This
week, Jason Collins of the Washington Wizards, became the first male athlete
from one of major sports leagues to come out as gay. We shouldn’t inflate it beyond all recognition; a
millionaire with some degree of celebrity isn’t putting quite as much as a
queer or trans teenager who finds themselves kicked out and homeless for coming
out. But his coming out is still brave and has some symbolic importance. What I
find interesting are the myriad reactions to the news from a wide range of
athletes, journalists and other random figures.
This is what I find so
fascinating about the hot-button issues called “homosexuality,” “gay marriage”
etc: They take ordinary people from all walks of life and hoist them into the
theologian’s chair. When they are confronted with different sexualities, it
solicits from them a theological account. What is the bible? How should it be
read? What does it mean to love someone?
Unlikely people are being forced to become theologians. In the 19th century, people like John Ruskin discovered a sense that people like medieval craftsmen were in a way doing theology. There was a stronger sense that all sorts of different people were doing theology in their various labors and daily lives, and theology is something of a democratic endeavor. Our current historical moment is an opportunity to recover and develop this sense.
There were some reactions to the news that gave explicitly theological reactions. Leroy Butler was offered a large sum of money for a speaking engagement at a church. After he gave a remark in support of Jason Collins, the pastor of the church canceled the engagement unless Butler “retract the statement and ask God’s forgiveness.” Butler admirably refused, remarking, “only God can judge.”
Unlikely people are being forced to become theologians. In the 19th century, people like John Ruskin discovered a sense that people like medieval craftsmen were in a way doing theology. There was a stronger sense that all sorts of different people were doing theology in their various labors and daily lives, and theology is something of a democratic endeavor. Our current historical moment is an opportunity to recover and develop this sense.
There were some reactions to the news that gave explicitly theological reactions. Leroy Butler was offered a large sum of money for a speaking engagement at a church. After he gave a remark in support of Jason Collins, the pastor of the church canceled the engagement unless Butler “retract the statement and ask God’s forgiveness.” Butler admirably refused, remarking, “only God can judge.”
Then there are comments with implicit theology. Take for example Kobe Bryant’s tweet:
Proud of
@jasoncollins34. Don’t suffocate who u r because of the ignorance of others#courage#support#mambaarmystandup#BYOU,
There we see straightforward
encouragement, that at the same time seems to beg the fundamental religious questions.
I am also fascinated by this tangled web of a comment from LeBron James:
With teammates, you have to be
trustworthy. If you're gay and you're not admitting that you are, you're not
trustworthy. It's the locker room code; it's a trust factor.
To be fair this remark was made in 2007, and LeBron’s views
may have changed. There is some element of truth in what he
is saying. Collective endeavors need a certain openness to be effective, a
place where people do not suffocate who they are, to use Kobe’s phrase. But he
is wrong here to place the onus on the closeted teammate. The team (or Church,
or society) creates the conditions that either make one shell up their identity
or offer it to each other openly. This to me, seems to be the Christian significance
of “coming out.” One offers oneself, becomes vulnerable before the other, and
solicits the other to loving acceptance (or rejection). Of course, there are thousands of other ways this
happens besides coming out, but this is one that’s put to us with urgency in the public light. Christians should rise to the occasion.
