The Oklahoman

WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?

Well, he wouldn’t refer to another person as ‘filth’

I am writing in response to Sen. Tom Woods’ words in February at a Tahlequah Chamber of Commerce legislativ­e briefing. He was speaking in response to a question about the death of Nex Benedict and people who identify as LGBTQ+.

Here are his words as quoted in The Oklahoman.

“We are a religious state, and we are going to fight to keep that filth out of the state of Oklahoma, because we are a Christian state — a moral state.” The context of his words suggests that he was speaking about people who identify as LGBTQ+. What he wants to fight and keep out of this state are attempts to advocate for their rights.

I support Woods’ right to disagree and disapprove of a person’s sexual identity and to call them sinners based on his religious beliefs. But I challenge his descriptio­n of another person as filth, especially when it’s based on his identity as a Christian.

And this may be the most important thing I say in this letter: My disagreeme­nt with his words comes from my identity as a Christian, as a follower of Christ. I believe his stance is antithetic­al to the life and teachings of Jesus.

Woods did not call these people wrong or sinners or enemies of his faith. He called them “filth.” Filth is something that is considered loathsome or foul; it can corrupt or defile. When Woods calls another person filth, do I conclude that he sees them as loathsome and vile, whose presence can defile him and others?

For me, filth describes trash or refuse. I would never use this word for another person. Again, not because it is uncivil, but because it goes against the life and the spirit of Jesus and the God whom Jesus revealed to the world.

If I were to decide that someone is wrong, I would enter into discussion with them. I would share my perspectiv­es and create a space for them to share theirs. If I were to decide that someone is a sinner, I would state clearly what I see in their behavior and attitude that makes me come to that conclusion, and I would be willing to hear how they understand their behavior and attitude. If I were to decide that someone is an enemy of my faith and way of life, I would explore ways to love them. This is what Jesus tells me to do. This loving would not be mere tolerance, or out of love telling them how wrong they are. It is a love that would create a place for them in my life so I could know them. Know them as fully as I can, even if I decide to disagree with them.

All of these actions are driven by my identity as a follower of Christ. From Woods I hear that he wants to get rid of certain groups of people, not disagree with them or even to interact with them in any way. He wants to get rid of them. It is much easier to hold and maintain that stance when he sees them as filth, not as individual­s created and living in the image of God.

As a Christian, part of living in a diverse society is learning how to live well with those who see the world differently. For me, calling a certain way of looking at the world “filth” is not an expression of that living well.

For me, it is not an expression of the identity of a person who is a follower of Christ.

Gary Hardwick is a retired Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) minister and a Licensed Profession­al Counselor in Oklahoma.