We sometimes use the Bible to our advantage when it can be a disadvantage
Terrance O. Gilbert PVAMU Alumnus, Freelance Journalist
In response to Otis Clayborne’s editorial that appeared, in the October 26th issue of The Panther, I wanted to offer more of a personal backed by professional opinion.
Everyone is entitle to believe what they want to believe, live how they want, and worship who they want, for it is a right afforded to us by being citizens of the United States and America, and in my opinion a God-given right.
It’s amazing how we (the African-American race) can magically use the bible to be the sole research for whatever topic we are arguing. Mr. Clayborne, you cited the same old typical scriptures, that all of straight society always quotes at the GLBT community. Leviticus 18 (man shall not lie with man), well this is my first argument I have laid with a few men in my 5 years of being openly gay with myself, family, and friends, I have never laid with a man a woman, but yet as another man my equal, for if I wanted to lay with a man as a woman I would get a woman. For you must be very careful because each scripture you use can be distorted for the fact of making the person challenging you look good.
While you were reading into your Bible so in depth did you happen to look over a few more of my scriptures that society often conveniently ignores, hmmm let’s see; Leviticus 19:27 You shall not shave around the sides of your head, nor shall you disfigure the edges of your beard. 28 You shall not make and cuttings in your flesh for the dead nor tattoo any marks on you. I am the Lord. For the most part we all get nice tapers, even cuts, and fades, so is this greater than homosexuality? What percent of the student body have some type of tattoo or piercing on their bodies, or was it only the class of 2002 that came to PVAMU and many of us made the infamous trips to Houston in the middle of the night for tatts and tongue rings both gat and straight?
It is the same Bible that was used by slave owners to justify the oppression of black slaves. So where do we as a people draw the line, do we simply just pick and choose what gets us into heaven and what does not? It is sad that so many of my peers preach what they want to instead of try to unite and find common ground when it comes to understanding the Source.
I often wonder when I read articles and editorials like the Mr. Claybornes’ I just have to remember that like many of my other peers it’s just a repeat of homophobic rhetoric recited by their pastors, and parents. It seems that anyone who challenges the rhetoric or the word must be a non-believer of a devil. The truth is when it comes to many topics and issues in the Bible, people often quote scriptures they like or is fitting for the situation, often without any knowledge of the real facts.
I am an openly gay homosexual black man living in Texas of all places, and life has not been a walk in the park. It is wrong immorally for me to love another man, yet it is okay for out community leaders, pastors, political figures, and parents to lie, cheat and steal. If no one else has said it I have. We can focus time and energy on slamming the gay community with irrelevant issues and use the Bible in pitiful attempts to justify ignorance. Walk around PVAMU and I promise you will find many more things along with homosexuality that indeed the Bible condemns.
In conclusion Jesus never discusses homosexuality anywhere in the Bible. I am a true believer in the word, and I have my own personal relationship with GOD, and I am on my own journey to a heaven that I truly believe exist. I just like everyone else was created out of sin, and I am not perfect, but at the end of the day when it is all said and done for Terrance Omar` Gilbert, God himself will have the last word. We must fist all learn to love each other as brothers and sisters.
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