Some Quick Thoughts on Homosexuality and Politics

Writing this as a more measured response to a Twitter exchange recently involving perceptions of homosexuality. Background briefly, two ideologically opposed politicians in the NSW upper house, one of whom is gay, Greens MLC Alex Greenwich, got involved in a spat whereby the straight chap, Mark Latham of One Nation, was described as ‘disgusting.’ In reply Mark used the same descriptor in return when graphically describing anal sex in blunt and impolite terms. So, who is more disgusting is the direct inference.

A guy perhaps gay took offence at a tweet I made encouraging Mark to stick with his beliefs. Elsewhere on Twitter I’d made the point that whilst it was done in a slightly vulgar way the essential truth remained – many men and women from socially conservative cultures do find the realities offensive. This is the reality of dealing with actual multiculturalism, it isn’t a Trojan horse construct for ruthless hedonistic Marxism served up by progressives.

I’ll quote the aggrieved party, ‘Yes people who hate homos love him even more now you are brave to put your hand up as one.’ Christians are clearly instructed by the Lord to hate sin and love the sinner. Hatred in this instance is not visceral emotion but an act of the will. Avoid it, resist it, deny and defy it, obey what is right before God. Loving the sinner is doing what is in their best possible interests in the eyes of God, not what they might want to hear. Speaking the truth in love is key. It involves tough love and has consequences for those hearing and imparting such instruction.

In a political context the leader of One Nation Pauline Hanson publicly rebuked Mark, possibly on advice from an internal gay advisor. The wish of course is to avoid wider fallout and unnecessarily ostracise the voter base.

Twitter can be a bit rough and ready, brevity the soul of wit, and isolated comments by nature perhaps perhaps not representative of people in totality. The same of course stands for conversations where people meet face to face, only knowing people in private settings over a long period of time can give us an indicator as to how typical or out of character a particular thought or means of expression was. Beyond this, only the living God knows each one of us better than even ourselves, for He has the dual advantage of complete transparency from our conception besides divine perspective of perfect wisdom, justice and grace.

On homosexuality I’m fundamentally motivated and aligned with the Word of God, Scripture, by nurture, having become a Christian as a relatively young adult. By nature I grew up in a masculine Australian culture where common epithets were almost exclusively derogatory. As kids we didn’t understand and make the connection between some of the mannerisms and behaviour in popular culture eminating from one expression of homosexuality.

Now having said that, as a young boy my best friend later as a teenager came out gay. I am not. I like very much the feminine form, but he was a mate, we shared many adventures together and this experience always tempered my views on homosexuality having known the person prior.

Years later spent poring over the Bible and receiving solid teaching in church led me to the sound conclusion that homosexuality remained sinful, but no more or less so than any other sin in Scripture. If one person is disgusted or offended by this culture that same person can be sinning in another context which equally offends God. It is difficult because no matter how hard a godly man tries the sinful nature proves very persistent and repentance is ongoing. I have known celibate men who love the Lord more than the desire to have sex with other men, and such is their Cross.

On the nature of same sex attraction, there are those who claim now it is genetic predisposition, nature not nurture. This is irrelevant to the Christian. By whatever means temptation comes he must deal with it. Some by family lines may be given to greed and theft, cowardice and duplicity, pride and spiteful judgement, and yes the whole gamut of sexual perversions. So be it. God calls us to be holy, and we have to deal with the hand we’ve been given.

Selfrighteous hypocrisy is a constant danger. A heterosexual purportedly Christian man can easily be full of overweening pride, arrogant and impatient, egotistical, aggressive, selfish the list goes on. If such a man believes his righteousness exceeds that of any queer he may be in for bitter disappointment come judgement. Yes, better by far to be neither.

Subsequently many more years later another best friend I discovered was in effect latent bisexual, and this in evangelical circles. Gay in youth before repenting and later marrying, he later had a brief relapse though thankfully the marriage survived by grace. This again tempered my views, from blokey and dismissive to more nuanced. The friendship remained solid throughout until I later had to move overseas.

On my political journey too there are those whose conservative or traditional liberal opinions and commentary I have listened to as they helped contribute to my understanding of current affairs, and they happened to be gay. A meeting of minds not outward body parts.

Back to realpolitik. How does a modern political party handle the variety of sexual expression within party members and the voting electorate they hope to represent. I would adopt a light touch laissez-faire approach, allowing a variety of views to be tolerated as truly representative of the wider demos.

Remember some politicians exist almost solely in the bubble, and if it’s a rather narrowly defined inner city socio-economic atheist culture in their electorate or party then projecting this subjective moral worldview onto the entire continent is going to be a poor fit.

I think many Marxists in particular are almost completely unaware that they have made the State their god, themselves defacto high priests of this political cult. They ignore the fact they’re only politicians for crying out loud, consistently polling at the bottom of the trust and credibility stakes.

To reinforce such beliefs in morally reflective echo chambers such as the misnomered mainstream media, academia, bureaucracy et al shores up the view there could not possibly be any other acceptable take on homosexuality other than not mere open acceptance but active branding.

Is it any wonder the significant minority maybe small majority of Australians tire of this faux forced culture, and indeed will sometimes over react by compensating for the nonstop cultural bombardment we endure. As Christians we are in a good position to model a sustainable political path forward on this issue. Genuine multiculturalism reflects not just religious but many migrant community beliefs, across inner city, suburbs, the country.

One Nation missed an opportunity here but could still recover the situation by taking the high ground surrendered by the Liberals, namely allowing a range of cultural views expression within their party, advocating small government which translates to limited input when it comes to moralising. I know this is difficult when leftist activists are more aggressive vocal resourceful and persistent. Yet, until the day comes when election outcomes here are manipulated, the secret ballot allows voters to reward or punish candidates.

One Nation’s demographic is not that of the Green progressive. Whilst staffers may come and go the enduring beliefs of many that transcend politics will quite often govern where our vote goes, do not believe the mantra that it is always the economic rationale that prevails. We want to see our political representatives fight the culture wars, even if that means merely standing our ground without retaking any, for as it stands for those who closely follow such matters, openly being a Christian is now moving into the territory of persecution in the West, the trajectory is clear.

If Pauline cannot continue growing the party to accommodate the maturity of a truly multicultural society then others will fill that demand. It is desperately needed in a genuinely representative parliament despite protestations of the truly narrow minded.