Here’s a quick snippet of a conversation I recently overheard:
Person 1: Well, what else can you say about Christians?
Person 2: (Muttered) Well, they hate gay people…
While there is an undeniable cultural divide between the church and the gay community, and those such as myself that are deeply rooted in the church hear about the perception of Christians as gay-haters, it still shocked, startled and saddened me that to hear this with my own ears.
The image that flashed in my mind upon hearing it was of half-witted, ill-intentioned “Christians” picketing with hateful phrases on signs in response to pro-gay activity. You know, the images the media loves to capture and replay much to the horror of rational believers.
What I wanted to and should have said in reply to that which I overheard is, “only ignorant Christians hate gay people.”
It might seem a little harsh to call them ignorant (the picketing breed and those who carry that attitude without signs), but as the saying goes, “the truth hurts.” To have such a spiteful, self-righteous attitude toward those with a different lifestyle is beyond unacceptable. Especially under the guise of being a follower of Christ, whose second most important commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself.
I call such folks ignorant because while publicly condemning the sin of others, they seem to forget that God’s grace abounds to ALL PEOPLE (John 3:16) and that the sin from which they’ve been rescued (Romans 3:23) is no less destructive than that which they condemn.
It’s frustrating to me that the ignorance and misbehavior of a few taint the reputation and perception of Christ followers across the board. Thus the statement I overheard. But lest I also risk being a hypocritical sign holder, let me back up for a second.
While the root of the problem is simply a failure to apply the teachings of the Bible to every day life, it seems to me that some of it may stem from fear and not knowing how to react to such a lifestyle. That is often true for me. It’s so much easier to condemn than to honestly ask myself how my hidden attitude and fear might be preventing me from doing what is right. Though I don’t wave hateful signs, I have been guilty of avoiding and silently passing judgment on those with “alternative lifestyles.” Lord, please forgive me.
If I, as one bearing the name “Christian”, wish to reverse the perception which exists, I must be willing to do as Christ did. To love unconditionally and without strings attached, anyone and everyone regardless of their lifestyle. Anything less is not worthy of the name of Jesus Christ.
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April 5, 2009 at 9:34 pm
Garth Hamilton
Good thoughts, Summer. Many of us are more concerned about condemning others’ sins than we are about telling about the grace, love, and transformation that we have received.
May 21, 2009 at 9:04 am
Mike Leinweber
I think this is one of the biggest problems the American church faces today. Sometimes we (Christians) are so intent on making sure that we keep the commandments that we forget the people. Even to exclude people because of the commandments. While I don’t agree with homosexuality and personally it is not a struggle of mine, it is a struggle just like any struggle we all have.
Imagine being excluded by the church because you were overweight. “That person is a glutton! We can’t have their kind attending our church!” Is that what Christ would do? What did Christ do?
Like the woman at the well or the woman about to be stoned. Jesus met them where they were and not where they should have been according to the law. Jesus did not excuse the sin but He was gentle and befriended them while they were still sinners. Jesus doesn’t see us as people who need to be fixed but He sees us as friends that need help. The difference is that He does not start a relationship with us when we are clean but His love, grace and mercy for us was there while we were dirty. Jesus dealt with their sin appropriately. He did not excuse it and He did not use it against them. He simply forgave them and commanded them to go and sin no more.
God calls us to be imitators of Christ proclaiming the Good News of Salvation. How well are we doing? From the comments you overheard, I think we have quite a long way to go. Are we able to forgive others sins? Man, I feel convicted!