Justice and Respect by Sonia Balcer (Dec. 31, 1999)

+Letters +Essays

How does the parable of the Good Samaritan apply to us as conservative Christians in regards to same-gender attracted persons?

And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.
But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?
Luke 10:25-29

To answer this question, Jesus tells a story, the story of a man who was beaten up by robbers. Because of the reputation of that mountainous road between those two cities, many would have said he chose foolishly in taking that particular path, and that he brought the misfortune upon himself. And by the accepted technicalities of law, the religious folk who passed him by on the other side of the road could have easily justified themselves in avoiding getting involved -- after all, they must not appear to lend "approval" of sin, and besides, touching his blood might make them unclean. Furthermore, stopping to help might make them a target for being beaten. But what Jesus wanted the earnest young lawyer to see was that, in spite of his great knowledge and zeal, he was missing the heart of God's law.

And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.
But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.
Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?
And he said, He that showed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
Luke 10:30-37

The one who showed "neighborly love" was someone who himself was despised, marginalized, a freak. Some of us as Christians feel freakish in a culture which often doesn't understand our convictions, but our marginalization is nothing in comparison with that of the Samaritans. For they were a people of mixed Jewish and Gentile ancestry who were hated by all the surrounding nations -- disrespected as the lowest of the low. In the parable, Jesus describes the Samaritan traveler as being moved with compassion -- "he took pity on" the half-dead man, and not only stopped, but after administering first aid, carried him upon his own "beast" to an inn and followed through on his care until he was completely recovered.

If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
John 15:10-14

 

Who are the beaten of our day?

Tom Cole, in his op-ed piece, "Gays and Exgays: Sharing the Pain of the Past", writes,

As a child and young man, I was subject to ridicule, harassment and violence on a continual basis. Each day was filled with dread and anticipation of harsh words and violent actions because of my perceived sexuality.

This is all too common a theme in the lives of people perceived to be same-gender attracted: rejection, humiliation, and sometimes violence. "Beaten by robbers" -- robbed of basic dignity and safety, stripped of confidence and socialization. The beating murder of Matthew Shepard can be considered a unique incidence of brutality, but the statistics suggest a widespread problem of violence, in which over half of same-sex attracted youths "don't feel safe at school", according to a first of its kind survey.

"When you call someone a 'fag,' it identifies them with a group, a group that in today's climate is open to harassment," said Judy Shepard [Matthew's mother]. "So by calling someone a 'fag,' you are giving yourself and the people around you the license to either damage this individual verbally or physically."

Seventy percent of those polled said they had been taunted, sexually harassed, shoved, kicked, punched and even beaten. Most had frequent slurs hurled their way, and one third said some of the slurs came from their teachers.

"They pinned me up against the fence, my hands were like this and they started taking their shots -- punching me, kicking me," he recalled. 'They were just chanting, 'Kill the faggot, kill the faggot.'"

"You can walk outside and hear one word and know that someone wants you dead," said Ellen.

School for me was horrendous," said [Derek] Henkle. "I would walk through the halls, and people would spit food on me. I would be in the cafeteria and people would throw stuff at me, and I would have lunch carts pushed into my side."

(For more info on anti-gay violence, see the interview with Derek Henkle whose experience is representative of too many other same-sex attracted youths, statistics from 1991-98 indicating a worsening anti-gay violence problem, FBI statistics from 1997 and 1998, and more.)

 

We have sinned. We have not loved as we have been loved by God. In too many instances, we been like the respectable religious folk who turned a blind eye to their neighbour in need. We have been more concerned with whether a "pro-gay curriculum" is promoted than with whether we are safeguarding the well-being of our youths and providing an environment in which they can learn and thrive. And this extends beyond school environments -- there is the intimidation and stigma that makes same gender attracted people feel, in society and too often in our churches, worthless, unwanted, afraid, isolated. Too often we have called their valid concerns "special rights". Too often we have not been willing to stand up strongly on behalf of the same-sex attracted person who is laying by the side of the road, emotionally, spiritually and possibly even physically beaten -- the vitality of their lives being drained by intimidation and rejection, unspoken fear and peril.

May we afford to others the same dignity which God extends to us in seeking and choosing our life's path. Let us give God full permission to work in one another's lives, upholding respectfully the liberty He grants for each to respond out of conviction rather than coercion -- out of love rather than fear. May we take up our cross to follow Him (1John 4:18, 1Cor. 1:25, Mt 16:24) whether or not we appear foolish to others, speaking the truth in openness and humility -- committing each person in trust unto Him Who loves us with perfect compassion and holiness.

If we allow our disapproval of sexual behaviour which we believe from the Scriptures to be sinful to in any way mute our disapproval of unjust behaviour towards same-gender attracted persons, then our religion doesn't amount to much. Being blameless according the letter of the law will not be enough if we miss the spirit of the law (2Cor 3:6, 1Cor 13). No fervency of upholding "family values" can justify us in His sight if we compromise showing His love -- even to those who dislike, misunderstand and disrespect us. If we believe that our righteousness consists only in not compromising Scripture apart from how we treat others, we risk being "whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness" (Matt. 23:27).

Should we not be clear in proclaiming the scriptural guidelines for sexual morality? Only if we are equally clear in proclaiming "... the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith" (Matt. 23:23) which includes being a "...neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves" (Luke 10:36). In all the areas we would presume to speak, may our own testimonies be worthy of emulation and inspiration. A high regard of Scripture does not only apply in the areas that are easy to talk about because they relate to "their" sin rather than our own, but it applies directly in what it means to be a neighbor.

Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.
Matt. 18:10

Out of reverence for Him, let us honour His command to love without partiality or condition, and be willing to lay ourselves on the line for those "little ones" who are vulnerable to being despised, for He is not indifferent to their plight. May we uphold as He did the dignity of those for whom He shed His blood -- embracing a high view which compels us, as often as we share the Gospel, to extend and embody His sacrificial love in truth and in humility.

Sonia Balcer
December 31, 1999

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references and statistics on violence against same-gender attracted people

Updated 3/1/2003.