JonathanBenz.com

The Gay Debate: The Bible and Homosexuality

In this video Matthew Vines offers a thorough, systematic, and scholarly treatment of what are commonly known as the six "clobber" verses used against same-sex attraction and relationships.

The video will take about an hour to watch. His last ten minutes is an excellent summary of the talk. His full transcript is available here.  His lecture occurred on March 8, 2012 at College Hill United Methodist Church in Wichita, Kansas.

I began studying these six scriptures in their cultural context and original language about ten years ago and came to similar conclusions as Matthew. Not exact conclusions, but very similar.

His treatment is respectful, humble and definitely food for thought for any thinking, religious person or serious student of Scripture.

Some of my readers might struggle with this view. If you are not interested in amending your position on this subject, I recommend you not watch. This is probably not for you.

However, if you are looking to view the Scriptures in their original language and cultural context, you might find this talk enlightening and thought-provoking. I think most of my readers will benefit greatly so I commend the lecture to you.

  

A Christian Approach to Physical Abuse of your "Effeminate or Butch" Kids

If you are reading this post it might because the title caught you. Full disclosure, I intentionally put some shock in the title. But it's not nearly as shocking as what Pastor Sean Harris at Berean Baptist in Fayetteville, NC had to say:

 

So this clip has outraged a lot of people, Christian and non-Christian alike. He clearly advocates physical violence against children. 

Truth be told, there are a lot of Scriptures in the Bible that advocate for physical violence, even murder. The difference is most thoughtful, spiritual people don't take them literally today. Thank God we've given up stoning, severing limbs, and gouging eyes (although some would argue we still do it figuratively).

I read his retraction and you can hear him in his audio file trying to express his heart while navigating inconsistent ethics and conflicting theology. He says it was hyperbole and talks about Jesus using it in his sermons as well. But Jesus was pretty adamant on condemning any harm done to children.

I really feel for this pastor. Layers of disconnect come through--theologically, emotionally, intellectually, spiritually. He now finds himself in a firestorm.

This is when I have to trust that somehow God is working through ALL things, even things like this.

There must be a better way to dialogue on this subject. Here's an article I found helpful which the blogger calls "A Nicodemus Approach." 

Right relationship rather than being right.

Thoughtful discussion rather than thoughtless diatribe.

We can do better than this. In the Church and outside of it.

More Feedback on I Was Bullied

I didn't expect the amount of feedback I would get on this post.

I'm understanding now that through my telling my story, a lot adults are getting in touch with unhealed wounds and unresolved issues from their youth. 

It's really beautiful. Thanks to all of you who have shared.

I wanted to share a couple of excerpts and I'm keeping them anonymous.

From a high school friend:

I read your post today and I wanted to respond to you and say how thankful I am that you wrote this. I am sorry that you were tormented by some of the guys in our class. (high school) was a tough place. In spite of the strong Christian background, there was such an underlying and pervasive tendency towards judgment and rigidity, that I think it did more harm than good.

I remember the incident in Bible class and was appalled as well. Unfortunately, I saw that from pre-school on. I remember being told that my father was a satanist because he came from a Muslim country. They had no interest in the fact that his father legalized religious freedom in his country because the religion was Catholicism. Very hard for a four year old to understand.

I do hope you know that so many of us really admired you for your strength to be yourself in a hostile and judgmental environment and that you were an inspirational Christian because you did not preach at the rest of us, or judge, or turn up your nose at us because we were different than the classic mold but were friendly and accepting of all of us, especially those of us who liked to dance! You were our friend and classmate and I will always admire and treasure you for that.

From a friend:

Just read your blog again and it brought tears to my eyes. I feel that hurt that was done to me being healed. Thank you for being both vulnerable and bold in speaking out and sharing your story. May healing come to all who read your blog.

 

I'm the One That's Cool

A fun video and great song that relates to bullying...from The Guild.

Thanks to Aric in America and Jeff in the UK who tipped me off on this.

 

Feedback from an Educator in Philadelphia on "I Was Bullied"

I've received amazing feedback on I Was Bullied over the last 48 hours. The article has had hundreds of reads and is being re-posted and used on different websites and forums.

Many adults who responded have shared with me how telling my story is giving them permission to heal from childhood wounds. I'm deeply touched by the feedback.

I'm going to be sharing some of the comments in an anonymous form and with permission as I think they will encourage people.

An educational specialist and students' advocate in the Philadelphia area sent me this:

I just read your post. It is absolutely beautiful! Do I have your permission to share it with some friends who I work with at the Education Foundation? We are planning to screen the movie, "Bully" sometime next year and have a film discussion and related book discussions as follow up. So many people have expressed an interest in the film already.

You so perfectly articulated the feelings of shame and the sting of those enduring "toxic words." I still carry very real insecurities that are a result of the three years I experienced ridicule and berating in my adolescence.

I absolutely agree with you about the power of forgiveness, but even an understanding of what might cause someone to reproach another human being doesn't erase the damage done to our self-image.

I am astounded by the numbers of young people suffering in silence today, and even more amazed that the bullies are still out there, hammering away at fragile souls. You definitely touched me with your story and I want to thank you for sharing it!

Yes friend, share this post with your school district and thanks for sharing your story with me and for working to prevent the kind of behavior that our country has tolerated for far too long!

I Was Bullied

I was bullied in school. Up until my junior year. I've hesitated to tell some of my story because I didn't want to sound bitter or resentful. I also was a little fearful. But I've been through enough healing that I'm not afraid to speak out anymore.

The writer Anne Lamott tweeted last week (April 23), "You own everything that happened to you. Tell your stories. If people wanted you to write warmly about them, they should've behaved better." I think she's right. So I'm telling my story.

The Bully Project

I plan on seeing Bully. It's interesting to me the widespread support the movie is receiving from both the right and left in this country. It seems our culture has reached a tipping point when it comes to bullying.

Here's the trailer:

 

More info from the Bully Project website:
Bullying involves an individual or a group repeatedly harming 
another person—physically (e.g. punching or pushing), verbally 
(e.g. teasing or name-calling), or socially (e.g. ostracizing or 
spreading hurtful rumors).
Bullying often does not happen in an isolated context with a 
single tormentor and victim. There may be multiple bullies or 
multiple victims, and there are almost always peers, adults, and 
other community members who know about the bullying taking 
place.  
Often, the victims of bullying are socially vulnerable because 
they have some characteristic that makes them different from 
the majority.
Young people who have physical or learning disabilities are 
also targeted more frequently, as well as students who are 
on the autism spectrum. Other times, there are no apparent 
characteristics that cause the target of bullying to be singled 
out by the tormentor.  Regardless, the person being bullied 
does not know how or does not have the power to make it stop.