and a couple dollars short but as the Germans say 'besser spat als nie.' (better late than never.)
Imagine my surprise as I do my Monday morning catch up on my blogs reading, when I see that two of my fav bloggers have blogged about the same thing. Donnie McClurkin. Now, by the title of the respective blogs, I was not expecting them to be related, but alas they were. Now, being sisters of same struggle, I had to watch this video that has apparently spurred much interest and controversy.
If you have not checked them out, head over to The Rainbow Room and Trisha's Daughter to read their takes on this particular incident. I think these two ladies have put it down. They have spoken well on this issue and give them all the props they deserve. After reading these two post, I wondered if I should blog about it at all, but I just feel like I have to say something. I guess it's an occupational hazard. It's like whenever a minister says something stupid I feel like I have to be the voice of reason (or at least speak for the other side).
That being said, I'm not sure where to begin on this one. I did watch the video. I gotta admit I was confused. Okay, let me back up. This whole idea of a 'homosexual demon' is not a new one. We all know that. In fact, I feel this speech/rant/rambling of Donnie is a disgusting coattail ride on that episode of the Tyra show with the young man who stated he had been possessed by a homosexual demon back in September. For a great read about this, head over to my boy Rippa's blog.
He seems to begin his speech with guilt laden words. He seems to think that he singlehandedly led a whole generation down a path of perversion. Ummm, what? Yea, I think the Bible speaks on pride too. Moving right along, I do believe that God is a deliverer. Indeed, God has bought me out of some jacked up situations. Yet, if one listens to Donnie, it seems the only thing God is able to deliver one out of is homosexuality.
He speaks repeatedly about parents failing their children. I think maybe Donnie is speaking out of his own experience. Does Donnie feel like his parents failed him? Is he a grown man finally speaking the words his eight year old self wanted to say but couldn't? Could Donnie benefit from some counseling?
How does exactly does one clap wrong? How does one walk wrong? I know. I know. I know what he's getting at, but still. As Christians, we often give so much credit where no credit is due. I think the churchism is 'we give the devil too much credit.' Could a rational person really believe that their daughter is now gay because she listened to the Katy Perry song? Can I just say as a gay woman, I don't even like that song? But that's neither here nor there.
I could go on and on about Donnie's rant/speech/rambling but there is a bigger issue at hand here. Black folks by and large are homophobic. No big discovery there, right. And unfortunately, Christianity has become very much a guilt ridden religion. Some of you might be thinking this too is no big discovery. Well, in the Black Church tradition, it is. When pairing homophobia with guilt, the result is the ramblings of Donnie and the young man who was possessed by a gay demon.
For Black folk, God has ceased being the Great Liberator and has become the Great Oppressor. Prosperity Gospel (and I use the term gospel loosely) has told us that in order to get what we want, we have to buy it. I mean, isn't that what we are doing when we buy all those DVDs and prayer cloths and books. We are paying someone to tell us how to get what we want from God. What kinda belief system is that? Sounds like capitalism to me.
God has become this entity that keeps things from us until we can pay enough to someone else to tell us how to get it. Where is the grace? Where is the love? Where is...hell, where is God in that? That is not God, at least not the one I serve. I guess I serve the God of my Grandmother cause this 'new' God is not for me. I serve a God who knows me better than I know myself. A God who sticks closer than a brother (or sister). How can a God like that call me perverse? When I am made in that God's image?
How can I be fearfully and wonderfully made, but be an abomination to God? How can God be my everything, when I am told that to God I am nothing because I am gay? What kind of message is that? I don't know what Donnie's purpose was in saying what he said. What I do know, is that there are folks out there who are troubled by his words. I know that there is some kid somewhere who thinks they are going to hell for feeling what comes natural to them.
As a Black lesbian minister, I have been likened unto a Black Republican (as if the two are mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive). It is indeed a hard road to travel. My message is that not all Black Christians (specifically ministers) think this way. A lot do, but not all. Before we were formed in our mother's wombs, God knew us. So, to all my family in the struggle, don't believe the hype. Cause the hype
Makes. No. Sense.
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