Gay Pride : WWJD ?
On June 1st, President Barack Obama officially declared June 2009 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month. Of course, June has been “Gay Pride” month since the Stonewall Riots in June 1969, and there are parades and festivities occurring this month all around the world, from Omaha to London to Tel Aviv to Shanghai. Cities around the world have cordoned off streets and beaches for the concerts and parties. The parades have become the public arena for corporate floats, aspiring politicians, community activists, churches, and everyday citizens demonstrating for civil rights and social acceptance, as well as those out just for a good time.
And then there’s the other side. The drunkenness, the public display of nudity and sexuality, the flaunting of common decency in the name of shock value “because we can”. Many of the events are family-friendly, but many should never have come out of the seedy, dark underground where practices unsuited for prime time are now being aired defiantly. It’s Mardi Gras with a rainbow flag.
Like a lot of things in our world today, Christians even remotely interested in such events are faced with a dilemma. Do I go? Do I participate? Or is this something that should be completely avoided? I asked a few of my Christian friends for their opinions, and as expected, received answers ranging all along the spectrum, from adamantly opposed, to strongly supportive, and even apathy and uncertainty in between. Regardless of the value or lack of value in supporting the cause of civil rights, is it appropriate for Christians to associate with these kinds of events and these kinds of people? As one friend quoted the Bible to me, “what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?” But as another countered, “how else is the light to shine except in darkness? The light shines, and darkness has not overcome it.”
Everyone will have to answer that question for themselves, according to their own motivations and conscience, but I thought it would be helpful to ask that popular question, “What would Jesus do?”
I think everyone will agree that Gay Pride celebrations are generally not for the timid or faint of heart. There are strongly motivated people out there — those advocating their liberty, those voicing opposition, and those just plain ole acting up. And it goes without saying that followers of Christ should not be involved in lewdness and debauchery. But these types of celebrations — especially this one — are filled with hurting and hungry people. And that to me is the key to solving the dilemma.
Jesus went wherever people needed him. “It is not the healthy who need a physician, but the sick. I have not come for the righteous, but to call sinners to repentance” (Lk 5:30-32). “I have come that they may have life, and have it in abundance” (Jn 10:10). This motivation drove Jesus to some very questionable places and caused him to associate with certain types of people that the more religious would never even talk to much less hang out with. His behavior and choice of companions so outraged the religious that they called him a drunk and a glutton (Mt 11:19). They accused him of being demon possessed. Why? Because he loved people. And let’s be clear about one thing here: while Jesus would not have been condoning wild revelry, he was no stranger to parties and enjoying himself. Remember his first miracle? It was at a wedding reception, where celebrating people were busy getting drunk. And what does he do? Give them more wine to celebrate. (John 2). And he was frequently seen at banquets and dinner parties, hanging around tax collectors, corrupt officials, prostitutes. The Pharisees of his day called him on it: how can you associate with such unclean people? He saw something, he knew something, that they did not. He understood the heart of God.
Would Jesus go to a Gay Pride parade? You bet he would. I doubt very much he’d be marching in it (he tended to avoid political activism since that wasn’t his purpose), but he’d certainly have a booth out on the fair grounds with big signs telling people that God loved them. He’d be shouting into the crowds (in a very undignified way), “Come unto me, all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” He’d say, “Come to me, all who are hungry, and let me give you what you’re seeking. Come to me, all of you who are thirsty, and I will give you water to drink that will fill your souls and overflow out of you to water others.” (Mt 11:28; Lk 1:53; Lk 6:21; Jn 7:38)
Especially at Gay Pride celebrations, where so many Gay and Lesbian and Bisexual and Transgender people have been rejected by our religious organizations, our churches, hurt by family, told they are hated by God, told they are going to hell. Is there any other group of people more needing of the love and acceptance of Jesus? Would he be among the conservative church goers there, holding up protest signs that say “Fags go to Hell”, or hurling insults at those dressed in feather boas or sexually-explicit costumes? Would he be among those throwing stones? Did he EVER do that in the Gospels? No. Today, at any Gay Pride parade or picnic he went to, he’d walk up to such scandalous people, wrap his arms around them, kiss them on the cheek, and say “You are SO loved by the Father.” Some people would reject him, now just as they did 2000 years ago. But those who hunger for a relationship with God would hug him back, and follow him to some grassy picnic area where he’d tell them stories about how the Kingdom of God is made up of people such as themselves. And from such people, he would raise up followers who would know the grace of God and see a face of God that those who grew up in the church have never seen and will never experience.
Not everybody at Gay Pride celebrations is hurt or damaged, of course. And only a small percentage of those gathered at these events will be acting in outrageous ways. Many people will be there just for the festivities and entertainment. Many of these will be fellow believers — gay and straight. And Jesus would be sitting at their table, sharing hamburgers with them, blessing them, listening to their stories and encouraging them. He’d laugh with them, cry with them, and remind them that he’s always with them and will never abandon them.
Should a Christian, gay or straight, attend Gay Pride events? That, of course, depends on your motive for being there. But when I think about Jesus, any question whether it’s appropriate or right melts away. All we need to ask ourselves — all we should be imitating in our own lives — is What would Jesus do?
This entry is filed under Coffee with Steve, Rethinking church. And tagged with gay, gay Christians, gay pride, GLBT, WWJD. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
As always, well written, covered all the bases. Liked so many of your examples – you know I’m especially partial to His first miracle!! Seriously, loved this, “…he’d certainly have a booth out on the fair grounds with big signs telling people that God loved them.” The answer to the question is a great big “YES!!”
[via Facebook]
LOVED this and will share it. i am going to SF Pride and I went last year with a shirt I made and walked around Civic Center for two days AND rode the FIC float . Shirt said “hurt by church, get a straight apology here.” Great post.
[via Facebook]
awesome, Steve. just awesome.
[via Facebook]
That was a marvelous piece of writing! You worded it so compassionately and accurately! Boy, I’m with you 100%. You are so right…Jesus WOULD be right in the middle of the festivities!
[via email]
Pretty cool post. I just stumbled upon your site and wanted to say
that I’ve really enjoyed browsing your blog posts. Anyway
I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again soon!
Steve has offered to make this post part of an international synchroblog effort today of over 70 bloggers hosted by: http://www.btgproject.blogspot.com
I’ll be linking this post – but would also invite Steve’s regular readers to come and check out all the other posts – many extremely thoughtful, grace-filled and hopeful on ‘bridging the gap’ in relation to faith and sexuality.
Those questions you said Christians might ask themselves: “Do I go? Do I participate? Or is this something that should be completely avoided?” are ACTUALLY questions that many gay people ask themselves as well. Many gay people do not go to pride parades, at least not anymore – but many do.
What I truly hope comes out of this dialogue first, is the recognition that there are gay-affirming Christians – in abundance! This isn’t an issue of just Christians and gays, because as I said on another blog, Gay people are as multi-faceted as straight people – some ARE Christian, even if their theology differs from yours.
So while we are working to respect each other, let’s start with the acknowledgment that Gay Christians exist, that Gay families exist, and that some of what goes on at some pride festivals is no more an example of the gay community as a whole as going to Mardi Gras or any straight bar is of straight people
J
I just wanted to remark about the tee shirt Kathy B wore. What a wonderful idea! There are a lot of Christians that realize the damage that has been done and is being done by Christians. These people (and those who agreed with your article, Steve, should get themselves a shirt like that to wear at the celebrations. What a great testimony without being offensive!
What a wonderful image – Jesus setting up a booth in the middle of the festivities and calling out to all those who need to know they are valued, they are loved. He absolutely would be there, and as I read your post I wondered, if Jesus was starting his ministry today, might he go to a Gay Pride event and call some participant to follow him and become a fisher of men? Interesting idea.
Or perhaps Jesus would go to a gay pride parade and realize there are already fishers of men in the crowd!
It bothers me just a bit when people assume that Jesus would go there to win over converts because there are no Christians there. This sounds a little like gay Christians don’t count, or because they believe differently, they aren’t right.
If we are going to get anywhere with this blog, we have to respect the other person’s beliefs – and acknowledge that there are good Christians on both sides of this issue.
Jayhuck,
Your feelings are correct. And I -am- saying that.
You were probably reading a ton of blogs that day in the SyncroBlog event, so you may have missed that finer point. On two or three differenct occasions I mention “Christians, straight and gay”, and then lastly talk about believers already there, how Jesus would join them. The whole point of my piece was to discuss the ambivolence many believers feel in going to these kinds of events (regardless of sexual preference), and to point out that Jesus would have no such qualms.
There is only one critieria for being a Christian: placing your faith in Jesus Christ. And you’re correct; one’s reasons for going to or participating in Gay Pride events don’t have to be purely evangelistic.
Sorry I wasn’t clear enough.
Steve
Perhaps you were clear and I wasn’t paying close enough attention to what you were saying. Regardless, Thank You!
This has been so profoundly influential to a group of us that we will be in the Orlando Pride with Jesus on our float. Could we have your permission to reprint this on our website with props back to you ?
Thanks
http://www.friendsofpride.net
DaveMan,
Thanks for touching bases. Yes, feel free to reprint the note. It would be my honor. I loved the image of the cross on your website with the statement about Jesus’ love for all.
Grace and peace,
Steve Schmidt
Awesome, Thank you, I have posted it at:
http://friendsofpride.net/?page_id=23
if you would kindly confirm for us, that you approve it in context, my bosses would be very happy, additionally we are curious if we need any special permissions do distribute other writings of yours, or you RSS blog feeds.
Thanks,
Gratefully Yours,
DaveMan
http://www.friendsofPride.net
DaveMan,
I sent a response to your gmail account. Hope you got it.
Steve
This is the first post of yours that I have ever read (I found you via the link on Lori’s site) and I must say that this is an extremely powerful and more importantly beautiful piece of writing.
I love how you put everything together so well and intertwined your ideas with biblical passages. Thank you for such a wonderful and uplifting post, I will be sharing this one for sure.
Jessica
Really appreciate you sharing this blog.Really thank you! Keep writing.