Law Reform: Homosexuality (2) - Former Methodist bishop calls for greater respect for homosexuals in Singapore

This article was reported today in AsiaOne.com.sg (you can follow the link above). Essentially its about a former bishop of the Methodist church, Rev Dr Yap Kim Hao, calling for greater understanding, respect and tolerance towards the gay community in Singapore (but of course implicitly to apply generally too). It also reports of a recent dialogue on homosexuality and the church organized by the gay social outreach arm of the non-denominational Free Community Church. It was attended by more than 350 people, including representatives from the major denominations as well as members of the public. It is believed to be the first such dialogue between the church and the gay community.

Although it would certainly be dismissed by members of the fundamental community (and maybe even by other less strict Christian groups as being liberal or even disgusting) and I’m sure that some people would be horrified to read what I’m about to say, but here goes: I do think that it takes courage and maturity to make some of the comments and take the position contained in the report.

Now, before you jump the gun and think I’m a ‘flaming liberal’ or something, let me explain my point.

This dialogue is not to be taken as approval of homosexuality (it would be great folly to interpret it as such) and (from what I understand from his comments in the report) Rev Dr Yap is not calling for Christians to embrace homosexuality as a viable ‘alternative’ lifestyle. In fact, he explicitly said that he doesn’t agree with homosexuality (presumably meaning that he doesn’t agree that it a legitimate alternative lifestyle etc). What he’s appealing for is simply that we behave like Christians!

Here are some of his comments:

"We know that the differences will exist, we only ... plead for mutual respect and not for condemnation"

"Even though we disagree, we need to respect the humanity"

Tan Kim Huat, dean of studies at Singapore's Trinity Theological College added:
"At the end of the day, we need to know that there is a human face to all this and then we learn to adapt our strategy differently"

Bottomline: We will never be able to reach out to this section of the community unless and until we are prepared to respect them. Not approve, respect - treat them like human beings.

This is feel is one of the biggest problems with Christianity today. We have become the modern equivalent of the Pharisees of old. We use our status as God’s children as a licence to condemn. This is why we will never make an impact in our communities (well, not a positive one at least!).

I remember recently speaking to a church-mate about a related issue - transsexuals. The very mention of the idea elicited a uncomfortable and disgusted look on her face. How is such a person going to respond to one in front of them? What do you think would happen if a transsexual were to receive such a response? Do you think he/she (I use “he/she” not in any way as a suggestion that their gender is indeterminate but rather as “former-male” = “she” and vice versa) will notice it be notice the response? How would he feel? How is this church-mate (or any others like her) going to ever reach out to people like this? How will they be able to convincingly communicate the fact that God loves them and desires a relationship with them?

And it must be borne in mind that one cannot just brush it off as someone else’ responsibility, or worse still, that they are not worthy of God’s love (you can imagine the implications of such a suggestion - its utterly disgusting, not to mention morally reprehensible!).

So what then?

Accept them. Love them. Respect them (even if you don’t agree).

The point is that we can have coffee with them, eat with them, socialize with them. We’re all human beings! In fact, the measure of your dedication to God can be seen in the way you interact with the people around (and this includes homosexuals and transsexuals alike).

This brings me to another related point (and one of particular interest to me). The law.

With reference to MM Lee’s recent comments on homosexuality (including liberalizing the current laws), citizen Jonathan Cheng wrote to the Straits Times Forum pages with the following comment: "Homosexuals lead a promiscuous and hedonistic lifestyle. What else can you expect when you do not have children to live for or be in a loving and committed relationship?"

I’m sure that many Christians are echoing the same sentiments. They want to protect their children from the ‘lie’ that homosexuality is a viable alternative lifestyle. According to their beliefs, it’s a gross sin.

But I would agree with MM Lee’s comments that the government is not meant to be the moral police. Furthermore, I would add that Christians should not expect pre-believers to live by biblical moral law (or even think that its possible).

Admittedly the government has to uphold some sort of morality with the country, but this is only a minimum standard. In other words, if one is to consider the fact that there are so many possible and even conflicting moral standards available, which one is the government (or any government) meant to impose and enforce? Furthermore, according to principles of democracy (as I understand them) the government is supposed to rule on behalf of the people - to represent them. This necessarily means that if there were to impose any form of morality, it would have to be consistent with that of the people (and since we cannot possibly come to a unanimous agreement on this) it translates to imposing and enforcing only the basic ‘common ground’ areas. This is precisely what they are doing on the homosexuality issue - they are not promoting it as an alternative lifestyle, they are merely (considering) decriminalizing it.

The next issue which I think many of these people do not realize is that everyone has the ability (and perhaps even a responsibility) to choose. Everyone, whether gay or otherwise, has to choose (I guess here is where I expose my beliefs - I do not agree that homosexuality has a naturally occurring or genetic source - it is a choice). And whether there is a law criminalizing it or not -gays have always and will always continue to exist. This also means that irrespective of whether the government continues to maintain such laws, your children can choose to be gay (to those who didn’t realize this, I’m sorry). In addition, even if the removal of such law is viewed to ‘aid’ the spread of ‘homosexual propaganda’ and/or ‘recruitment drives’, I think that the Internet and countries in the West do a more effective job through the media and movie etc (which in case you’re unaware, we have had access to for a very long time).

Bottomline is this: Gay people have always been around in Singapore and they will continue to stay. Decriminalizing homosexuality only means that they will not suffer persecution from the law. We as Christians (and as people) should respect them as human beings. And rather than ‘bitching’ about the law, if you believe that gay people are living in sin, get out there and do something worthwhile… Reach out to them!