Should I Sing in a Concert for the LGBT Movement?

MournfulWatcher · Feb 18, 2019

I attend a public university and have a choir scholarship there, although I am not a music major. The music director is a Christian and also directs the choir program at a local Methodist church in my town. Today, the director called a meeting for the different university choir classes for some updates, and told us about our next concert near the end of the semester. He said we would be doing a piece called "Considering Matthew Shepard", with the lyrics being a series of poems about the tragic murder of Matthew Shepard, who was killed because he was gay back in 1998.

The director informed us that the concert would raise money for the Matthew Shepard Foundation, an organization which promoted acceptance and inclusion of LGBT people and education to "stop hatred and bigotry. "
In the concert, we would remove our black robes to reveal different color shirts underneath, like a Pride flag.
I'm not sure what to do. I listened to the music and read the lyrics; the music itself is beautifully done and much of the lyrics are also beautiful and heartfelt. But there's certain parts that are difficult for me to swallow. There are parts where the boy is compared to Christ, for example there is a section that is labelled "passion", and a poem about a Westborough Baptist protester that goes like this:

"kreuzige, kreuzige! (translation: crucify, crucify)
A boy who takes a boy to bed?
Where I come from that's not polite
He asked for it, you got that right
The fires of Hell burn hot and red
The only good *redacted* is a *redacted* that's dead
A man and a woman, the Good Lord said
As sure as Eve took that first bite
The fires of Hell burn hot and red
kreuzige, kreuzige!
Beneath the Hunter's Moon he bled
That must have been a pretty sight
The fires of Hell burn hot and red
C’mon, kids, it's time for bed
Say your prayers, kiss Dad good night
A boy who takes a boy to bed?
The fires of Hell burn hot and red
crucify, crucify the light, crucify the light . . ."

I might be able to go along with the concert if it weren't for the fact that we're raising money for an organization that I disagree with on a moral and spiritual level. The director was very passionate about it and is known to have a temper, so I'm afraid to speak to him about wishing to abstain from the concert. A big chunk of the people in the music department are LGBT (I'd say about 40% or so), so I also fear social backlash if people learned why I'm not in the concert. I also fear losing my scholarship and getting kicked out of choir, and the whole thing even getting spread around campus (I go to a very small university), because the Foundation is going to get involved with the whole university.

I feel stuck between a rock and a hard place. If I say that I don't want to participate in the concert, I will be accused of disrespecting the dead, or worse, being as hateful as the victim's killers. It will be seen as though I think his death was fine or good because he was gay, and that I think gay people should be harassed and bullied for their orientation. If I go through with the concert, I'll be violating my conscience, and the Truth.

I love gay people; I've had friends come out to me, and I've been very loving to them, because of my love for Christ. And my love for the Living God is very deep; I see Him in the world around me and in his word. I meditate on Him daily. I see Him in the relationship between a husband and wife, a reflection of Christ and the Church, and even as a reflection of God and His relationship with the human soul. This is why the sacrament of marriage between a man and a woman is so dear and sacred to me (although I am not married).

But am I being hateful in some way? I feel guilty for not wanting to sing music about a young man being murdered for his sexual orientation. That's not why I don't want to sing it. But when I take off the robe to show the Pride colors, then it's like I'm saying I embrace homosexuality, and I'm helping to raise money for an organization that would say my beliefs are hateful and should be eliminated.

What should I do? Should I sing or not? Am I overreacting? Please keep me in your prayers.

Tomm · Feb 18, 2019

MournfulWatcher said:
I attend a public university and have a choir scholarship there, although I am not a music major. The music director is a Christian and also directs the choir program at a local Methodist church in my town. Today, the director called a meeting for the different university choir classes for some updates, and told us about our next concert near the end of the semester. He said we would be doing a piece called "Considering Matthew Shepard", with the lyrics being a series of poems about the tragic murder of Matthew Shepard, who was killed because he was gay back in 1998.

The director informed us that the concert would raise money for the Matthew Shepard Foundation, an organization which promoted acceptance and inclusion of LGBT people and education to "stop hatred and bigotry. "
In the concert, we would remove our black robes to reveal different color shirts underneath, like a Pride flag.
I'm not sure what to do. I listened to the music and read the lyrics; the music itself is beautifully done and much of the lyrics are also beautiful and heartfelt. But there's certain parts that are difficult for me to swallow. There are parts where the boy is compared to Christ, for example there is a section that is labelled "passion", and a poem about a Westborough Baptist protester that goes like this:

"kreuzige, kreuzige! (translation: crucify, crucify)
A boy who takes a boy to bed?
Where I come from that's not polite
He asked for it, you got that right
The fires of Hell burn hot and red
The only good *redacted* is a *redacted* that's dead
A man and a woman, the Good Lord said
As sure as Eve took that first bite
The fires of Hell burn hot and red
kreuzige, kreuzige!
Beneath the Hunter's Moon he bled
That must have been a pretty sight
The fires of Hell burn hot and red
C’mon, kids, it's time for bed
Say your prayers, kiss Dad good night
A boy who takes a boy to bed?
The fires of Hell burn hot and red
crucify, crucify the light, crucify the light . . ."

I might be able to go along with the concert if it weren't for the fact that we're raising money for an organization that I disagree with on a moral and spiritual level. The director was very passionate about it and is known to have a temper, so I'm afraid to speak to him about wishing to abstain from the concert. A big chunk of the people in the music department are LGBT (I'd say about 40% or so), so I also fear social backlash if people learned why I'm not in the concert. I also fear losing my scholarship and getting kicked out of choir, and the whole thing even getting spread around campus (I go to a very small university), because the Foundation is going to get involved with the whole university.

I feel stuck between a rock and a hard place. If I say that I don't want to participate in the concert, I will be accused of disrespecting the dead, or worse, being as hateful as the victim's killers. It will be seen as though I think his death was fine or good because he was gay, and that I think gay people should be harassed and bullied for their orientation. If I go through with the concert, I'll be violating my conscience, and the Truth.

I love gay people; I've had friends come out to me, and I've been very loving to them, because of my love for Christ. And my love for the Living God is so deep it makes my heart break; I see Him in the world around me and in his word. I meditate on Him daily. I see Him in the relationship between a husband and wife, a reflection of Christ and the Church, and even as a reflection of God and His relationship with the human soul. This is why the sacrament of marriage between a man and a woman is so dear and sacred to me (although I am not married).

But am I being hateful in some way? I feel guilty for not wanting to sing music about a young man being murdered for his sexual orientation. That's not why I don't want to sing it. But when I take off the robe to show the Pride colors, then it's like I'm saying I embrace homosexuality, and I'm helping to raise money for an organization that would say my beliefs are hateful and should be eliminated.

What should I do? Should I sing or not? Am I overreacting? Please keep me in your prayers.

You should love gay people, but should not support their gay lifestyle.

Gregory Thompson · Feb 18, 2019

MournfulWatcher said:
But am I being hateful in some way?

This is a good question for sanctification. I think you should pray about it, in anything it needs to be done out of faith, trust, and a sense of being convinced in your own mind.

Even if what you are doing is not wrong, if you are unsure and do it anyway, it's still sin because it's not "of faith"

MournfulWatcher said:
What should I do? Please keep my in your prayers.

Sure, will pray. You might want to read Paul's letter to the Romans, there are some passages (such as chapters 13 & 14) in there that give general principles on how to figure out what to do in a dilemma.

anna ~ grace · Feb 18, 2019

I wouldn't sing, dear. That's not hateful. It's wise. God bless you.

PloverWing · Feb 18, 2019

MournfulWatcher said:
But am I being hateful in some way? I feel guilty for not wanting to sing music about a young man being murdered for his sexual orientation. That's not why I don't want to sing it. But when I take off the robe to show the Pride colors, then it's like I'm saying I embrace homosexuality, and I'm helping to raise money for an organization that would say my beliefs are hateful and should be eliminated.

What should I do? Should I sing or not? Am I overreacting? Please keep me in your prayers.

No, you are not being hateful. You shouldn't have to wear Pride colors if that goes against your conscience. Pride doesn't mean anything if it's forced and fake. You also shouldn't have to raise money for an organization that is contrary to your beliefs.

I don't know how best to suggest that you approach your choir director, since I don't know his personality. If I were in the director's position, I would be open to hearing something like: "I'm sorry, but I can't sing in the fundraising concert. What happened to Matthew Shepard was terrible and evil, and I hope nothing like that ever happens again; but I also can't directly endorse Gay Pride, because it goes against my faith."

You said that you have some gay friends. Are any of them close enough friends that you could talk with them about your dilemma? Might one or two of them go with you to talk to the director, to help assure him that you're not acting out of any kind of hate, but that you're trying to quietly follow your conscience?

Dahtra · Feb 19, 2019

Yours is a very difficult dilemma. You understand your heart and intentions but others may not, and if they do not, then you fear retribution or persecution. I would point you to 2 Tim 3:12-15 and Matt 5:10 "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Ultimately, it is something that you need to take to God. He will never give you anything you can't handle and only He can tell you His desires. Just remember to love everyone involved, even those who may hurt you.

Maybe there is a way that you can show your love for all people and your disgust at the murder in question while still not supporting a cause that furthers something you don't believe in. Honestly, I'm not sure how you could do that, but perhaps there is a way.

crossnote · Feb 19, 2019

Tell them just as they have their convictions, you have yours.
Personally I wouldn't as it sends a contrary message to what you believe.

Sounds like an Esther moment for you...

Esther 4:13-14 NKJV
[13] And Mordecai told them to answer Esther: "Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king's palace any more than all the other Jews. [14] For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"

I know the application is a bit different but the principle is the same.

Kenny'sID · Feb 19, 2019

I just wouldn't.

Sketcher · Feb 19, 2019

I would want nothing to do with that, myself. As for how to go about navigating that, I don't know enough about choir at the college level to know what you would really lose by skipping it.

SolomonVII · Feb 19, 2019

I think when you joined the choir you made a commitment to the “team”, and that commitment was to the music, and not to any cause.
It is not surprising that given the demographics of your choir, the myth of Matthew Shepherd is a popular cause. Be that as it may, it is the director’s call where you do the music. But your commitment was never to the cause, but to the music.
The issue of sex has become weaponized. In the end it is your conscience you have to live with, but the example of St Thomas More shows that nuance goes a long way with just getting along with people. As long as you know in your heart of hearts that you are with the choir to be friends and to make music, the choice of venue is not yours to make, therefore not your moral concern. The cause is not yours but the music is. Own the music, and leave the politics to those who have any interest in the issue.

FireDragon76 · Feb 19, 2019

It sounds like a difficult situation but you should know if you are involved in music, especially choir, you are going to encounter many gay people and people who are gay allies, most of whom are going to expect a certain level of acceptance, perhaps a great deal. If you really have a problem with working with gay people and supporting them, then you need to find other activities or careers.

Other than that, what Plover Wring said is good advice, as well as what Solomon said about nuance.

Personally, I see nothing wrong with participation, but you have to be convinced in the end.

Selene03 · Feb 19, 2019

MournfulWatcher said:
I attend a public university and have a choir scholarship there, although I am not a music major. The music director is a Christian and also directs the choir program at a local Methodist church in my town. Today, the director called a meeting for the different university choir classes for some updates, and told us about our next concert near the end of the semester. He said we would be doing a piece called "Considering Matthew Shepard", with the lyrics being a series of poems about the tragic murder of Matthew Shepard, who was killed because he was gay back in 1998.

The director informed us that the concert would raise money for the Matthew Shepard Foundation, an organization which promoted acceptance and inclusion of LGBT people and education to "stop hatred and bigotry. "
In the concert, we would remove our black robes to reveal different color shirts underneath, like a Pride flag.
I'm not sure what to do. I listened to the music and read the lyrics; the music itself is beautifully done and much of the lyrics are also beautiful and heartfelt. But there's certain parts that are difficult for me to swallow. There are parts where the boy is compared to Christ, for example there is a section that is labelled "passion", and a poem about a Westborough Baptist protester that goes like this:

"kreuzige, kreuzige! (translation: crucify, crucify)
A boy who takes a boy to bed?
Where I come from that's not polite
He asked for it, you got that right
The fires of Hell burn hot and red
The only good *redacted* is a *redacted* that's dead
A man and a woman, the Good Lord said
As sure as Eve took that first bite
The fires of Hell burn hot and red
kreuzige, kreuzige!
Beneath the Hunter's Moon he bled
That must have been a pretty sight
The fires of Hell burn hot and red
C’mon, kids, it's time for bed
Say your prayers, kiss Dad good night
A boy who takes a boy to bed?
The fires of Hell burn hot and red
crucify, crucify the light, crucify the light . . ."

I might be able to go along with the concert if it weren't for the fact that we're raising money for an organization that I disagree with on a moral and spiritual level. The director was very passionate about it and is known to have a temper, so I'm afraid to speak to him about wishing to abstain from the concert. A big chunk of the people in the music department are LGBT (I'd say about 40% or so), so I also fear social backlash if people learned why I'm not in the concert. I also fear losing my scholarship and getting kicked out of choir, and the whole thing even getting spread around campus (I go to a very small university), because the Foundation is going to get involved with the whole university.

I feel stuck between a rock and a hard place. If I say that I don't want to participate in the concert, I will be accused of disrespecting the dead, or worse, being as hateful as the victim's killers. It will be seen as though I think his death was fine or good because he was gay, and that I think gay people should be harassed and bullied for their orientation. If I go through with the concert, I'll be violating my conscience, and the Truth.

I love gay people; I've had friends come out to me, and I've been very loving to them, because of my love for Christ. And my love for the Living God is very deep; I see Him in the world around me and in his word. I meditate on Him daily. I see Him in the relationship between a husband and wife, a reflection of Christ and the Church, and even as a reflection of God and His relationship with the human soul. This is why the sacrament of marriage between a man and a woman is so dear and sacred to me (although I am not married).

But am I being hateful in some way? I feel guilty for not wanting to sing music about a young man being murdered for his sexual orientation. That's not why I don't want to sing it. But when I take off the robe to show the Pride colors, then it's like I'm saying I embrace homosexuality, and I'm helping to raise money for an organization that would say my beliefs are hateful and should be eliminated.

What should I do? Should I sing or not? Am I overreacting? Please keep me in your prayers.

Doing this is construed as endorsing and promoting the LGBT movement. The LGBT movement is not only there to promote homosexuality and same-sex marriage, but their agenda is also to get Christians to change their beliefs regarding homosexuality, transgender, same-sex marriage, etc. Getting rid of the hatred is only an excuse for them. In the same way, they pushed the issue of same-sex marriage under the guise of equal rights. Like everything else, a Christian marriage comes with restrictions. Those restrictions are:

1. You cannot marry a child. There is an age restriction in marriage.
2. You cannot marry your siblings or any very close relative.
3. You cannot marry more than one person.
4. You cannot marry a person of the same sex.
5. You cannot marry a nonhuman, such as dog.

Therefore, this has nothing to do with equal rights, but with removing a restriction. Once a restriction is removed, another group will work at removing another restriction such as number 3.

We are to love the homosexuals as Christ taught us to love all people, but we must also stand by the truth and not participate in something that opposes our belief.

Lost4words · Feb 19, 2019

Stay well clear.

God bless you

Heavenhome · Feb 19, 2019

I would not sing.
Pray yes.
It is imperative these days to not confuse being a loving Christian whilst holding fast to our convictions and those who embrace everything saying that is the loving way.

No one is more loving than God.
God bless you for not just going with the flow.

Presbyterian Continuist · Feb 19, 2019

You have a choice - whether to go the judgment and condemnation way, or with grace and power. Jesus did not come to condemn sinners but to save them. The world is full of fine Christian religious people who would think nothing of harsh and brutal condemnation of gays, and in some areas have persecuted and murdered them in the name of their Christian religion, and though they were doing God a service.

Jesus can save gay people just as easily as any other unconverted sinner, then after He has saved and converted them, if He does like any aspect of them, He has the power to change them into the people He wants them to be.

Jesus made it quite clear that the worse sinners, criminals and prostitutes would get into heaven before the self-righteous, "holier than thou" religious folk. Some of these modern self-righteous "Christian" folk may get a rude shock one day when they see the very gay folks they judged and condemned going through the gates of Heaven while they are shut out.

Truly converted believers hate the sin in themselves, but love everyone else, including gays.

HoleyHermit · Feb 19, 2019

In The Book of Matt, a gay journalist claims that Shepard was not murdered for his sexual orientation. That the story is a myth promulgated to create a gay martyr.

Whatever the case, you did not kill him and need feel no guilt over his death.

Hazelelponi · Feb 19, 2019

MournfulWatcher said:
What should I do? Should I sing or not? Am I overreacting? Please keep me in your prayers.

Not one person here can answer this question for you.

If you don't do this concert you don't risk losing your scholarship, you likely will lose it.

Most scholarship contracts include mandatory participation in related events. Its conditional for keeping the scholarship - you will need to refer to your contract to know whether refusal means losing it.

And its a contract you signed and agreed to, can they make you pay back the scholarship if you refuse? Again, check your contract.

And your correct about how this will be perceived by many. Look at what the bakers went through, and are still going through for refusing to make a cake. No one can sue you, but things will definitely change for you.

All I can advise you to do, is fast and pray, and make sure in your heart before you do anything.

This is potentially a life changing decision.

I will say one thing - talk to your parents about this. See what their thoughts are. Talk as a family.

Rose Anna · Feb 19, 2019

MournfulWatcher said:
I attend a public university and have a choir scholarship there, although I am not a music major. The music director is a Christian and also directs the choir program at a local Methodist church in my town. Today, the director called a meeting for the different university choir classes for some updates, and told us about our next concert near the end of the semester. He said we would be doing a piece called "Considering Matthew Shepard", with the lyrics being a series of poems about the tragic murder of Matthew Shepard, who was killed because he was gay back in 1998.

The director informed us that the concert would raise money for the Matthew Shepard Foundation, an organization which promoted acceptance and inclusion of LGBT people and education to "stop hatred and bigotry. "
In the concert, we would remove our black robes to reveal different color shirts underneath, like a Pride flag.
I'm not sure what to do. I listened to the music and read the lyrics; the music itself is beautifully done and much of the lyrics are also beautiful and heartfelt. But there's certain parts that are difficult for me to swallow. There are parts where the boy is compared to Christ, for example there is a section that is labelled "passion", and a poem about a Westborough Baptist protester that goes like this:

"kreuzige, kreuzige! (translation: crucify, crucify)
A boy who takes a boy to bed?
Where I come from that's not polite
He asked for it, you got that right
The fires of Hell burn hot and red
The only good *redacted* is a *redacted* that's dead
A man and a woman, the Good Lord said
As sure as Eve took that first bite
The fires of Hell burn hot and red
kreuzige, kreuzige!
Beneath the Hunter's Moon he bled
That must have been a pretty sight
The fires of Hell burn hot and red
C’mon, kids, it's time for bed
Say your prayers, kiss Dad good night
A boy who takes a boy to bed?
The fires of Hell burn hot and red
crucify, crucify the light, crucify the light . . ."

I might be able to go along with the concert if it weren't for the fact that we're raising money for an organization that I disagree with on a moral and spiritual level. The director was very passionate about it and is known to have a temper, so I'm afraid to speak to him about wishing to abstain from the concert. A big chunk of the people in the music department are LGBT (I'd say about 40% or so), so I also fear social backlash if people learned why I'm not in the concert. I also fear losing my scholarship and getting kicked out of choir, and the whole thing even getting spread around campus (I go to a very small university), because the Foundation is going to get involved with the whole university.

I feel stuck between a rock and a hard place. If I say that I don't want to participate in the concert, I will be accused of disrespecting the dead, or worse, being as hateful as the victim's killers. It will be seen as though I think his death was fine or good because he was gay, and that I think gay people should be harassed and bullied for their orientation. If I go through with the concert, I'll be violating my conscience, and the Truth.

I love gay people; I've had friends come out to me, and I've been very loving to them, because of my love for Christ. And my love for the Living God is very deep; I see Him in the world around me and in his word. I meditate on Him daily. I see Him in the relationship between a husband and wife, a reflection of Christ and the Church, and even as a reflection of God and His relationship with the human soul. This is why the sacrament of marriage between a man and a woman is so dear and sacred to me (although I am not married).

But am I being hateful in some way? I feel guilty for not wanting to sing music about a young man being murdered for his sexual orientation. That's not why I don't want to sing it. But when I take off the robe to show the Pride colors, then it's like I'm saying I embrace homosexuality, and I'm helping to raise money for an organization that would say my beliefs are hateful and should be eliminated.

What should I do? Should I sing or not? Am I overreacting? Please keep me in your prayers.

Sanoy · Feb 19, 2019

It's great that you have that conflict, many of us have lost that. The concept of the Matthew Shepard foundation, to stop bigotry and hate, is good but I don't know what else the money goes to. You will have to research whether you want to use your voice to promote what they do. But in any case you are also being asked to wear a gay pride shirt which is definitely not what you believe. If this is the only issue, you could ask the teacher if you could wear a "Jesus loves everyone" shirt.

Be advised, the public and media are triggered right now, and they will jump on any story if it promotes their agendas. (For example the Covington HS kids) So you may slip through, you may lose your scholarship, or you may draw public attention and the opportunity to speak to the world. Either way, do the thing that you feel in your heart is right, and don't yield to what you believe is wrong out of fear.

Rose Anna · Feb 19, 2019

In reading your dilemma I really felt for you and related to what you are saying. That you love people and as individuals but cannot go against anything that is a subtle or obvious on God and the true gospel. I would pray and ask God to guide you and give you the words and ways of avoiding this manipulation and trap. You also need others like fellow Christians such as here and off line as well if possible, to share your burdons with. I pray that their eyes will see your love and life of Christ and that they understand where you are coming from. To me the organisation is making judgements and misrepresentations, manipulating others. The very thing they accuse Christians of. I hope there is a way out for you.

Should I Sing in a Concert for the LGBT Movement?

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