Derek Webb’s False Dilemma

Above is Derek Webb’s new video.  In case there was any argument left, Webb has officially jumped the shark.  The song sounds a lot like Joy Electric with tolerable vocals, but I digress.

In the song, Webb is vaguely addressing people who hate homosexuals.  Of course, he is not drawing any distinction between the likes of Fred Phelps and people who just believe the Bible. The whole song is pretty cheesy.  For example, when trying to write a song protesting something, why not make it a little more like art and a little less like a song where you made the lyrics up as you went?

You say you always treat people like you like to be
I guess you love being hated for your sexuality
You love when people put words in your mouth
‘Bout what you believe, make you sound like a freak”

All of this is not enough to call an official shark-jump, except that Webb has found it necessary to cuss… again. And, let me tell you, the earth is shaking.

However, despite his sophomoric attempt to draw attention to a serious issue, Webb actually raises one.  The issue, of course, is that people are dying, to the tune of 50,000, “every day.”  Dr. Dennny Burk reports that the 50,000 number is probably referring back to a Tony Campolo illustration where he cites 50,000 people die of hunger every day.

The problem is that Webb issues a common logical fallacy into this song: the false dilemma.  In other words, he is asking, “Who cares about homosexuality when people are dying of hunger?” His titular response is, “What matters more to you?”

My answer is, “Yes.”  I care about homosexuals for the same reason I care about starving people.  Jesus died for them and rose from the dead.  The reason Christians maintain that homosexuality is a sin and that people should not starve to death is the Gospel.  Of course there are those who hate homosexuals, but that is because those people are letting their righteousness reside in themselves instead of seeing it as resting fully in the accomplished work of Christ.  The answer for all of us is the Gospel.

Therefore, our answer to this false dilemma should be one that keeps a strong backbone for Biblical fidelity and tender heart for those Christ died to save.

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