The Southern Baptists’ boycott of Disney has generated a number of predictable responses. First, there are the excessively miffed, such as Eric V. Hortsman who tried unsuccessfully to rewrite the story of the Good Samaritan. In his version a Southern Baptist came by and checked on the mugged man’s health care provider to see if the company included gays (Dallas Morning News, June 29th, 4J).
This lame attempt at paraphrasing is followed by D.R. Guirieri’s compassionate analysis of the situation. After kindly addressing the Southern Baptists as hypocrites, he asks: “Why would you live the ugly condemnations of the Old Testament rather than the lessons of love, light and tolerance spoken by Christ in the New Testament?”
First of all, perhaps this individual could tell us when God changed. If the Old and New Testaments are so different, then either God changed, or His attitude toward sin changed. Of course, neither God nor Jesus Christ has changed (Mal. 3:6; James 1:17; Heb. 13:8). God feels the same way about homosexuality today as He did when He destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 19).
Second, if the writer really feels that we should abide by the love and light in the New Testament, why does he refer to the Southern Baptists en masse as hypocrites and self-righteous? Tsk, tsk. His/her hatred of those who oppose the sin of homosexuality has somehow slipped into the open; one might even say that it borders on ugliness. Jesus was tolerant, but He never accepted people in their sins!! He demanded repentance.
Then there were the “We’ll get even with you mean, judgmental ‘straights’–we’ll all go to Disneyland” faction, typified by Mark Stafford’s letter:
My parents (my father being the pastor of a church for 23 years) accept my partner as a son. They are proud of our relationship. We have an equal place at their table, alongside my four siblings (and their children). We are an enduring family, as defined by love and understanding as opposed to a group of radicals. I think I’ll suggest our next family reunion be held in Orlando!
No, Mark, you and your family are a group of people at ease with perversion, as defined by the Bible (Rom. 1:24-28), which your father gave up being steadfast toward (maybe to justify your sin).
Some Southern Baptists felt embarrassed: apparently they respond more to bad publicity than what the Bible teaches; they expressed their disagreement with the Convention. And there were non-Baptists who expressed admiration for the stand this religious group has taken. Actually, it is rare to find anyone or any group of people who is willing to take action to try to improve society.
The Denton Record-Chronicle quoted from Virgie Holbrook who must be at ease in this contradictory world of postmodernism. First, he affirmed that his denomination does “not condone the practice of homosexuality,” but then said that the Trinity United Methodist Church, for whom he works, allows in its building meetings of the Denton chapter of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (P-FLAG) (7-5-97, 2A).
No doubt, this act of generosity is to show how “broad-minded” they are (not condoning it but condoning it at the same time). Of course, some would call this attitude one of “Love the sinner, hate the sin”; but Holbrook took issue with such thinking: “That comment assumes that homosexuality is a sin, and I think the jury’s still out on that one” (2A).
Say, Virgie, the jury rendered that verdict in Genesis 19–the Judge imposed the sentence then, too. The New Testament makes it clear that God has not changed His mind. Sodom and Gomorrah gave themselves over to sexual immorality, having “gone after strange flesh,” Jude writes. He adds they “are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire” (7).
The Letter Everyone Knew Was Coming
On July 8th the letter with every cliche in the book was published in the Dallas Morning News.
As a former Southern Baptist, now turned Methodist, I must say, “Shame on such un-Christian-like behavior.” The Bible teaches, “Judge not, lest you be judged,” and to “Love thy neighbor as thyself.” When and where were those biblical instructions erased? (14A).
It really is too bad that all the little Chihuahuas that like to yip-yip-yip about not judging have never bothered to read the next verse: “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine. . .” (Matt. 7:6). Pray tell, how can anyone keep such a commandment without evaluation and judgment? Jesus did not condemn ALL judgment–just the unfair, self-righteous judgments made without a complete knowledge of the facts. A much lesser known verse is: “Do not judge according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment” (John 7:24).
And since when has standing against sin been defined as a refusal to “love thy neighbor”? Many have spoken against riverboat casino gambling, picketed places that sell pornography, marched in protest against Planned Parenthood agencies and abortion clinics. Is Suzye Marino, the author of this letter, opposed to sin in any form? She serves as a good example of those who “call evil good and good evil” (Isaiah 5:20). Disney supports a Bible-condemned perversion, and she has no quarrel with them–just those who oppose it.
She continues: “Also, I challenge any Southern Baptist to prove that gays and lesbians choose to be gay.” Oh, please don’t limit this challenge to Southern Baptists, Suzye; some of the rest of us want to answer this one, too. Suppose for a moment that your hypothesis is correct: no one chooses to be a homosexual. Then God is unfair and unjust because He has condemned an activity that people cannot help. He owes the people of Sodom an apology.
Furthermore, He is responsible for creating a bunch of mean-spirited, intolerant homophobes because He caused Paul to write that homosexuality was a “vile passion” and “against nature” (Rom. 1:26). When you see Him on the day of judgment, you be sure to remind Him of these things. What an absurd hypothesis!
It is clear that God does not allow those who are homosexuals or sodomites into the kingdom of heaven (1 Cor. 6:9-11). One must repent of such sins before God will wash them away. If they are sins, then they violate God’s law. All violations of God’s law are matters of choice. Whatever God’s teaching on morality is, people choose to obey or disobey it. No adulterer, no thief, no fornicator, no idolater, no drunkard is forced to sin. God does not condemn someone for something that he cannot help.
Who in their right mind would willingly make that choice? Would you knowingly choose to become an outcast, shunned by society, isolated from family and friends, the brunt of gay “cruelty” jokes and hate crimes, and faced with the probability of dying from AIDS prematurely?
They may not be in their right minds, but people make destructive choices all the time. Who would choose to inhale a substance that induces coughing, is addictive, stinks up their clothing (and everyone else’s), and makes them a prime candidate for various breathing problems and an early grave?
Who would drink substances that cause them to lose their senses, beat up their wives, act like maniacs, and kill innocent motorists who get in their way? Who would disregard his wedding vows and have an affair with the boss’s wife, knowing that if he is discovered, it would mean the end of his career? Why do people (in general) persist in their evil ways and instead of repenting remain rebellious knowing that God will punish them for their sins throughout eternity?
On the other hand, who in their right mind would stand up for the Bible’s teaching against homosexuality when they know they will be chastised by their teachers, mocked by the liberal news and entertainment media, and scorned by the “politically correct” crowd?
“Disney played no part in creating gays and lesbians, that was God’s role.” Perhaps theologian Marino could share her source for this doctrine. In the beginning God created Adam and Eve–that’s male and female. He made them with the ability to reproduce. Now, when exactly did He make homosexuals? After the flood, there was Noah and his wife, their son, and their wives. That’s four families–no homosexuals. God’s original pattern was holding over 1,500 years after the creation. If there had been any homosexuals, they were destroyed in the flood with the other ungodly souls. So God created heterosexuals, and endorses heterosexuality (within marriage). All else is punishable sin.
Tolerance Is So Beautiful
Ann Landers’ July 9th column is so heartwarming. A former bigoted homophobe writes:
I was raised a strict Catholic and refused to accept my gay son’s lover for many years. I was adamant about barring him from all family functions. This caused problems and unpleasant confrontations for a long time.
Last year, I became ill and could no longer live alone. My gay son and his lover were the only ones in the family who offered to take me in. I was resistant at first, but after living with them for a few months, I realized that the love and compassion which held their relationship together for so many years was every bit as valid as that of any heterosexual couple.
I am angry with myself for the heartache and trouble I put them through. I still cannot understand why God made them gay. I only know that he brought together these two wonderful people–my son and my “son-in-law.”
Such a testimonial! And so full of love, tolerance, growth, and acceptance. Isn’t it beautiful? The world would be so much better if no one would stand for any moral principles and the Bible were just outlawed. Then maybe in a few years we could read the following letter.
I was raised strictly by the Bible and refused to accept my son’s polygamy. I was adamant about barring them from all family functions. This caused problems and unpleasant confrontations for a long time.
Last year, I became ill and could no longer live alone. My son and his wives were the only ones in the family who offered to take me in. I was resistant at first, but after living withthem for a few months, I realized the the genuine love the three of them shared. The relationship in this trio was every bit as valid as that held by any couple.
I am angry with myself for the heartache and trouble I put them through. I still cannot understand why God made him a polygamist. I only know that God brought together these three wonderful people–my son and my two “daughters-in-law.”
This situation is precisely parallel (and would probably be welcomed by the Mormons); the same kind of logic used to justify the one can be used to justify the other. A similar letter could be written with a man who deserted his wife and was living with a young woman. It could be two young people who refuse to get married. Create your own scenario. The key arguments are that both parties are satisfied with the arrangement, and they had compassion on another person. Take those two elements away, and the argument dissolves. There might even be a “polygamy gene.” So occasionally these three who are married may indulge in a little menage a trois, but as long as they are committed to each other, isn’t it a beautiful thing?
*Send comments or questions concerning this article to Gary Summers. Please refer to this article as: “DISNEY FALLOUT (7/20/97).”