The Lesbian in My Mirror

When you consider that I do not watch Larry King Live and the fact that I do not really keep up with current events as they pertain to the "Christian" music scene (or any music "news" for that matter) it is easy to understand how a scandal that broke back in April would have only today reached my ears. And that is exactly what happened today.

In the past I have broken from the expected position of throwing stones at various people on the basis of moral and behavioral situations. I have spoken out about the desperate need in America today to quit separating out particular sins, transgressions, etc. that we feel are deserving of special attention and punitive actions. Today is no different...well, mostly no different.

For the last few weeks, I have been combing through my own life, my own circumstances, my own problems. Without going into a lot of details, it is safe for me to say that I am not writing this article to announce that I am a lesbian, so if that is what you were looking for from the title, I'm sorry to disappoint you.

What happened today is that I learned of the recent announcement by Jennifer Knapp that she is involved in a long-term relationship with another woman. Knapp is known in music circles as a Christian artist, which is to say that she sings "Jesus music". For some reason, people involved in artistic endeavors that are also followers of Jesus Christ are expected to only use their art for sacred purposes while Christian plumbers, engineers, taxi drivers, bankers and salesmen are allowed to work in the secular realm - another argument for another day.

What I want to do is take my own recent time of reflection, which had nothing to do with sexuality or mainstream ideas of morality in general, as an opportunity to stand in Ms. Knapp's shoes and look at the face in the mirror and see how it feels. I have to tell you, it looks pretty frightening. I can't imagine looking to one side and seeing the smiling faces of Melissa Ethridge, Sara McLaughlin and the Indigo Girls willing to accept her in a world that she has been taught was darkness while on the other hand seeing the likes of Bob Botsford and Fred Phelps waiting with baited breath to tear her to shreds and make a name for themselves as righteous holy warriors. Who are the good guys in this scenario? Where is the safe haven, peace and love coming from?

And we see hear the arguments of what Scripture says about homosexuality but never from Luke 15. You see, the prodigal son knew he was far from home. He knew he was going to starve out there and was just willing to clean toliets for something to eat. His father didn't hurl insults at him and point out all the places where he screwed up and make up a list of punishments for him. He didn't ridicule him in public and cause a scene where everyone could see. He restored him, and reached out to the son he loved.

How is the response of the parable's representation of God the Father any different from the attitude that God holds toward Jennifer Knapp right now? Isn't understanding that the whole point of the parable?

I'm not making excuses for people and I know that there are times when people have to make judgement calls based on thier own morality and conscience. What I want to say is if Ms. Knapp's announcement makes her music less enjoyable to you, don't listen to it. Just please don't treat her like many treated Ellen DeGeneres, deriding her and even making asinine cliches out of her name. Please don't attach the name of Jesus to crude, hateful, self-righteous attempts to police morality.

If you have a problem with Jennifer....drop her a line and let her know. Something about "if your brother offends you" comes to mind...