In the wake of Newsweek’s forthright article acknowledging the Bible’s conflicting and evolving definitions of marriage, here are more examples of prooftexting and cherry-picking of Bible verses by three ex-gay activists:

Randy Thomas, vice president of Exodus International, responded saying the musical showed a “sincere misunderstanding of Scripture.”

Tim Wilkins, a former homosexual who heads Cross Ministry, argued that gay marriage supporters “are doing the very thing they accuse Christians of.”

“They focus on Leviticus and ignore New Testament passages that forbid homosexuality. WHY? Because Leviticus provides easier arguments with its prohibitions against certain foods.”

SBC’s [Bob] Stith also denounced Hollywood’s attempt to make biblical arguments. “Anyone who cares to spend thirty minutes of serious study would see the many flaws in Black’ argument,” he said.

Clearing up some of the confusion, Stith called it a “factual error” to claim that Scripture nowhere says homosexuals are an abomination.

Thomas presumes to possess the sole correct understanding of the Bible. Both he and Wilkins fail to cite any actual Bible verses. Meanwhile, Stith cherry-picks verses that seem to smear same-sex-attracted persons while he ignores neighboring verses that condemn Stith’s chosen lifestyle.

Source: Christian Post, Dec. 9

Newsweek’s Dec. 15 cover story about the Bible and marriage offered readers:

• a comprehensive overview of the Bible’s various conflicting definitions of marriage,
• an observation that Ozzie-and-Harriet couples are absent from the Bible,
• a recognition of evolving Jewish and Christian history and traditions regarding marriage

Religious-rightists have invested decades of effort into cherry-picking a handful of Bible verses, in order to redefine church-goers’ perception of “Biblical” marriage. In the new fundamentalist world order, divorce and serial remarriage are taken for granted. Meanwhile, fundamentalists have effectively suppressed public discussion of Bible verses that forbid divorce, mandate celibacy and non-marriage among Christian men, accept polygamy, and allow husbands — under certain circumstances — to commit honor killings or sell wives and children into slavery.

On Dec. 10 — showing no sign that it had read the Newsweek article — Exodus released a statement that falsely accused Newsweek of “abandoning the truth of the Bible” and “maligning and manipulating Scripture.” Exodus president Alan Chambers falsely described himself as a “former homosexual” and falsely described the Bible’s “teaching” (singular, sic) on sexuality and relationships as one of “freedom.”

Exodus says Newsweek does a disservice “to those looking for spiritual and intellectual honesty.” Despite its claim to defend the Bible, Exodus fails to cite a single Bible verse.

Exodus leaves the impression that it believes readers would be better-served with cherry-picked Bible verses which excuse a social-conservative lifestyle of sex-orientation dishonesty, feigned abstinence, unsafe premarital sex, unwed pregnancy, shotgun marriage, divorce, remarriage, and rigid Protestant rules for husband and wife which disrespect both tradition and individuals’ skills and personalities.

For more information:
Politico.com: Newsweek draws fire on gay marriage

The U.S. radio airwaves are government property, owned by the taxpayers and licensed to private entities on the condition that broadcasts will somehow serve the public interest.

Since 1987, protection of taxpayer property has been eroded by reactionary and politically partisan interests who have steadily bought up licenses with the intention of denying access to the public airwaves to an honest, equitable, and balanced cross-section of the American public.

With the demise of the Fairness Doctrine in 1987, and protections against defamatory personal attacks in 2000, media conglomerates have filled the publicly owned airwaves with ethnic, religious, and sexual slurs from divisive, profane, and sometimes anti-Semitic egotists like Howard Stern, Michael Savage, and Rush Limbaugh.

Focus on the Family now defends this cesspool of indecency — fearful that President-elect Barack Obama and a new Congress will restore regulations requiring that the taxpayers’ airwaves be used fairly and not abused by potty-mouths.

Queers United reported earlier this week that talk-show host Tyra Banks has invited ex-gays to appear on her show.

“I WANT TO BE AN EX-GAY”

Are you a gay man or lesbian who wants to be straight? Do your friends or family disagree with your gay lifestyle and wish you were straight? If you ever wish you could erase your same-sex attractions and not be gay?”

The failure of the show to invite survivors of ex-gay programs is a bit disappointing: It’s a sign not only of sloppy talk-show producers, but also of the failure of ex-gay activists (thus far) to share the public spotlight with the individuals and families who have been harmed by their quack cures.

Former ex-gays need not settle for exclusion: They can use the Tyra Bank Show’s contact form to sign up to appear on-air with the ex-gays.

How about it, survivors? If you’re feeling grounded, self-confident, articulate, and willing to face some media, consider making a difference: Share your experiences, and help protect others from prejudice, family turmoil, and years of ineffective and expensive “therapy.”

Focus on the Family sent a “Special Alert” to supporters this afternoon:

Dr. Dobson to Appear on Glenn Beck Tonight

Dr. James Dobson is scheduled to discuss California’s marriage amendment tonight on the Glenn Beck Show at 7 ET (4 PT). It airs on CNN Headline News. Check your local listings to learn when the program will re-air.

Please be in prayer for Dr. Dobson, as he takes this responsibility very seriously. And please tune in tonight.

I suggest a different approach than simply watching (and obeying) Dobson:

Please write polite letters to Glenn Beck’s radio and TV shows.

Describe, from your own experiences and objective examples, how Dobson’s propaganda has promoted doomed ex-gay marriages, discouraged healthy and lifelong gay relationships, advocated the denial of equal access to public facilities and services, and prevented brave and well-qualified men and women from serving in the armed forces.

Perhaps most important: Politely tell Mr. Beck how Dobson’s ex-gay conferences and antigay lobbying have fueled misunderstanding and division among your own families and friends. Ask Mr. Beck to invite ex-gay survivors, medical professionals, and researchers onto Beck’s program to offer the audience a look at the consequences of James Dobson’s war against families and science.

An article published last week by the Christian New Man Magazine claims to interview Exodus president Alan Chambers, but a careful reading suggests that the questions could easily have been written by Chambers or his handlers.

The answers are boilerplate ex-gay rhetoric; what makes the interview interesting is the narrowmindedness and political correctness of the questions. (Read More)