Greetings Readers--
Thank you for the time and care you took in responding to Jack and Larry's Neighbor. We had no idea how you would respond to the question of gays in church, and were frankly surprised with the mostly positive outpouring.
This is a topic we've given considerable thought to for several years. Partly, because we see so many young people turning their backs on God over this one issue. It's hard for them to reconcile a faith that seems full of harsh judgment against people who were born that way, with a loving God.
Heck, it's been hard for us to reconcile this matter. And if we were gay, we'd feel the injustice of being called a sinner simply because of our sexual orientation—something we had nothing to do with. We'd also feel insulted at nice Christian people trying to "fix" us like we were pet projects—or trying to bully it out of us—like one reader experienced when Christians suspected she and her roommate were gay.
Though if we only looked at the comments on the last blog, we'd think this issue isn't so complex—most were in favor of inviting Jack and Larry to church.
But the issue is complex. Why?
We think it goes beyond scripture that can be quoted to make points for either side. We went to websites with opposing views where verses were pulled apart word by word in a myriad of languages to prove each viewpoint was right. It made our heads hurt.
We're not theologians. But we've read and studied the Bible enough to see that perhaps there are two key ideas that are simple, basic, yet have the ability to be polarizing.
The first one is the love of Jesus. He never mentions homosexuality. The only people He rails against are the hypocrites. The overarching directive He gives us is to love one another.
The other concept has to do with God the Father, the Creator. He put order and design into all of His creation—including men and women and the family. Is there any believer out there who can dispute that there was a plan? Just as our senses (and science) tell us that most gays were born that way, our senses (and science) tell us that God designed the universe—and it was perfect.
Then came The Fall. And nothing was perfect. Including our genetic make-up. And this brings us to the crux of it—the place you may want to stone us. In a perfect world would any of us be born gay? We don't think so—nowhere in the Bible does it indicate so, and in nature (if you are an evolutionist), homosexuality certainly doesn't perpetuate the species.
Why is this point so important, and in our opinion so divisive? For two reasons—first on the surface, it's insulting to gays. And second, because most people who are gay or who are proponents of gay rights adhere to the premise that all sexual orientations are equal, and that all family configurations are equal. The underlying statement is that what man designs is equally good (or better even) than what God has designed.
And as much as we love our gay friends and our gay family members, we don't agree with that premise. Nothing man comes up with will ever be as good (or better) than God's design for His beloved. But we also don't think we, non-gays that we are, are any more perfect than anyone else. We aren't—our physical bodies are ALL imperfect—we all breakdown; we all die; we all rot. We are ALL born sinners—and that has NOTHING to do with our sexual orientation.
Some would say—true, it's not being gay that's the sin—it's the acting on being gay where the sin comes in. And we say—yup, but if we were gay, we'd probably be right there with them. God created us to love and be loved—and imperfect as our bodies are, that yearning is strong. Everyone born of the flesh has struggles with the flesh, and though there are people who have given up those desires for their greater love of God, it strikes us as hypocritical to glibly tell gays to give up earthly love, when the majority of us would be unable to. At least not until Christ had brought us to that place.
So where are we going with all of this?
We're not sure.
Maybe it's to say that grace could and should be extended on both sides. It's easy to see conservative Christians as intolerant haters who use scripture to clobber gays on the head. Perhaps proponents of homosexuality could understand that many Christians are grappling with their desire to be obedient to God's design, with their love of all people. Few Followers of Christ are haters.
On the other hand, maybe non-gays could be more sensitive and less glib about people who are. Maybe they could extend invitations, share meals, laugh—and pray together. Maybe they could see how so many gays are like them—loving, kind, devoted, faith-filled human beings.
Then maybe fewer young people would turn their backs on God.
Which brings us back to Jack and Larry's neighbor and her "radical" question: wouldn't it be better for The Kingdom of God to have hundreds of thousands of gay Christians?
Our answer is yes.
Yes, it would be.
And we don't know why, but as we were writing this, the image of a foot washing came to mind.
And lastly, we want to thank you all again for your considered input. These conversations are good.
All in Goodwill,
Lisa and Maddie
Even if you DON'T have the luxury of playing with a full alphabet!
