Sane Christianity

Know what, once upon a time, on this very blog, I used to be pretty bitter, angry on the subject of religion. Especially Christianity.

Hey, I was burnt. I had had it to the neck with un-Christian witness from Christians. The likes of Ssempa, Orombi, Male, and the rest of the ilk. People who believe that I am less that I should be, simply because I am gay.

Once upon a time, I was a Christian. Anglican.

Actually, far as I could find out, it was my paternal grandpa who was the first Christian in my family. So, very new faith, as for most Ugandans. But, he became one of the hard core 'savedees' after the East African revival of the 1940s. My father grew up in that home, and, for him I was a Christian because he gave me his Christian first name.

Yeah, and once, I made the choice of being saved, becoming an evangelical... like my elder brother, who is a pastor.

Well, I became bitter, and embittered, and later enraged by the seeming disconnect between reality and faith as I saw it. Now, I joy in standing on the fence... something which puzzles my bro, but, we all make our decisions. He is trying to woo me back to the safe fold. I am not convinced!

Well, I am also proudly gay. I am a homosexual.

So, living in Uganda, I have listened to the Church, Catholic, Anglican, Evangelical come out and lash at us with all their might, hold rallies, condemn us from the pulpit and pray for our death and destruction. Got to the point that my apathy had turned into a roaring, consuming anger. Against all things Christian.

But, like all hatreds, there have been a few people that have stood up to challenge my hatred. Christians. There is Desmond Tutu, of South Africa, and Christopher Ssenyonjo of Uganda, Bishops in the Anglican church. I find myself very much surprised by their fulsome embrace of what I am. No, I still respectfully decline the request to believe. Guess it is nothing but me responding to love, as opposed to hypocrisy and hate.

I have always followed the people at Exodus International. I am gay. Grew up in an environment when I was constantly bombarded with the wrongness of myself. I am glad I didnt embrace that kind of self deception. But, I do understand them, or, at least I think I do. After all, they are homosexual like I am... even when they deny it. What I don't understand is their apparent desire to hurt others, especially youths who are questioning. I know, it is deeply held convictions... so, maybe I understand. But, I am very glad that they can reverse themselves. Like they did in their support of their board member who came to preach Anti-homosexuality in Uganda. And, like they have done now, acknowledging that the 'Day of Truth' in opposition to the 'Day of Silence' was actually a promotion of hatred. Covert, misguided, and, in truth hurtful.

Sane Christians. Not like the Vatican, (forgive me partner), which fights tooth and nail to uphold doctrine over love....

And, there's Throckmorton. Very interesting guy. Yes, he is one of those sane Christians, for whom ideology doesnt seem to triumph over simple humanity. And he kind of finds that inspiration from the Bible that Ssempa, Orombi and co use to bash me.... hey, that is life!

Guess we are all different. No convenient thinking straight jackets, until we dress ourselves in them.

Take away lesson? Stereotypes, of any kind, never stand the light of examination.

What set me off? Younger bro. He was with me, trying to impress me with his 'nationalism'. Guess I was not impressed...!

gug

Exodus International Statement

Bishop Ssenyonjo still tours the  US.

But, there is this statement from Exodus International. They are THE ex-gay ministry of the world. And, they were involved in the ‘Anti-Homosexuality Seminar’ of last year. They have released an apology for the whole thing. First saw it at ‘ex-gay watch. Really interesting reading.

One thing I have come to appreciate is the reality of lies and false denials given in the name of ‘politics’. They really gall me, don’t know why…! We have lots of ‘political correctness’ in Uganda, regarding what can be said about the ruling party. But, there is lots of it through the world. Israel and its ‘terrorist’ blockade-runner activists is one case in point, so is BP and its oil-spill…. Me, I am a plain old traditionalist who is impressed more by truth than by denials and false pretences, so I am impressed by an apology that is heartfelt.

I also regret that Exodus itself or by association, of which there is little or no differentiation in this case, was connected in any way to this conference and its organizers.  Exodus and I do hold to a biblical view of human sexuality but that in no way means that we believe consensual heterosexual or homosexual adult sexual expression conducted in private should be criminalized.  Nor do we believe that those same groups who deviate from biblical sexual thought or expression should be targeted as criminals, deemed unlovable or miscategorized as incapable of having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  In deed, we all fall short of the Glory of God and there is but one-way to Him: seeking His Son and acknowledging Him for who He is.

Yeah, I know, I am not alone in appreciating honesty. Ex-gay Watch, and Throckmorton, and Box Turtle Bulletin applaud it too. Of course, what has been happening in Uganda, and in Africa will continue to put the burden on Christians. Christians will continue to be blamed for the anti-gay hostility in Africa still. Not least because the condemnation has been literally wrung out late and with lots of ‘back-looking’. But, that weight of condemnation lightens. By a feather.

So, there indeed has been a bit of a silver lining to the whole 'Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2009' As Timothy Kincaid of BTB writes-

It has engendered an international discussion about human rights, it has illustrated the work which continues to be required in much of the world, and it has caused many in the Christian community to question their beliefs and positions.

Some, such as Scott Lively, were revealed as supporters of a culture of imprisonment and death. There have always been those who operate from a sphere of deep hatred towards gay people. And for too long their rhetoric was not perceived as too radical or too extreme to be outside of acceptable Christian thought. For some, this situation revealed their heart.

And others found themselves, for perhaps the first time, speaking out in the defense of gay people. Some religious leaders were embarrassed that they were associated with the bill and the blind hatred in Uganda’s religious rhetoric and took steps to denounce the bill and disassociate themselves from the bias. I am hopeful that they have learned a lesson and will be careful in the future about lending their name and voice to those who act out of hate.

And there were those, like Exodus International, the ex-gay ministries umbrella group, who were made aware that anti-gay activism has real consequences and that “loving the homosexual” has responsibilities that extend beyond trying to “call him to redemption.” Although they claim to “challenge those who respond to homosexuals with ignorance and fear”, for a very long time this “challenge” has been nearly nonexistent and I think that Exodus and its leadership have been awakened to the inadequacy of their response.

For gay Ugandans, the biggest plus that I can point to is the exposure of the malignant 'Christian' hatred of one Martin Ssempa PhD. We knew of it, but it was good the world was made really aware. [Here, the 'eat da poo poo' remix is norminated for a Grammy!]

I do remember that Ssempa is a Christian pastor. Bahati is a born again Christian, and Scott Lively is a Christian Pastor (so is Steven Langa), and they all believe, preach and want to legislate gay genocide in Uganda. Yes, their philosophy is mainly American right derived, and bodies like the Family Research Council do lobby their legislative bodies to make bills like anti-homosexuality bill to become law in places like Uganda. Yes, it is still true that Christians are to blame for a lot of the anti-gay hate in Africa. Christians inside and outside Africa.

It is Heroes day in Uganda, one of those days that opposition party members complain is tailor made for the rulling party. Hope you have a great day.

gug