An open letter to my gay friends…
It’s been a bad week for our relationship.
It started with what was a pretty expected comment from a CEO of a organization that I don’t think surprised either of us. If we talked in person I bet we would both agree that he has the right to say what he said and everyone has the right to eat or not eat at his restaurant.
But then political people on both sides decided to drag us into their fight. First some on the left decided this was a great opportunity to stir some attention for the LGBT community. Then some on the right decided this was a great opportunity to throw red meat to their crowd. I think we both bit at first and got in the fray with the politicians. You know what they say, “never wrestle with a pig, you both get dirty and the pig kind of likes it”. We need to remember that politicians really like to wrestele in the mud. Maybe we should just let them next time.
So, I wanted to let you know a couple of things about how I really feel about you.
1. You are more important to me than a political issue. We love you as someone who God created and loves as his child. I am sorry that many on both sides of this argument treat you like a pawn in their game of political chess. I hope that we can help bridge that gap.
2. I think that if you and I sat down for coffee we could actually find a very good solution to this whole topic. I think that you would respect my opinion that the church should not have to change our standards of what “Marriage” is and I know that I would never want to see your lifestyle be illegal, see you killed or jailed, lose your job, not get to spend the last days with someone you love or be unable to make legal descsions together.
I have a feeling that there is more politics involved in this argument than common sense and people in both of our circles get pulled into that really quickly. Why don’t we make a pact to help people not bite on that?
I know we disagree on a lot, mainly that sex is to be only enjoyed inside a marriage relationship between a man and women, but my hope is that one day we will agree on one important thing. Jesus saves sinners. Sinners like me. Sinners like you. Sinners like the un-married hetrosexual couple having sex that ate chicken together and live together. Sinners like people who waited in line longer this week to prove they support “marriage” than they have spent on dates with theor spouse in the last year.
I am sorry that I and others who agree with me on this issue usually act like your sin is worse than ours. We probably wont agree on the whole “sin” issue anytime soon but I hope that wont allow me to treat you less than human or you me.
Wow. This is an amazing post. Great thoughts and dead on with what a lot of people in my circle are also sharing. We have totally allowed this to become something that is political than something that needs only to be spiritual. God loves everyone the same and sees no sin less or greater than the next. Thanks a lot for these encouraging thoughts!
I think this overlooks a huge reason that a lot of people actually went to Chick-fil-a this past Wednesday. I was horrified at the super-bullying that was aimed at this company. Politicians are threatening to take away a company’s right to do business because it’s owner has the gall to say he believes the Bible!? Well, the best way for politicians to think that they can get away with that rhetoric is for people to do nothing. “Hey, I said that, and people didn’t raise a ruckus, so what is my next step?” You only have to look at Canada and Europe to see what happens when people stay silent about anti-Christian attacks.
So, when I took my 4 kids to CFA on Wednesday, I did not even mention the homosexual angle. I explained that they were being attacked because of their Christian beliefs and told them that we were there because in Hebrews 13:3, we are told to stand with those suffering as if we were the ones being mistreated.
So don’t accept the media angle that this was a tolerance vs. intolerance issue, that those who went to CFA are all intolerant, self-righteous, and, of course, hypocritical haters. I do believe that Christianity has a lot to be sorry for in its lack of true love and compassion towards homosexuals and its lack of outrage over things like divorce. But I do not believe that the Chick-fil-a incident is one of the things that needs an apology. I think that the instances of CFA offering FREE FOOD to those protesting them is a great example of the love that needs to be shown.
Jessica,
Thanks so much for your comment. I agree that CFA did nothing wrong and as always handled all of this with class. They are a class organization and I will continue to show my support of them by eating there lots! I have no doubt that you, and probably most people who went to CFA on Wednesday, did it out of pure motives. Unfortunately there were some who just wanted to win. Winning here on earth is not what we are called to do. We are just called to point out that Jesus already won.
I also think that standing up for our rights is something we should do. We get a chance every 2-4 years to vote, we get a chance to go to public meetings and discourse. I have just never seen protests or anti-protests as the best way to make real change. They seem to be more of a rating boost and great political fund-raising tactic.
I also hope that we are never guilty of standing up for our rights in a way that disconnects us from a lost and dying world. Jesus actually said that a lost world will hate us for what we believe. I am not sure trying to legislate that promise away will work. The cross of Christ is offensive and will continue to offend many.
I just try and remember everyday that the reason the lost act the way they do towards Christianity is because they are, well, lost. The only thing that changes that is Jesus. He is the only way we can all win.
This quote sums up what’s happening in our country.
“Our culture has accepted two huge lies: The first is that if you disagree with someone’s lifestyle, you must fear them or hate them. The second is that to love someone means you agree with everything they believe or do. Both are nonsense. You do not have to compromise convictions to be compassionate.” -Rick Warren
I am so saddened to read your post today. My family and I are moving to the goose creek area and I really hope to find a great church to attend and grow in. I believe Jesus taught us to love one another and not judge, but how many people are going to hell because we don’t love them enough to tell them what they are doing is wrong. I’m not talking about doing it in a mean spirit, but to say you hope they can love each other and live together and commit what Jesus called an abomination only leads them to the fire. Yes God loves all his creation, but not all will make it to heaven.
Hey Jeannie,
Thanks for stopping by the blog and welcome to the lowcountry. I am not sure I understand your assessment of my post, mainly an assumption that I do not “tell them that what they are doing is wrong”. In fact you may note that twice in my post I stated my views on the fact that “sex is to be only enjoyed inside a marriage relationship between a man and women” and to the LGBT community I wrote that “We probably wont agree on the whole “sin” issue anytime soon”.
My point is that all sin is an “abomination” to God. All sin. In all sin has the the power to separate us from Him. In fact there were at least seven other things we know he hates:
There are six things that the LORD hates,
seven that are an abomination to him:
haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
and hands that shed innocent blood,
a heart that devises wicked plans,
feet that make haste to run to evil,
a false witness who breathes out lies,
and one who sows discord among brothers.
(Proverbs 6:16-19 ESV)
I just wish we were as passionate as a church about all people who we need to pull from the grips of the enemy of Hell as we were about protesting. That’s all.
I am positive you will find a great church in the lowcountry as there are many. I hope you find one that you can grow in and see your purpose in life come to fruition. Praying for you and your family.