[posted January 27, 1999]
Y esterday I received a letter from my 87 year old mother, who is a resident of Martha Franks Baptist Retirement Center in Laurens, SC. She was concerned about the Senior Adult Baptist Sunday School lesson for January 31, 1999, on the subject of "Homosexuality". She sent me her copy of the printed lesson. I read the lesson.
Here is a Baptist Sunday School lesson that tries to enlist parents and grandparents in the homophobic mission of using the Bible to abuse and reject their own children and grandchildren in the name of God. I was appalled but not shocked to see this blatant use of out-of-context and incorrectly translated Bible verses to push the anti-gay agenda of the religious right "ex-gay" industry that has bullied its way into control of the Southern Baptist Convention. I wrote senior adult Sunday School lessons for Southern Baptists in the 1970's. But that was a kinder, gentler, and more honest age, before the coming of the "dark side".
This lesson speaks of homosexual "preference" and "lifestyle" and knows nothing of "sexual orientation" or the fact that the American Psychiatric Association and other medical professionals do not consider homosexuality to be a disease, mental disorder, or a "sin".
The lesson gives a "hypothetical problem" faced by the lesson writer. "Suppose that I moved into a single-family-dwelling neighborhood. My small outdoor area adjoins two neighbors on either side and two more in the back. I soon discover that on one side lives a working couple with two small children. On the other side lives a middle-aged couple. It is a second marriage for both. The wife is an alcoholic. The husband is on parole from a prison sentence. Another couple lives behind me. The husband works evenings as a bartender, and the wife works as a stripper in the tavern. Two men live beside them. One is a lawyer who works for the Legal Aid Society. The other is a high-tech computer programmer. They say they are homosexuals who live together as "love partners." How should I relate to such persons?" (WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?!)
These neighbors are then declared to be "lost souls" and the mission of the writer is shown to be to "save" these people. All of the 6 anti-gay "clobber" passages are used to show that homosexuality is "an unnatural lifestyle" and "detestable to God". Then the lesson condemns the "financial burden to society" caused by the homosexual behavior that is responsible for AIDS and complains about the "high price tag for homosexuality being paid by the individuals involved and by society as a whole." Nothing is said about the high price tag of ignorance and Bible abuse being paid by gay and lesbian people and their families who are the victims of religious oppression at the hands of people like the writer of this lesson.
Throughout all of this lesson, Bible "proof texts" are cited to support the writer's call for readers to "stem the tide of evil about us." The lesson shows no knowledge or insight at all about homosexuality and homosexuals and instead repeats the discredited claims of the "ex-gay" movement that "faithfully studying God's Word and following the Holy Spirit's leadership will help homosexuals avoid reverting to their old lifestyle." The lesson concludes by saying, "Christians should love homosexuals as we love other sinners. We should share our faith and the gospel with them. When homosexuals are saved, we must provide help as they break with their old lifestyles and establish new ones. Christians must work to make homosexuals aware of the hope and assistance available to them."
Religious arrogance and a total absence of accurate information about gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender people characterize this unfortunate lesson. The tragedy is that hundreds of thousands of parents, grandparents, and friends of homosexuals will be taught by this lesson that they serve God best when they oppress and reject the people whom they love the most. Homosexuality is not evil. This lesson is!
At the same time that Rev. Troy Perry, Moderator of UFMCC, is planning "the world's largest-ever celebration of same-sex marriage" (estimated over 5,000 couples) as one of the highlights at the Millennium March on Washington for Equality in April of 2000, the 16 million member Southern Baptist Convention is refining and multiplying its abusive use of the Bible and religion against God's GLBT children.
In addition, over 80 United Methodist clergy and scores of other "co-officiating clergy" from around the country recently joined in celebrating the "covenant service" for lesbian couple Ellie Charlton and Jeanne Barnett in Sacramento, California. These participating Methodist clergy are putting their clergy credentials on the line in their support and loving encouragement for all of us.
The truth goes marching on. But so do ignorance, deceit, and fear.
The Gospels often picture Jesus coming to his followers when they are under great stress and are afraid and saying to them, "Do not be afraid. I am here." The use of the Bible and religion to create self-fear, self-hate, self-rejection, and self-destruction in gay people is alien to the Spirit and example of Jesus.
There is truth and good news in the message of Jesus for all of us: God's unconditional inclusive love and acceptance are available to every individual regardless of race, sex, sexual orientation, social status, or any other human variable that people use to classify and reject each other.
Has the time come now for you to "come out" and declare yourself?
Visit Dr. Truluck's website: Steps to Recovery from Bible Abuse
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