People can be so hateful.

Eyrev
eyrev.cbcr@gmail.com

The preacher’s kid in me recognized the cadence and rythem. That’s quite a sermon and let’s hope that someone recognizes their “non-bigoted” self in there and realizes that they can be “not a bigot” all day long, but if the shoe fits…

This is excerpted from a letter I wrote to judy of new hampshire:

So, you say you’re not a bigot.

Despite overwhelming scientific evidence that homosexuality is an inborn as heterosexuality, despite the testimony of tens of thousands– if not millions– of gay people, despite the simple logic of “who would choose a life of discrimination and vilification”, you believe that homosexuality is a choice, and a sin. Your beliefs about us are more important than any amount of actual evidence, but you’re not a bigot.

You say that it is not you that is disapproving of homosexuality, and not you that is judging, but God. Funny, I don’t hear God talking, I only hear YOU talking. I hear you quoting “God’s word”, allegedly on this subject, while ignoring all of the passages in the Bible that don’t accord with your personal prejudices, whether it is eating shellfish or pork, or destroying all of the unbelievers in our midst with a sword. (Deut. 13-6, 8-15)

Apparently God only means what he says some of the time– for instance, when he agrees with you.

But you’re not a bigot.

Let us not get into the appalling divorce figures for ’sacred’ institution of marriage. You quote your Bible about the “wrongness” of homosexuality, but ignore far more compelling commandments that don’t comport with your prejudices. For example, Jesus was very clear on this subject: divorce is not an option. He also was quite clear about judging others before you yourself have achieved perfection. All of that you just cheerfully ignore, but not for any reasons that could be labeled bigotry.

It’s just what you believe. How can that be a statement of bigotry? we’re all sinners, aren’t we.

Except that some of us are really “special” sinners.

You’re very clear that based upon your religious beliefs, my HUSBAND and I are not entitled to the same responsibilities and benefits of marriage, even in a very obviously second class civil union, that you enjoy. In other words, my and our equality before the law can be compromised because of YOUR religious beliefs. If you said that Jews or Buddhists could not have the same civil rights that you do because they do not share your religious beliefs, you would rightly be labeled a religious bigot. But because it is about gay people, and whatever you imagine my sex life to be makes you say “ick”, you are not being a bigot…so you say. You’re just expressing your religious opinion.

Lest you accuse me of hating you, of being intolerant, of calling you names, as you accuse me, let me be clear. I do not hate you, or really, care anything about you. I only wish that you would mind your own business, take care of your own marriage, and stop insisting that you have the right to mind mine–because of what you call your “religious beliefs”. You can believe whatever you want, and teach it to your children, and spew it in Church to your heart’s delight, however uncomfortable it may be for me to hear it. It’s a free country, at least for white, conservative, preferably Christian, heterosexual people. But why to you accuse me of intolerance when I tell you to keep YOUR religious beliefs out of MY life? I haven’t told you you can’t believe it, or that I will pass laws to make sure that you do not believe it.

What you hear from me is not hatred, nor intolerance, nor anything like that. What you hear is ANGER. I don’t recall god making any recent pronouncements indicating that you as a so-called saved Christian have any business making statements about me and my supposed sins, my supposed un-biblicalness, my supposed brokenness. My life is just fine, except for the likes of you.

I’m sick to death that the course of my life, and my happiness, and those of millions of people just like me, can be subject to your prejudices, whether or you prefer to call them your religious beliefs or just admit them for what they are. I am equally sick that gay people are imprisoned, attacked, murdered, executed, used as political fodder, vilified, condemned, persecuted, jailed, slandered, libeled, fired, outlawed, made into criminals and accused of all sort of things that are simply NOT TRUE because someone doesn’t approve, or believes their God does not approve.

I am angry as hell that any man and woman who met five minutes ago and have $50 for a marriage license can get married and have the full panoply of rights and obligations that go with it, but my friends Andy and Paul, a devoted couple for 40 years, or Lance and Peter, together for 35 years, are legal strangers to each other. I am angry that they have to jump through all sort of expensive legal hoops to secure their lives together, all of which can be undone by the combination of a distant relative, a homophobic judge, and a law that permits it.

I am angry that my HUSBAND and I just had to spend $2000 to secure our legal rights and to protect our life together, while you go smugly on about how wonderful being a perfect Christian is, and could secure the same protections with $50 and trip to city hall.

I’m really angry that my friend Steve could not be at his husband’s bedside 20 years ago when Johnny was dying, because they didn’t have the medical power of attorney documents in their possession when Johnny was struck down. Johnny died alone. Steve grieved for him alone, and didn’t get to say goodbye to the man whose life he had shared for 15 years. All of that pain to satisfy some Christian’s beliefs about what is moral and immoral.

And the pastor of this “church”– does he only avoid burying all sinners, or only some sinners?

I’m furious that people like you can smugly say we’re all not perfect, but you’ll still smarmily judge us anyway, and pretend that you’re not. I’m furious that you prattle on an on about morality, but the IMMORALITY of what is done to gay people every day throughout the world, damage that is inflicted on our happiness, our health, our security, and our lives all the time, does not even merit your notice– let alone an apology. Talk about a crime against nature–what about the crimes against our nature?

You don’t approve of homosexuality, or as you put it, you’re not in agreement with what you see as our “choice”. Let me tell you something. I don’t approve of bigots, either. But the world is full of people just like you, who feel you have the right to do and say whatever you like to people you don’t know, whom you clearly know nothing about, and who have done you no harm.

And why? Because there is something YOU don’t like about them– their race, their religion, their gender, their ethnic group, their language, or their sexual orientation. You may think that condemning our sin is different, but it is not. It is the same. It’s just prejudice given its very thin veneer of respectability by your religious beliefs– just like burning withces.

And if you can’t slip that one by anyone, and really need some “justification” for your bigotry, you’ll even claim that GOD doesn’t like it. I think that God is much bigger than that. Certainly, he is bigger than you.

Please don’t pray for me–what absolute spiritual arrogance. I don’t need it and I find it offensive that you think you have the right and spiritual cachet to do so.

And please don’t tell me you love me, either. I don’t believe it for a moment. I would prefer your naked hatred.

At least there, you are being honest.

Since I know very little about Rev. Simoms, I can’t say that statement describes him very well. Generically speaking, it’s often the case. I just don’t know if it applies to him.

Does that pretty much sum it up?

Kensington has been on here dozens of times calling Cecil a sinner. According to Christian theology, that is correct. Cecil was a sinner. So an I. So is Kensington. We all “fall short,” as they say.

But I did not establish this forum to allow Kensington and others to monopolize the discussion with the single-minded insistence that their theology is the only one that matters. And I’m grow quite tired of her splitting hairs, separating the “sin” of homosexuality as though it were worse than all the other sins presented in this forum. And I’ve grown especially tired of her pretending to know the mind of Cecil and his partner and passing judgment on them.

I think I’ve been more than indulgent, but I think we’ve reached the point where Kensington has nothing new to contribute to the discussion. Therefore, I am putting her on moderation for the time being.

It think we’ve all said what we can say, and I see that she’s now repeating herself. Since she is on moderation, I will also ask other commenters to please refrain from addressing her. Otherwise, in fairness, I must allow her the chance to respond.

I’d say… Based on the rest of your post, all of it, this statement is false.

Dear Pastor Simons,

My heart was saddened by your church’s decision to cease and desist as a “Hospital to the Hopeless”, and opt for the far more common, “Showplace for the Saved” trophy Christian museum church. Seems to me the last time I checked the Bible when trying to figure out “What’s going on in God’s head right now?” I discovered the answer–The lost. God’s heart is beating for those who are far from Him, those that have not yet discovered His love and His forgiveness. He thinks about them day and night!

I once heard another pastor of a very large church talking about the concept of “ministry. “ He made a few points I will never forget. Authentic Christ-centered ministry in today’s churches is messy. Life is hard, details are unpleasant, and the consequences of some decisions will never have a pretty bow on top, no matter how long it takes to get back on track.

The other point this pastor mentioned: The 2 Litmus Tests for Identifying a Healthy Church. He stated that if a church is representing Christ accurately, those 2 qualities are: IMMORALITY AND HERESY. Hmmm….what’s up with that statement? He showed how lives in his church were changed because the church was operating the way it should have. Thos (with all their messy lifestyles and all the bad doctrine they have latched onto over the years) will come pouring out of the woodwork through the doors to meet the Living God who sent His Son to die for EVEN them. This process of loving people with messy lives and bad doctrine should be what every church is all about. Faith is proven real by God’s children investing in one another, operating as ONE family, meeting practical needs, and redirecting destinies….that’s kind of love that changes hearts and restores broken lives.

Back to Immorality and Heresy: His point was beautifully illustrated as he explained, “there are people in the world that sincerely believe they can never step within a foot of any church again and feel the love of God from God’s people. Time and time again these isolated hurting people point to Christians, as their biggest hindrance to receiving His grace and being transformed by the Holy Spirit.” At what point did the New Testament church decide who receives His grace, and who does not qualify?

Ministry is being Jesus with skin on to a world that is literally dying to see authenticity from those who claim to know the Great I AM. Locked doors, rescinded invitations, and a church with people who cannot demonstrate the grace that they were once given—Don’t you see how that just reinforces the old stereotype that Christians are all hate mongers and judgmental?? Christians everywhere will suffer from your churches recent decision.

Pastor Simons, I am not trying to make you or anyone in your church feel like horrible Christians, nor am I trying to sniff out the spiritual pulse of your congregation. That is your sandbox and God-appointed ministry. My purpose in writing you this letter is twofold. First I want to ask you to really pray for the men and women that were not allowed into your church to grieve their friend’s death or celebrate his life. I wonder how many of those people were in such emotional pain over this man’s death? I wonder how many of those filthy people had not stepped into a Jesus-preaching church in decades? I pray that they can look past the humiliation of this situation, which likely reopened deep hurts that many had suffered at earlier stages of their lives–all at the hand of other well-intentioned followers of Christ.

Also pray for your immediate community–those living nearby that may have wanted to visit your church someday. This news has the potential to kill what influence your church has gained as “a light” in your area. I pray they will be shielded from other Christians along their journey who make them feel unworthy, unloved, unclean, and unforgiven. Maybe you can ask God to challenge your church’s worldview on what Grace is all about. It’s fundamental in our redemption story. At the end of my life, when I am face to face with Jesus, I would much rather my life prove that I believed him for way too much, as opposed to living a joyless, unmoved life and acknowledging his place as Ruler and King of the universe and then have to give an account to why I never believed Him for more that what was possible for me to imagine.

Remember, God is neither impressed by your doctrine, captivated with your campus, rejoicing over your opinions and values, or “AMEN!-ing” your moral pronouncements. God is much more concerned about the lost, and how the “found” will treat them. Represent Him well. You are after all, a child of the King.

Praising the only God whose mercies really are new every morning!

John in Plano, TX