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 When
men refuse to glorify their maker and recognize their dependence
upon Him; when they become fools in their vanity, and worship
and serve the creature more than the Creator, God gives them
up to their own lusts. (Rom. 1: 21—f) God gives them up
unto vile affections, and ~ leaving the natural
use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another, men
with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in
themselves that recompense of their error which was meet.”
“Neither
fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate,
nor abusers of themselves with mankind,.., shall inherit the
kingdom of God. (1 Cor. 6:9-10, emph. mine. rt) “Effeminate”
is from malakos which Arndt & Gingrich Lexicon
defines as: “especially of catamites, men and boys who allow
themselves to be misused homosexually.”
In
1 Tim. 1:10, among that which is contrary to sound doctrine, is
listed “them that defile themselves with mankind.” (arsenokoites
- “a male homosexual, pederast, sodomite.”)
So
men make a movie of this sordid thing, call it “Midnight
Cowboy,” and John Allen Chalk, “nationally—known minister
of the Highland Church of Christ in Abilene” was asked to see
and write a review of the film. We quote from The Abilene
Reporter—News, May 22, 1970, front page and 2-A.
“Midnight
Cowboy’ poignantly describes the classic disease of our
materialistic, impersonal era — loneliness. The story reveals
the redemptive power in one
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meaningful, mutually helpful human
relationship. Unfortunately, many will view this film as
standard entertainment fare rather than as strong,
socio-psychological commentary on basic human need — religious
need, I might add.”
“The
explicit scenes of both heterosexual and homosexual
relationships (not as many as one would see in some “R”
movies) are, in my judgement, unnecessary and, therefore, both
personally and artistically unacceptable. But the mature adult
who goes knowing that ‘Midnight Cowboy’ is an ‘X’-rated
movie can come away with a deep concern for the loneliness in
his own life and a greater awareness of the lonely people all
around him.”
The
newspaper article continues: “In an interview with this
reporter, Mr. Chalk enlarged on his impression of what he called
the “redemptive quality” of the film.”
“The
character ‘Ratso’ (played by Hoffman) is a striking
Christ-type figure,” he said, “—beaten down and hopeless
— but offering the possibility of redemption to the formerly
self-center, materialistic ‘Joe Buck’ (played by Voight.)”
“Mr.
Chalk repeatedly praised the impact and the powerful message of
the film, noting that, viewed in the proper spirit, it offers a
stronger sermon on true brotherly love than any sermon he has
ever delivered as a minister.”
See page 2 for my comments. RFT
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