You’re only as sick as your secrets. Is that why our church is so sick.
I was reading a blog the other day…there are some great bloggers out there…Nevercontrary.com (from the US) usually brings a smile to my face. Recently she got me thinking about keeping secrets…
She said:
I myself blog for various reasons. In my “real” life I am a teacher in a religious school in a conservative city in a republican state. This leads to a lot of me not being able to discuss my opinions, thoughts, or feelings on a daily basis. Sure I could discuss them, I just might lose my jobs, family and friends. Do I want friends I can’t talk to or a job I have to be super careful in that is another discussion for another day. For many years I just kept my thoughts and feelings bottled up. As many of us are trained to do from a young age. But as I became a parent I find it harder and harder to do so. I don’t want my daughter ever afraid to be who she is and say what she means. If I am not setting that example then how will she learn to do it?
I think i know more about American Politics than Australian these days. Thats a bit of a worry : / . Believe it or not, i was actually moved to tears recently by the passing of one particular piece of US legislation. ( Really Neil?? Tears? Yup! From a legislation? Yup!) The legislation was the repeal of DADT and the tears were for what happened as a result of the legislation rather than the legislation itself.
For those of you who dont know, DADT was the American military’s way of dealing with the fact that they have LGBT people in their ranks. DADT stands for “Dont Ask, Dont Tell”.
Wiki explains it this way.
The policy prohibited people who demonstrate a propensity or intent to engage in homosexual acts from serving in the armed forces of the United States, because (supposedly) their presence would create an unacceptable risk to the high standards of morale, good order and discipline. ( So…any Gay person in the military would obviously not “tell” that they were gay). The “don’t ask” part of the DADT policy specified that superiors should not initiate investigation of a servicemember’s orientation without witnessing disallowed behaviors.
The result of this bizarre policy was completely as one would expect. A dark cloud of secrecy descended on the organisation and within that dark cloud, within the secrecy, the twin evils of ignorance and prejudice were the order of the day.
The sadest thing of all was the burden that DADT placed on young gay service men and women who were completely unable to be honest with their closest friends and even with their families. US Airman Randy Philips was serving in the Persian Gulf when he started filming anonymous youtube clips in which he talked about what it was like to be gay and in the military. His Vlogs showed only his torso…no face…and no clue as to his real identity.
Then came 21 September 2011. Day 1. A new era for the American military and a new beginning for Airman Phillips. President Obama had kept his election promise. Dont Ask, Dont Tell was repealed. Randy Phillips made one more Vlog. This time he showed his face, as he phoned his dad back home in bible belt, conservative Alabama. That moment was shown on MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow Show.
“Oh my Lord!” said Randy. A son could now be honest with his father. A father had a chance to reaffirm his love and support for his son. The cloud had lifted. Light was shining into places that were once dark. O my Lord, indeed! Randy Phillips’ father was eventually interviewed by various news stations. He was understandably not all that happy that this very personal moment had been shared with millions of youtube viewers. But I’m glad we got to share. His clip brought that tear to my eye when i first saw it in September this year.
I was reminded of all of this when I read Nevercontrary’s blog and I asked her permission to share it with you. My first thought was of the Australian Armed Services. I have done some army chaplaincy in the past but I must admit to being unaware of the policy on LGBT people in the Australian Army. perhaps dark clouds remain where they shouldnt in this country…
When the terrible realisation hit me…
Forget about the Australian military, Neil, the dark cloud exists in our churches and our colleges.
There are perhaps a hundred LGBT people who serve in our churches and our colleges, principals and pastors, church workers and teachers, who would love to come out. They know that the keeping of secrets does damage. They know that the secrets are hurting themselves and their families. But they are also in no doubt that they will be discriminated against if they were to come out. Career advancement would be curtailed. Life would be made uncomfortable. They know that they would be unlikely to experience justice from congregations and church councils, college boards and parent bodies. Compassion? From some? Sure. But not justice. And so they are forced into hiding not only from their employer but also from their families and closest friends.
How very sad that the church..that body commissioned by Jesus to bring light into dark places, make statements that hurt and force its servants into hiding
The LCA…creator of secrets…bringer of darkness…
There are some LGBT people in the US Military who are smiling this Christmas. Maybe Randy Phillips is home. Maybe his dad is giving him a hug even as you read this.
Maybe next Christmas will be better for us…for our church…
maybe?….
The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath. But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Get up and stand in front of everyone.” So he got up and stood there. Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?”
I get the feeling there is a lot of teachers of the law watching this blog closely.
The silence speaks louder than words.
What a wonderful intro to your blog. ;) Secrets are so harmful to everyone. I’m glad you are bringing light to the secrets especially of those in the church.
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You say they would receive compassion, but not justice. What did you mean by justice? What would be justice? What does the bible say is justice in a situation like this?
I use justice in the sense of fundamental human rights. LGBT people in the LCA have the right no to be discriminated against because of their sexual orientation.Plainly, and sadly, they are and will continue to be unless something is done to change the situation. have a look at Hilary Clinton;s speech a couple of posts back Human rights and justice issues are not big biblical themes. For Apostle Paul justiceJ is more to do with humanities standing as sinners before a just God deserving of nothing but punishment. JUSTification is then that which we all have through Christ. The human rights justice issues like those outlined by clinton are a whole different matter. Maybe thats why the Church has historically been the last to stop abusing the human right of various groups…like the poor, slaves, women and now LGBT people.
Who are you suggesting in the lca would discriminate against them, and in what way? That didn’t really clear it up for me.
Any gay teacher or, especially, principal of a college, if he/ she were to come out, would be discriminated against by the whole system. If they wanted to enter into a loving relationship with a partner, the the college board would be pressured by the parent community to remove them from their job. the church, by its teaching would support this call as it would view the relationship as open and unrepentant sin. they would, qhuite simply, lose their job. That is discrimination. Because of their sexuality they are discriminated against. they lose their livelihood. Im not sure what else you are looking for here? Do you disagree that this would happen? What are your views?
The key here is illegal discrimination. The LCA could decide to legally discriminate against people who, say, play tennis: “from hereon, tennis players are committing acts against our beliefs, so they aren’t welcome”, and that would be legal. Stupid, irrational and illogical maybe, but legal. remembering that to discriminate simply means to choose.
Discriminating on the basis of sexual preference is illegal, as well as being stupid, irrational and illogical. As such, any teacher, principal, pastor etc who was sacked or in any way had a disadvantage foisted upon them on the basis of their sexual preference or orientation would have a legitimate claim in the EEO system. And the argument that they can be gay, but not “flout it” by doing something inflammatory like entering a relationship is also illegally discriminatory.
It would be the same if the church tried to stop women becoming pastors simply because they are women……. HANG ON……..
Thanx M. The only thing I’m not sue of is the extent to which Churches have exemptions from legal prosecution because of religious beliefs. I know that there are differences in religious vilification laws between, say WA and Victoria. But…yeh… regardless…it Is stupid, irrational, illogical and i would add immoral and anti-christ.
Also teachers, in many contracts from many Lutheran schools, are expected to demonstrate a Christian livelihood. Many contracts actually say directly about upholding the ethos at work but also leading Christian lives as an example to the community. One would hope they would personally want to strive to do that anyway, but when living in a committed homosexual relationship is seen as sinful this is either career endin or kept entirely hidden from the community (creating more separation and the feeling of being in the shadows). Still teachers in Victoria are asked ridiculously intrusive questions about their personal life (eg. When you come to for the weekend do you stay at your boyfriend’s house. And that was to a young female teacher). There is also the simple harassment made through derogatory comments… Perhaps if they knew that someone on staff was gay they wouldn’t say it.. But still they shouldn’t say it regardless. What’s worse is when it is the principal saying it. The ‘spiritual leader’ who has been trained in Lutheran theology. It makes me cry!
I have more to say but it will have to be later.
Jesus loves me, this I know!
All ears, mate.
Yeah, I sin too, probably sped on the way in this morning, swear on occasion, there it’s out, sin yep sin. We all have it, the old Adam is a strong presence, something that we cannot shake until all sin is done with in the final day. But heres the point, (sorry Neil I don’t have a blog!) Coming out with your sin is all fine and good, bring it out into the light, however if we believe that bringing sin into the light means that the light somehow validates it, well then we say sin is not sin, the law is not good, and Christ died in vain. ‘While we were yet sinners Christ died for us’. ‘Should we go on sinning that grace might increase? No way (by no means, not on your life, you have to be joking)’!
Now the whole point of justification is absolution of sins, not eradication of laibility. Without Christ we are ‘dead in our transgressions’, so just as I sin I receive absolution. But notice how the horse goes before the cart. I do not receive absolution so I can live in sin.
I totally agree with you on this point Neil, there should be no matter of sin hidden in the church whatsoever! The church should be the beacon to all who struggle in the flesh, thats the purpose for its existence. I could think of no worse situation to be in than to be a christian struggling with ‘same sex attraction’ (gay means ‘happy’ lets at least keep the english language out of the whole issue!) The church’s response to these poor struggling individuals should be the same for all.
1. Absolution
2. Support in the struggle
Now we do say in confession ‘I intend, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to live a Holy life. This righteousness by faith equates to the abscence of Sin and guilt. A good conscience is the birthrite of baptism that is constantlly the enemies target. So rather than the church validating sin, and further entrenching a bad consciencs, or the other extreme, being so hostile to this form of suffering that people are further burdened by not being able to ever confess, should be waiting with open arms, hearts of love, and a solid resolve to walk through the pains of this life with all mankind.
God Bless
Joel Klein
23 hours
Thanx Joel…just so we are clear i will repeat here what I outlined very clearly in earlier blogs. A loving committed exclusive and faithful homosexual relationship is god pleasing and NOT SIN. People who enter into these relationships do a good and godly thing that is worthy of community and church support and blessing. THEY DO NOT SIN. see
The LGBT people in our church are forced into darkness by the teachings of the church. The church does them a great evil. The church exists in open and unrepentant sin. The church brings darkness into their lives.The church need the light to shine on their theology and their practise.
Umm..just one other thing…Do you still use gay as happy??? like…”i had a really gay time in church today”??? Im fairly sure that seminary students are still taught basic principles of communication. Language moves, Joel. move with it or you stop communicating. One other principal…Its not correct to call indiginous australians “blacks”. Why is it unacceptable? Because it brought offence to those people. Language is important in our consideration of what gives offence and what doesnt, what is acceptable and what isnt. The basic rule here is that the group being spoken to have the right to say “this is how i want you to refer to me”. I grew up calling english migrants “poms” some of my english friends didn’t like it. They said…call me a brit, please. I dont like the word pom. In respect for that person and that group and with the desire to communicate effectively I agreed and used the term they designated and prefered. it would have been arrogant of me to do otherwise. So….lets keep communicating…lets keep the english language right in the middle of this debate. and lets do it with respect for the group or the person we are talking about. Just in case you dont know…Gay and lesbian are prefered designators. LGBT is probably the best way to refer to a group of people who have non heterosexual orientation. (although…I’m still learning about this too and asm open to correction…anyone?? )
I’ll correct you first on the indiginous point if you want to get picky. No one calls a Greek and a German the same so indiginous is a condescension as a generic description you can tell a yamatji person is not a nyungaar person very easily, so there that’s some hair splitting for you! Neil I have to call you on the committed same sex relationship being not sin. You seem well researched so I’m sure your aware of many different kinds of sexual attractions including human-animal, human-inanimate objects, polygamy, etc and the list is essentially inexhaustible. The question is, where do we draw the line? It’s when we realise that it’s not our line to draw, then we are free! I read one of your posts stating that scripture first is dangerous, but you may well remember a binding oath you made! Either scripture is the source and norm of faith or it is not. When one is oath bound the argument is moot. So you may well have said that homosexuality is not a sin, but your former oath contradicts your current philosophical process of determining what is God’s to determine.
hey anonymous! Your comment deserves a post of its own….have a read…
Yeah gays still happy, I ride a pommy bike, one of my grandads was a paddy the other a kraut and I’m a sandgroper! (notice the tongue firmly in the cheek!)
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