My Heroic Announcement

All the talk in the sports world today is about Jason Collins, a professional basketball player, who publicly announced that he is gay. This is a big deal for pro athletes, men who many would cite as the epitome of the macho, lady-killer persona. And no, macho and gay are not mutually exclusive terms. However, this isn’t the point I’d like to make. What I want to do, is take issue with the notion that Mr. Collins is somehow a hero for stating in public what he is in his heart, a gay man.

Here’s a bold statement: I believe that in our society, it’s no great feat of heroism to acknowledge that you’re gay. In fact, I can’t think of anything that will be more likely to elicit rounds of applause and atta-boys from the world at large. Furthermore, to state that you’re heterosexual in the same manner gets you labeled as a bigot for somehow suggesting that heterosexuality is the proper, God-ordained orientation.

In fact, in the wake of Mr. Collins’ announcement, many have had the temerity to assert their belief that, as a Christian, Muslim, or Jew, they cannot approve or condone of Mr. Collins’ life-style. Those people, in the media I’ve sampled, have been roundly castigated as narrow-minded, unenlightened, religious zealots.

Speaking as a Christian—or at least someone who strives to be a Christian while failing mightily over and over—I must agree that homosexuality is not something I understand as God’s will for men and women. Our society tells us that our thinking must evolve so that we can call what is objectively disordered as good. Rather than getting in an argument over theology, let me just state my position on the subject:

Over the course of time, I have had three gay roommates. Each of them were lovely people, who I liked very much and still do. They were men struggling to understand themselves, their relationships with other men, and with God. Let me also add the trite-but-true statement that I have several gay friends and acquaintances. I am not ashamed to call them friends, nor do I feel ill at ease when I meet gay couples. It is not for me to judge the condition of their hearts. It is enough for me to rigorously denounce my own heart for its many treasons against the God who created me.

Therefore, I hereby announce that I do not believe homosexuality is what God wants for men and women, because as a Christian, I believe God wants the very best for us. If a man or woman, who through genetics, psychological adaptations, trauma, or other factors find themselves attracted to the same sex, I can only wish them safety and peace as they try to find God’s perfect will for their lives. I know for a certainty that God loves them very much and wants their ultimate happiness.