April 11, 2007 5:47 PM
Soulforce and Patrick Henry College
Several months ago a mom wrote to ask me what I thought of Soulforce, the bus tour of GLBT (that's gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender) individuals who tour the country each spring proselytizing on Christian campuses in the hope of "liberating" students from their religious beliefs regarding homosexuality and helping secretly homosexual students find the courage to come out of the closet.
I didn't reply then, but since Soulforce will be demonstrating at Patrick Henry College tomorrow - just a few miles down the road - I will reply now.
I believe that people have a right to their religious beliefs. I believe that people should be kind to each other. I believe that people should respect each other's boundaries.
Over the years I've seen that while Christians may define homosexuality as wrong, they have refrained from injecting themselves into gay bars and gay events and gay meeting places to proselytize.
However, I have not seen the same respect and tolerance from the gay community, which - as evidenced by the Soulforce tour - seems intent on proselytizing with the zeal of the religious extremists they feel contempt for.
Different colleges handle the Soulforce assault (because it IS an assault) differently. Some bring them coffee and doughnuts. Some set up "dialogues." But the dialogue that Soulforce claims to want is not dialogue at all. Take it from a former radical leftist: this is highly political and sophisticated street theater which our friends at the Leesburg Today and the Washington Post - who waste no time jumping on anything they can to denigrate Patrick Henry College - are sure to report in their typical fashion.
Yes, it sounds nice to welcome GLBTs with open arms and show them the love of God, but the difference is that these people claim to know the love of God and to know that their lifestyles are fine with him. I can tolerate their beliefs, but that doesn't mean a private institution has any moral imperative to welcome them on its campus.
Patrick Henry has decided to invoke their right to not be trespassed upon tomorrow. That way, a few GLBTs will be arrested for symbolic purposes and they can proudly put the pics on their website and probably score a story in the Washington Post told from their point of view.
But two weeks from now, no one will remember.
As a former leftist and a realist, I think Patrick Henry has chosen the wisest and most just response.
And here's something for GLBTs to think about: If the gay community is so fixed on tolerance, why can't they tolerate Christian colleges? Yes, we think homosexuality is wrong, but we also think adultery and substance abuse are wrong and I don't see those people mounting campaigns to re-educate us.
Whatever happened to live and let live?
Posted in Current Affairs, Loudoun County | Permalink
Comments
As always, this was well put!
Gayle
Posted by: Gayle | April 11, 2007 7:30 PM
I have wondered why homosexuals, who are no longer victims of violence and discrimination in this country are so militantly anti-Christian. The answer I came up with is this: St Augustine once said, "our hearts are restless till they rest in Thee".
Homosexuals are seeking the peace which Christians possess through immorality.Somehow, they feel if they force us to accept not only them as persons created by God, but their lifestyle as acceptable, they will feel the peace the world cannot give. Sorry, my friends. I wish you the true peace of Christ, and the gift of repentance and healing.
Posted by: Leticia Velasquez | April 11, 2007 8:38 PM
I understand what you are saying, but I don't agree with your comment that Christians don't go to gay bars and other gay establishments. Just as this organization is trying to change Christian beliefs about homosexuality, there are Christian groups trying to convert homosexuals. I would say neither group allows the other to live and let live.
Posted by: Lainie | April 11, 2007 9:34 PM
Thank You! I think too many people are afraid of being called bigoted or homophobic, so they won't speak out against homosexuality and the gay agenda. Our country is so completely focused on political correctness that anyone who dares to hold on to moral values is demonized.
The radical-left loves "freedom of speech" as long as it is their speech!
Thanks for letting your voice be heard.
Janeal
Posted by: Janeal | April 11, 2007 9:58 PM
Well said!
While cloaked behind a veil of "we care for the closeted suffering GLBT students to be found at every Christian college", the true agenda of SoulForce is to have their lifestyle choices validated and accepted as behaviour that is not immoral by the conservative Christian community.
While claiming to want dialogue, they reject an offer to debate the issues involved on the grounds that debate is not true dialogue. All this talk about love and acceptance ignores the fact that God is a consuming fire who loves the sinner but hates sin. Any sin... whether it is heterosexual sin outside of marriage or homosexuality is condemned by God.
He does not accept our sinful behaviour. Rather, He calls us to turn away (repent) from what is clearly set forth in His word as behaviour that is dishonoring to Him.
Blessings !
Dan
Posted by: Dan Soares | April 11, 2007 10:47 PM
Yes! Very well said!
Posted by: Sara | April 11, 2007 11:20 PM
I went to the SoulForce website. The whole thing just makes me tired.
I did find it amusing that there was an article up about the SoulForce bus descending on Bob Jones University after being informed they would not be allowed on the property. So a couple busloads of people arrive uninvited to protest a private university's decision to comply with Biblical standards, but the title of the article is "Equality Riders face anti-gay protesters." As if they were just minding their own business when out of nowhere anti-gay protestors jumped in front of their bus.
Posted by: Amy K. | April 12, 2007 4:05 AM
Wow - I've been out of the loop, off a college campus, and in the "mommy cocoon" for too long. Hadn't heard of these folks yet. But, as someone who also started on the left side of the fence, this type of mobilization still confuses me. Do they *really* think a bunch of Christian students are going to listen to what they have to say and just say "wow, I got it all wrong" ? Good for Patrick Henry for standing up for themselves...and, by implication, for all of us!
Posted by: Beth/Mom2TwoVikings | April 12, 2007 7:34 AM
I'm graduating from a private, conservative religious university this month, and I've had personal contact with SoulForce.
I have only pity for them, and absolutely no tolerance for their ridiculous antics.
They've come twice to my campus. Last year, the campus welcomed them to debate and "dialogue" with students, but insisted they comply with campus rules. They weren't allowed to badger anybody, or to pass out fliers in any of the buildings on campus.
They cared nothing for "dialogue". They yelled and screamed at people passing by, they showed no regard for university policy (established long ago) and cared for one thing: arrest. They wanted to be escorted off campus, and preferably arrested, to get media play.
This year, the university simply said no. They came anyway, and trespassed, and yelled and hollered, and were escorted off campus.
I agree with AmyK. The whole thing just makes one tired.
Posted by: Emily | April 12, 2007 10:11 AM
Soulforce recently visited my son's college (small private Christian school). The group contacted the sheriff's department to see how much bail would be if they were arrested for tresspassing, as they planned to be arrested. (Five were, but I never heard what happened to them next.) The college invited them to take a tour of the campus and even dialogue as you said, but they refused. Their entire plan was to cause trouble, not to dialogue. Of course the media made Soulforce look like the victim.
Posted by: Drewe Llyn Jeffcoat | April 12, 2007 2:33 PM
