UPDATED with response from G-A-Y Blog at the end of the post.
Molotov Mitchell is definitely making a name for himself. I met Molotov in DC in March of 2009. He and his wife were hilarious and very personable. I could relate to his zeal in talking about Christ but when it came to public policy … not so much. Granted we had some of the same ideas that certain things politically and culturally needed to be forthrightly addressed but his reasoning and approach seemed unnecessarily harsh. I didn’t say anything at the time because I just met the guy and I didn’t want to jump right in with conflicting ideas on what was appropriate and helpful. So I listened to him and trusted that if the Lord wanted us to go beyond shooting the breeze and hash out arguments, that day would eventually arrive.
Three months after I met him, we had bec0me Facebook friends. He sent me a Facebook message asking if I would pass along one of his new videos (dated June 24, 2009) called “The Evolution of ‘Gay’.”
I responded:
Dude, I like you a lot but I don’t like this video. I think it unfairly portrays and makes fun of who I used to be and a vast majority of the gay community.
I appreciate and receive your respect for our journey. I think you are very fun, talented and I hope that we can continue to develop our friendship.
That said, this video is stigmatizing and not redemptive (in my opinion.)
You are welcome Molotov, it is my prayer that you will listen to my directly informed perspective, from living in both sides, and change your mind.
The social issues at hand are very important but my goal is not to win a culture war. It’s to show the redemptive nature of Christ in every aspect of life and society. As long as I can, I will assert my civil rights and liberties within that framework.
As a wise Christian on Capitol Hill once said to me, “We are not called to win or lose. We are called to be faithful.”
But, at the end of the day. I would rather lose my rights than for one person to stumble or ultimately reject the gospel because someone intentionally mocked and stigmatized them in the name of winning “the culture war.”
A lot of people say that we all have different approaches in the culture war and its good that we are on the same team. This video doesn’t help me and my calling in any way. It actually works against what we do.
I believe you respect our testimonies but I don’t think you are really rejoicing that we “live longer” (which is an unfounded claim because “ex-gay” lifespans have *never* been studied). I think you said that to deliver yet another zinger to the gay community and try to align our movement with your approach.
I didn’t find that really encouraging even though I know you personally support and believe in our freedom.
I would only pass this video along if I could blog about it and post my (our?) responses in this message exchange along with it. I am not sure that is a wise thing to do.
I couldn’t pass along the video without sharing my thoughts.
Again, I like you as a person and think you are incredibly talented but this one video … I just can’t support.
Living Out the Atonement,
Randy
Molotov didn’t respond after that. Now eight months later, he has made quite a few more videos. Some of Molotov’s videos in the WND series are incendiary (living up to his name)… to say the least. The gay activist blogs, a little slow to the draw on this one, are openly mocking him now. I do believe that beyond the intentionally provocative hype, Molotov does care for people. He was very kind when I met him in person and talked with him on Facebook. Almost a year later though, I do wonder whether his public witness of being a Christian is being overshadowed (or misrepresented?) by stylized, artistic and clever rudeness delivered via video posts?
If so, it wouldn’t be the first time and he is definitely not alone.
I am also of the temperament that I like directness. Although, being direct does not have to equal being intentionally insulting. One example of this is Molotov’s video saying Uganda’s evil bill criminalizing homosexual behavior is somehow “biblical” and in line with our “founding fathers” is offensive. Here’s the video to determine for yourself:
The founding American colonies may have criminalized homosexual behavior but that doesn’t make it a right or wise thing to do. I personally believe they were wrong to do so. They turned to human law, like some Ugandans are now threatening to do, instead of God’s love on matters of personal morality and private consensual sexual behavior. Instead of doing the hard work of relating to people and seeking to change public perspectives through personal testimony and reason, they try to force people toward biblical “righteousness” by criminalizing personal morality and identity.
It never truly works just like the old culture war strategy of stigmatization hasn’t worked for thirty years … why would it now?
It is also worth noting that the Founding Fathers did not criminalize homosexual behavior in the Constitution … thank God (literally.) The Biblical approach involved Jesus dying on behalf of our sin so that we don’t have to pay the price ourselves. He rose again to express God’s love toward those redeemed through faith by the atonement. Jesus did not lobby the federal government of Rome to criminalize the private “sinful” behaviors He would personally pay the price for.
Without excusing or ignoring sin, Jesus didn’t go around stigmatizing sinners, He healed, ate dinner with, taught and exhorted them to repent of their own free will. Through bold love, He led the world into a new era and today He leads believers into Eternity.
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Photo Credit: CMG Booking
UPDATE February 25th, 2010, G-A-Y Blog responds with:
Good job. I do take one exception though, which I think has the danger of belying your own words.
You say “homosexual blogs are openly mocking him now.” Well, maybe there is some snark going on. That’s the online way on both sides. But by and large, the criticism I have seen of Molotov has been been “mockery” — it’s been outright disgust over his Uganda vid. Passionate disgust. Rightful disgust. I think it’s unfair to reduce it, as if those pesky ho-mo-sexuals are out to “mock” once again.
Also, in terms of being slow on the draw: Personally, I first took on Molotov back in March of ’09 for his fundamentally flawed assessment of Harvey Milk’s record: http://www.goodasyou.org/good_as_you/2009/03/video-molotov-cocktail-burns-both-milk-and-truth.html
Be well, Randy!
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