Corpus Christi

I anticipate that soon there will be a big media storm (unless it's already going) over a movie that's to be released soon. It's a movie called Corpus Christi based on a play by the same name by Terence McNally, in which Jesus is portrayed as a gay man, and the movie is set in 1950s Corpus Christi, TX.

*GASP*

Why should such a play make everyone so nervous and filled with homophobia all of a sudden? Were you there in Jesus' time? Even if we go on the Bible, it's never mentioned whether or not Jesus was in a relationship with anyone, except his 12 disciples. We know he taught them through parables the teachings we try to live by to this day, and then later, we know that Judas betrays Jesus with a kiss. We don't know if it was a kiss on the lips or cheek, it was just a "kiss". According to the Bible, Judas didn't shake Jesus' hand, pat him on the back, or hug him to identify him for the Roman soldiers, he kissed him.

Many Christians probably loathe the idea of Jesus being depicted as gay. But, for the sake of argument, what if he was? Would it make a difference? If so, how? Would God love his son any less if Jesus was gay? Isn't God's love unconditional? Isn't Jesus' love for us unconditional?

All this movie/play does is portray Jesus in a way that no one has openly or publicly done. This simply challenges our deeply embedded image of him as one of total purity and asexuality (no sexual attraction at all) because our churches don't discuss it, and neither does the Bible. Instead, Christian churches, through their frequent anti-gay stances, maintain and uphold the following portrayal of Jesus: healer, teacher, miracle worker.

I'm pretty sure that when you ask some Christians how they feel about gay people, you'll get a mixed reaction either support or opposition. But if you were to have a discussion about Jesus possibly being gay, it'd suddenly be blasphemous and repulsive. But, why should it be blasphemous and repulsive?

I remember first learning about this play, Corpus Christi, and a church whose services I occasionally attend recently hosted a production. I didn't go because I couldn't afford it at the time. But I'm curious to see Jesus in a different portrayal than the exclusive one we've all learned over the years. I'll admit that when I first heard about this play, I was initially bothered by it. But after giving it careful thought, I drew my own conclusion: If Jesus loves us no matter who we are, what sins we've committed, etc., why should our love for him be any different? How is portraying him as gay blasphemous?

Because it is! It's mockery and repulsive blasphemy to imply that Jesus and his followers were gay! 

Do you have gay friends or family members?

Yes.

Does it bother you that they're gay, or do you love them just the same?

No, it doesn't bother me.

But it bothers you to think of Jesus as gay?

Yes! 

Why?

Because he wasn't!   

How do you know he wasn't? Were you there? Does the Bible discuss anything about any sexual relationship he could've had?

No. 

It seems to me that the very idea of Jesus being sexual with anyone in general is what's an upsetting thought to Christians (but thinking of him as gay is even more upsetting because we're taking the most beloved icon in human history and juxtaposing him with one of the most controversial issues of the human condition). Think of him as a sexual being like anyone of us, and Christians start to squirm; think of him as a homosexual, and Christians, even those who support gay people, will cover their ears yelling "LALALALALALALA!" This is because we just want to think of him as the kid born of a virgin, being found in the temple preaching to elders, teaching them, and then we fast-forward to his 30s where he acquired his disciples, challenged religious leaders, forgave sinners, and performed miracles (wedding at Cana, multiplication of loaves and fishes, curing lepers, the blind, the deaf, walking on water, calming the storms, raising Lazarus from the dead, exorcising demons from fellow citizens, and most famously, rising from the dead and ascending into heaven). There are over 20 years of his life the Bible doesn't discuss. What happened in those years? 

Do I think Jesus was gay? *shrugs* I have no clue. I think it'd be cool if he was. But that's my whole point: whether he was or wasn't, what does it matter? He died. He rose. Christians expect him to come again and judge the living and the dead. He loves us. We love him. And as long as there's love in a relationship with Jesus Christ, nothing else matters.