April 10, 2014 6:39 AM

Sometimes all it takes to be a hero is to put a human face on hatred and bigotry

MY NEW HERO

Jennifer Louise Lopez

When Jennifer Louise Lopez first saw the horrific anti-gay sign go up on The ATLAH Worldwide Missionary Church in her neighborhood in Harlem, she knew she had to take action. Run by Dr. James David Manning, a man who has been outspokenly critical of the Obama administration and the progression of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights over the course of the past six years, the church made headlines in late February when religious leaders posted a polarizing sign that read “Obama has released the homo demons on the black man. Look out black woman. A white homo may take your man.”…. The church then later replaced the sign with one that read “Jesus would stone homos,” along with “Stoning is still the law” and Bible verses Matthew 5:17-19, Deuteronomy 17:5-7, Leviticus 20:13 and John 8:1-11.

It’s easy to cluck disapprovingly when someone bastardizes your religion, using their fear, hatred, and bigotry to turn what gives your life meaning into something ugly and hateful. In this day and age, Christianity is being used by those with all manner of agendas, most of them having nothing do do with the teachings of Jesus Christ…and far more to do with hatred, discrimination, and ignorance. It’s so much a part of modern life that this sort of bigotry very often escapes attention. This would explain the Tea Party, who’s political agenda is as much about the teachings of Jesus Christ as I am frequently mistaken the Queen of England.

It’s easy to hate when you’ve dehumanized those who think or believe differently and redefined them as The Other, representative of all that’s evil and ungodly while being sub-human. This is where Jennifer Louise Lopez comes into our story. Seeing the sign, Lopez knocked on the church’s door, introduced herself as a Lesbian and then announced she was there for her stoning.

Hey, that’s what the sign said, right??

Taking things at face value can often yield some interesting (and occasionally hilarious) results. In Lopez’ case, the man who answered her knock was clearly unprepared for a woman with the audacity to take the church at its word. Like most bullies, it turns out the ATLAH Worldwide Missionary Church’s message was a lot of bluster and bloviation with nothing substantial behind it.

Like so many self-styled “Christians,” Dr. Manning and his merry band of misfits seems far more concerned with an individual’s sexuality than with endeavoring to lead Christ-like lives. If your Christianity seriously leads you down a path where stoning someone because of who and how they love is deemed acceptable, I’d suggest you seek professional help. At the very least, if you’re going to advocate for violence directed at The Other, you’d best be prepared to cast the first stone (fully fully intended). Otherwise, you’re just another hyper-religious blowhard afraid of those not “enlightened” enough to share your beliefs and prejudices.

Or is your God really an awesome God…because She tolerates bullies and hyper-religious bigotry?

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This page contains a single entry by Jack Cluth published on April 10, 2014 6:39 AM.

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