Silence Equals Compliance

Some time ago, an acquaintance commented on a photo on Facebook.  The picture was of two men embracing and holding a newborn between them on the top, with pictures of children holding the familiar "God Hates Fags" signs from Westboro Baptist Church.  The caption was "If you honestly believe that a loving homosexual couple raising a child is more offensive than these lunatics teaching children to do this... Then there might just be some issues you need to sort out."

My acquaintance said "Both are equally offensive, but at opposite extremes.  What I find most hateful in this instance is to seek and find one particular example of those who falsely call themselves Christian and use them in a smear campaign against the majority of conscientious and loving Bible believing Christians who have nothing to do with the true Gospel message they are so eager to share."

The comment got two likes.

Here's the problem.  To outsiders, no one cares who is and who isn't... whatever.  Orthodox, Catholic, or one of the myriad of Protestant and Non-Denominational, to Non-Christians it is in fact all the same thing.  Bible Thumpers.  The Bible Fred Phelps carries is the same Bible Pat Robertson reads, is the same Bible every Christian reads.  Translation, edition, cover, these are all just details and completely inconsequential to those of follow other religions and spiritual paths.

When one particular group begins to speak up about anything, they become the voice of those they associate with, whether they represent the majority or not.  The perception becomes that the most vocal is the majority.  This is particularly reinforced by the silence of any opposition within the same group of people.

The sad truth is that when you strip away the niceties, political correctness, and flat out doublethink that hangs heavily around Christian religion, the message to homosexuals is absolutely no different than Westboro signs:  "God Hates Fags."

It's even right there in my acquaintance's message "Both are equally offensive."  On some level, he agrees with the message Westboro Baptist is sending.  Homosexuality is "offensive".  Is it more polite to say that something is offensive rather than you hate it?  Certainly.  But lets face it, polite or no, it's the same message.  "This should not be."

Do I think that Westboro Baptist (or my acquaintance for that matter) speak for all Christians, everywhere?  No.  I know that many Christians support gay rights, and I know that many homosexuals are Christians.  However, so long as the vocal majority within the Christian community (that is, those presenting the loudest and most public message) continue to claim that their god hates people for who they love, or that some kinds of love are "offensive", Christianity, as a whole, will remain labeled as "homophobic".  Christians who are not will be perceived as the exception and not the rule.

The only way to change this perception is to change the vocal majority.  Christians who support their gay sisters and brothers should take the time to divorce themselves from the homophobic Christian front by making a stand as Christian Pro-sexuals.  They won't silence or drown out the Anti-gay movement, but they can change how outsiders see the Christian faith.