reblogged from releasedorothy.wordpress.com
I was appalled recently to read that a Baptist church in Texas had been picketing the funerals of some of the children who were gunned down in Connecticut last week… but not nearly as appalled as I was when I visited the church’s website: GodHatesFags.com comprises quite possibly the most frightening filth I have ever read, not even insomuch as it spreads messages of hatred against the LGBTQ community (I have confidence that my more intelligent LGBTQ brothers and sisters will know better than to be negatively influenced by that sort of all-to-familiar theme), but more because I worry about the many seekers who will be turned irrevocably away from God after experiencing this sort of ugly extremism.
Although I believe that the Great Organizing Principal of the universe makes Himself known to us in so many irresistible ways if only we’d open our eyes and ears, the truth is, many of us are looking for (or noticing) God in our fellow human beings. And when human beings picket the funeral of a 6-year-old shot to death at school, with a sign proclaiming that the massacre was God’s way of punishing a nation that is open to marriage equality, I fear that those who are looking for the God who loves them and made them will stop doing so.
Interestingly, the same day I read of this – what I would call – “crime of iniquity” by so-called “Christians”, I also noticed that someone had stumbled across my blog by typing in a “should Christians support pride week” search term. And so, I’ve decided to share a few websites and articles related to Christian and LGBTQ issues. I don’t usually comment overtly about that “stuff” on this blog, but perhaps the time has come to be more vocal about it here in my increasingly well-visited little corner of the Internet.
I hope that my Christian readers will read these links with an open mind as they consider that, if 6-10% of the world’s population is gay, then you’ve probably got at least a few LGBTQ folks sitting in your church pews, even if they aren’t "out" (their silent personal anguish and fear in the proverbial church closet doesn’t “cure” them of their homosexuality, people -- they're still gay, even if they didn't tell you they were!)
Although I believe that the Great Organizing Principal of the universe makes Himself known to us in so many irresistible ways if only we’d open our eyes and ears, the truth is, many of us are looking for (or noticing) God in our fellow human beings. And when human beings picket the funeral of a 6-year-old shot to death at school, with a sign proclaiming that the massacre was God’s way of punishing a nation that is open to marriage equality, I fear that those who are looking for the God who loves them and made them will stop doing so.
Interestingly, the same day I read of this – what I would call – “crime of iniquity” by so-called “Christians”, I also noticed that someone had stumbled across my blog by typing in a “should Christians support pride week” search term. And so, I’ve decided to share a few websites and articles related to Christian and LGBTQ issues. I don’t usually comment overtly about that “stuff” on this blog, but perhaps the time has come to be more vocal about it here in my increasingly well-visited little corner of the Internet.
I hope that my Christian readers will read these links with an open mind as they consider that, if 6-10% of the world’s population is gay, then you’ve probably got at least a few LGBTQ folks sitting in your church pews, even if they aren’t "out" (their silent personal anguish and fear in the proverbial church closet doesn’t “cure” them of their homosexuality, people -- they're still gay, even if they didn't tell you they were!)
As Wendy Gritter of New Directions says, as Christians, we must "recognize that while the bible may be inerrant - there are no inerrant interpreters of the bible. All of us see through a glass dimly - none of us has a perfect pipeline to God."
And I hope my LGBTQ readers who may not be believers will also explore these sites, and see that not all Christian folk are the hate-mongers the mainstream media would like you to believe we Bible-thumpers are!
Enjoy, and please submit a (respectful) comment, if you so wish.
| 1. New Directions Under the direction of Wendy Gritter, M.Div., New Directions operates under the premise that "God has called the church to relate graciously with those outside the heterosexual mainstream". In particular, LGBTQ readers might relate to and enjoy this article, and Christian readers just beginning to explore and understand all this may learn a little something too. :-) 2. Why Christians Should Attend a Pride Parade This blog post, and most of the others on this person's site, offer articulate reflections of a Christian considering the reality of LGBTQ creatures in a God-created world. 3. Four Articles This page of MCCT's website offers readers ready to wrestle with what the Scriptures really say and mean an opportunity to do so. |
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