For the Bible Tells Me So documentary is subversive

As you may know if you’ve read my post from four years ago “Subversive” Saved!? I get annoyed when people use the word subversive inappropriately.

Well, I just saw a movie called For the Bible Tells Me So, and I have to say it’s pretty subversive. Unlike Jesus Camp and Hell House, this film doesn’t have as its primary purpose the making fun of “those crazy Christians.” In fact, rather than seeking to appease anti-Christian non-Christians, For the Bible Tells Me So seeks mainly to educate Christians about Biblical interpretation and the theological dangers of selective literalism.

And where it doesn’t get you on an intellectual level, it also presents the real humanity of the situation: even if you do want to be anti-gay as a Christian, how can your heart not cry out for people with gay children having rocks being thrown in the windows of their houses? How can you not feel compassion for gay people being beaten to death?

But, apart from one badly written and juvenile animated segment, the film really is quite educational and should be a must-see for any Christian who is anti-gay. I can’t guarantee you’ll change your theological views on sexuality after seeing this movie. You should still see it, though. It’s great exercise for the mind and the heart.

3 comments

  1. So when you use the term, anti-gay, do you mean the individual, the person, or do you mean the behaviour? Must I say that sexual relationships outside of a heterosexual married relationship is a wonderful thing, in order to treat the person, the individual with respect?

    I’ve worked as a counsellor for thousands and thousands and tens of thousands of hours and I have to say that virtually every person that I saw, came for help because of some self-destructive or unhelpful pattern of thinking or behaving. It wasn’t necessary for me to approve of their behaviours in order to treat them with respect. Yet, it seems as though that is the expectation of some people when it comes to the issue of homosexuality.

    For what it’s worth, I’ve worked with numerous people who were in same sex relationships and I challenge anyone who find a single one of those people who thought that I didn’t accept them because of what I believe to be a relational disorder. Virtually all of these people knew my postion on homosexuality but understood that I could help them without judging them. In fact if they weren’t seeing me for something directly related to their orientation, we would only work and relationship issues. I’m starting to ramble on so I’ll go but sometimes I get a little frustrated with people thinking that one has to accept the sin in order to love the sinner. Jesus didn’t do it with me and I don’t need to do it with others.

  2. While I appreciate the “Love the sinner, hate the sin” approach, I rarely see it actually enacted when it comes to gays and lesbians. If you truly practice what you preach, good for you. I used to think very similarly to you. You can read my blog post about it from six years ago.

    This film really does go beyond just an emotional appeal, though. It talks theology, too, and makes some good points. Whether it changes your mind or not, it’s still worth a watch.

  3. You have a great site, ubuntucat, and though I don’t agree always with your viewpoints, your essays are well-written. Now onto the topic!

    >While I appreciate the “Love the sinner, hate the sin” approach, I rarely see it actually enacted when it comes to gays and lesbians.

    Yes, as one who favors this method, I would agree with that. C. S. Lewis talked about errors coming in pairs. I think this is an example of that, with some people hating the sinner and the sin and others loving both.

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