This past weekend a conference addressing homosexuality was held in Uganda. You can read more details and background here and here and here. There are some deeply troubling reports about this conference that I feel I need to speak out about. New Direction as a ministry has intentionally chosen to stay out of politics. However, I feel that the issues raised at the Uganda conference are about justice. And I must speak out for justice if I am to be faithful to Jesus Christ.
But he's already made it plain how to live, what to do,
what God is looking for in men and women.
It's quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor,
be compassionate and loyal in your love…
(Micah 6:8 the Message)
It is not just to advocate for the criminalization of gay people. Currently, gay people in Uganda face the possibility of life in prison. This ought not to be! And those who name the name of Jesus need to speak up and say so.
It is not just to coerce gay people into therapy. Disputes about the harm of reparative therapy aside, forced therapy ought not to be. And those who know the invitational character of Jesus need to speak up and say so.
It is not just to stir up fear and hatred of gay people. Blaming gay people for the genocide in Rwanda cannot be tolerated. Equating homosexuality with pedophilia when the research clearly refutes such a notion is inexcusable. It must be challenged for what it is – inciting hatred and potential violence towards gay people in an already volatile context such as Uganda. Such hatred is completely inconsistent with God’s call to shalom. And those who follow Jesus need to speak up and say so.
"Quit your worship charades. I can't stand your trivial religious games: Monthly conferences, weekly Sabbaths, special meetings— meetings, meetings, meetings—I can't stand one more! Meetings for this, meetings for that. I hate them! You've worn me out! I'm sick of your religion, religion, religion, while you go right on sinning. When you put on your next prayer-performance, I'll be looking the other way. No matter how long or loud or often you pray, I'll not be listening. And do you know why? Because you've been tearing people to pieces, and your hands are bloody. Go home and wash up. Clean up your act. Sweep your lives clean of your evildoings so I don't have to look at them any longer. Say no to wrong. Learn to do good. Work for justice. Help the down-and-out. Stand up for the homeless. Go to bat for the defenseless.” (Isaiah 1:13 the Message)
I invite others to join me in calling for the decriminalization of homosexuality throughout the world. I invite others to join me in standing for justice for our gay neighbours – in Uganda and throughout the world. And I invite others to do all they can, through relationship and in word & deed, to overcome the incitement of hatred with love.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
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4 comments:
Thanks for this post.
Beautiful post, Wendy. I could not agree more.
Thank you, Wendy and New Direction! FINALLY someone with some backbone!! It's absolutely vile to me how vocal many ex-gay ministries are at the very hint that gays might get some right (like marriage), but are stunningly silent when gross human rights injustices are committed . . . suddenly it's time for "being cautious, and wise, and not stirring up trouble." Well in this situation, being "cautious" is far more dangerous than speaking out for what's clearly just and Christ-like. Silence is tacit approval for such a great vice.
I am always amazed at what people will do in the name of God. We follow this God that said the most important things to do are love him and love your neighbor. So we come up with this? Jail and forced therapy because we don't like their choices. The stupidity and evil of it are manifest. Thanks for calling attention to it. It makes you wonder if this situation is just the natural endpoint of this mental process. "Gays need to be fixed if they don't cooperate jail them, or worse." I am glad to see that you are not going down that road. It leads to great evil.
ps my word verification was "fartum" which sums it up well don't you think?
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