Writing About Homosexuality

Yesterday there was an article posted on Huffington Post by two young evangelical authors about LGBT activists wrongly using the word ‘hate’ to describe those with a conservative theological framework. I have a few thoughts:

The article was written well with good thoughts. Thoughts that I do tend to agree with. But at the end of the day, coming from who wrote the article, they are just, well, written words. That’s all.

It’s a million times easier to write about something that you don’t have daily interaction with. It keeps you separated. It gives you a buffer. You aren’t fully invested in what you’re writing about. It takes no guts.

Don’t get me wrong, I like the fact that others are starting to go public with their thoughts on a new medium of engagement. I’m all about it – from both the LGBT and conservative worlds. I’m sure those guys who wrote the article are great guys – as I believe one, if not both of them, are represented by the literary agent that represents me.

But it would be like me writing about the environment (one of the article’s author’s area of expertise). Just because I, Andrew, recycle and take public transportation more than I drive, doesn’t make me someone with any amount of credibility to speak to the subject of creation care. What it does make me is someone who does care, is trying hard, and has a platform to toss my thoughts in the arena. Those are all good things. Things that I appreciate.

I just pray the author’s of that article are backing up their easily written, well crafted and articulate article with personal relationships with those in the LGBT community – especially those that don’t agree with them – that challenge their “thinking” and “writing” past thinking and writing and onto real life in real time. Only then will I be willing to listen.

Much love.