By Dan Gonzales
Last Saturday, "Life On The Edge
Live," Focus on the Family’s two-hour teen radio show, dealt exclusively with homosexuality and the guest was Scott Davis of Exodus Youth.
Davis contributes little more than a few poorly chosen, inflammatory quotes; plugs
Alliance Defense Fund’s Day
of Truth and claims "tens of thousands of people have been helped" out of homosexuality.
Hosts Susie Shellenberger and Steve Russo typically
take even-tempered and compassionate stands on social
issues compared to other Focus outlets. But tonight I
believe Shellenberger said the word "hell" more
than any other program in the six months in which I’ve
been monitoring their program. Not even the earlier
program on children practicing Wicca elicited so much
hell-bound condemnation from Shellenberger.
The first caller declares "a fad" at her school has
made it almost "cool" for kids to choose to be gay/bi.
Davis responds that this fad is not merely confined to
her school but sweeps the nation. To Davis’ credit he
goes on to say many people struggling with same-sex
attractions do not choose those attractions. (Hence
they want Exodus’ help to rid themselves of it.)
The next caller is a struggling bisexual girl for whom
Shellenberger falls back on a tired old stereotype
when she asked if the caller wasn’t really attracted
to girls but rather "certain qualities" about them.
Only at the end of this call did Shellenberger seem to
accept this girl’s sexuality and suggested celibacy as
a morally acceptable alternative with the
understanding it is until she is able to "change."
(For the record there was absolutely no discussion of
the "success rate" of exgay ministries. Virtually no
statistics of scientific fact were presented in the
entire two-hour program. Hosts alluded to "the
psychological consequences" of homosexuality
throughout the program but once again never went into
any detail and instead relied on listeners’
preconceived bias to fill in the details.)
Russo launches into a monologue stating that the
only way to change is by accepting Jesus. He
then reads everyone’s favorite fiery verse from from I
Corinthians for a caller, to explain that gay Christians are
"shaking their fists at God" and really going to
hell. Davis compliments that by reminding listeners
that God loves us even "when we’re spitting on him."
Don’t find that offensive? Here, try it this way: Yes, God loves the Jews even though
they crucified his son. But don’t forget, God loves
the Jews so you be nice to them now.
Shellenberger continues the Calvinism by curiously
choosing to read John 3:16, which of course says that
accepting Jesus is the only way to heaven. A most
conspicuous time to quote this verse: Taken in context
this brings to the forefront Focus’ paradoxical party
line of ignoring the existence of self-affirmed gay
Christians who have accepted Jesus Christ as their
lord and savior. Later in the program Shellenberger
makes it clear "real Christians" (not a quote) cannot
be gay, when she verbally prays for a friend of a
caller who is a self-affirmed gay Christian and is
quoted as saying "but clearly is living in sin yet
calls herself a Christian."
Later in the program Davis asks a gay, but conflicted
male caller "which is more important to you, being gay
or being Christian?"
Are Shellenberger and Davis saying self-affirmed gays
cannot truly accept Jesus?
Are they saying if a gay Christian accepts Jesus this
one sin of accepting this sexuality banishes one to
hell?
They never say.
For that matter, Focus never says.
The logic of their issue-position might collapse if
they were forced to develop it that far.
(It is extraordinary how even the teen ministries at
Focus are so in-step with the party line on
homosexuality.)
The uplifting fire-and-brimstone teen radio program
decides to end the diatribe and take another caller, a
girl asking how to convince a marginally-faithful
friend he gayness is wrong. Davis responds with
vagaries typical of Exodus about mental illness and
blathers on about homosexual actions being contrary to
"God’s design." Once again, no meaningful statistics
or science are presented. From this point onward the
program is almost exclusively spiritual in nature with
no arguments presented holding any ethos for
non-Christians.
The show ended with a bizarre diatribe by a caller asserting that all secular media are biased against Focus’ purely religious point of view, and subsequently
Shellenberger and Russo join in. Yet again, only vague
generalities and stereotypes were offered. (Naturally,
a caller who was dating a gay Christian saving
himself for marriage was dismissed.)
The primary focus of the show was not to offer facts and informed choices to listeners, but to claim ownership of Christianity on behalf of antigay ideologues; to exclude same-sex-attracted Christians from their churches; to insult the diverse secular media of a pluralistic nation; and to pummel listeners with Focus on the Family’s stereotypes in the hope that some prejudices, repeated often enough, might gradually become accepted by some listeners
Anyone wishing to ask Life On The Edge Live whether such rhetoric helps or hurts gays and exgays may email them here.
— Dan Gonzales
For those who think they have a patent on God and that those who disagree with them are not “Real Christians”, Jesus already answered this question. The following is Mark 9: 38-40
“Teacher,” said John, “we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.”
“Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, for whoever is not against us is for us.”
Related/Unrelated comment on this. It seems that Exodus is putting more ads out in the Orlando area.
The most troubling quote I find in this story is Alan Chambers:
“There are hundreds of thousands of individuals, like myself, who experienced emptiness and isolation in homosexuality and through Jesus Christ, we found the strength to leave it,”
Over 100,000 now? Really, Alan. It was just thousands about a year ago.
I’d really love some data with some follow-up studies on this one.
Anyone here got any?
Any idea who listens to this silliness? What are the ratings? What are the ratings among the MTV generation, for example?
Any group or personality that broadcasts on Focus is a shill and mere front organization for their movement.
Considering the rumors on the web (especially about Anwar Robinson) and how the American Idol contestants do weekly Ford advertisements, i think it’s true to say that:
“family” in the Focus gets much higher ratings than Focus on the Family.
You know, I am reluctant to even try to voice what I know because of the cruel attacks that may result, but I am compelled to comment. I hate it that it seems to some of the homosexual community that Christian’s are unloving and without understanding and knowledge of the nature of homosexuality. I use to be a person who adamantly believed it was a choice and how dare anyone choose it. But before anyone gets angry, let me say that I then had an intimate experience with the situation in my best friend. When he told me he was attracted to the same sex, he was so ashamed that he hid in the closet, no pun intended, to tell me. His immediate response after telling me was “I know I am going to hell.” That whole situation broke my heart and changed my entire outlook. Now, I do believe that there are predispositions towards attractions to the same sex. Please don’t be offended by the word “predisposition” it was just the best word that I could think of. I believe it is completely sad that we so often leave out the issue of love and make this a war to prove ourselves right. But the truth is whether you believe one way or the other, Jesus loves us all and that is the bottom line. However, when you start asking for scientific proof to tell you that something is or is not, you contradict the entire foundation of Christianity, which is faith. I know that for a non-believer it might not matter what the Bible has to say. He or she might prefer concrete, tangible answers. But, it is in no way avoiding the true subject of sexuality to say that the Bible says it is wrong, if you are approaching it from a Christian stand point. I could give you scripture that says forthrightly that God does not approve of a same sex life style. But, if you care about the topic, you probably already know them. It is up to God to make this head knowledge a heart knowledge too. But in all fairness, homosexuality does get hit hard in the Christian communities where things like divorce, which the Bible plainly says that God hates, is overlooked. There are so many sins and so many fingers to be pointed but the reality is that this was the whole purpose of Jesus’ sacrifice of love, because we “have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God”. All of us have except Jesus. I could address so much more and will if anyone cares for me to. I am not ashamed of the gospel. But let me say that regardless of who you are, I don’t personally judge you because I am a sinner as much as anyone. But there IS an ultimate truth. That is the truth that God dictates plainly in His word. I hope this has not come across as anything more than a passionate plea to understand that it is all about Jesus’ love and not about bitterness and hostility. Email me if you would like but please be civil.
Krystal,
Thank you for your measured and civil post.
“But, it is in no way avoiding the true subject of sexuality to say that the Bible says it is wrong, if you are approaching it from a Christian stand point.
As a Christian who happens to be gay, I too fell into this mindset for many many years. However, I started to question my preconceptions when faced with the fact that the mainline churches, on the whole, had little to say to gay folk other than change/go away/get back in the closet – because we are not comfortable dealing with this issue. The stark options reduced when also faced with the realisation that for 99% plus of homosexuals (and heterosexuals), change in orientation is not a valid option.
The antagonism now present in a number of denominations between the ‘pro’ and ‘anti’ gay lobbies also made me reinvestigate the passages that are so often used to beat gay folk.
The Bible actually has remarkably little to say about ‘sexuality’ or ‘same sex life style’ as it is understood today. There are also a number of Christian academics who have come to quite different conclusions on what the Bible really means in those few areas where same sex activity is being talked about.
My own understanding now, is that the Bible cannot be used to fully support the extreme views of either pole in the debate. The judgmentalism and pharisaical approaches taken by certain sectors of the church over this issue also reflect very little of Jesus’s call to love God and neighbour.
If you wish to investigate further I’d be happy to email you links to sources of a broader range of biblical views that might aid you in the understanding that you seek.