For those of you who may not know, I am part of Equality Ride 2007. We will be on a bus for two months travelling to school that have policies that are discriminatory and hurtful toward gay and lesbian students. Many of these schools expel students who are openly gay or "advocate the homosexual lifestyle". Recently, we were having a discussion about the effects of the ex-gay ministry on the gay community. The dialogue arose out of discussion of an ex-gay student Chad Thompson. Please visit his website to realize what we are up against. And please read this blof to ascertain my view on the issue itself and my view on Chad's position.
My name is Jonathan Hilbrands. My parents put me in Exodus International, a Christian ministry that attempts to bring gay people out of homosexuality. They took my car keys away from me, buried them in a pickle jar in the backyard, and wouldn't tell me where they were until i attended an Exodus meeting.
According to the exodus website, www.exodus.to, the organization can best be described by the following words on their own website:
| "Mission Statement
Mobilizing the body of Christ to minister grace and truth to a world impacted by homosexuality.
Doctrinal Statement
We believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are the inspired Word Of God, the final authority for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction for right living. We believe in one God, existing eternally in three Persons:Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, fully man and fully God, only begotten Son of the Father. he was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, and lived a sinless life. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, buried and rose physically from the dead. He ascended to the right hand of the Father and will come again in power and glory.
We believe that faith alone in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord frees us from the mastery of sin, and its consequences of death and eternal damnation. He assumed the penalty of death Himself, and enables us to live out of His resurrected life unto eternity. We believe the Holy Spirit carries out this work of renewal in our lives, empowering us to grow in loving union with our Heavenly Father and to walk in obedience to His will. We believe that the Church of Jesus Christ is formed of all those who know Him as their Savior and Lord, regardless of denominational beliefs.
|
 EXODUS is a Christian organization dedicated to equipping and uniting agencies and individuals to effectively communicate the message of liberation from homosexuality, as well as how to effectively convey support and understanding to individuals facing the reality of a homosexual loved one.
EXODUS upholds heterosexuality as God's creative intent for humanity, and subsequently views homosexual expression as outside of God's will. EXODUS cites homosexual tendencies as one of many disorders that beset fallen humanity. Choosing to resolve these tendencies through homosexual behavior, taking on a homosexual identity, and involvement in the homosexual lifestyle is considered destructive, as it distorts God's intent for the individual and is thus sinful.
Instead, Christ offers a healing alternative to those with homosexual tendencies. EXODUS upholds redemption for the homosexual person as the process whereby sin's power is broken, and the individual is freed to know and experience true identity as discovered in Christ and His Church. That process entails the freedom to grow into heterosexuality.
Central to this redemption is EXODUS' desire to unite and equip the church to carry out this healing process. EXODUS bridges the gap between Christians who respond to homosexual men and women with ignorance and fear, and those who uphold homosexuality as a valid, Christ-centered lifestyle. To EXODUS, both extremes fail to convey to the homosexual the fullness of redemption found in Christ--He who embodies grace and truth, and invites us to partake of Him.
Exodus affirms reorientation of same sex attraction is possible. This is a process, which begins with motivation to, and self-determination to change based upon a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. We facilitate resources for this process through our member ministries, other established networks and the Church. The key outcome of this is measured by a growing capacity to turn away from temptations, a reconciling of ones identity with Jesus Christ, being transformed into His image. This enables growth towards Godly heterosexuality. Exodus recognizes that a lifelong and healthy marriage as well as a Godly single life are good indicators of this transformation.
Passing hate crimes legislation skews reality and enforces hatred. It will only serve to empower gay activists to abuse people of faith and encroach on the free expression of religion. (Randy Thomas, Exodus International)" |
Folks we have to be careful here. These organizations and messages are extremely dangerous. We must not believe that they are humanizing gay, lesbian, bisexual,transgender, queer, or questioning individuals. They are not. However, they believe their intentions are well grounded. So, as peaceful messengers the gay community as a whole must engage in a non-violent and educated conversation with the ex-gay movement as to why these credos and beliefs exist in the first place. We must listen, but we must also explain that we believe we are fully human by virtue of being born. GLBTQQ individuals can be right with God without homosexuality even being a factor in the God/individual relationship. |
Whewww.... however, it sometimes seems as if the ex-gay movement, in their attempt to humanize the GLBT community, almost serves to give the fundamental movement more reason to believe that they are justifiably speaking on behalf of all Christians. I am still working through my own thoughts about it. However, I do believe that regardless of what their motivation in humanizing the GLBT community is, it gives us a MUCH better opportunity to open up a peaceful dialogue with them.
It's just like the Equality Riders talked about in Austin. We have to realize that regardless of what points we disagree on, whether it be with the ex-gay proponents, students/administrators on campuses, or the Christian fundamental movement at large, that we are all coming from a place of best intention. It is incredibly encouraging to me that Chad Thompson makes a point of humanizing the GLBT community. It is saddening to me that this "humanization" still comes from a misguided mentality that my sexual orientation makes me less worthy in God's eyes. It is something very important that often lacks in the fundamental community. However, our identities and sexual orientations are not something that need an organized attempt to humanize them. We should be humanized, whoever we are, and whatever we identify as, simply because we were born. By virtue of being born into this universe we each have dignity and worth as individuals. That dignity and worth should come automatically, not from the ex-gay movement's attempt to humanize us.
That being said, I agree with my friend Brandon when he said, "He's [Chad Thompson] asking them to not ostracize us, which implies inclusion, how wonderful! Do not be angry; do not fear. Love is on our side; truth is on our side.For those of us who believe in a higher good, this isn't our battle, it's a battle between right and wrong, we are merely the current symbol of oppression. As hard as it may be to understand, these ex-gay acts aren't personal. And if we act with compassion, and resist violent, angry, and resentful remarks, then we have already solved the issue in our hearts. Love works in powerful ways, if you are to take on these ex-gay chats, do it with love and without expectation, be there, be present and trust that God will lead the way."
This is so true. While we may not understand why the ex-gay movement employs the methods that it does, we must remain resoulte in our knowledge that we are valued by God from the moment we are born. The fact that Chad Thompson was attempting to humanize our community should give us hope that there is at the very least room for more dialogue than ever before (regardless of whether or not his attempts at humanization are legitimate).God affirms us without reservation, as Jake Reitan said in the promo video for the Equality Ride documentary. So, taking all of these things into account, I must say that Brandon summed it up quite nicely by reminding us that the actions of the ex-gay movement are simply coming from the best place they know. Whether ill-intentioned or well-intentioned, our simple resonsibility is to act with love, non-violence, and compassion. The issue is in our hearts as Brandon said. His entire last paragraph sums it up perfectly.
I shall end with my favorite quote. It is by Margaret Meade and says: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful people can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has."
While we must come from a peaceful place, and realize that everyone is as well intentioned at the moment as they are conceivably able to be, we must realize what we are up against. Here are some further quotes from Chad Thompson's review of Brokeback Mountain.
1) The scenery portrayed in Brokeback Mountain—the rock formations, the sunrise, the skies, the rivers—they all testify to the existence of God and to the greatness of God. Yet the characters in the film acted in exactly the manner that one would expect someone to act who didn't believe in God.
2)But if God really is who he says he is—if God really can heal the sick, turn water into wine, and even bring the dead to life—then overcoming homosexuality wouldn't seem so difficult, would it?
3) I once heard someone say that it's time for those who struggle with really big things like homosexuality to stop telling God how big their "mountain" is, and start telling their mountain how big God is. Today, it seems, Brokeback is the mountain that needs to be told how big God is.
Everyone... this is not humanization. Chad is not attempting to humanize us. His words and actions appear to humanize, but in reality serve to give Christians a reason to justify the "love the sinner, hate the sin" mantra. If this opens up dialogue, wonderful. If it is a true willingness to humanize, great. But remember, we don't need to be humanized. We are ALREADY fully human. That's it. If we waiver on whether we believe we are fully human we have done a grave diservice to ourselves. Whether or not this "humanization" is legitimate, albeit unnecessary (by legitimate I mean well-intentioned on the part of the ex-gay movement) , it does provide a road for dialogue that may have not existed before. Nevertheless, if we travel too far down that road without a resoulte knowledge that we in no way, shape, or form need to be humanized, then we are travelling down a very slippery slope. We essentially have to take a step back and have a discussion about why the ex-gay movement believes that the situation needs to be humanized in the first place.
And Kudos to everyone on Equality Ridef or their responses. I honestly have never been around a group of people that has challenged me to think so deeply about myself and my place in this world. We are all beautiful and I love you all.
Namaste,
Jonathan