etee's Blog

As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him;
and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" " (Acts 9:3-4, NASB)

When I was young, my parents taught me that three subjects were taboo in polite (read: mixed) company: politics, sex, and religion. Thanks to the events of the past 24 hours, I am going to break the rules regarding two (and maybe all three) subjects.

It all started when I read a pair of blog posts over at the Houston Chronicle. While I tend more toward the conservative side of the political spectrum, I also like to read different viewpoints. Now, I think I understand why.

(Politics. One taboo down, two to go...)

For many years, I have been a part of the "hate the sin, love the sinner" camp. There are a number of reasons for this, but the main one for me centered around my view of the fact that God's justice, in the context of the Christian faith, is focused on reconciliation instead of retribution. This is IMHO probably the biggest thing that differentiates the Christian faith from others (at least, those I have any knowledge of.) I have gone through life, comfortable in this viewpoint, feeling it helped me to live "in, but not of, the world", and it also validates my personal viewpoint of retribution that

"An eye for an eye leaves everyone blind"

Then I had a "road to Damascus" experience, sitting in front of a computer screen.

(Religion. Two taboos down, one to go...)

The two blog postings are related to the treatment of members of the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) community. The post from John Whiteside's Blue Bayou discussed the abuse of power in a Tennessee high school, where the principal (who appeared to be on a "zero tolerance" kick) made a list of all the "couples" among the students - then paid "special attention" to a pair of male students, who

...had been seeing each other for a short time and were attempting to keep their relationship quiet and private.

The other post, from Rev. Matt Tittle's Keep the Faith, was an open letter to Joel Osteen of Lakewood church, inviting him to

...participate in a dialogue about homosexuality and Christianity with gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender families and individuals during Mother's Day weekend.

Even though my conservative leanings might tend to indicate otherwise, I happen to be in agreement with the points made in both posts. Bullying is wrong, regardless of who is the target (or why they are the target), and regardless of who is the perpetrator. At the same time, I recognize the Church as "a hospital for sick souls", and to somehow exclude an entire group of souls because their particular illness (even if they don't recognize it as such) seems to me to be contrary to the Church's purpose. So, I went in, secure in my position of "hate the sin, love the sinner"... and proceeded to get knocked down flat.

(Sex. Three taboos down, but we're not quite finished yet...)

I posted an innocuous (to me, anyway) comment on John's post, and got the response I was sort of expecting, the same I have come to expect from this person. I realize it is part of the whole "talking AT other people, rather than TO them" thing that seems to plague our society, and have chalked it up to the fact that our perspectives simply don't allow us to "get" each other's viewpoints. I was about to dismiss it with the same "we will just have to agree to disagree" sentiment I have used before, when I scanned through the comments on Rev. Tittle's post,

And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight... (Acts 9:18, NASB)

Oh. my. God. what. was. I. thinking?

I saw, clear as day, exactly what the LGBT readers were seeing and had been trying to warn me about all along: a running commentary which devalued them as people, a rapidly escalating rhetoric which one could imagine would soon lead to cries of (pun sort of intended)

"Light the faggots! Burn the witches! Burn them at the stake!"

This was certainly not representative of my viewpoints, nor consistent with my upbringing: and suddenly I felt ashamed for what I done.

I posted a quick mea culpa at both blogs, mainly because when one realizes one is in the wrong, it is appropriate for one to seek to make amends. And, while I don't know if it will truly give comfort to those whom I have offended in the past, I felt a weight lift off of my shoulders as I hit the "Post" button. Of course, I realize this was the easy part: the harder part will be moving forward. I need to take stock of what I believe, what I have been taught, and re-evaluate those positions I have been so sure of these many year. Then, there is the matter of making sure my actions and words match my values.

Now, it is time to get on with the rest of my life...

Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.