Genesis 19:8-36
Let's talk now about other elements that may have led to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Isaiah 1:10-20 talks about the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah beginning with unacceptable sacrifices to the Lord, "trampling" God's courts; and a harsh warning that "incense is an abomination to [God]." It continues with a charge to "cease to do evil, learn to do good, seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, and plead for the widow. Jeremiah 23:13, 14 speaks of idol worship, adultery and lies, that they "strengthen the hands of evildoers and no one turns from wickedness." Ezekiel 16:48-50 tells us the people of Sodom and her sister cities "had pride," lived in "excess" and with "prosperous ease but did not aid the poor and the needy." With all of this, why then do we continue to accept the notion that Genesis 19 is God's "divine punishment" for homosexuality? Because it is a way for members of an oppressed group, African Americans, women, the poor, etc., to claim an identified "difference" that affords them at least one level of privilege over and against another identified lower standard. Uh oh - what's that I hear off in the distance? Someone crying out, "I may be black - I may be a woman - I may even be poor, but at least I'm not gay!" Wow... Really?
What is the benefit? With the media's obsessive coverage of the "Tea baggers" and their underlying racist motivation brought to light with the shouting of racial epithets and spitting on and at civil rights leaders who are now members of Congress, it is clear that those who have bought into this "lie" have gained very little. They still hate you! Your participation in the oppression of a lesser protected group has not gained you any ground in the dominant group's acceptance of you - and though it saddens me to say, but this is the true cause of God's judgment of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.
As a young woman growing up, I often asked myself, "If I had lived during the time of chattel slavery, reconstruction or the civil rights movement, what would I have done?" Would I have assimilated? Would I have accommodated the dominant culture or would I have taken a stand? I don't know what I would have done then, but I do know that "Just for such a time as this," I have been called into a particular purpose that demands my obedience to "Set the captives free."
© Dorinda G. Henry, 2010
THEOLOGIA HABITUS EST!
Let's talk now about other elements that may have led to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Isaiah 1:10-20 talks about the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah beginning with unacceptable sacrifices to the Lord, "trampling" God's courts; and a harsh warning that "incense is an abomination to [God]." It continues with a charge to "cease to do evil, learn to do good, seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, and plead for the widow. Jeremiah 23:13, 14 speaks of idol worship, adultery and lies, that they "strengthen the hands of evildoers and no one turns from wickedness." Ezekiel 16:48-50 tells us the people of Sodom and her sister cities "had pride," lived in "excess" and with "prosperous ease but did not aid the poor and the needy." With all of this, why then do we continue to accept the notion that Genesis 19 is God's "divine punishment" for homosexuality? Because it is a way for members of an oppressed group, African Americans, women, the poor, etc., to claim an identified "difference" that affords them at least one level of privilege over and against another identified lower standard. Uh oh - what's that I hear off in the distance? Someone crying out, "I may be black - I may be a woman - I may even be poor, but at least I'm not gay!" Wow... Really?
What is the benefit? With the media's obsessive coverage of the "Tea baggers" and their underlying racist motivation brought to light with the shouting of racial epithets and spitting on and at civil rights leaders who are now members of Congress, it is clear that those who have bought into this "lie" have gained very little. They still hate you! Your participation in the oppression of a lesser protected group has not gained you any ground in the dominant group's acceptance of you - and though it saddens me to say, but this is the true cause of God's judgment of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.
As a young woman growing up, I often asked myself, "If I had lived during the time of chattel slavery, reconstruction or the civil rights movement, what would I have done?" Would I have assimilated? Would I have accommodated the dominant culture or would I have taken a stand? I don't know what I would have done then, but I do know that "Just for such a time as this," I have been called into a particular purpose that demands my obedience to "Set the captives free."
© Dorinda G. Henry, 2010
THEOLOGIA HABITUS EST!
Good God Almighty! There are so many references to what the people were not doing, were they doing anything right! Oppression comes in so many forms that we often times are participating without knowing. Then sometimes we are participating while knowing (sexually). We either accept standards taught to us or created by ourselves, with the lack of flexibility to change. So while we are shouting about the oppression brought upon us, we do nothing to stop the oppression we do to ourselves. Please, please, please, Rev. Henry, keep sending us the messages, that make us reflect not on what others can do for us, but what we really need to do for others as well as ourselves. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, we must stop participating in our own oppression!
ReplyDelete