In the present atmosphere in the Church, words are thrown about to add punch
to the expression of opinions. Some words offend, either intentionally or
accidentally. We Church people have two choices available: either to intensify
our use of words so as to cause maximum injury to our opponents, or to focus
on avoiding offence, so that we can get on with the job of bridge-building.
Integrity chooses the latter course. Here are some of the words that can
offend:
bigot: A person who "obstinately holds to a belief or opinion
intolerantly of others" (OED). This word is sometimes wrongly used
to mean "someone with whom I disagree". Perhaps we can agree to:
faggot, fag, queer, dyke: These, and many other words have a long
history as put-downs. Lesbigays have retrieved some of them and made them
part of our slang, but we feel that their use is reserved, much as white
people avoid using "nigger" to describe a black person, even though
some blacks use it. See homosexual, etc.
homosexual, heterosexual: These clinical terms were devised barely
a century ago and used by psychoanalysts. They may be useful in a clinical
discussion, but many of us resent having our whole lifestyle defined by
one aspect of our lives, and prefer lesbian, gay man. We tend to
use straight to describe heterosexuals, though some object to that.
Should we discuss that?
Many scholars agree that homosexual in 1 Timothy and elsewhere is an egregious translation error and distorts the true meaning of scripture.
homophobe: It has become customary to use terms like this to describe
persons who do not support gay lifestyles, and who search the scriptures
to prove their point. The term may be appropriate in some cases; if it is
objectionable, let's discuss it.
traditionalist, revisionist: Some use these terms to describe a political
stance in the Church . These words are often used to pigeonhole people and
thereby dismiss them.
"our" church: This phrase surfaces from time to time in
such remarks as "Do we want such people (or such lifestyles) in our
church?" This kind of talk implies that the baptisms of lesbigays are
null and void, and makes the Church into a narrow club. Hear us proclaim
"Our Church, too!"
family values: This overworked phrase is used to bash lesbigays when
we propose to make our families. There are dozens of patterns of family
life in the Bible, many of them quite unacceptable in today's society (such
as polygamy). The whole concept of the family needs discussion.
healing: Some claim that homosexuality is a kind of disease which
can be "healed". We deny that our sexuality is an unhealthy state.
Sexual orientation is non-elective and not subject to change.
pederast: Gay men are frequently accused of being child-molesters.
We are tired of this libel, and expect Christians to correct it every time
it is heard.
the gay lifestyle: Some talk about this as if there were only one
lifestyle common to all lesbigay persons. This is no more valid than presuming
to describe a single "heterosexual lifestyle".
abomination: a deeply insulting term. It invites retaliation and
is a real barrier-builder.
The health of the Church has been damaged by some of the vicious attitudes
which have grown up, fuelled in part by careless use of words like those
mentioned here. We hope that overtures of bridge-building will help to heal
those hurts.
