LGBTIQ??!!

Examining the Issues 5

It is no secret that LGBTIQ movements and entities supporting or promoting this cause are working very hard (intentionally or unintentionally) for their respective agendas.  It is not a secret, but yet many people (including Christians and churches) may not be aware.

Cultural revolutionaries know very well that the key to change any culture or any cultural norms or perceptions is to capture the hearts and minds of the young and emerging generation…

Hence, through both subtle and high profile approaches, it is quite apparent that LGBTIQ and/or pro-LGBTIQ movements and entities supporting or promoting this cause are pressing forward steadily and strategically; from seeking tolerance, on to advocating acceptance, and then promoting approval, and even fighting for rights, and eventually openly celebrating homosexuality and related behaviors.

The channels through which the LGBTIQ agenda is pursued among others include literature, TV shows, movies, advocacies, special events, as well as political maneuvers.  Behind all these channels are propagandas aimed at persuading, convincing and probably also indoctrinating the general public.

It is good that we take a closer look at a few of these persuasions or propagandas…

PERSUASION #1:

LGBTIQ PEOPLE WERE BORN LIKE THAT…

IT IS NATURALLY US…

LGBTIQ and pro-LGBTIQ people would affirm that homosexuality and/or related behaviors are no different from heterosexuality.  No better, no worse.  It is merely a different sexual preference or a different sexual orientation.  LGBTIQ and pro-LGBTIQ people further advocate that their sexual orientations are something they are born inherently with.  Such orientations are completely natural to them. 

“We really cannot help it…  And we are happy about it.  Or at least we should be happy about it…  And therefore, we do not need to change… we do not want to change… we cannot be changed…”

PERSUASION #2:

DON’T BE HOMOPHOBIC OR TRANSPHOBIC…

PLEASE ACCEPT US...

From the previous “persuasion”, LGBTIQ and pro-LGBTIQ people move on to spread the ideas that homosexual and related orientations and behaviors are to be accepted.   People are labeled homophobic (meaning they have unreasonable fear against homosexuality) if they disagree with homosexuality.  People are called transphobic (meaning they have irrational fear against trans-sexuality) if they prejudice trans-sexuality.

“Not accepting homosexuality and/or trans-sexuality is intolerance… It is wrong and unacceptable to say that homosexuality and/or trans-sexuality are wrong and unacceptable…”

PERSUASION #3:

DON’T BE PREJUDICE AGAINST US…

LGBTIQ RIGHTS MUST BE RESPECTED…

To carry their persuasions even further, LGBTIQ and pro-LGBTIQ people often portray disagreements to LGBTIQ orientations and related behaviors as prejudicial, bigoted, closed-minded, self-righteous and oppressive.  Hence, their message is that any disapproval or unfavorable comments and actions against LGBTIQ orientations and behaviors are actually transgressions against their rights.

“Please do not bully us…  LGBTIQ people have equal rights as non-LGBTIQ people you know…  Nobody has the right to impose their contra-LGBTIQ moral standards on us…”

We can be certain that mistreatments, prejudices, oppressions, and aggressions against our LGBTIQ friends and neighbors (and as a matter of fact against any people) are unbiblical and wrong.  There is no doubt about this whatsoever!  Christians and churches need to know this well.  It is so so easy to say that LGBTIQ orientations and behaviors are wrong, and to say this in a wrong wrong way.  We need to be very careful about this.

But yet on the other hand, there will be people who will want Christians and churches to say nothing.  Such people will want to make us “keep our opinions to ourselves” by making us think that we would otherwise be imposing our morality on others…  Such people will want us not to disagree with LGBTIQ orientations and behaviors by making us think that we would otherwise be intolerant…  Such people will even want us to join in the celebration of LGBTIQ sexuality by making us think that we would otherwise be close-minded…

So how then should we engage our LGBTIQ friends and neighbors?  To be honest, there are no simple answers.  We could start by gaining a proper understanding of the matter…  We should begin to be aware of related developments in our society…  We must continue to genuinely love and respect them…

And at the same time, we need to speak the truth in love (Eph 4:15a).  Jesus’ responses to the woman caught in an adulterous act (John 8:1-11) could be a good passage for us to draw lessons from.  It is so wonderful to note that Jesus protected the sinful woman from self-righteous people who are all out to condemn her.  But yet Jesus did not close an eye to her sin.  At the opportune time, Jesus offered hope and admonished her to leave her life of sin…

IMPORTANT NOTES:

This is the fifth article (and probably the final) of a series of postings that Jason Fong has written on various issues related to the LGBTIQ matter.  The book, GOD’S GRACE AND THE HOMOSEXUAL NEXT DOOR (Harvest House Publishers) has significantly helped shaped Jason’s thoughts expressed above.  He recommends this book, which is written by Alan Chambers and the Leadership Team at EXODUS INTERNATIONAL (a ministry helping people overcome homosexuality), to people who are interested to read/study more.

If this article has helped you gain a better understanding of the LGBTIQ matter, or if you think this article will help someone else; please feel free to forward it or used it in any way that would bring glory to God.  If appropriate, please acknowledge the source when quoting this material.  Jason Fong also welcomes your thoughts and comments for mutually edifying interactions.

Please note that the views and opinions expressed in this article may not necessarily reflect those of the Christian organization Jason works in, nor the church or denomination he belongs to.

REFELECTIONS

ON BERSIH 3.0

Answering Serious Questions

I went to the BERSIH 3.0 Duduk & Bantah with 4 other people.  We parked somewhere near Kampung Atap and then walked towards Petaling Street.  Eventually the five of us (3 ladies and 2 guys) had to stop at a junction near Jalan Tun Perak, because the crowd could not proceed further.

The crowd at BERSIH 3.0 was so much bigger than BERSIH 2.0 last year.  But the composition of the people was the same… Malays, Chinese, Indians, “dan lain lain”, as well as a handful of orang putih.  There young people and older people, and some children.

There was an air of festivity at Bersih 3.0, which many people concurred in their FB postings and blogs.  Small balloons and big ones…  Yellow flowers and fanciful umbrellas…  Headgears and cartoon masks…  And a notable flock of yellow “angry birds” which were not angry at all.

By about 3pm, it appeared to us that the rally was coming to an end.  People were leaving slowly, and so my friends and I follow suit.  By about 3:15pm we will already walking pass the Traffic Police Station to get to our car.  By about 3:30pm we were sipping coconut juice at a mamak shop along Jalan Gasing.

In our group, three of us (including myself) were at BERSIH 2.0.  We are talking and comparing the two rallies.  Maybe some of us were expecting “more actions and dramas” from BERSIH 3.0.  It was about then that the twitters and FB postings came in with news about the mayhem.  Ah… we missed the actions?!

Eventually I came back home.  News about breaking through the barricades, attacking the police and overturning a police car really disturbed me.  More news and accusations over the next few days, though within my expectations, perplexed me further…

I did not know what to say about BERSIH 3.0 on FB, except to post these 4 questions:

Q1    Who or what started the violence?

Q2    Should BERSIH Organizers be held responsible?

Q3    Were there police brutality?

Q4    Will I attend BERSIH 4.0, if there will be one?

Over the next few days, I read various reports and articles.  I posted these articles on my FB.  I prayed through and I thought through.  Here are my personal convictions and answers to my own questions:

Q1    Who or what started the violence?

Maybe there were agent provocateurs planted by people from the other side.  Maybe these planted agents started the violence.  Maybe some political people within the BERSIH group had plans to provoke the police for their own personal agenda.  Maybe…  There were accusations and denials.  There will be counter-accusations and counter-denials.  The sad thing is that often we will never know the truth.

But I am quite sure that 99% of the people who were at BERSIH 3.0 had no intention to provoke and attack the police.  All we wanted were reformations in the electoral processes.

Q2    Should BERSIH Organizers be held responsible?

One of the first things BERSIH said to the newspapers was an admission that they lost control of the crowd.  They said that the dismissal was announced, but not all heard it and/or followed the instructions.

I respect BERSIH for saying the above.  To me, this is honesty and integrity.  I wish more people were like this.

Having said the above, I do not think BERSIH should be held accountable for what people did at the rally.  I was there at the rally.  I went there on my own accord.  I am not a member of BERSIH.  I have not made any application, nor signed any forms, nor paid any subscriptions.  If I had littered the streets, damaged public properties, or hurt anyone during the rally; could I pass the buck to BERSIH?!

This was a gathering of at least 80,000 people.  Literally, anything could have happened.  Had BERSIH been given the permission to use the Dataran, maybe the chaos and violence could have been avoided.  Maybe…  Just maybe…

Q3    Were there police brutality?

This is a non-question.  While protesters have been arrested, and some charged rightfully; I wonder what will happen to the policemen and FRU personnel who threatened, and kicked, and punched, and fired tear gas indiscriminately, and damaged cameras…

Q4    Will I attend BERSIH 4.0, if there will be one?

God willing, I will!!!

IMPORTANT NOTES:

If this article has blessed you, or if you think this article will bless someone; please feel free to forward it or used it in any way that would bring glory to God.  If appropriate, please acknowledge the source when quoting this material.  Jason Fong also welcomes your thoughts and comments for mutually edifying interactions.

Please note that the views and opinions expressed in this article may not necessarily reflect those of the Christian organization Jason works in, nor the church or denomination he belongs to.