Nothing says defeatism like this...

Hookers for Jesus. What else is there to say? Well, probably a lot. First of all, ministry to the poor, downtrodden sex-industry workers supposedly goes back to Mary Magdalene so this is nothing new in Christianity. It does in fact use the web in some very interesting ways from a philosophical sense. Kind of "go tell it on the Mountain", only in this case, the mountain belongs to Venus.

There have also been efforts to unionize sex workers. There is an organization even odder, I suspect, that runs a site called XXX Church--the number 1 Christian Porn Site. Certainly, the eschatological message of Jesus as liberator, the whole "last shall be first and the first shall be last!"message had an appeal to lower classes, including whores, hermaphrodites and lickspittles, as Mark Anthony put it so well to Cleopatra.  During  Crusader AXE's AA days, a lot of folks at the tables had been whores, at least on a part time basis, to pay for drugs, booze or whatever. There is a vicious circle involved in self-degradation and fear and the use of one's body as a sex toy for others is probably as good an example of that vicious cycle as anything else I can imagine.

The only issue I have with this effort is the self-lobotomizing requirement to be a happy, joyous and free born-again Jesus-slut. Annie Lobert is right when she says on her home page that "Everything we keep hidden has power over us!" As a recovering drunk, I find letting others know that I'm a recovering drunk helpful in keeping me sober...if it helps someone else, fine but I'm not doing this to save the world.

I accept her sincerity and her conversion. But I have problems not so much with her, or her vision, or her target audience on this one; I have it with humanity. I'm having problems articulating it, of course -- I have problems with those who are condescendingly supportive, the professional Christians who will then talk behind their hands about "You know, Cathy used to be a hooker. She found Jesus. Isn't that sweet..."

I have always disliked the Pharisees amongst us. An attitude that has probably cost me money, jobs, power, prestige and  the adoration of millions. On the other hand, I don't sleep well, either. Being a stiff-necked Leveler has its  drawbacks too, of course. I can't claim the grace of being a simple Publican. Annie can, and delusional as I regard the trappings of her message to be, more power to her.

Annie's most difficult sell is not with Crusader AXE of the Lost Causes, or my brothers. It's with those who will support her based on the words of her message and condemn those she is trying to help. Their Jesus said it best, in Luke 18:10-14:

 

10  Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

11  The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

12  I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

13  And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

14  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Comments

[Comandante Agi]

A night out with one of them must be a religious experience.

[el serracho]

illicit sex in my face? just where i like it.