Spiritually, there are no gray areas for me, I know where I stand on this gay matter & I do not support homosexuality. Intellectually though – and this is the tricky part - when you’re dealing with matters of the intellect, you’re dealing with logic and an organized & structured pattern of reasoning – this is where I must confess that I have had sleepless nights, literally. But after my own soul searching, much research & prayers, I must choose to do what I think I should do, even when it is most inconvenient. I have tried to live my life as frankly as I can & for me, these are my deductions.
For me to have my own peace of mind, I had to ask myself several questions.
Q1: Is homosexuality wrong?
Ans: Yes
.
Q2: Why?
Ans: Simply because my Christian faith tells me so.
Q3: Where is it written in the bible?
Ans: Leviticus 18:22; 20:13 “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination! Romans 1:26-28; Jude1:7; 1Kings14:24; 2Corinthians6:9-11; 1Timothy1:10. I can go on and on.
Q4: So based on the ways of the Lord Jesus, the author & finisher of the Christian faith [Hebrew12:2], what would Jesus have done if He had met a gay woman by the Samaritan Well? What would Jesus have done if a gay man or woman had been brought to him [like the adulterous woman] so that they could be stoned to death?
Ans: I doubt that He would have condemned her. Surely, He would have condemned the sin but not the individual. He would have had quite an interesting conversation with her by the Well, chatted her up and through His Charismatic manner of persuasive engagement, & godly compassion, He would have touched & transformed her life.
Q5: With this kind of reasoning, would you still support the criminalization of the sin of homosexuality as you put it & as defined by the Nigerian anti-gay bill.
Ans: No I will not.
Q6: Why
Ans: While I do not support gay marriages or homosexual practices, I believe a person should not be condemned as a criminal because of his or her sexual preferences. Though homosexuality is against my faith and culture, I cannot impose my culture or faith on another person for the simple but obvious reason that faith, beliefs, & cultures differ. What may be repugnant to me may be acceptable to another person. I also believe that doing so is an infringement on the human rights of another.
Q7: Is the Nigerian anti-gay bill therefore wrong?
Ans: Well, if the Nigerian anti-gay bill criminalizes homosexuality, it is wrong because it infringes on the rights of gay individuals by taking away the freedom of their rights to associate & practice their acts as gay citizens in Nigeria.
Let us be sensible here. There are no verifiable damages occurring from the practice of homosexuality amongst two consenting adults to a third party. While some Christians may argue and rightly too that there are spiritual & other unforeseeable far-reaching effects of allowing gay practices in Nigeria, I can also add that the same spiritual & far –reaching effect hold sway for the sin of adultery, murder, & polygamy amongst others. Sin is sin. There is no favoured sin in the sight of God over another. It’s like saying all sins can disqualify you from heaven but some sins are more grievously disqualifying than others. Wouldn’t that be hypocritical to say the least? The same bible preaches: Love thy neighbour as thy self.
Still, I believe that Nigeria as a sovereign state has the right to decide amongst its own people what is acceptable as her national values and what is not. I had hoped that a proper referendum & national debate about homosexuality be put forward to Nigerian citizens before enacting a law based on the people’s wishes. But that didn’t happen instead a law has been enacted that has given the Nigerian police an arbitrary right to throw people into jail unceremoniously without the slightest compunction. I foresee serious future consequences if we all keep quiet about this. Tomorrow, it might be something else and therein lies the error of the anti-gay bill.
However, when a majority is against a certain way of life, it doesn’t help the case of the minority to begin to insult, abuse, & denigrate the majority.
Where is our Christian compassion for those Christ died for?
In conclusion, I am not afraid to condemn the act of homosexuality like I would condemn adultery or rape or corruption. It is my prerogative to choose whether to associate with a homosexual or not based on 1Corinthians 15:33. But it is not my Christian duty to condemn the homosexual person. I do not support the persecution or harassment of homosexuals. While I believe homosexuality is an irreverent way of life to our traditional marriage values & customs, I also believe the rights of the homosexuals should be protected in a democratic nation.
Not so fast guys. Please don't hurry away. I would like to hear from you so please & please, let me know you visited my blog by dropping your comments. Many thanks & God bless you! We can talk some more on my twit handle: @signetseal
Great write-up Chalya.
ReplyDeleteOur leaders have been known to pillage and plunder our national wealth recklessly. It has become second nature to them. For that to happen without the masses blowing hot air, they have also mastered the act of diverting our attention from their unmitigated knack for proliferation of our national wealth to ephemeral things they know would capture the minds of the ordinary citizens of Nigeria. The issue you have intelligently analysed is one such diversionary tactic to becloud the people of the trillion of Naira that is being pilfered as I write now. Someone commented that they (the government) are looking at the 2014 budget and no one has asked about the spreadsheet for the 2013 expenditure!
While I do not condone the act of homosexuality, I do not have the right to subject or scorn those that have chosen to live their lives the way they deem fit. Surely they have a right like you and I to live and be respected. Until they encroach on my personal space, they are free (in my opinion) to practice whatever sexual preference that is pleasing to them.
Finally, I think we should concentrate on the myriad challenges plaguing our nation at this point in time and for once, tackle the challenges rather than allowing our leaders continue in their reckless pillaging of our common wealth while we ‘siddon dey look’, apologies Baba 70!
Yes. I agree with all that you've said; Jesus Christ would really not have required that gays be beheaded, He would have looked uon them with compassion, and care.
ReplyDeleteThat's what we need to do, too- follow Jesus Christ's way/strategy; of compassion, of love...
How?
I noticed that the gay guy in Glowingscenes' Chocolates and Suchi didn't change because of the pressures and threat that was imposed on him. (That probably won't change him, I believe). It's divine intervention that changed him.
We believers, instead of condemning, can keep praying for a relative gay or lesbian. We should keep praying that God should divinely change their heart. Afterall, "...the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." (James 5:16)
That's the only way that can work; If we would follow it.
hey,
ReplyDeleteq: is blooging wrong?
me: yes
why?
because my Krisna faith says so.
Yes, i have just touched a sensitive part and you'd probably be saying "who is this idiot", but look at the world through a bigger lens rather than the one you have been made to wear and then you'd see how silly we can often be. If you were born in the Saudi Arabia you'd most likely be a Moslem, or if you grew up in Chinayou'd probably be atheist so your "Christian" views are very myopic im sorry to say. Gays are humans just like the adulterers, thieves, money launderers and muderers who created and signed this bill to law. According to your creed their sin isnt worse than that of the politician thieves so why cast stones when you have also sinned. Abegi
you obviously did not read the whole write up...
DeleteWho gives a hoot what your faith says? Only you.
DeleteLovely article, quite objective and elucidative. These are signs of the end times, may God uphold us to the end by His grace. More revelation and strength.
ReplyDeletehas much as I have tried to refrain from discussing this issue of this gay thing - I will not completely agree with the writer base on the fact that the bases of her argument was not from a neutral point rather from a religious point of view, so why can't she stick to her religious view, rather than trying to please the two sides (Yes it is wrong - to please side A, No it is wrong to please side B). Then some argue it's unafrican its not in our culture - i'd rather ask if Sodom 'n' Gomorrah citizen were Asian? African? or... and will that statement be same for Northern part of Nigeria where they publicly know some set of people ain't straight at all. i'm concerned mainly with this part of the write-up: Q7: Is the Nigerian anti-gay bill therefore wrong?
ReplyDeleteAns: Well, if the Nigerian anti-gay bill criminalizes homosexuality, it is wrong because it infringes on the rights of gay individuals by taking away the freedom of their rights to associate & practice their acts as gay citizens in Nigeria. SO IS SHE SAYING THEY SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO ACT OPENLY? that's a double standard from her. MY OPINION: Am I homophobic? NO! if I did have a gay friend I will disapprove the act as much as I will disapprove any of my friend involve in fornication or Adultery, but that will not change my relationship with such - if a girl, I won't be scared if a boy - i'll be cautious not to be raped. AND THE BILL BY THE GOVERNMENT? that's the hardest part for my judgement, because I will think what is government position on Anal Sex - between opposite sex? the best way I will approach it if I were to be the legislator is to put different clauses such as: 1. Public display... inclusive of marriage 2. Forceful act (Rape) 3. Open recognition like the way they can't do anything on child marriage 4. I will tend towards the slogan "DON'TASK DON'T TELL" keep iit to yourself. In submission it is an act that I do not approve of and I hate how the western are taking it as if that will eradicate poverty or disease. AND THE BIGGEST PROPAGANDA IF YOU DON'T SUPPORT YOU ARE HOMOPHOBIC, that ain't the case at all. Let the west go rest - neocolonialism.
I believe as Christians, we should not continue to cause untold sufferings to gays just because they choose to be gays – that is the life-style they’ve chosen to pursue. My point however is that if we tend to condemn adultery, alcoholism, womanizing, atheism & idolatry but still allow these people to practise their acts, why can’t we also condemn [for those in the business of condemning] the gay practice & also leave the gays to do their thing. What I’m I saying? We do not practice theocracy in the Nigerian society – rather we practise a form of government called democracy where citizens ought to have the right to freely associate & assemble and not be subjected to any form of discrimination because of their sexual preferences. I do not accept that my views are double standard just because I have chosen to rise above religious & self-righteous hypocrisy or just because I happen to differ from your own position on gay rights in Nigeria.
DeleteAnon 11:57 thank you!!!
DeleteSweetie, I think you are sitting on the fence here.
And that is all I wanna say on this matter.
E'
I think you did a beautiful job here. The title clearly states that it is a Christian's perspective. Obviously 1st Anon didn't notice that. I think you read the article with a prejudice. Read it again with an open mind.
ReplyDeleteMy point exactly! Thank you Phebe. I know we live in a society where the very mention of the word 'gay' sets us all on edge but if we stop just for a sensible moment, we don't need to accept their ways, but we can love them.
ReplyDeleteGay people were either raped or coerce and they do same to others.
ReplyDeleteI am so against gay people harassing others into being gay.
I heard something abroad that if a gay guy likes another guy, he starts harping on how the other guy is gay and fights to convince the other guy that there were gay.
If only there were clear boundaries but there are not so I can never support gay rights in Nigeria.
They are just looking for the right to do wrong, soon we will have rape rights just like we have pedophile rights.
What the actual fuck. Racist, homophobic asshole.
ReplyDelete