A Response to LGBT Week, Day 1
I wanted to reflect a little bit about Trempor Longman’s message today and the Question and Answer session that was held later in the Page MPR in the evening on the topic of LGBT issues. Dr. Longman was asked to talk about the Biblical vision of sexuality, particularly as it pertains to the LGBT issue in light of recent events. In the course of his message he argued that the Bible is clear and unambiguous in labeling homosexuality as a sin.
At the question and answer session, he had an opportunity to address a few theological issues, but it soon turned into an emotional appeal for understanding between LGBT and straight members of our community. There are a couple things I want to say about the whole thing.
I think that tonight showed very clearly that there are LGBT as well as straight people who are incredibly eager to address the deep hurt, isolation, and pain felt by LGBT members of Westmont. I am one of them. My heart is deeply conflicted over the issue, and I want to grow in my ability to empathize and love LGBT members of our community. As several LGBT members of the community spoke tonight, I could sense the depth of emotional trauma they have endured in trying to discover how to live as LGBT Christians. I know how important sexuality is to my own identity as a human being and as a person of faith, and I can only imagine the depth of suffering these people have felt as a result of their sexual identity. We need to learn how to love and support each other and discourage the prevalence of ignorance and hostile prejudice that pervade the church and our community at Westmont.
That being said, Dr. Longman (and by extension, those who planned this LGBT awareness week) received a lot of criticism for starting with the theological question “Where does Scripture stand on sexuality?” I think that beginning with Scripture seemed callous and insensitive to a lot of people. I have sympathy for that criticism, but in Longman’s defense I think that if we are to have a discussion about sexuality as a body of Christians, we have to ask ourselves “Where does Scripture stand?” Dr. Hoeckley remarked that the letter from LGBT alumni didn’t endorse changing Westmont’s Community Life Statement, which gave the impression that theology is not the issue (or at least not an important one); the issue is how we can love each other despite our differences. However, hearing from the LGBT members from our community, it seems clear that there actually is theological uncertainty among students on this issue. Every LGBT member who went to the microphone “respectfully disagreed” with Dr. Longman, which suggests to me that there really is a lot of confusion about what the Bible says about sexuality. This is why I believe that addressing that very question is crucial.
Since this was the only night dedicated to the discussion of Scripture, I was disappointed. Longman made a strong claim– that Scripture is entirely clear and consistent in its condemnation of homosexuality. The only real response was “well, you have your interpretation, I have mine”, which I found very dissatisfying. I think Longman’s right, but I’d be thoroughly relieved to see a convincing argument otherwise. I fully expect that when I leave Westmont, stating confidently that I believe that the Bible teaches that homosexuality is a sin in any but the most conservative and traditional circles is going to make me unpopular (just look at the way the press has responded to the situation at Westmont). I don’t want to be labeled or persecuted any more than they do, and so I was deeply disappointed that the opportunity to explore cogent alternative views was dismissed. I know it’s not fair to criticize the LGBT students for this– we can’t expect college students to have the confidence and knowledge to critique a distinguished biblical scholar, and it’s perfectly understandable that the deep desire for LGBT struggles to be acknowledged would make them impatient with an intellectual study of Scripture. Even so, considering all the rhetoric about the importance of dialogue, it was disappointing to me that the discussion of Scripture was met with such aggressive resistance.
As I was walking down from the Page MPR, I happened to walk behind a group of students loudly quoting crude gay jokes from a recent film, and finding sick pleasure in how “inappropriate” they were. It was a poignant affirmation that we need to have this discussion. Prejudice and ignorance is very real on this campus and needs to be addressed. I was very pleased that there was a sincere, genuine connection at the conclusion of the evening, and I hope it’s only a taste of more to come later this week. However, I also really hope that we will find a way to have an honest discussion of Scripture. If Scripture is not allowed to have a voice, I worry that whatever gains we make will be hollow and superficial.
I think that you are valid, Dan. That your opinions are in the majority at Westmont.
But the point of this week to listen. Listen to those who are not the majority. To those who have been silenced. Those who have been struck by fear, loneliness, and doubt. The kind of fear that doesn’t even allow me to sign my name to this message.
While I think finding a scriptural basis for supporting the LGBT community and lifestyle would be hugely beneficial for me and for Westmont as a whole. But I am not a Biblical scholar. Dan, there are so many more opinions out there that can agree and even support with a holy gay identity in the context of Christ– you have to do that reading. So do I. It is unfair to expect undergrad Westmont students to have those kinds of Biblical founded answers.
I think it’s crucial to recognize the body of Christ as a whole. Including those churches, denominations, and friends of yours, Dan, who think that they can find Jesus just like any straight person. And that there are other opinions outside of Longman’s, B.P.’s, and Westmont’s (the institution) stance on LGBT sexuality.
Also I would like to encourage you to look up the etymology of the term ‘homosexual’ and see how recent a term it is — Since the word was not even in existence before a few hundred years ago, how are we to claim that the Bible is clear and unambiguous.
That is absolutely false. The fact this conversation is happening at all is a clear sign of it’s ambiguity.
No one questions incest, murder, bestiality, or polygamy. Every one gets that those things are wrong. Clearly, the LGBT conversation must look differently since it is splitting churches across the country.
Please keep your heart and eyes open Dan, and I will do the same.
In His Name
Thank you so much for your comment. I hope you know that I am going to do my best to educate myself better on the topic and give a fair hearing to a variety of perspectives. I also just want to grow in compassion and understanding for the struggles of you and people like you. I understand if you do not feel safe attaching your name to your comment publicly here on the blog, but I just want to say that if you would be willing to contact me in private, I would love to meet with you at some point and have that opportunity to listen to your experience and perspective.
Dan, thank you for your re-cap of what was said last night. I was so discouraged by chapel on Monday that I didn’t go to the follow-up discussion. And now I wish that I had.
Hey Dan-
As an Episcopalian, I support openly homosexual people to be in positions of authority in the church. This view has made me unpopular, which is to be expected, I suppose, at an institution with fundamental roots. Because of my background, I do have information that may be helpful to you in your quest for a true discourse. The Anglican Communion has published a lot of deeply theological discourses on the issue of homosexuality (which is important considering it is tearing apart the Communion currently) and I do know that there are resources in the Westmont library which also address this issue from different perspectives. That being said, I find myself deeply conflicted at times about what the Bible states regarding homosexuality. But, as I go deeper into my study of the exact words used in the Greek New Testament with regards to homosexuality (the background of the word itself, how it is used outside of the Bible, cultural contexts surrounding the word), I am more and more convinced that Paul’s letters are not as black and white as they first appear. We are 2,000 years removed from the text. We no longer fully understand the cultural context which they were addressing. We are even further removed from the Old Testament. I am not saying that Dr. Longman’s interpretation of the Old Testament is incorrect, but I do acknowledge that there are other opinions out there-based on scholarship done by just as respected academics which come up with an entirely different conclusion.
Beyond that-addressing the current conversation-I honestly think the main issue is not with the Community Life Statement, but with the lack of pastoral care and loving Christian community here at Westmont for people who identify themselves as LGBT and the people which support them. I cried both during and after chapel as I witnessed the heartache in the faces of the people around me. Unintentionally, Westmont students and faculty are hurting others and I really wish it would change. I want to enter into a true dialog, where LGBT concerns can be aired and responded to in a loving manner. I hope that the rest of this week will be more open to the needs of LGBT students and not begin with automatic condemnation.
Thank you for being honest with your reaction. It means a lot!
Thanks for this, Dan.
I have heard much from the opposite side of the discussion- that Dr. Longman’s address was inappropriate (as far as its timing) and even hurtful. I think that, given that the issue is centered both around a) Westmont’s past inability to engage in the discussion, as well as b) the issue of Christian homosexuality itself, perhaps the Scriptural argument against homosexuality would have been more appropriately placed at the end of the week, with the first couple of days being used to discuss how to handle the discussion- both in public and in private?
Either way, it’s clear that we need people with your sensitivity and longing for (Scriptural) Truth in the discussion.
In response to what several of you have said and in light of the way the week turned out, here are some of my thoughts about that first day.
I think that it was important that the campus started out by stating clearly what the CLS says and why. By starting it out that way, the campus made it clear that the week wasn’t going to be about debating the CLS, which for me cleared up a lot of confusion.
On the other hand, I wasn’t terribly happy with the way it was handled either. I think that, all in all, if you want somebody who can discuss a really politically charged topic and balance theology with deep compassion, you need someone like Telford Work, not Longman.
Also, I think that using chapel as the place to build a theological argument was not tactful. It did give the impression that the forum was being used to crush discussion and present the only acceptable position. Perhaps a good compromise would have been to get a tactful and compassionate faculty member to go up and state clearly what the CLS says and why, while leaving discussion of case law, etc. to an evening follow up session or even a session later in the week after people had the assurance that the bulk of the week would be devoted to how we as a community can be more caring and loving rather than whether or not homosexuality is a sin. This may have allowed for a more calm and less confrontational discussion on both ends.
However, I found this week to be very, very helpful. I purchased Yarhouse’s latest book and I look forward to reading it over Spring Break, and some thoughtful friends and allies of the LGBT community have passed along some other perspectives for me to look at. I hope I can continue to grow both in my understanding of the issue in all its complicated dimensions as well as my ability to connect with members of the LGBT community on a deep level. I was deeply convicted by Yarhouse’s statement that we as a church need to learn how to care for our own– LGBT Christians shouldn’t be forced to look outside the church for support and fellowship. I hope that I as a person can grow in my ability to come alongside and support the LGBT community in ways that are mutually meaningful and constructive, and encourage other straight friends to do the same.
Dan,
Thanks for writing this. It’s helpful for someone outside Westmont who cares deeply about Westmont to have not only a summary of what’s gone on, but a thoughtful interpretation/response as well. Know that a lot of us are praying for all of you daily. Thanks again.