Helping Christians be Bored by Homosexuality Since 2007

by John Shore on September 16, 2009 in Christian Issues · 74 comments

bored

A conservative Christian emailed me yesterday to share his idea that I should “back off from writing about the gays so much.”

So I did the only thing I could do.

I had him killed.

Hey, you’ve got your friends. I’ve got mine. That’s all I’m saying.

No, but this quarrelsome query (oh, that Daniel Webster! what a gay lexicographer he was!) was prompted by my recent post, Nothing Says Love Like a Lesbian Christian Minister with an Oven, in which I wrote about a dieting, exercising woman whom, I think you’ll agree, set a very clear example for all of you by baking and shipping me cookies.

“What is it about you and gays?” wrote my conservative correspondent. “Why is it so important to you to write so much about them?”

What a naive question. Isn’t it obvious that I write about gays and lesbians because they bake and mail me cookies? If you want me to write about you, you make me cookies. That’s been my motto ever since I first learned, back in kindergarten, about Dick and Jane having the runs.

Oh, no. Now I’ve taken up all this room with these stupid jokes.

Time for … Succinct Man!

The reason I wrote about Anita the Christian Lesbian as I did is because I think it’s critical that whenever any one of us straight folk think, talk about, or talk to any given homosexual, we are very careful to move to the forefront of our hearts and minds the truth that a homosexual’s sexuality means absolutely no more to their overall understanding of who they are, or how they experience the world, than any other person’s sexuality does to them.

It’s so easy for us to forget that though a person may be gay, that’s all they are. They have whole other humongously complex lives that have virtually nothing to do with their sexual orientation. Just like we do. Just like everyone does.

Gays and lesbians spend every bit of their lives as bored as anyone else does, is really the thing. Being gay doesn’t make you exotic, or talented, or interesting, or anything. It just means that when it comes to .. well, you know.

I have a lot of conservative Christian readers, which I hold as an honor. And what I’m saying here has nothing to do with the question of whether or not God automatically condemns to hell the unrepentant homosexual. That’s a theological question I’ll for now let other people argue about.

All I’m saying here is that the reason I wrote about Anita in the manner I did was to say, “Here. Let’s look at this woman. She isn’t just a ‘lesbian.’ She’s someone who cares. She’s funny. She’s smart. She long ago decided to make the point of her life honoring Jesus Christ. In the war she’s been fighting all her life against food and her body weight she’s recently proven victorious. She’s humble. She works hard.  She’s generous. She’s in a loving, committed relationship. She’s articulate. She’s careful. She’s the infinite number of other things she is. She’s a whole person.”

I get that a lot of Christians believe that Anita Cadonau-Huseby is going to hell. I understand that if God wants that, that’s what’ll happen. That’s really none of my business. None of what happens to anybody beyond the grave is my business.

I just want we who are still here on earth to remember that if it ever happens that we have to let go of the hands of the likes of Anita as she begins her fall backward into hell, we won’t be releasing just a ‘lesbian.’ We’ll be releasing into hell a sister.

One of our own.

It better hurt us like that.

{ 73 comments… read them below or add one }

Christian Beyer September 18, 2009 at 11:37 am

I like this line that is in a book called "Being Presbyterian in the Bible Belt"written by two Presbyterian ministers; Ted V. Foote Jr. and P. Alex Thornburg. They are talking about the neo-evangelical fixation on heaven and hell and who goes where and why.

"Obviously, there are a number of problems with this view of the world, or the afterworld. Not the least is the prevailing attitude that it’s always “our people” who get into heaven and the bad guys, usually anyone who doesn’t quite believe and act the way we think they should, who end up being cast into hell. Heaven becomes an exclusive country club for the beautiful people who can look down at those sinners in the ghetto of hell and feel sorry for them".

An exclusive country club for the saved and a ghetto for the sinners. It's interesting how our theology ends up shaping the way things are on the ground. Or is it the other way around?

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John Shore September 18, 2009 at 2:47 pm

Christian: Great comment. And great ending question, the answer to which I know I, for one, will not be speculating.

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Donatello September 18, 2009 at 7:24 am

Yeah! Hypatia: "to paraphrase Rob Bell, there are some who think God only loves them and those who meet their standards, and God loves them, too"

A good verse says: "He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust."

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ric booth September 18, 2009 at 5:03 am

But I think the serious theological question this post poses is, “Will we see Jerry Falwell wearing a Tinky-Winky t-shirt in Heaven?”

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flayed Hypatia September 18, 2009 at 3:09 am

…except for maybe that little part about mom being stricter than God! She'd be embarassed.

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daniel the stalker September 18, 2009 at 12:18 am

yeah! wow, what a great comment! Mom would approve :-)

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John Shore September 17, 2009 at 11:49 pm

Hypatia: Very good. What a great comment.

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flayed Hypatia September 17, 2009 at 11:46 pm

If Fallwell were there, then we'd know God is love.

That's the point I think John is making. I don't respect Falwell. I don't appreciate the hate he's showered on people like me. But, you see, I'm not God. When you look it up in the dictionary, it doesn't say "Bon is love." I'm petty sometimes (no, really!).

So maybe God does have low standards?

I grew up in a really strict home. We'd get into trouble for practically anything. Cannot count the number of times I was spanked for something or other. The effect of this was that all of us kids entered into adulthood terribly concerned about doing the right thing. And wondering what mom would think if she knew. Forget WWJD, the operative question is WWMT?

I'm in my 40s. I still worry about what mom thinks. About meeting her very high standards. But you know, mom is stricter than God. And when it comes down to it, I think we all are. We judge people by what they do, and mentally relegate them to heaven or hell, based on whether we approve of their actions. We love to hate. We love to judge. We love to feel superior to (fill in the blank with whatever category of person that you find evil, disturbing, or otherwise unacceptable).

We make "us" lists and "them" lists and promptly relegate "them" to damnation. But who are we to mete out judgment? God loves the whole world. God looks on the heart, not the outward appearance. Behavior, any philosopher or psychologist will agree, is outward. Words are behavior. Outward appearance. I have no idea where Falwell's heart stood. Or where Robertson's is. Or where Mother Teresa's was. Doesn't matter if I highly respect or really dislike somebody, I still can't get past outward appearances. I, thankfully, cannot get into anyone else's head (or heart).

The challenge, then, seems to be to love all people, fundy or liberal, Christian or atheist, gay or straight, tall or short, nice or mean, spiritual or secular, Democrat or Republican, and so on. God loves us all. To paraphrase Rob Bell, there are some who think God only loves them and those who meet their standards, and God loves them, too.

And that makes it quite the challenge for us to be known by our love, to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. So maybe God is, in deep heart ways, stricter than mom (and anyone) who judges by word and deed: I have to love (inwardly) those whom I really want to discard, judge, or hate). The kindom of heaven isn't for those who set up levels of acceptability (those who "lord it over others"), says Jesus. But then again, God loves even those of us who do.

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Mike (FVThinker) Bur September 17, 2009 at 10:16 pm

If Falwell were there, then God would have incredibly low standards.

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Tamara September 17, 2009 at 10:09 pm

Brian…I am so glad you concur with me on this…I was worried I might be a bit ‘out there’…but now I will sleep much better tonight ( in the Cookie Monster shirt of course ..what else is there?)

Bet you don’t have the matching chocolate chip shaped slippers…

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John Shore September 17, 2009 at 10:16 pm

Oh, I’m sorry. I misspoke. In heaven you can wear a shirt that says Cookie Monster. What you can’t do is wear a shirt that says Nookie Monster. That’s not doable. Sorry, Brian.

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Brian Shields September 17, 2009 at 9:16 pm

Wouldn't it be false advertising to let Jerry Falwell into heaven?

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Brian Shields September 17, 2009 at 11:49 am

Wouldn't it be false advertising to have a heaven where you can't wear a cookie monster shirt?

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John Shore September 17, 2009 at 2:07 pm

And there we have it. Two thousand years of Christian theology obliterated with one thought.

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Tamara September 17, 2009 at 9:22 am

I consider myself extremely conservative as a Christian and was conservative long before I was a Christian….but I had to tell you…you have made this point very well…

We should be far more concerned about where EACH of our souls ends up..and be in prayer for each other..and looking hard at ourselves daily..because there is not ONE of us who is fit or worthy of the pearly white robes of Heaven…if in fact there truly are robes and I no longer get to wear my Cookie Monster shirt ….(what?? you thought you were the only one obsessed with those delectable goodies? puhleeezeee ..) but I digress….

Your point was made..loud and clear ..and for anyone to not see the compassion, kindness, love and concern you show in this post..for ANYone's and EVERYone's eternal well-being….then..um..I have to say perhaps they've been eating the raw cookie dough a bit too long and perhaps in too large quantities

Great blog..great post!!!

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John Shore September 17, 2009 at 2:08 pm

Tamara: Wow. What a thoughtful, great comment. Thank you so much for taking the time and care to write it.

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daniel the stalker September 17, 2009 at 7:18 am

get a room, you guys!

wait.. what's this post about?

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John Shore September 17, 2009 at 7:17 am

Isn't the missionary "position" to make the recipient, who should remain as passive as possible, exclaim "Thank you, Lord!" for any little thing you give them?

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ric booth September 17, 2009 at 7:14 am

Isn't the "standard" Christian position missionary? Christian?

I know. Groan.

yeah, ric…gets me every time.

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John Shore September 17, 2009 at 7:13 am

It's why I'm not so anything at all nothing I'm nothing at all I don't know what your'e talking about I saw nothing it was just something that was nothing is all it was just something that was nothing that I hate that made me blind for four months you don't know please make it stop

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daniel the stalker September 17, 2009 at 7:09 am

you mean, that's not why you're so funny?

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John Shore September 17, 2009 at 7:06 am

When I was 10 I actually walked in on my parents having sex. But if you've read my stuff at all, you know it had absolutely no effect on me whatsoever.

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John Shore September 17, 2009 at 5:59 am

(And I mostly LOVE Paul, by the way. His genius is just … overwhelming.)

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RogerC September 17, 2009 at 5:25 am

No, I certainly don’t think I can inform God how to judge others. I misunderstood what you meant. My hope is to help others develop a relationship with God if they don’t have one, thereby effecting “it”.

By the way, it’s not fair that you have a cool picture while I only have a little blue square.

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Christian Beyer September 17, 2009 at 5:01 am

Wickle's hierarchy of sin really disturbed me. So true. You might say they really struck me close to home, especially this one:

"(Absolute worst) Stuff I would never do and find icky"

For the longest time I've been worried that my parents might be going to hell. I'm pretty sure that they are having sex. Maybe not regularly, but still, that's so….icky!

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John Shore September 17, 2009 at 4:22 am

Yeah, Ric.

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Mike (FVThinker) Bur September 17, 2009 at 3:47 am

Sorry to jump in late. If one sees someone about to walk in front of an oncoming care, are we not morally obliged to act (assuming we are in a position to do so).

Isn't the standard Christian position that homosexuals don't get to sit at the head table? It seems to me that is you think homosexuality will get that person a ticket to Satan's guest house, then you are are morally obliged to help them get their hetero on.

Conversely; if you simply think homosexuality is NOT a sin, then you can enjoy their company without fretting.

I don't get the middle of road position where one thinks God will judge them harshly but elects to not do anything about it.

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John Shore September 17, 2009 at 2:24 am

Ric: Thanks for ruining my keyboard. MAN that was funny. You owe me a MacBook, of course. But FUNNY! Classic.

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Brian Shields September 17, 2009 at 2:23 am

I still don't get John's humor… ;)

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ric booth September 17, 2009 at 2:22 am

Alright Roger and John, get a room.

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RogerC September 16, 2009 at 10:37 pm

Thanks for you time, it's been a lot of fun. Gotta do the "real job" thing for a while. I pray that God will bless you and your readers.

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John Shore September 16, 2009 at 9:58 pm

Yeah, the picture thing is weird. I think you have to sign up for a wordpress.com account (which is free, if you care, and they don't hassle you, or whatever) for your little avatar photo to show up.

And yes, I did figure that, about effecting God, you meant just as you've said here. And of course you're right to want to in whatever way possible HELP anyone avoid hell. No doubt about that.

Hey, and thanks for compliment re: my blog. I appreciate that.

You mentioned that you're a conservative Christian. In some extremely important ways so am I. I think Christ's sacrifice was salvific, for instance. With Paul I have an issue or two, but not with the story of Christ.

Anyhooo…. thanks for commenting.

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John Shore September 16, 2009 at 9:09 pm

Roger: You're discouraged to think you can't effect the ultimate judgment that God exacts on any given person. Did you think you COULD effect that? That YOU could inform God's mind about one of his decisions?

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RogerC September 16, 2009 at 9:06 pm

Thanks, I agree with most of what you said. Could I have permission to use your last two sentences in my Sunday School class- they are great! However (wait for it…), it is discouraging to think "I can't effect it".

By the way, I very much enjoy your blog. And yes, most would label me as a "conservative Christian".

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