Bad Theology Triggers My Gag Reflex

Thabiti Anyabwile, a Cayman pastor and board member of the Gospel Coalition, has got everyone’s undies in a bunch with his hamfisted post saying that if you find anal sex gross, that must be the Holy Spirit. He then goes on to give his army marching orders to describe gay sex in disgusting terms as often as possible, in order to fight the gay lobby. (He seems to think that describing sex is a turn off; I think most people experience it as a turn on.)

It’s a terrible post, which shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. Nevertheless, the progressive theoblogosphere is PISSED! For example:

Slacktivist: 50 Shades of The ‘Gospel Coalition’

David Henson: Gagging on the Gospel Coalition: Why A Reflex Isn’t A Measure of Sin

Richard Beck: Experimental Theology: On Love and the Yuck Factor

Aric Clark: The Connection Between My Conscience and My Disgust

Kimberly Knight: The importance of my gag reflex in accepting who God made me to be

Zach Hoag: #GagReflex

Years ago, when first publicly proclaiming my alliance with gay persons in the church and society, I wrote a post about this — it’s what moral philosophers call the “yuck factor” or the “ick factor.” In that post, I describe the philosophy behind it and why, in fact, it’s a terrible way to make moral decisions. See also Beck’s book, Unclean, for a brilliant treatment of this.

What makes you gag? Bad theology?