Thank's Brian Buford for the University of Louisville Pride shirt!
A few years ago a young man stood before my congregation and confessed that he tried to kill himself after leaving the last worship service that he attended at another church. The young man stated that he went to the alter for prayer during a particularly rough time in his life, and his pastor indicated that whatever he was going through was because he was gay. In essence he was told that he was getting what he deserved. Feeling as if he had no place to turn to he went home and took a lot of pills trying to end his life. This young man attended a church, the place that God called a house of prayer for all people looking for hope, encouragement, and peace, yet he left the church and attempted to take his own life. Should not the church be saving lives and not taking lives? Today I lift up those who have ever been told they aren't good enough because they are same gender loving! God's gay children are dandelions. There are some who consider gay people a weed- unwanted, undesirable, and a complete and total burden. I even recently heard a pastor preach that church leaders should kick gay people out of their congregations because they will ruin the good straight members of the church. Even if you believe that being gay is wrong (and I don't- but that's for a future post) the bible says that Love covers a multitude of sin. So does that not mean that same gender loving individuals will be ok if the faith community just loves them and allows them to love themselves? It is wrong for people to leave a church service feeling hopeless and suicidal. It is wrong for people to go to church and feel that they are being taunted and bullied from the pulpit and the pew. It is wrong for people to tell other people that God hates them in an effort to shame/scare them into living a lie. If God is love why do so many people practice hate towards gay people?
There are some who will disagree with me because of what "the bible says" about homosexuality; however, the modern concept of homosexuality as a sexual orientation was not even thought of when the bible was written 3,500 years ago. Unless you have done the extensive research to understand the context and history of the few anti-gay passages of scriptures that people recite you are ignorant to the truth and intentions of those texts. Remember that throughout history the bible has been used to enslave people, promote polygamy, support domestic violence and incest, and various other terrible things that most people agree are barbaric in the 21st century. How then can we not understand that the same should hold true concerning the LGBT community? When Christ was asked which of the 10 commandments was the greatest he replied- Love God, Love your neighbor, Love yourself. Isn't love enough?
I challenge every gay person who is a member of a church that preaches hate to leave that church and find a loving, accepting, and affirming church. Dandelions may not be wanted and desired everywhere; however, they are loved and accepted somewhere. Moreover, anyone who is straight and tired of the pulpit being used to marginalize and attack certain populations in the community should find a open and affirming congregation to join. A wonderful resource is www.gaychurch.org ; you can search for a hate free church in your community. Let us fight to end the cycle of hate in our churches and our communities. Let us stop bullying not only in schools but in churches as well! Be blessed my beloved lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, queer, and questions brothers/sisters/others! You are more than conquorers; you are dandelions! Some may not want you around, but God loves you just the way you are! Love Wins! -Rev. Derek
There are some who will disagree with me because of what "the bible says" about homosexuality; however, the modern concept of homosexuality as a sexual orientation was not even thought of when the bible was written 3,500 years ago. Unless you have done the extensive research to understand the context and history of the few anti-gay passages of scriptures that people recite you are ignorant to the truth and intentions of those texts. Remember that throughout history the bible has been used to enslave people, promote polygamy, support domestic violence and incest, and various other terrible things that most people agree are barbaric in the 21st century. How then can we not understand that the same should hold true concerning the LGBT community? When Christ was asked which of the 10 commandments was the greatest he replied- Love God, Love your neighbor, Love yourself. Isn't love enough?
I challenge every gay person who is a member of a church that preaches hate to leave that church and find a loving, accepting, and affirming church. Dandelions may not be wanted and desired everywhere; however, they are loved and accepted somewhere. Moreover, anyone who is straight and tired of the pulpit being used to marginalize and attack certain populations in the community should find a open and affirming congregation to join. A wonderful resource is www.gaychurch.org ; you can search for a hate free church in your community. Let us fight to end the cycle of hate in our churches and our communities. Let us stop bullying not only in schools but in churches as well! Be blessed my beloved lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, queer, and questions brothers/sisters/others! You are more than conquorers; you are dandelions! Some may not want you around, but God loves you just the way you are! Love Wins! -Rev. Derek
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