Thanks to the private prodding of faithful readers, I decided to “preach to the choir” and respond to Cynthia Tucker’s column, “Blacks flee gays, can’t flee AIDS.”
A woman of Cynthia Tucker’s age and professional status should be ashamed. While immorality has had an especially high toll on the black community, liberals like Tucker not only promote the behavior but dare to blame its consequences on “homophobia,” a buzz word that doesn’t intimidate me in the least.
She states that black people’s opposition to the homosexual lifestyle contributes to the rise of HIV in the black community. “Gay bashing” is so prevalent that black homosexuals don’t form support groups and seek “safe sex” education, opting to hide their behavior for fear of condemnation. Implicit in her statement is that if we would accept homosexual behavior, the rates of HIV in the black community would drop.
So regardless of indiscriminate, high-risk sexual behavior, drug use and the like, all roads lead to homophobia, which leads to HIV. Where is the causal connection? How does Tucker go about proving her premise? Well, she doesn’t. She just makes assertions and offers no argument.
Of course, she never intended to support her assertion. Tucker’s intent was to stir up ire (It worked on me!). Her reasoning is as disingenuous as it is willfully ignorant.
Will my responding to Tucker do her or her readers any good? I don’t know the will of God, but I do know that His word will not return to Him void. It will accomplish His purpose, whatever that may be. Isaiah 55:11
In Tucker’s world, the only morality that exists is this: Even if people engage in behavior that is contrary to your religious beliefs, you must accept it or at the very least, keep your mouth shut. If you speak out against the behavior, you’re a homophobe. As a result, your bigotry is responsible for the deaths of millions.
By the same reasoning, Christians should be able to engage in behavior (sharing the Gospel and recognizing moral absolutes) that is contrary to the religious beliefs of people like Tucker (moral relativism), and she must accept it or at the very least, keep her mouth shut. If she speaks out against the behavior, she’s a “Christophobe” and responsible for the deaths of millions of martyrs. Would she buy that?
Tucker fails to recognize the main reason for “down low” behavior. Plain old human sin! People hide sin because they know what they’re doing is wrong. “For everyone practicing evil hates the light, and does not come to the light lest his deeds should be exposed.” John. 3:20
Is Tucker unfamiliar with such Bible passages? She herself provides us with an answer in one of her recent columns:
For many religious conservatives, the issue is simple enough: Leviticus condemns homosexuality as an “abomination.” But the guiding legal document of a pluralistic nation has no business recognizing one religious view over any other. Some denominations — including my own, the United Church of Christ — have no prohibition against same-sex marriages. (A literal reading of the Bible, by the way, poses many a conundrum. Leviticus also orders capital punishment for homosexuals and adulterers.)
That clears it up a little. Tucker, who implies she’s a Christian, appears not to know that the New Testament also condemns homosexuality. For her edification, she should also read Romans 1:18-31, 1 Corinthians 6:9, 1 Timothy 1: 10; and 2 Timothy 3:3. I’d also recommend Galatians, where the Apostle Paul clears up confusion about the Mosaic law and grace through Jesus Christ:
What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one. Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not!
For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. Galatians 3:19-25
In fact, I suggest she read the entire Bible. Christians believe that Scripture is God-breathed. It is how He has revealed Himself to us. If He says homosexuality is wrong, we believe it.
But Tucker believes that accepting aberrant behavior is good because it makes the perpetrator feel accepted. If man’s chief purpose was to make other men feel accepted, her point would be valid. But man’s chief purpose is to glorify the Father in heaven and enjoy His goodness forever.
The Old and New Testaments clearly condemn sin, be it homosexual behavior, lust, lying, cheating and stealing. Anyone who continues to engage in such behavior will have to face God’s judgment.
Now for the Good News. God has made a way for us to escape His righteous wrath. He sent His Son Jesus the Christ to pay the penalty of sin for those who believe on Him. Through His grace and mercy, He offers forgiveness, love and hope.
For all who have not turned away from their sins and committed themselves to obeying God, the consequences will be harsh. To Tucker or anyone who refuses to believe that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant and infallible word of God, biblical arguments aren’t persuasive.
It goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway: Tucker’s premise is invalid and her conclusion is false.
