‘Abomination’ Doesn’t Mean What They Think It Means
By: Martie Sirois
Tags: Culture, Language, Equality, Christianity, Religion

‘Abomination’ Doesn’t Mean What They Think It Means

How one word became ammunition for selective moral outrage under the guise of Christianity

“Homosexuality is an abomination! It is an abomination before God! Repent now, or burn in eternal damnation!”

Such were the sentiments bellowed by the Christian street preacher before his crowd — a thin crowd, but a hungry one. The unanimous cheering in return echoed against the few city buildings, reverberating proof that Rev. Jim was preaching to the choir.

Growing up in the ‘80s, it wasn’t unusual to hear feverish pulpiters posturing like this. Condemning whatever they saw as “abominations” seemed to be the specialty of Christian preachers and their televangelist cohorts alike. Especially in the south, where ‘fire and brimstone’ messages were notably effective.

The coupling of frightening imagery with warnings of eternal damnation — when delivered with just the right balance of zeal and ire — adequately scared many people into submission. Public proclamation of faith and baptism by water would soon follow, symbolic gestures of “washing away” one’s sins and being “reborn” in the Christian faith.

I was baptized at eight years old.

Part of me wanted to do it. The other part was merely afraid of sudden death and a terrifying aftermath: being sent to hell for having dodged the public tradition of baptism.

Admittedly, “sudden death” was an unlikely fear for an eight year old. But this was also during a time when AIDS was the mysterious “new” disease plaguing our country. It was vastly misunderstood, and as such, AIDS was quickly seized and weaponized by conservative preachers. It was then fear-mongered into the public eye, and unfairly scapegoated onto the LGBT community — primarily, gay males. Before enough research emerged to help debunk myths and quiet the noise, ignorant homophobic thinking was all the rage.

It was the ‘80s, after all.

Yet, just last summer — nearly forty years later, a Tennessee pastor (who happens to double as a Sheriff’s Detective for Knox County), delivered a similarly passionate sermon of hellfire to his congregation. A lot like the ones I’d heard street preachers giving in the ‘80s.

At Knoxville, Tennessee’s All Scripture Baptist Church, they want to make sure you know exactly what you’re getting. Scrolling through their church website, I quickly located points of belief about their doctrine, one of which dedicates the most attention (and longest passage) to the “abomination” of homosexuality. Clearly asserted at the end of the “homosexuality” paragraph is this:

No homosexual will be allowed to attend or join.

This makes me wonder… just… so many questions.

Like, how would they even know? Does All Scripture Baptist screen everyone who walks into the building? Are the sanctuary doors equipped with some kind of sensor… a ‘gaydar,’ if you will?

And then what? Is there an accompanying alarm that sounds? Are there club-like bouncers, armed, or otherwise manning the doors, ready to hoist out anyone who’s “too gay to pray?”

What triggers the sensor? Does it go off upon entry of anything perceived as remotely flamboyant? (Because I could foresee my Aunt Patty — who bathes in Giorgio perfume and 1980s nostalgia — being in big trouble here.)

Does this same “no homos” rule apply to one-time-only guests when the church is being used as a wedding venue?

Oh — and what about closeted gay people… could they potentially slip through the cracks, undetected, for years on end? How would All Scripture handle the aftermath of such a travesty?

What criteria does the church use to determine sexual orientation? I mean, do they go off one’s appearance or general vibe alone, or is the process more concrete? Like, a sexual orientation census on arrival that’s handed out along with sentiments like:

“Here y’go, honey. Just fill this out and drop it in the collection plate later on in the service… And welcome, honey! All Scripture’s the name, soul-winning’s the game!!”