[posted May 17, 1999]
An incredible "ignorance attack" has been launched again by homophobic religious fundamentalists against homosexuals in anti-gay "ex-gay" ads on television. Ignorance usually takes one of two forms. Ignorance can be "not knowing" and in a more dangerous form can be "knowing the wrong thing."
Dictators, legalists, politicians, tyrants, and religions often have a vested interest in hiding the truth. Anybody who wants to "play God" has already made a commitment to ignorance as the first step. Docile followers are better controlled if they are ignorant and obedient than if they are informed and thinking for themselves. Education is the great enemy of ignorance. Education that is ignorant is the greatest danger of all.
Recently I have been flooded with anti-gay e-mail from various homophobic religious organizations that are generating and spreading distortions and lies about homosexuals and the Bible. Some of it has been in the form of "hate mail" and some has consisted of vile attacks on me personally. Every traditional Christian denomination that is becoming more open to gay and lesbian people is also experiencing the formation of anti-gay internal groups that declare themselves to be the true "Christians" in contrast to others. The most recent attacks that I have experienced are by a group that calls itself "christianmethodists" list service.
THE NEW RELIGION OF "REVERSIONISM"The triumph of ignorance over truth is producing a new religion that abandons the truth of the gospel of God's unconditional love for all people and reverts to the abusive and destructive religion of fear, legalism and judgment that Jesus came to replace with love, truth, humility, and hope. "Reversion" is the opposite of "conversion." Reversion means "an act of returning back to something that previously has been abandoned" or "turning the opposite way."
The Greek term "apostasy" means "reversion." Apostasy is rare in the New Testament. The dictionary meaning is: "renunciation of a religious faith" or "abandonment of a previous loyalty." Apostasy was used of those who "fall away" from their commitment to Jesus. 2 Thessalonians 2:3 uses "apostasy" for those who fall away from Jesus under pressure. Read all of 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17 to see a clear and surprisingly relevant indictment against those who abandon Jesus for lies, distortions and ignorance in their passion to be in control and "play God". Hebrews 6:1-20 gives a full discussion of the dangers of "falling away" into abusive and oppressive religion in contrast to encouragement, love, hope, joy, and peace in following only Jesus.
See what Paul said about "deserting" the gospel for "another gospel" of legalism and "distorting" the gospel of Jesus into a human work of law in Galatians 1:6-10; 2:16-21 and 3:1-5. Read all of Galatians.
To "turn away from the holy commandment given to you" is to reject the new commandment of Jesus to "love one another just as I have loved you" (2 Peter 2:21-22). 2 Peter 2 concludes with a dramatic reminder: "a dog returns to its own vomit" (quoting Proverbs 26:11); and "a sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire." Not a pretty picture!
Substituting ignorance, lies, and distortions of the gospel for the unconditional all-inclusive love of God in Jesus is not a pretty picture, either! The New Testament sees apostasy ("reversion") as a work of Satan. Poison has been tossed into the spring of the water of life. Cyanide years ago was secretly placed in some bottles of a popular pain killer and caused a national medication panic that led to the careful packaging of all medication in "tamper proof" containers. How can we "tamper proof" the gospel?
HOW TO "TAMPER PROOF" THE GOSPELSJesus has already given and demonstrated the answer. Believe and follow only Jesus. Keep your eyes on the one who is the way, truth, and life. Forsaking everything else, follow Jesus. Let go. Hold on. Walk by faith and not by sight. Do whatever it takes for you to center your faith and your life in Jesus. Nobody else can do this for you. Nobody else can check up on you to see if you are really centered in Jesus or not. But you know.
Ignorance will win when the seductive forces of legalism and judgmental religion lure fearful people to seek self-control and abusive control of others by means that abandon the life and message of Jesus. See my web site material on THE BIBLE AND HOMOSEXUALITY, LEGALISM AS IDOLATRY and the truth about the EX-GAY FRAUD. Knowledge is power, but ignorance is weak and dangerous.
Read through the Four Gospels, especially Luke and John, to review the real gospel of the real Jesus that focuses on God's unconditional accepting love for all people. The Gospels contain no reference at all to the current homophobic religious ignorance and teachings about homosexuality. Jesus certainly had sense enough to know about homosexuals, and if he had believed what present day preachers are saying about us, Jesus would have carefully exposed and rejected all homosexuals! Instead, Jesus exposed and rejected religious bigots who despised and condemned people that failed to keep their laws. Jesus offered God's love to "whosoever" will believe.
To read homophobia into the gospels is rank heresy and blatant apostasy. The current religious attacks against homosexuals, therefore, are based on lies and distortions that were clearly condemned and rejected throughout the New Testament. Why IS ignorance so attractive to so many people?
Visit Dr. Truluck's website: Steps to Recovery from Bible Abuse
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