are two different things. Being gay doesn’t mean that someone is giving themselves over to promiscuous sexual relationships. Being gay doesn’t mean that someone is not a Christian. Someone who is gay may have a closeness to God that may not make sense to you but that doesn’t mean it isn’t there. Sometimes people are crying out to the Lord in deep groaning that we aren’t aware of. We should not make assumptions about people and act upon those assumptions rashly.
2 Corinthians 12:7-10
“To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
There are some other things to consider
Some have said: ” Doesn’t God say, one man, one woman for life?” Really?
How many do you know who have been with only one woman/man – for life?
50 % + of church attendees have been divorced.
He says he hates divorce.
Malachi 2:16
“I hate divorce,” says the LORD God of Israel”
Others have said: “He speaks against homosexuality!”
Well, He speaks against fornification, adultery and lust.
A large percentage of regular church attendees practice sexual promiscuity,
Also- addictive use of pornography or practice idolatry.
Are we really prejudiced? Do we really act upon our spoken beliefs that “sin is sin”?
1 Cor. 6:9-10
“Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”
I intentionally underlined the negative patterns that are not called “homosexual”. There are far more of them in the church than homosexuals! Many who are regular church attendees are sexually inappropriate, greedy and selfish with their worldly possessions, not sharing with those in need when they can. Do we practice what this scripture refers to?
Acts 4:32
“All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.”
” nor slanderers?”
The story of the lesbian coach was begun by someone who contacted the church to tell them that this coach was a lesbian. Was it their place to divulge this information if they didn’t go to the individual first? What about the other coaches? Is there anything in their life that is sinful or non-productive for the league? We might never know because it isn’t likely someone will call the church on them. I’ve known plenty of people who have negatively influenced others with inappropriate heterosexuality such as loose sexual talk, negative references to the opposite gender and the like. If we want to “pick nits” this can be a never ending hunt for sin issues.
Before you start judging the church-
I am certain the coach and her team were aware that this church was very conservative. I am also certain she was aware that there may be some possible challenges in joining the league. It would not be appropriate to use this situation as a testing ground for acceptance of homosexuality. this would be dishonest in the intentions.
There may be some who are harboring resentment because of the stand the church has taken? The same scriptures apply for you. To go about slandering the church or its leaders is just as inappropriate and unbiblical.
We are called to be a peacemaker within the body of Christ and to love others into His kingdom. What is the greatest goal here? Reconciling relationships and spreading the gospel.
The commandments are summed up like this:
Mark 12:29-31
“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
So, what am I saying here?
Don’t be too quick to judge someone else’s life, motives, or actions. Go to them personally if it is possible. Don’t slander others, and don’t be dishonest with your intentions.
Eph. 4:25
“Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.”
What I am saying is that for those of you who believe the church needs to be protected by those kinds (homosexuals) it may be a good idea to evaluate the other’s equally.
And if you believe the church has descriminated or misjudged someone, it may be a good idea for self examination there too.
Remember – It’s a pretty thin pancake that doesn’t have two sides!
June 22nd, 2010 at 5:17 pm
See, this is why you’re writing. You said what was on my heart better than I ever could have. Love you John!
June 22nd, 2010 at 7:14 pm
And when Jesus reached the place, He looked up and said to him, Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today.
So he hurried and came down, and he received and welcomed Him joyfully.
And when the people saw it, they all muttered among themselves and indignantly complained, He has gone in to be the guest of and lodge with a man who is devoted to sin and preeminently a sinner.
Luke 19:5-7, Amplified Bible
June 23rd, 2010 at 6:33 am
I felt sad when I read about this in the Commercial Appeal. They really missed an opportunity to build a relationship and love another person. Fear makes us do crummy things.
Anonymous Comment Sent to me
June 23rd, 2010 at 6:35 am
Today, the pastor says that the coach was not allowed to play because a coach is a leadership position and leaders are called to a higher standard.
What do you think?
June 23rd, 2010 at 6:36 am
I like the reference to Zacchaeus’ story, Steve. It is where my heart is and a good reminder of loving people.
Loving people that way is certainly not culturally correct within the church community!
June 23rd, 2010 at 1:59 pm
I have found out information regarding the church policy on open league coaching.
The team signed up in an open league to play on the church league. The open league policy states that you do not have to be members of the church but the team must abide within League rules. The rules state that anyone may play regardless of beliefs towards Christ, however, in order to COACH a team you must sign a leadership covenant that says many things, including “you will not participate in any activities are deemed inappropriate for their league that would bring forth a reason to remove you from coaching.” In the event of disclosure, this would be evaluated.
In this situation, the woman’s lesbianism was brought to the attention of the leadership and according to their policies, she was deemed unfit for a coach position. The team decided to leave the league rather than to replace the coach.
There may be some who disagree with the policy of this church but from what has been said here, the policies were laid out ahead of time.
This is why I stated that it is wrong to go into a place where you have chosen to subject yourself and your team to another organized league’s policies where you are aware there may be problems from withholding information from them.
June 23rd, 2010 at 2:36 pm
It never ceases to amaze me how Christians can categorize and evaluate one sin vs. another. Is homosexuality anymore sinful than pornography, addiction to alcohol/drugs/food/shopping? Aside from that, any Christian who expects non-Christians to behave in a godly manner surely misses the point that Jesus made in regard to the Pharisee’s “righteous” deeds. Jesus did not die on a cross to make men “moral,” but to give them LIFE in Himself.
A non-Christian has no choice, but to sin. Most importantly, let’s be careful about pointing fingers and how “we” define sin, because, if we go by God’s definition, we are all guilty. God says that sin is ANYTHING we do apart from faith–that is depending on God, rather than our own resources and self-sufficiency (Rom. 14:23, Phil. 3:3-9). This means that living the Christian Life while depending on my own understanding/gifts/talents, etc. (the Bible calls this flesh) is considered sin.
Sometimes I’m embarrassed to be called a Christian by the way some Christians behave, most particularly, toward non-Christians. And yet, I’ve been guilty myself.
June 23rd, 2010 at 2:55 pm
Thanks for sharing your thoughts John. I appreciate what you said. I am also glad to read your 1:59 post about what the church policy is and how things unfolded.
June 23rd, 2010 at 4:09 pm
I have had some comments on the complexities of church leadership and decision making so I thought I’d throw in some more of my own commentary on this.
I think it is such a shame that our Christian culture cannot judge people by their reputation, and their character rather than to have to make cultural / church judgments that are based on a broad sweep based on temptations or struggles.
Many men, and I am sure many of you have run into them, are overtly immoral in their actions and talk (not necessarily in physical ways) and yet are in leadership positions. But, in a Christian culture, it seems that those influences are tolerated. There may be times where an attempt to curtail the sexual overtures, innuendo, and reference to heterosexual immorality are made but with little success, it just goes on. How many young men or women are negatively influenced in a sexually overt fashion at the hands of overly sexual men – ah, but this is “natural” so it is allowable. To be honest, I am frustrated and can get angry with the imbalance and clearly believe that neither heterosexual or homosexual negative influences are godly.
I remember being in a men’s prayer group and someone referred to another woman’s body parts in an overtly inappropriate way. These were men I knew so I brought to their attention they might react differently if I referred to a man’s body parts in a similar derogatory way. I’m sure they would be severely offended but being it was a heterosexual reference, it seemed acceptable and even laughable.
I have had the privilege of meeting some incredible men and women who are gay and Christian. Living sexually faithful lives they love the Lord and had nothing but the very best intentions in helping in ministry, youth groups, etc. but would be banned due to their particular “bent” in their life struggles and temptations based upon a blind assessment that would not be rooted in the real meaning of the Scripture’s encouragement to love each other with the love of Christ.
I also clearly understand the “reputation” issues that lend themselves to our need to make biased decisions about who is involved in what within our Christian culture. Many churches are run with the “what would people think” influences in staff meetings and policy writing.
I also know that many churches have fallen prey to potential law suits or decline of attendance if they loved people in the dangerous love of Christ! Or, in ministries, the threat of lost donations.
What would really happen if we moved towards abandoning our fears and truly moved towards people like Jesus did?
June 23rd, 2010 at 7:17 pm
The correct decision was made by the church.
When a person professes (perhaps as a provocation) to be living in unrepentant immorality, biblical injunctions and Jesus’ practices are clear. While He always received sinners, He never condoned sin (woman at the well, woman caught in adultry, rich young ruler, etc.), always bidding them to repent (”Go, sin no more.”) or leaving them where they were.
We must separate ourselves from such people while at the same time leaving the door open for salvation and repentence.
June 24th, 2010 at 8:12 am
Yes and Amen. I think you’ve nailed it…thank you.
June 25th, 2010 at 12:25 pm
John:
Thank you for your willingness to tackle such a controversial topic. Welcome to my world and to the club! LOL
I think you have eloquently presented the case in the main body of your text above. There are real struggles that the church has with homosexuals, but most often it is because they fear what they don’t know. And because the church has become so insular they aren’t aware of the world around them, which is the reason why the church is losing it’s cultural impact. It’s sad, but I truly believe that if the church does not wake up to this fact, they are quickly going to be seeing their churches closing down. Already we are seeing this decline in American Churches.
With regard to the “policy” you listed in your comments section: “The team signed up in an open league to play on the church league. The open league policy states that you do not have to be members of the church but the team must abide within League rules. The rules state that anyone may play regardless of beliefs towards Christ, however, in order to COACH a team you must sign a leadership covenant that says many things, including “you will not participate in any activities are deemed inappropriate for their league that would bring forth a reason to remove you from coaching.” In the event of disclosure, this would be evaluated.
In this situation, the woman’s lesbianism was brought to the attention of the leadership and according to their policies, she was deemed unfit for a coach position. The team decided to leave the league rather than to replace the coach.
There may be some who disagree with the policy of this church but from what has been said here, the policies were laid out ahead of time.
This is why I stated that it is wrong to go into a place where you have chosen to subject yourself and your team to another organized league’s policies where you are aware there may be problems from withholding information from them.”
I want to point to what appears to be the basis for the action: “you will not participate in any activities are deemed inappropriate for their league that would bring forth a reason to remove you from coaching.”
First of all this assumes several things:
1. The coach is an active participant in Lesbianism or that might be having lesbian sex. As you have stated there is a difference between lesbianism and lesbian sex. There are many women who are lesbians who do not have lesbian sex because of age, celebacy, are married to men, etc. Yet, there are women who are heterosexual who DO participate in lesbian sex, but are not truly lesbians (i.e. women in prison, prostitutes, porn stars or in the military)
2. The statement is so vague that one would have to question is there an additional list somewhere of those activities that are deemed inappropriate.
Sadly, all too often churches and religious organizations have rules like this that are so vague it gives them a pass to step in an say, “you have crossed the line” at any time. And while they have no specific list of rules, the axe does come down and one quickly finds where the magic imaginary line is at.
I grew up in the Assemblies of God denomination and we had our ball leagues. There are alot of things that go on in the lives of congregants that would or should meet the same criteria. (i.e. dropping the F bomb out on the ball field, hitting your wife or girlfriend, using drugs and alcohol, fits of rage etc).
Boy we like our rules, don’t we. It reminds me of the bible and how we like to list our rules of do’s and don’ts but we also like to pick and choose them.
Christ came and fulfilled the law, and He fulfilled the rules of the Church league too, because not one person on that league measures up to the ultimate criteria they would really want or expect.
So in the mean time, we alienate people from Christ and a relationship with Christ and Christians because it’s better for us to stick our “cleats in the dirt” than to have relationship. I hardly think so, but again, that’s what’s so wrong with the church today and why they are seeing their numbers dwindle.
I pray for the church that we will realize how much we need one another. There really is power in the summation of the law: Love the Lord God with all your Heart, Soul, Mind, and love your neighbor as yourself. What would the world look like if we did?
God bless,
Todd Ferrell
June 25th, 2010 at 1:31 pm
Thank you Todd for your comments. You have brought more to think about and it is important that we do think about this and that we don’t just blindly follow. Lives are at stake.
June 25th, 2010 at 2:55 pm
John:
Well, the controversy will always exist as long as Christians want everyone to act a certain way. If we did not have fellowship with those with whom we disagreed, they could not see Christ’s love in our lives. I’m proud of the team that chose to keep the coach. I’m not sure the church did the right thing. Was she “acting”out so that people knew she was a lesbian? Why did someone take it upon themselves to “out” her. You did a good job of covering the issue. Personally, I don’t beleive that homosexuality is a sin. I think that God wants us to welcome ALL His children into fellowship, and it’s too bad they missed an opportunity to do so. Keep fighting the battle John…God will give you the wisdom you need.
June 25th, 2010 at 3:04 pm
Thank you Darlene. You are absolutely right! The Body of Christ is made up of uniquely designed, God inspired, loved, and wonderful images of His presense.
Unfortunatly, while we are still here in our call to the temporary life on earth, we are all going to need Him and as He commands us, to live in unity.
A Friend recently brought to mind that maybe one of the most significantly grievous shortcomings is our ability to separate frome each other due to difference.
As Paul exhorted us:
Eph. 4:3 – Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
And Jesus Prayed for us:
John 17:23
I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
May it be so.
June 26th, 2010 at 10:24 am
John,
I think one of the many things I learned well at Love In Action was to treat sin as sin – to not necessarily separate homosexual lifestyle differently. In our culture, and in our churches, we do wrongly tend to separate this one sin and give special rules (negatively or positively) for those practicing it. This is foundational principle #1 – we must not separate this sin to have an entirely different set of rules.
Having said this, I have also learned from Love in Action (you) and scripture, that some sins do cause more damage than others, and as well are more despicable to God, yet recognizing,even my white lie required the death of Christ on a cross to restore my relationship with Him. This is principle #2, and so it is that we are tempted to go against foundational principle #1, but we cannot.
Each morning I spend time with my Creator, Redeemer, and Friend, reading His words, contemplating, and often repenting, but always find a very warm joy in His love. Whether I’m in Genesis or Revelation,or somewhere in between, the sin most talked about, and most attributed with the problem between God and man is that of adultery. Right now I am reading in Hosea, which really brings me to my third foundational point. I find it helpful for me to make judgments (whether that be about a coach on a church softball team, or sleeping arrangements of my gay son and his lover at Christmas), by asking these living-life questions in terms of the sin being adultery instead of homosexual sins. God uses this imagery throughout scripture, but particularly in Hosea and Eph. 5, of Christ and His bride the church. Our sin(s) against God are all characterized by adultery. And as we think about it, homosexual thought and deed fall under the broader biblical definition of adultery. Would (or should)the church have asked a coach to step down from coaching if it was found that he or she were in active, non-repentant sin of adultery? Yes, I think they both would have and should have, going back to the foundational principles of #1 and #2.
I think we do a disservice to Christ and His church when we have this conversation entirely about homosexual sin as if it has it’s own special rules, instead of bringing it out at the beginning, that this is how the church must handle active, un-repentant adultery. It was my understanding, that part of the reason for establishing Grace Rivers was to not treat homosexual sin as an isolated, different sin. Have we changed course with this discussion?
I pray daily that God would help me to see my own adulterous heart, and to be consistent in my perspective of sin, and seeking to lift up both the person and work of Christ as the answer, from our lips, pens, and love to those created in the image of God around us.
John, I thank you for your friendship and teaching. I think we just sometimes tend to make our reaction to homosexual sin too complicated at times. The part that IS complicated, is how every area of our lives and the lives of those around us are destroyed by adulterous sins. BUT GOD, through His Spirit working in our hearts brings us to repentance, and HE presents us holy and cleansed without spot or even wrinkle.
June 28th, 2010 at 12:27 pm
Consider also that their decision was political. Remember that they sponsored the Rally for the Family, showcasing Tony Perkins. Tony Perkins is head of the Family Research Council, a political lobby for the Religious Right. The chief concern for rally was homosexuality, which has become a major touchstone for the Religious Right. Now here is the rub: Tony Perkins has spoken numerous times to the Council of Conservative Citizens, a white supremacist/white separatist group, and paid David Duke, the former grand dragon of the KKK, $82,500 for a phone data bank in a 1996 Louisana congressional race with Louis “Woody” Jenkins. Furthermore, Perkins is not being truthful on the FRC website denying the association with Duke.
I stumbled on the information and did some research. Jenkins was fined by the Federal Election Commission(FEC) for covering up the payment to Duke. So, I accessed the actual case off the FEC website and went to the The Advocate archives, Baton Rouge’s major daily, for an article appearing July 25, 2002, “Agency fines Jenkins for hiding Duke deal.” In both, Jenkins and Perkins admit their involvement with Duke.
I state all of the above to show the sick irony that they will use Tony Perkins, who has no compunction about using white supremacists, to attack homosexuality. They cannot claim ignorance when the information on Perkins is all over the web. One cannot say that the name of Christ is honored in this mess. How many gay people will run as far as they can from any association with Christianity?
When we do not practice God’s politics–to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God–we are in trouble. We are all sinners. I am no better and no worse than anyone else in God’s eyes. Consider how gently Christ treated the woman at the well and Peter after Peter betrayed Him. The polemics of hate will always render one in the camp of the truly dysfunctional.
July 3rd, 2010 at 12:14 am
John,
I want to thank you for sharing these thoughts and for the Scripture that goes along with it. God has really been challenging me in the past couple of years to open my mind BEYOND the traditional views of the traditional church. It has left me in a position of questioning and analyzing my own place in the social and political arenas of this world. You have been another piece to that puzzle. Thank you for your honesty and candor.
I have recently renewed a friendship with a girl from high school. It’s thru Facebook, unfortunately, since she’s out-of-state, but contact, nonetheless. She’s a practicing lesbian. It has been really great, these past months, to talk to her and catch up. And the candor we’ve been able to have with each other really has been fantastic. I don’t think I could have had this kind of friendship even a year ago. But it’s been one of mutual respect and openness. I attribute a lot of that to things you have said. Thank you.
Yesterday, she put a link up about a Christian group who had signs up at a Gay/Lesbian Parade. These signs asked forgiveness for the condemnation and hate the Church has shown the homosexual community. And apparently the response was tremendous. Walls were torn down with just that one simple act of reconciliation. My friend and I were able to have a wonderful discussion from that. And I was able to add my apology, for my own self-righteousness in that area. More walls, hopefully, have come down. Not just for her, but for me, as well. Losing that self-righteousness & condemnation in my own life has brought me so much freedom. And it’s brought me just a little bit closer to the Jesus I’m here to serve.
Thanks, Again.
Jill