Two Experiences
Sep 28, 2007 Print This Post
.:mood:. Thinking
.:itunes:. Gone Daddy Gone by Gnarls Barkley
Yesterday I had two experiences that I thought were worth sharing.
Dan and I went to Grand Rapids to see the premiere of a play called Seven Passages: The Stories of Gay Christians at Actors’ Theatre. Here’s the Writer / Director’s description of the play:
“We are not all ONE in our opinions. We are not even two or three. As a group we are a motley mix, with a common goal – telling these stories with justice in a good piece of theatre.”
-Director Stephanie Sandberg
Basically, the play is the result of a hundred or so interviews with gay and lesbian people and their interaction with Christianity throughout their lives. It was a powerful play because the script was entirely comprised of the content of these interviews.
They told their stories and incorporated passages of Scripture that address homosexuality. While I don’t agree with the interpretation that was put forward on these passages, one thing really struck me: putting the Scripture next to the individual stories humanized the whole issue of homosexuality. That piece was very well done.
After the play and a short discussion time, Dan and I got a chance to sit down and have a beer with someone who is very closely connected to the show. She shared with us that they had invited over 600 different churches and Christian organizations to come view the premiere.
One of the most common responses she got from churches was “hate mail.”
This was from churches.
Then, she shared with us her own personal story and how she was publicly shamed by a clergy member during a church service when she was in high school. She has never been back. I’m sure the “hate mail” she received really made her want to give church another chance.
It struck me that this play, in many ways, was the gay and lesbian community reaching out to the church to start a dialog.
And the church’s response was “hate mail.”
September 28th, 2007 at 10:07 am
That’s so sad. I ran into Dan at the mall the other day and he told me about you guys going to see that play. I’m really glad you guys were able to go and hopefully provide some small offset to the (alleged) jerkery of other churches. Hopefully you were able to show some folks that Jesus doesn’t stop loving them (and neither should we) just because they’ve made a sinful decision.
September 28th, 2007 at 10:26 am
Didn’t you call in sick that day Joel?
September 28th, 2007 at 10:51 am
that makes me sad. i have a really hard time understanding the hate mentality. Jesus loved people. all people. where do we think we can get off hating? i thought we were called to love people. i’m glad you and dan were there to show people they are loved.
September 28th, 2007 at 2:19 pm
I’m really curious as to what the mail did actually say. I’m wondering how much mail they recieved that couldn’t fit into the two neat piles of ‘support’ or ‘hate’ (in the plays eyes). It would be interesting to find out how often they received a letter that pointed out the scriptural issues and they threw them into the ‘hate’ pile.
September 28th, 2007 at 3:09 pm
That’s a great question. All I know is the word “abomination” appeared in many of the notes.
September 28th, 2007 at 4:23 pm
A young Jesus was defiant to parents when they questioned His Temple visit, Christ rebuked an out-of-line Peter, and the Temple scene was rebuking. Of course he loved those people too. The Gospel of Matthew 5:43-44 “Agapao” is social love but “miseo”(hate) can simply be “less love”.
I’m sure you know this but pop-culture is so quick to “judge” admonishment as “hatred”. Gay friends know I won’t advocate their sexual choices. Not congering words of “abomination” or such these friends know I do love them and I hope they’ll grow to know Christ. Guess I’ll have to see the play.
September 30th, 2007 at 11:04 pm
I do not believe that being gay is a sin. I was a sinner long before I ever admitted I was gay. Fortunately, I haven’t found a spot in the Bible that says I have to be perfect to be accepted by God, to love God and to worship God.
October 2nd, 2007 at 2:29 pm
In response to “somebody unimportant” we do know that the theater director was threatened by one of the churches, to the point that she called the police because she was scared.
October 5th, 2007 at 10:42 pm
Whatever happened to ‘Love thy neighbor as thyself’?
August 1st, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Soma side effects….
Buy soma online. Soma. Soma and addiction….
June 7th, 2010 at 2:25 pm
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