Several years ago, when I visited a GLBT center for the first time, my anxiety about choked me unconscious before I reached the door. I was entering “taboo” territory. Never mind that I had been in lesbian relationships, had gay friends and had attended gay related events in the past—crossing the threshold of that GLBT center felt like going into the “enemy’s camp.” Intellectually, I did not see gay people as enemies, but emotionally, I was suffering from “religious posttraumatic stress.” So ingrained in me were the church’s dire warnings against gays that I found it difficult to do what Jesus did—enter taboo places. What would happen if I did? Would I be sinning? Would the staff grab me by the collar and throw me out upon discovering I was a Christian? I envisioned angry gays and lesbians throwing rocks at me. The intensity of my anxiety surprised me. I realized that if it was this scary for me to visit a GLBT center, how much more so for straight Christians with no experience with gays and lesbians. That’s the challenge of bridging the gap between the traditional Christian community and the GLBT community.
Bridging the Gap is the topic of a new DVD resource that encourages “conversations on befriending our gay neighbors.” It was produced by New Direction, a Christian outreach to people experiencing same-gender attraction. Among the voices in the film are six Christians who have same-gender attraction and several church leaders including Tony Campolo and Brian McLaren. Most of the participants hold to a traditional sexual ethic. However, the DVD is different from typical resources on homosexuality. It does not discuss the causes of same-gender attraction, whether or not people can change their sexual orientation or even if homosexuality is sinful. The DVD leadership guide states, “We have intentionally not made these questions the focus of this resource. There are many other resources that tackle these questions. The focus of BTG is relational. How do we engage our gay neighbors in a manner that is consistent with the person and ministry of Christ?”
Many Christians struggle to get beyond caricatures to see gay people as people. Like first century Jews who took the long route to get to Jerusalem to avoid traveling through Samaritan territory, so also Christians today are careful not to step anywhere near places gay people might hang out. Instead, we stand at a distance and holler over the fence, “You’re sinning! Repent!” Bridging the Gap dares us to do what Jesus did—not only walk into Samaritan land, but also stop at the well to ask a gay person for a drink of water.
The DVD is likely to challenge people’s comfort zones on both sides of the debate. The first questions on all of our minds are usually, “Do these people believe the way I do about homosexuality? Can they be trusted? Why aren’t they addressing whether or not homosexuality is wrong?” These questions ran through my mind as I watched the video. I wanted clarity on such essential issues, not ambiguity. The film’s postmodern McLaren-esque flavor made me squirm a bit. But at the same time I understood what the producers were trying to convey: before we start lecturing others about how wrong they are, let’s see the humanity of those with whom we disagree. Jesus had no problem eating dinner in the homes of known sinners. He was criticized for being their friend. So also, Bridging the Gap encourages us to move past culture war fences to incarnate Jesus among the GLBT community.
Viewers from a variety of perspectives will find points of agreement and disagreement. But even aspects of the DVD that push buttons are conversation generators. While I may not resonate with every conclusion, the video offers a good challenge to wrestle with complexities without settling for pat answers. I encourage churches to consider Bridging the Gap as a supplement to the discussion on homosexuality. It is not a standalone resource—the theological questions are too important to be left unaddressed—but Bridging the Gap provides excellent fodder for conversation and it is versatile enough to be used by both conservatives and liberals alike. It provides voices and faces to real people. The participants exhibit heart-felt love for God and challenge us to reconsider our preconceived notions about what it means to be gay. Most of all, the video reminds us that Christianity is the embodiment of biblical theology. Saying “I love gays” is merely an abstraction unless it is lived out in tangible relationship. That means we must be willing to go into taboo places. And, you might discover, as I did, that waiting for you in that “taboo” GLBT center are not rocks and angry faces, but a friendly, middle aged, agnostic woman with whom Jesus wants to speak.
Excerpt from Bridging the Gap (Pastor Bruxy Cavey)
