On Friday, April 25, many students in Iowa and throughout the nation will participate in a national “Day of Silence,” an annual event held to bring attention to name-calling, bullying and harassment toward gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered youth in schools. It comes as little surprise that the passive activity has Chuck Hurley, president of the socially conservative Iowa Family Policy Center, encouraging Iowa’s faithful to spend the day praying for the “healing” of gay students. It seems, however, that Hurley’s call to action is merely the tip of the iceberg.

“I have received many phone calls and emails voicing understandable frustration about this event,” Hurley wrote in an email to supporters. “Admittedly, the promotion (especially to children) of such a harmful lifestyle that is directly contrary to God’s perfect design provokes righteous anger in me also. The question then becomes, what do we do with our anger that will bring glory and honor to God?”

While acknowledging that this year’s Day of Silence event is being held in memory of Lawrence King, a gay 15-year-old Californian who died at the hands of a classmate in February, Hurley calls on supporters to not remain passive.

“By Christ’s example, we are clearly not to remain passive,” Hurley wrote. “Jesus did not throw his hands in the air and turn away when he saw sin in the world. Instead, he came into the world with his arms wide open. He made no excuse for sin, teaching that, ‘Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven.’ (Matthew 5:19) Jesus was clear that certain behaviors are unacceptable to God, yet people flocked to him because he also made it clear that God loves them in spite of sin. Jesus’ love for sinners does not equate to acceptance of sin, but to a deep and passionate desire to redeem them from it.”