Caught in between: 377A and why it needs to go

It’s Pride month, and again, the people are mobilised, as usual, to sign that annual petition to stop Pink Dot from happening. This obviously caught the attention of some Christians and have circulated within social circles.

Before anyone thinks that I am taking a weak stance on this issue, 2nd paragraph in, I am going to make my stand: it is my belief that homosexuality is a sin not compatible with the life that God has designed for us.

What is fundamentally wrong with Pink Dot? Honestly, I can find none. In fact, their message of hope and belief that ALL individuals should have the freedom to love is a message that is difficult to argue against. What prompted me to write this article (or at least revisit it, as I have typed this in 2018, but found no reason to post it) is this ongoing petition that is asking for signatures to ‘Keep Pinkdot protest out of homes and workplaces’. What’s the point of this petition anyway? There are so many things that are fundamentally wrong about this petition, of which, the entire premise and conclusion is one of them and the fact that it is not even a ‘protest’ is another.

Yet, each year, as a Christian, I am saddened by the number of requests to sign a petition that seeks to destabilise the Pink Dot movement. Sure it is not compatible with the teachings of the Bible and our belief of how God constricted and designed mankind. But there are many other things that are not compatible but Christians choose to close both eyes, like maybe pride, hate and envy?

What I can pinpoint is the problem is the inherent envy that Christians might have against the work that Pink Dot is doing. Think about this for a moment. Pink Dot managed to garner so much support over the years of its existence. If only Christians were that effective for the Kingdom of God. One of the biggest talking point when people are asked to defend their stance on shutting down Pink Dot, is that the movement is spreading very quickly. But if our light shines brightest, what do we need to worry about the light that others are shining?

Because deep down we know that we, the church, are flawed. We do not have a coherent stand or reason for why Pink Dot should not exist. We know that we ourselves are sinners trying to throw the first stone at another. We are but hypocrites trying to make the loudest noise, to distract ourselves from our own sin by pointing to others.

Church, let us not view one sin greater than another or look at other’s sin but fail to see the sin-stained life we have been living. The church exists not so much for the people in the walls of the church, but more so for those outside of it. Lest we become the pharisees of our time, “Love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind.” this is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: “Love your neighbour as yourself” All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. (Matthew 22:37-40) We are the ones attempting to cast the first stone, when we are not even blameless.

As with many discussions about Pink Dot, 377A is always brought up. Again, Pink Dot and the church will be standing, of course, on opposite sides of the argument. Every so often, someone from the side of the church will walk across the aisle in support of LGBTQ because of the realisation of the hypocrisy as mentioned earlier. But don’t get me wrong, crossing the aisle does not mean you reject your core Christian beliefs and embrace sin, as what some church leaders may want you to believe. Walking across just means that you choose not to be the one to cast the stone, because admit it, we are all fallen.

I stepped across the aisle, and I can’t pinpoint an exact event that triggered it, but the constant hypocrisy to share petitions probably would fall under one of the reasons, the other, probably “wear white”. When we are in the comfort of our worship hall wearing white, know that there is a group of people who chose to brave the elements, dressed in Pink for a cause that they believe in. But I digress, back to 377A.

What effect will 377A have on our society? Currently, 377A is legitimising discrimination based on sexual preferences. While some may claim that it has even further reaching impact, I would like to point out just one. 377A has kept the topic of LGBTQ out of our schools. Some think that that’s a good idea, but the next logical place to seek for answers is online, which I think the church can admit, is probably not a place we want them to be seeking answers for something as important as this. There is no safe environment for such conversations to take place, not even in schools for older students. And no, the church has not proven itself to be a safe place for these kind of conversations, not with “wear white” or signing whatever petition there is.

If the church does not want to change to be that safe space for all and is still blocking access to these conversations in other safe spaces, then we are just selfish. I think we have no right to claim any ground on this matter. Here’s what many are led to believe when 377A is repealed, 

1. there will be sexual immorality. False. It is already happening.
2. we will have more and more people identifying as LGBTQ. False. That’s just not how anything works. More coming outs, maybe.
3. transgender individuals can switch to whatever gender that they prefer and benefit from it. False. 377A has nothing to do with trans rights.
4. LGBTQ people will then ask for more rights. True. But these are rights that we have deprived them to begin with. Yet false, because they are not asking for more rights, just equal rights.
5. next, they will ask for rights to engage in sexual relations with animals or children. Stop, just stop. Now you sound like a lunatic!

We can disagree with the way others lead their lives. But we don’t need to be a dick about it. When people are expressing their own way of showing love in their own homes, just so that they can be seen and heard, the last thing we should do is to block it and not listen. Jesus listened to all who seek to speak and be heard, then, he taught. Let them express what they need to express. If Jesus showed love by being with the poor in spirit, I suggest we, as Christians, stop placing ourselves on that moral high ground, get down and start working for the Kingdom of God.

We have been given the mandate to share Christ’s love with those we cross path with, even those who are LGBTQ, pro-LGBTQ or simply those who support to repeal 377A. I am for repealing 377A, not just because of equal rights. My core reason is that the weakness of the church is in full display in our “battle” against Pink Dot. The church in Singapore needs to stop throwing support behind events like “wear white” or “praying over Hong Lim” or that stupid petition that circulates every year amongst church group WhatsApp chats. If our unity and influence as a church is only as far reaching as a reactionary response to Pink Dot, then, honestly, we are fighting a losing “battle”.

For a start, the church can only claim to be a place that is safe, if we choose to stand against the very law that is keeping our LGBTQ friends unsafe. I do not need to light up my house in pink for you to know that I stand with my LGBTQ friends, neither do I need to stand behind the same law that the church stands behind to show my allegiance to Christ.