31 May, 2007

God's Truth never breaks or bends.

A teacher shows 'Brokeback Mountain' to junior high students.

Lawsuit over 'Brokeback Mountain' in class

CHICAGO -- A girl and her grandparents have sued the Chicago Board of Education, alleging that a substitute teacher showed the R-rated film "Brokeback Mountain" in class.

The lawsuit claims that Jessica Turner, 12, suffered psychological distress after viewing the movie in her 8th grade class at Ashburn Community Elementary School last year.

The film, which won three Oscars, depicts two cowboys who conceal their homosexual affair.

Turner and her grandparents, Kenneth and LaVerne Richardson, are seeking around $500,000 in damages.

"It is very important to me that my children not be exposed to this," said Kenneth Richardson, Turner's guardian. "The teacher knew she was not supposed to do this."

According to the lawsuit filed Friday in Cook County Circuit Court, the video was shown without permission from the students' parents and guardians.

The lawsuit also names Ashburn Principal Jewel Diaz and a substitute teacher, referred to as "Ms. Buford."

The substitute asked a student to shut the classroom door at the West Side school, saying: "What happens in Ms. Buford's class stays in Ms. Buford's class," according to the lawsuit.

Richardson said his granddaughter was traumatized by the movie and had to undergo psychological treatment and counseling.

"I feel the lawsuit was necessary because of the warning I had already given them on the literature they were giving out to children to read. I told them it was against our faith."

Messages left with CPS officials were not immediately returned.

photo & story courtesy ctv.ca.com, 5/14/07

Romans 1:22-28 (NLT)

22 Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. 23 And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles.

24 So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies. 25 They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen. 26 That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. 27 And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved.

28 Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done.

What does God's Story scripture teach us about God's view on homosexuality?

Paul was led by God's Spirit to write down God's views on homosexuality. It was as common in Paul's day as it is in our world today.

In plain words - God says it is sin.

Tyndale's LIFE APPLICATION STUDY BIBLE notes explain:

1:26-27 God is willing to receive anyone who comes to him in faith, and Christians should love and accept others no matter what their background. Yet, homosexuality is strictly forbidden in Scripture (Leviticus 18:22). Homosexuality is considered an acceptable practice by many in our world today - even by some churches. But society does not set the standard for God's law. Homosexuals believe that their desires are normal and that they have a right to express them. But God does not encourage us to fulfill all our desires (even normal ones). Those desires that violate his laws must be controlled.

If you have these desires, you can and must resist acting upon them....Remember, God can and will forgive sexual sins just as he forgives other sins. Surrender yourself to God, asking him to show you the way out of sin and into the light of his freedom and his love.

Today's story about the teacher showing 'Brokeback Mountain' to her class illustrates how our secular culture is bent on bending the Truth of God's Word. But remember that even though culture says times have changed and that there is no absolute truth, God's Word never changes and it is the Truth.

Our challenge as followers of Christ is to humbly admit our many sins as we try to lovingly help those struggling with homosexuality let Jesus rescue them.

How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
  • Thank God for being very clear in His Word about what is right and wrong sexually. Ask God to help you live out your sexuality (which means purity before marriage between a man and a woman and then only in marriage) to honor Him. If you are sinning in a sexual way, confess it now and receive the forgiveness made possible because of what Christ did on the cross. If you know someone who is struggling with homosexuality, pray for him or her and ask God to help you demonstrate Christ's grace and compassion toward this person.
  • Pray that you and other Christians around the world will act like Jesus toward those who struggle with homosexuality.
  • If you struggle with this issue (or know someone else who does), contact a pastor or youth leader of a church that believes in the truth of God's Word.

How can we connect today's story and God's Story scripture and our story to others?

  • Use today's story about the teacher showing 'Brokeback Mountain' in her class as a conversation with others to find out their story as it relates to their views on homosexuality and tolerance.
  • Talk with other students about what you might do to take a Biblical stand for morality in our culture with an attitude of love rather than condemnation. Look for ways you can demonstrate grace and compassion to those who are struggling with homosexuality.
  • Talk to your youth leader or pastor about what your church can do to be like Jesus toward those who are struggling with homosexuality.
Permanent Link
comments

Ornament
God's Story is brought to you by Youth for Christ. YFC works with young people on campus and in the community in over one hundred countries around the world so that they might have an opportunity to become a follower of Christ and be a part of a local church.

Our writer, Byron Emmert, has been with YFC for over 30 years and has served as Campus Life Staff, in leadership for DCLA, and as an author and speaker. Byron is available for speaking at youth or adult events and conferences. For booking, write to byron@3Story.org.

Byron and his wife Linda live in Minnesota and their family includes two married sons and daughters-in-law, a grandaughter, and a daughter in college. He loves sports, deep dish pizza, and spending time with his family.