Alan Chambers just doesn’t get it. The Exodus International President expects gays and lesbians to be moved by his words of compassion, but any gay or lesbian who knows their worth will hear only patronizing and insulting condescension in his words.
Here is Chambers speaking at the Third International Congress on World Evangelization (the Lausanne Conference), held in Cape Town, South Africa, last month:
[flv]https://capetown2010.IStreamPlanet.com/Multiplex01_Sat_Seg1_Sexuality_WEB30036567.flv[/flv]Here is Chambers castigating Christians for what he believes is their greatest sin towards homosexuals:
We, as the Church, have not viewed homosexual people, gay and lesbian men and women, as starving, hurting, broken, lost people in need of compassion.
Could he tug any harder at those heart strings? LGBT people don’t want pity, Mr Chambers. We want respect and equality. The caricature only gets worse:
I believe that God looks upon these people in the very same way that he looks upon those AIDS orphans, those starving orphans in parts of the world that have no alternative.
This hideously paternalistic view of gays as desperate, pitiful victims is positively Victorian. Yet Chambers believes such a view is the key to reaching out and helping gays. It seems only if we live up to this strange stereotype will Chambers accept us. He does not mince his words when describing what reaching out might entail:
Maybe sometimes that will mean that they walk into the church with their fishnet stockings coming in from the job that they had all night.
There is room in Chambers’s church for gays who dress up in tights and prostitute themselves, who are desperately unhappy and crying out for affection, who are so starved for love they’ll be amazed that Christians pay them a bit of attention. But there’s no room for content, well-adjusted gays and lesbians. This type of homosexual can’t exist in Exodus’s mythology, for its entire ethos relies on gays being sad victims.
Not only does Chambers not get that some of us are quite content being gay and don’t take kindly to such offensive nannying, but he doesn’t even seem to get Christianity. In his version, everything that exists outside the evangelical church is a big fake:
I lived in the gay community for a period of time and it was one of the best counterfeits that I’ve ever experienced.
He acknowledges he found love in the gay community, but dismisses it as “counterfeit.” He declares that Christians “are the only people in the world who have the real answer.” Chambers can’t even bring himself to acknowledge love and grace where it exists without denouncing it as phoney.
At least there was room for a bit of honesty toward the end of the speech:
We are largely the most uneducated people on the face of the planet about compassion and reaching out. We have a long way to go.
You said it, Alan. You said it.
..and what of lesbians, Alan?
man, at least Randy Thomas – for all his egotism and 16-year-old girl mentality – admitted that there was genuine human compassion among the gays.
I recommend that Mr. Chambers spend a full day with a group of modern gay people to see what their “lifestyles” are like. Spoiler: many (most?) of them didn’t end up as prostitutes or club queens.
Yeah… thats not gonna reach many LGBT people. But it is a step. Atleast he’s trying to get people to be compassionate. Which is more than some people in Christian leadership are saying.
Yes we want equality and to be considered equals (as that is what we are in the eyes of God) but I’d rather someone pitty me than hate me. A small step is better than no step at all right?
Yes, I agree Emily. Gay and lesbian people are living out their lives with happiness, love, affirmation, acceptance and compassion and leading quite ordinary lives…not out prowling around as prostitutes or club queens.
The church would do better to practice compassion….and I just cannot accept the church has the answer, the absolute truth. I am not gay (but I am mom to a gay son) and I have experienced more love outside the church than in it. I have found answers outside the church that I didn’t find when in it. And the biggest revelation is when you find “real” people outside the church and find the expression of being yourself the best freedom in the world….wearing a mask of conformity and “toeing the line”, accepting that you as a Christian have the whole truth….well….it just doesn’t wash with me.
I rather like to think that Christ has set me free….and it didn’t happen inside the confines of the church.
Rattigan…again….you write with wisdom and much understanding. Thank you.
Actually, Pomo, I’d rather they hate me. At least then you know what’s in their hearts. With all the “pity,” they’ll “love” you to death – keep you unequal and downtrodden with the permission of their own consciences (as CS Lewis once stated).
To be fair, this kind of talk can usually be heard from any standard evangelical when discussing any group of nonbelievers, not just gays. This kind of language isn’t reserved for homosexuals, it’s used for everyone who is not an evangelical. After all, it’s pretty much assumed in these circles that if you aren’t a Christian, then you’re life is obviously falling apart and any morality or stability you possess is a facade, no matter how much evidence you show them to the contrary. (And I’m not operating under the presumption that gay people aren’t genuine Christians, but I assume that Chambers is.)
Not that I’m *any* kind of Alan Chambers fan (these quotes are awful), but he was in Cape Town when he said these things – surely there were attendees from Uganda, Rwanda and Nigeria?
(Though the cross-dressing thing is a whole other issue, given the context…)
It would have been very brave of him to denounce what’s going on in Uganda (and in many other African countries).
But he took the easier road.
Or in other terms, they want homosexuality to be a sin.
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Emily, I got the distinct impression that you monogamous lesbians were acknowledged throughout this latest lecture. With all the ambiguous “those’s” and “them’s” and “that” gay community way over yonder beyond the pale part, etc. Nay? 😉
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Pomo, though I agree with your premise, the more compassionate he (Exodus, via Chambers) sounds, the more people will accept that it’s okay to think of us as unrepentant sinners. The perfect opportunity to “share” their version of salvation on us.
The ex-gay movement is one of, if not the most potent weapons being used in the anti-gay industry’s arsenal. And whether Chambers realizes it or not, his “small step” of compassion will be translated into anti-gay votes at the ballot box.
The cutesier Exodus appears, the more legitimate their message sounds.
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And to Jacquie, eloquently said, thank you.
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Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand…MY TURN!
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Alan Chambers:
-Now that’s a keeper.
Just let me get my fishnet stockings, I’ll be right over.
Dog whistle: No such thing as gay Christians because all gay people are sociopaths.
And what better way to reach “them” than by bringing attention to “them.”
Having elaborated on the “counterfeit” motif before:
A polite and “compassionate” way of saying I’m too stupid to know what real love is.
All gay people hold fast and tight to their “favorite” gay bars.
A’hem…
“And we as the body of Christ have to realize that these people aren’t out to make us angry.”
-Go to hell.
“They’re not out to defeat us politically.”
-How keen of you to notice my love of being arbitrarily discriminated against.
“they want love and compassion and acceptance and affirmation.”
-Ok, I’ll give you that one.
“They’re starving for a savior. And if we don’t give it to them, who will?”
-What’s the opposite of savior?
Well that’s comforting. At least he’s suggesting an alternative to imprisoning us.
Thank you for reminding everyone of my worth.
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Brilliant ‘hearts and minds’ strategy, Chambers.
(Now, where did I put those fishnet stockings, I’ve got to get ready for church.)
@Emily K,
People that hate commit violent crimes, vandolism, murder etc. You can “know whats in their hearts” just as easily when they’re obviously pitying you. I’d still rather take someone trying to keep me unequal (because that we can fight and eventually will win) than someone hating me and that leading to violence. Every hate crime committed wasn’t done from someone who pittied us, it was done from people that hate us.
@College Jay, good point.
Alan Chambers was getting on my last nerve years ago. Apparently there is only one kind of gay person he knows.
And talks about them like a stray dog he was big enough to help.
I really wish he’d stop. Half of these ex gays keep talking about gay people I NEVER knew in my whole life.
I don’t know where Exodus finds them.
Must be the same six they keep parading on stage during their conferences for the last two decades.
Just as their definition is narrow, so is their scope of experience with gay people.
That whole panel needs to get a life.
@Pomo
The problem I see with this logic is that it forces one to assume that the option of avoiding the “pity” stage is not present. Also, that encouraging this attitude will not itself contribute to the view that GLBTs are somehow inferior and thereby still provide justification those who harbor hate and prejudice.
I have to disagree. All this sounds like making excuses for a mediocre message, only because it wasn’t overtly hateful in the most obvious way. I choose not to set the bar so low that I’m willing to settle for any bit of distorted “compassion” thrown my way.
As Emily has said, there are times when it’s better to experience the honest hatred than contrived compassion. At least that affords an honest debate.
I’m willing to accept that Alan was trying to change the tone here, but he lives in a world constructed around what is still the basic Exodus group-think. That makes it almost impossible for him to “get it.” His comment about “counterfeit” love and community is a prime example — totally unnecessary, condescending and insulting.
@ Regan,
” Apparently there is only 1 kind of gay person he knows”.
Seems it’s the ones who where fishnet stockings. 😉
@David Roberts
I truly believe that since Alan grew up with so many negative filters around his sexuality, that experiencing his ability to integrate in a positive way was not a choice he chose to consider. Hence he teaches what he allows himself to grasp, thereby teaching what he found to be markedly true. He actually deserves a blast of compassion as he is in much pain by living in now conscious denile. I see him as addicted to denile and avoidance, a thing like all addictions, needs constant feeding such as Exodus clearly provides. It”s addict supporting addict in Exodus’ case. Addictions are horrible, and they ruin lives i.e. teenage suicides. This is how their addictions are publically destructive. As with all addicts they are blinded by deep fear, and see the light when they are ready, and the proverbial now in this case, is never too soon.
I was in the room in Cape Town while Alan Chambers gave this talk. While I agree that some of his metaphors and similies do little to address the views and positions of LGBT Christians you really have to see it in context. The vast majority of the people in the room were church leaders from the Majority World and many from countries where LGBT people are imprisoned or worse and that with the blessing of many Christians. If Chambers’ words are to be followed through on by the delegates present then the transformation would be spectacular. LGBT people would be viewed as blameless, treated with deep compassion and political battles to deny rights would be abandoned. Yes, the paternalistic overtones would remain but I wonder what better strategy one would have if given the opportunity to address this particular audience? Any of the suggestions made above in the post or in the comment would have resulted in the entirety of Chambers’ views being dismissed as liberal compromising and would have further energised those who support initiatives like the Ugandan Bill. This is because most of the audience were utterly unfamiliar with the concept of LGBT Christians. They are not going to become familiar with them in 20 minutes. Is there anyone out there whose journey with self or others in coming to a place of real compassion and genuine respect for LGBT people lasted less than 20 minutes? There were a number of Western Christians in the room who have been on this journey and would have appreciated a more nuanced discussion in relation to the points raised above in the post but how exactly could this have taken place when there were such extreme views in the room (as evidenced by some of the speakers who addressed the audience after Alan and the atmosphere after the seminar)? In the multiplex sessions afterwards there was an opportunity for some slightly deeper discussion but these were not filmed.
@Richard
You are not the first to emphasize this perspective to me, and I’m not saying it has no merit. But there is a problem with this practice of so drastically attenuating messages according to the audience. In this age of connectivity, those with such hard line views at the conference, if they are moved by Alan’s talk, will certainly look him up. Assuming that Alan makes less draconian statements in other venues, will they not then assume that he is just a false teacher and write him off — same result simply delayed?
And since it is a fact that Alan has made more nuanced statements in the past, and was still invited to the conference, were they not expecting more than this? And what about the reverse? His statements have been quoted and the video is available now from several sources. How are those in other settings to know that Alan’s words were not simply SOP?
If this was genuinely a case of making the best of an imperfect situation, I suppose I can partially understand that. Even as such, it feels a bit deceptive. I suppose the proof would be in some tangible changes occurring in those countries as a result. But I resist at a gut level the idea that human rights have a middle ground, a compromise position.
I don’t know of many homophobic third-world countries where a gay person is likely to walk into a church wearing fishnet stockings…
Would are the odds that not even a single person from Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria, Zimbabwe et al walked away from Alan’s 20 minutes and thought “Wow, we should get rid of those criminal laws”?
He compared us to counterfeiters of money, after all. A serious crime. And what do we do to counterfeiters?
He painted us as mentally ill, and as social degenerates. And how much do the opinions of people like that matter?
It is quite a stretch to imagine promoting those twin falsehoods could ever lead to LGBT people being viewed as “blameless, treated with deep compassion and political battles to deny rights would be abandoned”.
(Good God Almighty, has anyone noticed what Alan Chambers himself gets up to in his spare time! If Alan Chamber’s words don’t work on Alan Chambers — how the heck are they going to positively influence anyone else???)
If someone believed even half of what Alan told that audience they would have walked away determined to see their anti-gay laws maintained, or even strengthened.
More than not getting it, under Alan Chamber’s Exodus is malevolently ignorant.
@David Roberts
Sure David I see where you are coming from. I did feel after the session that in context it was helpful but that if it became the final word on the topic for those present then that would be very dissappointing. Many evangelicals have a tendency to “grasp at the talk,” thinking that because they heard something that was in some way inspiring or challenging then it deserves to be the definitive answer on the topic even if the speaker does not intend this.
@grantdale
“If someone believed even half of what Alan told that audience they would have walked away determined to see their anti-gay laws maintained, or even strengthened.”
All I can say is that in the context of the contrast with the African speaker on the platform and the response afterwards (both inside and outside the room), I don’t bellieve this would be the case.
@Richard
A very insightful and accurate observation.
Alan Chambers was trying to encourage a more humane and civilized attitude to gays, but nonetheless a supercilious and patronizing one. We should not lose sight of the fact, however, that he was doing so not as an end in itself, but as a means to an end, namely to sell Exodus and its agenda to his audience.