The shadows of October baseball have been kind to the Mets’ Daniel Murphy as he continues to lead the Mets closer and closer to World Series glory.
The shadows of the internet? Not so much.
Jim Buzinski, co-founder of Outsports.com and a gay man, lashed out at Murphy in a very silly column where he attacked the Mets infielder’s “Christian lifestyle,” in response to Murphy’s statement from earlier in the year that he disagrees with the “homosexual lifestyle.”
Buzinski wrote:
"Mets star Daniel Murphy disagrees with the gay 'lifestyle,' I disagree with his Christian 'lifestyle.'"
There is nothing wrong with being gay, as he clearly believes, so I don't respect his views, though he has a right to express them.
One more thing -- being gay is not a "lifestyle" and it's something I did not choose. In Murphy's case, though, he did choose to be a Christian and has embraced its "lifestyle." He told the Christian Broadcast Network that he did not become a Christian until he was 14 or 15. "I actually came to the Lord in a youth group trip," he said. "The Lord's spirit overcame me so much, you couldn't resist."
He also said he believes God made him a baseball player for a reason. "He’s put me fortunately on this stage -- in the greatest athletic stage in all the world for a reason. I think that reason is to be a light."
He also asked for some divine assistance in Game 5 of the National League Divisional Series when the Mets held a 3-2 lead over the Dodgers heading into the final three innings.
"There was a lot of prayer going on out there, just asking for peace and just talking to Jesus and asking for peace those last three or four innings," he told AP. As for why he has player so well in the postseason, he said: "I don't know. Sometimes the blessings come, Jesus is good..."
I did not know Jesus was a Mets fan, which would sorely disappoint Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, who is a very vocal Christian. Maybe Jesus has a skybox at Citi Field.
Unlike gay people, Murphy chose a lifestyle, and it's one that preaches that there is something wrong with who I am. I wish he had chosen a lifestyle more inclusive and less judgmental. I would certainly couldn't disagree with that.”
No, Jesus is not a Mets fan. But Jesus most certainly is a Daniel Murphy fan. As he is also a Jim Buzinski fan. More importantly, Daniel Murphy is a Jim Buzinski fan. Here are Daniel Murphy’s comments that he gave after Billy Bean (MLB Gay Inclusion advocate, not Moneyball guy) came to speak to the Mets. Amazingly, these are the comments that provoked Buzinski’s petulant screed:
“I disagree with his lifestyle. I do disagree with the fact that Billy is a homosexual. That doesn't mean I can't still invest in him and get to know him. I don't think the fact that someone is a homosexual should completely shut the door on investing in them in a relational aspect. Getting to know him. That, I would say, you can still accept them but I do disagree with the lifestyle, 100 percent.
Maybe, as a Christian, that we haven't been as articulate enough in describing what our actual stance is on homosexuality," he said. "We love the people. We disagree the lifestyle…”
Now, square Murphy’s comments about love and inclusion --even for those whom he morally disagrees-- with Buzinski’s mean-spirited, Jesus-mocking rant. Then ask yourself who is being “more inclusive and less judgmental?”
But, there’s a larger reason why Buzinski’s rebuke of Murphy and his “lifestyle” choice of Christianity is so much fail. Besides the fact that there is absolutely zero hard scientific evidence of anything called a “gay gene.” And that’s that Christians are proud that their religion is a choice. That’s no insult to Daniel Murphy! Or, to me. Or, to any Christian.
Why would Christ have had to suffer one of the worst deaths in recorded history if all God had to do was install a “God gene” that would have commanded our love and obedience, absent free will? Isn’t it far more meaningful and sincere and heartfelt to actively choose a certain lifestyle in the face of evil, temptation, and danger, as opposed to doing it…just because?
Is Jim Buzinski honestly saying that he possesses no free will over something that largely defines his life? Sad, if true. Which it isn’t.
But the real question is, if you’re so proud of the way you live your life, why are you so determined to chalk it up to junk science? Instead of making it about your own free will?
Jim?...
