In
yesterday’s post, I discussed President Obama’s recent affirmation of
same-sex unions, and some of the harsher responses from those who oppose
same sex marriage. For today’s discussion, a controversy that arose
when a high school classmate of mine announced his religiously convicted
disapproval of homosexuality on Facebook. I would normally not use
names for such discussions--or mention someone else’s Facebook postings,
for that matter--except in this case the name was well publicized,
locally in the Hutchinson News, and nationally in the Huffington Post.
I have included links to all relevant articles, though I understand
that the Hutchinson News has a rather stringent policy about the number
of articles one can view without subscribing. Not to worry; I am too frugal to bother
with subscriptions, too, but fair warning.
Jack Conkling, a former high school colleague of mine created quite a stir and garnered media attention, both locally and nationally,
when he posted a lengthy Facebook status in opposition to Obama’s
affirmation of gay marriage. As it turns out, a number of Jack’s
friends were also his students, and a number of them expressed concern
about the implications of what Jack had to say:
All
this talk in the news about gay marriage recently has finally driven me
to write. Gay marriage is wrong because homosexuality is wrong. The
Bible clearly states it is sin. Now I do not claim it to be a sin any
worse than other sins. It ranks in God's eyes the same as murder, lying,
stealing, or cheating. His standards are perfect and ALL have sinned
and fallen short of His glory. Sin is sin and we all deserve hell. Only
those who accept Christ as Lord and daily with the help of the Spirit do
their best to turn from sin will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. There
aren't multiple ways to get to Heaven. There is one. To many this may
seem close minded and antagonistic, but it doesn't make it any less
true. Folks I am willing to admit that my depravity is just as great as
anyone else's, and without Christ I'd be destined for hell, if not for
the undeserved grace of God. I'm not condemning gay marriage because I
hate gay people. I am doing it because those who embrace it will never
enter the Kingdom of Heaven. And I desire that for no one.
Much
of the concern about Jack’s posting centered on the fact that Jack’s
students might see tacit justification for bullying homosexual students
in the remarks. After all, we are taught to castigate liars, thieves,
and cheaters, and if homosexuality is the same thing, then... Some of
Jack’s students drew discomfort from his remarks, and uncertainty of
what his response might be in an actual case of bullying because of
sexual orientation. By far the largest problem and reason for all the
attention Jack’s entry received is that Jack had students in his friends
list. Presumably Jack would have a status of authority and respect as a
teacher, meaning that such a statement as his could give guidance to
some, but would also cause insecurity for others.
Jack’s
statement was no endorsement of bullying. Having known Jack in high
school, this would be quite out of character. Jack’s statement was from
religious conviction, combined with the felt obligation to speak out
when souls are at stake. Given the atmosphere in which Jack’s
statement occurred, however--gay marriage is constitutionally banned in
Kansas; the city of Hutchinson
recently narrowly passed an ordinance stating that one cannot fire a current employee or evict a tenant based
on his or her sexual orientation, yet is free to discriminate
in hiring or placing tenants based on the same (the amendment only passed with the amendment allowing hiring and placement discrimination); the idea remains prevalent in the area that homosexuality is a “disorder”;
bullying of children suspected of being gay or different remains all
too common (unless things have radically changed since I was in high
school), even as conservatives balk at any legislation to help address
the situation--one could understand the concern that Jack's opinion,
stated from a place of authority, might seem threatening to some, one
more voice emphasizing abnormality and immorality for a trait that
cannot be changed.
At
the same time, the attention and controversy Jack’s remarks have
garnered have in turn been met with backlash from the right. Several
wrote in to the Hutchinson News in support of Jack’s remarks.
Some writers even went so far as to suggest that to portray Jack’s
Facebook profile as threatening was itself a form of bullying, here and here.
It is a strange world where the expression of concern about remarks
that are oppressive to an entire segment of society can be considered
bullying.
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