Correcting God's Mistakes--A Sinful Pursuit

By Peter L. DeGroote

A number of years ago I was in a congregational discussion of recondition that included people from the Transforming congregation movement. They are convinced that LGBT folks can be transformed through the power of religion. Curious about how they could be so sure, I asked how they measured their success.

One has to understand that the transformational groups are largely concerned with gay men; they seem little concerned with those represented in the LBT portion of the acronym. That focus reveals their sexism, which is expressed in their definition. The measure of success is the accomplishment of a physically intimate relationship between a gay man and a woman.

That measure fails any test of reliability. The mechanics of sexual performance can be accomplished for purposes far removed from personal fulfillment or the pursuit of healthy relationships. Of particular importance, the measure ignores the woman’s views of the encounter, particularly her view of the thoughts or fantasies that may be necessary for the gay man to “prove himself.”  The woman is reduced to a mere functionary, the means by which a gay man can prove that he measures up to a peculiar definition of what it means to be a “real man.”

Such a standard reverses most religious thinking about relationships; that is, they best begin with the development of intimacy in other areas, physical intimacy being an outgrowth of an already developed relationship. That wisdom is frequently ignored but the consequences are minor compared to the urging of sexual intimacy with a woman simply to prove you are not gay.

Underneath this peculiar measure of success is an even more peculiar notion that LGBT folks are an incomplete act of creation, a mistake by God. Consequently, someone must step in and correct God’s error, for God certainly did not intend such a thing to happen. The arrogance of that notion is overwhelming.

It is not only arrogant, however; the notion is sinful. Jesus’ prime directive requires that we seek to live in harmony with God and God’s creation. We fail to honor and respect (love) God’s creation when we try to correct those parts we find inconvenient. Loving God involves honoring and respecting God’s creation.

Also, the transforming group’s measure of success is sinful. In the first place, it is sinful because it teaches a person to deny his own creation, to deny the creation that God has given him/her. Secondly, the measure is sinful because it transforms the value of women by placing them in a perverse situation that debases and dishonors their sacred worth.