Opinion

Homophobes are hypocrites
My Turn
by Jeremy Ball
Columnist

Anti-gay messages were painted in the tunnels after National Coming Out Day. (Photo by Richard Thomas)

As a Christian, I felt a mixture of shame and disgust when I walked into the tunnels last week and saw the blatant statements of hate that someone scrawled on the walls after the tunnels were painted supporting National Coming Out Day.

When I saw quotations from the Bible used, I felt disgust at seeing what I believe is the Word of God twisted and perverted to promote hate. And I felt disgust at seeing lies like "God hates fags" written about nature and the character of God.

I felt shame when I realized how often we Christians fail to live out our faith when dealing with the issue of homosexuality, and that if we were living as we were supposed to, the messages relating to Christianity which were painted on that wall would have been laughed at. Everyone would know from our lives that ours is a faith built upon an eternal love which conquers death and hatred.

My hope is to address both Christians and non-Christians, and to at least make you think. For non-Christians, my goal is not to convince you to believe the same as I. I don't have the wisdom or power to do that. But rather, I hope to clarify what Christians really believe, based upon the Word of God.

First of all, to the non-Christians and especially the homosexual community, I apologize. For too long, many Christians have changed the Word of God to fit their views instead of allowing the Word of God to change them. We sit in our smugness and condemn the rest of the world while not even bothering to live out our faith.

Let's set the record straight. Christianity teaches that God loves everyone. The statement, "God hates fags" is a lie. The famous verse, John 3:16, which could be considered the cornerstone of our faith, starts off "For God so loved the world.. ."

But, the Bible also teaches that God hates sin. And the act of homosexuality is considered to be a sin in the Old Testament as well as the New (see 1 Cor. 6:9 or Rom. 1:26-27). But God does not hate people.

By no means do we believe that homosexuals should be killed. Those verses from Leviticus which someone chose to paint in the tunnel referred to a system of national laws which God gave specifically to the nation of Israel.

The Jewish race is God's chosen race and they were expected to live up to certain laws of purity as a nation. Christians are a part of God's New Testament and have different guidelines for dealing with sin. God doesn't feel differently about sin, but we are not a nation.

You may ask, who are you to tell me what's a sin? I'm nobody. Read the scriptures. And if Christians can't believe the Bible, what do we have to believe?

So, the scriptures say that the act of homosexuality is a sin. But Romans 3:23 says that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." I am the worst sinner of all and I sin every day. Because of my sins, I deserve an eternity of separation from God. That's what those people who wrote on the walls forgot. They are sinners too. But there is hope. Thanks to God that I can go back to my original statement and say that God loves everyone. How do I know? Let's finish up John 3:16, "He sent His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life." God loves us so much that he paid for all of our sins through the blood of Christ.

And if the God who created the universe cared enough to give His only Son, then he cares enough to help you deal with whatever you struggle with in your life, through belief in His plan. God created everyone. Would we put Him in so small a box as to say that He cannot help us with the desires and temptations that we face?

Non-Christians, we believe that God loves homosexuals, Baptists, atheists, frat-boys, athletes, and murderers all the same. He showed that 2,000 years ago.

Christians, we should feel ashamed. Have we forgotten that we are sinners saved by grace? Our love for Him is because of the love that He showed us. And we are called to love others. Christian, when was the last time that you showed a homosexual God's love?

When was the last time that you helped a homosexual with her homework or asked her to dinner? Or, are we so stuck in our own cliques that we forget that the ministry of Jesus was to those people that His society despised the most. How much we have become like Pharisees!

Also, remember 1 Cor. 5:12, "What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?"

Yes, we should stand by our convictions and speak the truth, especially in this age of relativism and universalism. But speak the truth in love and remember that people's primary need is not a change in actions. Many a good looking church-goer will find himself in hell. People need a change of heart. That's what a relationship with Christ gives.

Let's start showing non-Christians changed lives and love that knows no conditions. That is what will prove that God is still alive and that He has given us the truth through the scriptures. Pray that God will break our hearts for the homosexual community and that we will truly be salt and light.

Finally, Christians, remember 1 Cor. 13:2, "if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing." Christianity is all about grace. Let's remember to show others the same grace that God showed us. Or would we be willing to be judged in the same way that we judge others?

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Advantages of alien attacks
Viewpoint
Pavel Zemliansky
Columnist

Have you seen the movie "Independence Day" yet? If not, go see it. The special effects are great.

This is not a movie review, as much as I would like it to be one. But it is instead, another article about politics and politicians. Science-fiction lovers will say I'm crazy, but I think "Independence Day" directly applies to many contemporary political events.

For those readers who have not seen the movie - a brief outline of the plot. Aliens attack the Earth, devastate the cities, but mankind, led by the U.S. President, defeats them. The decisive blow however, is made by a drunken air force veteran who volunteers to fly a jet.

In today's world, alien attacks are good for politicians. They let them show their courage and loyalty to their nation and help the nation forget the wrong things that the politician has done in the past.

Russia has been fighting in Chechnya for almost three years now. Does anyone still remember it? Is it in the news? No. The explanation is simple.

The aliens (the present Russian government) are unpredictable and scary. They do not directly threaten anyone outside their own country, yet. Therefore, it is best to leave them alone. This is not to say that the fighting in Chechnya goes unnoticed within Russia.

It's rather like the temperature knob on your kitchen stove. You can adjust the public opinion according to your needs of today by cranking up the heat of fighting or reducing it- just like we do it when we cook something.

The other fighting party in that war, the Chechen rebels, can also turn such a course of events to their advantage. For them, the aliens are the Russian troops. Fighting a stronger army always elevates you in the eyes of your people. They almost forget why the fight started in the first place.

Immediately after Saddam Hussein made a move towards Kurdish strongholds, the international community reacted. But can anyone tell who was the winner in this battle? Both sides are convinced that they won. The world's superpowers showed that they care about peace and human rights while Saddam added to his image of a martyr who is being bullied by the rest of the world.

To this list you can add all the events in the Middle East, Haiti, Somalia, and lots of other places where "aliens" were defeated- or at least it seemed so to the people who fought them. When such events take place, even a usually balanced mass media like CNN does not seem to be able to find time for anything else. It almost looks like nowhere else in the world blood is shed.

In the world of politics and strategic national interests, anyone can become an alien, in the sense that he can be used by somebody else who at this particular moment happens to have more missiles and tanks.

A couple of remarks by way of conclusion; the president in the movie will surely be reelected after the victory over aliens. And, if you hope to rule nations, remember that it always helps to have someone beside you who will agree to fight for your cause no matter what. It doesn't matter whether it's your political advisor or just anybody who happens to be available at the time.

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Letters to the Editor

I am a first-semester freshman here at Appalachian. I appreciate the variety of features, university news, and editorials, but realize that the paper may be lacking something. The Appalachian should include news outside of our campus. Oftentimes, students are mentally secluded from the world at large, if they choose not to watch CNN or to pick up a USA Today. Since The Appalachian is only published twice a week, there would

potentially be enough newsworthy information to fill a page in every issue. Editorials do serve their niche, but it is the opinion of this reader that some hard news might provide factual ground on which to base editorial comment, while stimulating reader intellect.

Edward J. Piacentino
ASU Box 14825

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