October 26, 1999
It is beautiful weather here in Lynchburg. For the past two days we keep saying to one another, "it's a God thing" - for God is surely in control, and blessing us all.
In case you missed it, Jerry Falwell APOLOGIZED (on TWO occasions) on National TV for the hateful rhetoric in his letters, his speeches, his Web Page. He is now under fire from his members, his supporters, and other Christians for being our host and offering us a meal. He has maintained his good humor, and is not backing down from his resolve to lead conservative Christians away from speaking hatefully against sexual minorities and their supporters (i.e. - US).
It has been an easy time for the "Soulforce 200." We had an INCREDIBLE worship/gathering last night - with "Out Gospel" music, a parade of the dead ones (which, appropriately, lasted for a VERY PAINFULLY long time, and heard testimonies from: the ex-wife of a gay man (who said that we were "her people" because she has learned how to practice her faith from gays and lesbians. She has learned about love, and being faithful and about being truly God's creation from sexual minorities. (She and her husband are good friends still) This is EXACTLY how I feel - in fact, I think I'm going to ask her permission to borrow her words!), the mother of a lesbian who had killed herself because of her (the mother's) having rejected her because of her sexuality, the (now retired) Senior Baptist Chaplain of the army who is a gay man, one of the original Freedom fighters who is part of a "second revolution" – the first as a BLACK man, and now as a GAY Black man. The woman who heads the Marriage initiative in Hawaii is here. There are many transgendered ones, too - including John who used to be the bass played for "Petra" and Sara who has refused to leave Charlottesville during her transformation process. We heard stories and sang songs and wept and gave thanks and that was JUST LAST NIGHT!
Today we have been reviewing the principles of Soulforce - being reminded that the process we are about is a TRANSFORMATIVE one, and that the first one we concentrate on is OURSELVES - facing the anger and hatred we carry inside. We closed with a lesson on how to deal with (NOT how to resist) the violence of others.
Never before have the teachings of Jesus been so clear to me. We are to LOVE OUR NEIGHBORS AS OURSELVES - which is all about LOVING, not "accepting" or "dealing with" or saying "whatever." We are to LOVE OUR ENEMIES - which is about ensuring that our ENEMY is not disgraced or shamed in the process of our attempts to bring and witness to the truth. We are to TURN THE OTHER CHEEK - which is about allowing someone else's anger NOT TO OVERWHELM our love. I can understand Jesus weeping for those who hammered nails into his hands - weeping for THEM because he knew that when you commit violence against someone else, you cause damage to your own SOUL.
And then I got interviewed by NBC for the National News. "What did I think about this gathering?" "What did I think about Jerry?" And before I knew it, I was saying, "Jerry is my hero. He is my hero today, and my hero yesterday, and I pray he will be my hero tomorrow."
Within ten minutes I was thinking, "oh NO. I've just lost all kinds of friends by saying that!"
But you know, Jerry IS my hero (so is Mel White, for that matter, so are ALL the people who are here, but that wasn't the question) - because what I have seen and heard in the last two days is someone (Jerry), who has a LOT to lose speaking the truth, asking for forgiveness, and offering hospitality.
I DO pray he will be my hero tomorrow. And since this is all a GOD thing, I know that God will continue to lift up heroes all over the country.
And you know - we haven't even had dinner yet!
Tonight we get to sit down with Jerry's people. I look forward to thanking them for their hospitality and openness to others. I look forward to going to church with them in the morning. And I look forward to going home, knowing that I have been changed by being here.
Its not that my zeal for welcoming sexual minorities in the church has lessened - far from it! But I have seen and felt and learned in a powerful way that the love of God is stronger than ANY cause. Love is just love - and always wins in the end.
Blessings and love,
(Pastor) Daphne