“What he said,” Rebekah echoed and reached for Freddie’s hand.
“Thanks, you guys,” Lisa said. She turned to Marcus and said, “We should go over our closing statements.”
“Agreed,” Marcus said.
The entire table put their collective heads together, Freddie included, and went over their closing.
All too soon, Anne called time, and they had to head back to their podium. Lisa’s smiled faded when she saw the confident smirk on Alivia’s face. Ronnie’s face was unreadable, but he was a great actor and you never knew what he was thinking.
Jordan called action, and Alivia moved closer to the podium as if she were in no particular hurry. Lisa frowned at her cocky demeanor.
Alivia said, “Our opposition spent a lot of time talking about not living under the law anymore, so let’s examine this further. Romans 3:31 in the New Testament says, ‘Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.’ Using the version of the Bible that they asked us to use in this debate, let me read from 1 Timothy 1:8-11.” Her eyes narrowed as she read. “Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it legitimately. This means understanding that the law is laid down not for the innocent but for the lawless and disobedient, for the godless and sinful, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their father or mother, for murderers,” Alivia paused and looked right at Lisa, her eyes boring into Lisa’s soul as she slowly and deliberately quoted the next two words, “fornicators, sodomites,” she looked back up to the cameras and finished, “slave traders, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to the sound teaching that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.” Alivia sounded like she was speaking to dimwits when she said, “Fornicators and sodomites. It’s pretty clear, isn’t it?”
Lisa’s stomach clenched. She wanted to shout out that they had already gone over the sins of Sodom. Rape, selfishness, and all-around bad manners. And the word fornicator? They had come across the word early in their research. Marlee told them the word fornicator was from Latin and meant people who go to prostitutes.
Lisa’s blood boiled. Why did everyone think that gay people were out-of-control when it came to sex? That was the problem with the world. People wanted to think the worst of others. A wave of anger flooded over her. Whose side was Alivia on anyway? Maybe she really believed the things she was saying.
Oddly, Ronnie sounded gleeful when he quoted Romans 1:26-27. “God gave them up to degrading passions. Their women exchanged natural intercourse for unnatural, and in the same way also the men, giving up natural intercourse with women, were consumed with passion for one another.”
“Hallelujah,” Alivia said with a righteous grin.
“Time,” Anne called.
It must have been Alivia’s smug look or the way she high-fived Ronnie that sent Lisa over the edge. Didn’t they know how serious this was? Didn’t they know this was about her life? And other people’s lives? Lisa bolted past Alivia and Ronnie trying to hold back her tears. She ran out the door and down the hallway, her face in her hands, the tears coming despite her best efforts to hold them back. All the frustrations and setbacks during the debate came rushing to the forefront. Maybe Alivia was right. Maybe Reverend Rinaldi and Freddie were right. She was a sinner. Footsteps approached her, so she turned away and faced the wall trying to stop crying, but not being able to.
“Lisa?” It was Alivia. That last person in the entire universe she wanted to see at that moment. “I—”
Lisa whirled around and snarled, “Why is my life and what I do so important to you? Seriously, do you have nothing better to do? ”
Alivia backed away slowly, stunned.
Lisa groaned. She hadn’t meant to unleash her frustration that way and struggled to keep her tears under control as Sam approached.
But before Sam reached her, Freddie put a hand out. “Can I try?”
Sam looked at Lisa, silently asking if it was okay for Freddie to approach. Lisa nodded once, and Sam stepped back.
“Walk with me,” Freddie said to Lisa keeping a respectable distance between them. They walked to the farthest end of the hall and then turned the corner, far enough so no one from the youth group could see or hear them. “Mark 9:40 says, ‘Whoever is not against us is for us.’”
“Are you including yourself in the ‘us’?”
He nodded. “You’re doing good works, Lisa. Even I can see it. And Alivia, too. She is a good person.”
“Sure she is.” Lisa rolled her eyes.
They leaned back against the cinderblock wall and stood in silence for a while until Lisa said, “What’s your take on all of this? Is my side losing?”
He laughed. “I don’t think it’s about winning or losing. It’s about reaching people. Some people, like the old me, are simply not reachable. Then there are others who might not have thought about the things you’re bringing up, and I now include myself in that group. Hopefully, people will choose to think for themselves, make their own judgments.”
“‘Do not judge, so that you may not be judged,’ Freddie,” Lisa quipped. “Matthew, chapter something or other.”
“Matthew 7:1. I’ve been doing a lot of research on the subject lately. But listen. All is not lost. They gave you an opening.”
“They did?”
Freddie nodded. “Their last Bible quote, the one from Romans about the men who have sex with, you know, each other?”
Lisa pressed her lips tight so she wouldn’t smile at Freddie’s deepening blush.
“Yeah, what about it?”
“They took that passage completely out of context.”
Lisa narrowed her eyes as she thought back on why the passage was talking about carnal lust in the first place. She inhaled sharply when she realized. “Freddie, you’re a genius. C’mon,” she tapped him on the chest with the back of her hand, “we have to get back.” She took off running down the hall leaving Freddie laughing as he tried to keep up.
Chapter Twenty-four
“Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.”— Colossians 3:1
“PLACES, PLEASE,” JORDAN called. “The Not-a-Sin side gets a two-minute rebuttal and then we’re segueing right into closing statements.”
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Marcus said as he adjusted their notecards on the podium.
“Yes, I lost my mind for a moment, but I’m good.” And she was. How ironic that it took Freddie to talk her off the proverbial ledge. The same Freddie who had been against her and all gay people. Standing out in the hallway, she realized that if she could convince him, then there must be others that would listen, too. She gave her mood ring a quick twist and was ready.
“We need quiet on the set.” Lisa almost laughed out loud. Jordan was really taking his director’s role seriously. “And action!”
Lisa said, “Our opposition brought up a point in Romans 1:26-27, about God giving up on people who gave in to their carnal passions. Out of context, it’s a pretty damning passage, but the opposition didn’t give us the whole story. Yes, Romans 1:26-27 talks about how God gave up on the men who were ‘consumed with passion for one another,’ and the women who did the same. But in the preceding verses, Romans 1:2325, we realize that the apostle Paul is talking about idol worship and altar desecration.” She said the words again, pointedly tapping the podium with each word. “Idol worship. Altar desecration.”
She shook her head in disgust, “I quote, ‘And they exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling a mortal human being or birds or four-footed animals or reptiles.’ Sounds like idol worship to me. It goes on to say, ‘Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the degrading of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.’ It was this idol-worsh
ipping sexual fervor, these pagan orgies that God was displeased with. Paul was not referring to loving, caring same-sex relationships.”
Marcus took over. “And, c’mon, let’s talk about this whole sex thing. We’ve heard the words fornicator and sexually immoral used to describe gay people. Talking about sex is often uncomfortable, thus many ears don’t hear. But let me ask you this. Why do some of you automatically assume gay people are fornicators and sexually immoral?
Most gay people, just like most straight people, live in or want to be in monogamous, loving, and caring relationships. They don’t go out seeking prostitutes. That’s what the word fornicator means, did you know that? And sexually immoral? Loving someone and showing it in a personal private way is immoral? Really? C’mon, people, open your hearts so that your ears may finally hear and understand.”
She and Marcus stepped back to indicate that they were finished with their rebuttal statements. Lisa’s heart was beating a thousand miles an hour. She glanced up at Sam who was standing behind the cameras next to Jordan. She shook two fists in triumph. Lisa, with the barest of nods to Sam, bit down a smile.
“Cut,” Jordan called. “Ready for closing statements?” At the four nods, he said, “Cameras ready?” The three camera operators, all classmates of Jordan’s from Southbridge High School, nodded. “Remember there are no time limits on closing statements. Quiet on the set, please.” He paused for a moment to let the conversations die out, and then said, “And action.”
Lisa spoke first. “It seems to me that sometimes we don’t listen to each other. When I read Acts 28:27 it strikes a chord. ‘For this people’s heart has grown dull, and their ears are hard of hearing.’ This is how it feels to me as a gay person. So many people want to judge me without first listening and finding out who I am.” In the back of her mind she realized that she had just come out to the entire world, but so be it. She was being open and honest about who she was. God had made her, after all, so the world had better get used to it.
Marcus quoted Luke 6:42, “And how can you say to your neighbor, ‘Friend, let me take out the speck in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye.” Marcus then looked directly into the camera. “In John 8:7, Jesus said, ‘Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.’” He shifted his gaze toward Lisa.
Lisa said, “‘Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.’ Luke 6:37.”
Marcus continued. “‘Why do you pass judgment on your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. Each of us will be accountable to God. Let us therefore no longer pass judgment on one another, but resolve instead never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of another.’ Romans 14:10-13.”
Lisa paused for a moment. She was glad they didn’t have the two minute time constraint. “Remember what is written in 1 Samuel 16:7. ‘The Lord sees not as man sees; man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.’”
Marcus moved Jordan’s script on top of their note cards. Following Jordan’s instructions, Lisa and Marcus looked over at Alivia and Ronnie who in turn looked at them.
Ronnie said, “‘In everything do to others as you would have them do to you.’ Matthew 7:12.”
Lisa nodded at Ronnie in reconciled agreement. She said, “Luke 6:31. ‘ Do to others as you would have them do to you.’” “These both, of course, refer to the Golden Rule,” Alivia added. “Let’s try to live this way,” Marcus said. Ronnie looked toward the camera which was their cue to move together in between the podiums and link arms. Ronnie quoted 1 John 2:9, “Whoever says, ‘I am in the light,’ while hating a brother or sister, is still in the darkness.”
Lisa pointedly looked at each one in turn and said the final statement directly into the camera, “‘Let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger.’ James 1:19.”
They held their gaze at the camera, waiting for Jordan to call, “cut,” but he didn’t. Instead, he simply stood there, arms crossed, grinning.
“Okay, then,” Ronnie said breaking character. He turned to Lisa and said, “So, uh, who’s ‘Grace’ and why do we live under her?”
The entire room burst out laughing.
“Cut!” Jordan yelled. “That was amazing, you guys! Amazing. I can’t wait to edit this.” He hugged the four debaters and then thanked the camera people and gave a special thanks to Anne, their youth group leader, for letting them tackle such a huge project.
Sam ran over to Lisa and grabbed her by both forearms. “Baby, that was so good. Now can we go back to being heathens?”
“Sam!” Lisa pulled her arms free, and smacked her lightly on the shoulder.
“Actually, baby...”
“What?” It wasn’t like Sam to be so reticent.
“I want to start going to church with you and your family.”
Without a word, Lisa hugged Sam and twirled her around again and then kissed her all over her face until Sam was giggling and begging for mercy.
“Hey, Lisa,” Alivia said. She and Karl had been standing off to one side.
Lisa stopped kissing Sam and frowned. Geez, Alivia was such a buzz kill.
Before Alivia could say anything, Freddie and Rebekah walked up to congratulate them on a well-done endeavor.
Freddie said, “I’m glad I was able to break my bindings and open my ears.”
“Me, too,” Rebekah said. “I was doing some research and found this info for you online. I don’t know if it’s something you’re interested in, but here.” She handed a one page printout to Lisa.
“Metropolitan Community Churches,” Lisa read out loud. Sam moved in closer so she could also read it.
“It’s, like, a gay church or something.” Rebekah pointed to the paper. “Here look at their mission. It says they want to change people’s hearts, and that God’s love includes everybody. See?” She stepped back and reached for Freddie’s hands. “They’re doing the same thing you guys did with your video.”
By this time, a crowd was gathering around them. Marlee and Susie, Julie and Marcus, Ronnie and Jordan, and even Jessica from PE stood close.
Jessica said, “There’s an MCC church in Rochester.”
“There is?” Lisa asked. No wonder Jessica had come back to their debates without her friends. She must have been struggling to find a church that accepted her, too. “Too bad it’s so far away.”
“Road trip,” Susie announced causing a spontaneous chant of “road trip, road trip, road trip.”
Lisa smiled when she noticed that not only Jessica, but Freddie and Rebekah joined in the chant as well.
Before the chant was finished, Alivia let go of Karl’s hand and threw herself on Lisa, wrapping her arms around her in a tight hug. Alivia sobbed in Lisa’s ear. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
Lisa looked wide-eyed at Karl whose own wide eyes told her nothing. She patted Alivia on the back, stiffly at first, then more genuinely. “What are you sorry for, Alivia?”
Alivia sniffled her sobs back and let Lisa go. She stepped back and reached for Karl’s hand pulling him to her. “I was so mean to you. I wasn’t sure about you. I couldn’t let her get hurt.”
“You couldn’t let who get hurt?”
Alivia looked over at Sam, whose eyes were now as wide as Karl’s had been. “Me? You don’t have to protect me, Alivia. Least of all from Lisa.”
“I know that now, but those kids at school were so mean to you when that stupid newspaper reporter outed you.” She turned to face Lisa. “You should have heard the mean things they said to her and Susie.”
Marlee raised a questioning eyebrow at Susie. Apparently Susie had been shielding Marlee from the truth about the name-calling and homophobic slurs she and Sam had been getting at school.
Alivia turned to Sam.
“I didn’t want to see anyone else stomp all over you.”
“Why did you think Lisa was going to hurt me?” Sam’s tone was soft.
Alivia’s face turned bright red. She let go of Karl’s hand and reached over to rub Lisa’s upper arm, making Lisa a little uncomfortable. “I’m sorry. I thought maybe she was only after your, uh...”
“Fame and fortune?” Lisa suggested.
Alivia nodded.
“Alivia, you’re a good friend to worry about Sam that way.” Lisa put her hand over the hand that was rubbing her arm raw. “Thank you for looking out for her, but I am in no way after her riches. In fact, I didn’t know who she was when she first asked me out and then kissed me on the very same day.”
Ronnie led the whooping and hollering. “And they say gay guys are promiscuous.”
“Shut up, Ronnie,” Sam said and smacked him in the stomach.
“Oof.” Ronnie recoiled pretending to be hurt.
“I’m sorry for judging you too soon.” Alivia stepped back and reached for Karl’s hand again. He took it, kissed it, and then put a comforting arm around her.
“How about this,” Lisa suggested. “I won’t judge you, and you don’t judge me.”
“Fair enough.” Alivia nodded. “Fair enough.”
Chapter Twenty-five
“It is finished.”— John 19:30
LISA HELD TIGHTLY onto Sam’s hand as they bravely walked from the family van toward the steps leading up to the Presbyterian Church of Clarksonville. She wanted the members of her church to see her walking proudly with the love of her life. If she’d learned anything from the youth group debate, it was that love was never wrong.
Lawrence Jr. ran to catch up to them and reached for Sam’s free hand. “Happy Birthday, Sam. We’re having cake for you when we get home from church.” Before Sam could answer, he blurted, “Are you guys getting married today?”
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