Like many, I read the diary about the expulsion of James Barnett, a gay student, from Trinity Christian school in Dallas. I wrote a letter to the headmaster from a Christian left perspective, which was the suggestion of several people. Here it is; comments welcome.
I've heard a story recently about a senior, James Barnett, being expelled from Trinity Christian because of "immoral behavior" related to the identity struggle he's going through. I'm exceedingly glad to see that you've taken it upon yourself to cast the first stone; it's good to know somebody out there thinks he is without sin. It is advent, Mr. Delph, a time when we are to prepare the way of the Lord, by bearing witness to His grace and unbounded love through acts of kindness, mercy, and love. We are to be as Christ in this season and always, and one thing our Lord never did was to send away someone who was struggling. He did not sit down with the wealthy of Israel, or the pharisees, or the merchants. He sat down with the prostitutes and tax collectors and lepers and samaritans- the same people that modern-day red-staters like many of your school's parents, I am sure, try to avoid.
I am sure that at some point in your ultimately succesful career, you have struggled with something, as we all have. And I am sure that you are thankful for good people, perhaps Christians and perhaps not, who helped you along the way, as Christ would have done. I am much younger than you, but already my life has been enriched by countless acts of kindness from people who could just as easily not have done anything, by acts of forgiveness from people who had every reason to turn from me, and by acts of helpfulness from people who could just as easily have left me to fend for myself. It is my duty, and your duty, to do likewise. I would direct you to the famous words of the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 25. ""Whatever you did for the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." Our call as Christians is not to judge the unrighteous, or to decide whether or not the struggling suffer because of their own sin or because of external forces.
Our call is to help them. If they need us to walk a mile with them we are to walk two.
I personally do not believe Mr. Barnett's sexuality to be a matter of his choosing, nor do I believe it to be any more or less inherently sinful than heterosexuality. It's all in the application. I would imagine that you think otherwise, and though I disagree with you I will respect that. But as I hear it, you have expelled James from this school community of yours for "immoral" behavior. You have violated his rights by revealing to his parents what he apparently specifically asked you not to! Let us say for a minute that Mr. Barnett is being tempted into a sinful lifestyle. The duty of a Christian is to try and minister to him with love and kindness; to try and keep him on the straight path and not to cast a member of your family out into the wilderness. Whether or not his sexuality is a choice or a matter of nature, he is struggling with it right now, and it is the duty of a Christian to help rather than to judge. He is the wounded traveller right now and you are the Levite who is walking right on by, a member of the religious establishment who is frankly, it seems to me, indifferent to someone in time of need. We can only hope that some good Samaritan will stop by shortly. Fortunately, I have no doubt that such people will be there, as we are blessed with many in this world.
I am writing this letter in the heat of anger, and while I have heard a version of events that is cogent and perfectly believable from a place I trust, I acknowledge that there are no doubt circumstances I do not understand fully and that I may have heard something that is simply wrong. If this is the case, I apologize for my harsh words and for taking your time. Whatever the case, I wish you and all at Trinity Christian School a merry Christmas, and hope that you continue your pursuit of an understaning of God and his mercies. I ask you to remember this: Paul commands us to be imitators of Christ. Would Christ cast out, comfort, or heal?
In Christ,
Tubalefty :)