Back to writings

One of the Soulforce vows is "I believe that my adversary is not my enemy, but a victim of misinformation as I have been."

To be sure, this is a difficult statement to say aloud - let alone try to live by. Probably every person who has studied nonviolence and has considered the vow has, at one time or another, wondered about his or her own naivete.

Once, while standing across the street from Fred Phelps and his gang in New Orleans and watching a little girl fidget with her brightly colored "God Hates Fags" sign as her mother stood nearby waving an equally spiritually violent sign, I wondered about the terms "adversary" and "enemy." Fred a victim? The only victims I could clearly see were GLBT people and this little girl and her older brother. I have come to believe, however, that the answer is yes. The people who spread anti-gay rhetoric are victims of misinformation… as I have been.

For me, the part "as I have been" has real significance. It is to my shame that I admit racism by laughing at "black" jokes and homophobia by telling gay jokes during my high school years. There is probably a list of reasons for my past behavior, not the least of which is insecurity. However, the idea of being a victim of misinformation is powerfully true. I was misinformed about God's radical love. I was misinformed about the human family. I was misinformed about such concepts as justice, peace, and equality.

So now, when I see people who spread false teachings concerning GLBT people, I see them as an adversary to justice, a victim of misinformation - but not an enemy. Untruth is my real enemy. It is untruth that holds my adversary in bondage.

Soulforce is gearing up for the national action in Lynchburg, Virginia. As many of us know, Rev. Jerry Falwell is a primary source of misinformation about homosexual people and homosexuality. He and the people of Thomas Road Baptist Church are carrying the yoke of untruth concerning GLBT people. We will bring them truth in love - and we will do it relentlessly.

Already Mel White and Gary Nixon, co-founders of Soulforce and partners for more than 20 years, have done something daring and creative. They have left California and moved into a house directly across the street from Jerry's church! They plan to live in the community for one year and attend Jerry's church as an out gay couple.

Falwell was in Kentucky on September 16th. Members of Soulforce Lexington and the Kentucky Fairness Alliance joined together to confront the anti-gay rhetoric. Six GLBT people attended the church where he was speaking and then attempted to meet up with him afterwards and give him letters telling our stories and how his anti-gay teachings have caused suffering. Because of tight security, the meeting did not happen. However the press covered the story and it made the front page of the Paducah Sun. The following day we overnighted the letters to Falwell along with a copy of the wonderful book, "Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth: a resource for congregations in dialogue on sexual orientation."

Consider going with us to Lynchburg on October 25-27. Already more than 150 people across the nation are signed up. It will be a powerful stand for justice that will transform you and hopefully help to change the hearts and minds of others.