We received the following email at our church last week. I enthusiastically volunteered to respond to the email, and attempt to connect with the author. I hope it stirs up something inside of you and makes you ask yourself some tough questions. Leave a comment and let me know how you would react. How would your church react? I'll post what my response was in a few days. Hey, I am trying to find an open and affirming congregation in Lees Summit MO. I am an openly gay servant of God and am wanting a place of worship that is open and affirming of me as a person. I am looking for a place that is open and accepting of me as a human being will hopefully respect my differences just like I will respect the other members of the congregation. A place that will challenge me spiritually, intellectually, emotionally, and aid me in my journey with the Creator as I know it. I was wondering what your views on homosexuality are for this church as specifically. I would also like to know that based off of what I have asked you in this email, if you think this would be a safe place that would be open to me as a person who is gay, and affirm me in my walk with God. Thank you for reading this. Go in peace, with lots of love, and harmony 
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3 comments:
My first thought is I want to say my church would welcome with arms wide open but I'm not sure. We have not faced anything like this at all. I have heard the phrase "messy church" a lot lately on blogs and magazines. Messy church happens when people who don't look or dress like me start sitting beside me.
The words "safe place" keep jumping at me. It's heartbreaking how that's on the top of the list in finding a church home. A place where other "Christians" won't tell me that I'm going to hell, threaten me right when I meet them. Wow.
It's time we start making Christians uncomfortable at our churches and make the person who wrote this letter feel comfortable.
I believe that the Spirit of God is the one that convicts us of our sin. It's a balance that I have not seen, one where people are welcomed no matter background or situation, and the truth of God is presented that speaks life to each person.
We must present the truth of God in love. I find so many people get angry and aggressive when you bring up homosexuality. Everyone points to Leviticus and 1 Corinthians 6. Which I do believe, but just to point a few scriptures out and present them in a way which is aggressive is not helpful to anyone.
To end this long comment, I think often of the teachings of Jesus. How many times the disciples would think they know what he was going to say and do next, but every time he would throw a curveball. What I'm getting at is I think Jesus would be hanging with the author of this email before he would hang out with me. I think we should follow his example, and build relationships that involve trust and love and then present the teachings of Jesus.
What a letter! I never encountered anyone who lived a homosexual lifestyle until I attended college, so the thought that was instilled in me was that of intolerance. I was ignorant of the reason for the intolerance, and developed a feeling of hatred for the person, including the lifestyle. Where I was wrong, (and consequently what I have learned) was that the person is not the object of intolerance - it is the lifestyle that is an abomination. The unique thing that is not often discussed is that there is no "degree" of sin. Sin is sin - plain and simple. The magnitude factor comes in because of my ignorant personal preference. If I were in this situation, I would first have to meet the person and get to know them. Writing the letter shows me that the author is serious, and not looking for a sensationalized confrontation. I would honestly discuss the situation with the person, and relate that everyone battles sin. I would convey that homosexuality is a sin, and would have to be an area that the person would have to commit to working on. This, however, would not be a requirement for him to attend "my church." Jesus welcomed all that would hear His message, not just a select few. That is how He turns the "Religion of Christianity" on it's ear. It's not about religion, it's about a personal relationship with God. When in doubt, show people the love of Christ - the kind of love that doesn't have any agenda.
What a challenging thought. The situation lends itself to one unique problem that seems to be coming up more and more in recent times. Had the person been a homosexual non-believer, then the answer would have been an unequivocal welcoming.
The challenge is that it is not an unbeliever. The author is looking to be accepted and affirmed as a homosexual believer. Certainly, we are not all perfect and many believers in our churches have sin in their lives, so it becomes an odd couping of love and acceptance with not accepting and condoning sin.
What does this lead to in practice? Sure, come into our church as you are welcome, but as a believer, there will be challenge and growth as we follow God's Word.
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