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Christian Truth
Will Be Louder than Homosexual Silence
A
strange controversy is brewing in Roseville, California, just
outside of Sacramento. On April 26, students of Oakmont High School
observed a “Day of Silence” designed to promote the
tolerance of a homosexual lifestyle. However, on April 27, there
were a number of students who observed what they called a “Day
of Truth” as a response to the “Day of Silence.”
On that day, they came to school with T-shirts featuring the message,
“Homosexuality is sin. Jesus can set you free.” Those
students were told to remove their shirts or face consequences.
When thirteen students refused to do so, they were suspended for
two days. Principal Kathleen Sirovy insisted that the school had
done the right thing because many of the students were “upset”
with the messages on the T-shirts because they were “rude.”
The Pacific Justice Institute is currently in contact with the
thirteen suspended students, and there is a possibility that a
lawsuit will be filed against the school on behalf of those students.
The
Gay, Lesbian, Straight Educational Network (GLSEN) has been promoting
the Day of Silence as marketing technique for the homosexual lifestyle
over the last ten years. This is done in order to “peacefully
bring attention to the pervasive problem of anti-lesbian, gay,
bisexual and transgender (LGBT) bullying and harassment in schools”
according to the GLSEN web site. During the “Day of Silence”,
held on April 26 of this year, students over the nation were encouraged
to remain silent all through the day in their schools to demonstrate
their identification with this cause. The discouragement of bullying
and harassment of anyone is certainly a worthwhile cause. However,
many students believe the Day of Silence has a much more pronounced
agenda than simple protest of mistreatment for those who claim
different sexual orientation. They are convinced that it is heavily
emphasizing not only an acceptance but the open promotion of the
gay and lesbian lifestyle. For that reason, in the last two years,
they have promoted a “Day of Truth” following the “Day
of Silence.” The “Day of Truth” is sponsored by
the Alliance Defense Fund and promotes the wearing of T-Shirts
and the passing out of cards with the following message, “I
am speaking the Truth to break the silence. Silence isn’t
freedom. It’s a constraint. Truth tolerates open discussion,
because the Truth emerges when healthy discourse is allowed. By
proclaiming the Truth in love, hurts will be halted, hearts will
be healed, and lives will be saved.”
It
seems strange to me that schools anywhere in our nations should
set aside a “Day of Silence” in order to protest the
bullying or harassment of those with different sexual orientations.
Kids have been bullying and harassing other kids in schools ever
since there have been schools. I will be the first to agree that
bullying and harassment is wrong. It is not stopping the bullying
that I have a problem with. It is the focus on who is being bullied.
When was there a “Day of Silence” ever promoted to stop
the harassment of racial minorities? When was there a promotion
to stop the bullying of kids with medical defects or deformities?
When did anyone ever start any nationwide campaign to stop the
harassment of kids who have weight problems? I have seen more
children who were bullied because they looked different, or had
problems with their weight than for any other reason in schools.
I am convinced that GLSEN’s “Day of Silence” is
no more than an open and blatant effort to promote credibility
and participation in the sinful lifestyle and practice of homosexuality
among high school students.
As
for those students who wore T-shirts that stated, “Homosexuality
is sin,” I agree that there were probably some students who
were offended. Of course, no one worried about how many students
were offended at the Day of Silence, but the school officials
really became distressed over some students being offended on
the Day of Truth by the kids who wore those T-shirts. We Christians
tend to be very offensive people, simply when we tell the truth
in love. Every time I preach against drinking, gambling, abortions,
sex outside of marriage, and any number of other things, I offend
someone. The problem is that I serve a very offensive God who
gave us a very offensive Bible, and sent His Son down to earth,
who told the truth in such a way that He offended people to the
point that they nailed Him to a cross. Like Jesus, we can love
people, reach out to them, share the truth with them, and desire
to help them to the point that it hurts us, and when we do, the
world says it is offensive. I applaud the efforts of those thirteen
kids who wore their T-shirts even though they got suspended for
doing so. I think it is about time that we Christians got on the
offense. “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’
sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:10)
James
Sanders
Pastor,
sandersjc@yahoo.com
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