Of God and Gays - A question of tolerance
I’ve been facing a moral dilemma of sorts lately.
I’ve been trying to decide whether or not it’s possible to be both Christian and accepting of homosexuals. There’s not shortage of Christian rhetoric that vilifies gay people and deems them disease ridden second class citizens, and of course there are scriptures that lay out what God thinks of homosexuals.
But God and Christians are not one and the same. I somehow don’t think God would direct His people to act so violently against people who choose a gay lifestyle in the same vein that I don’t think God would direct his people to bomb abortion clinics.
Anyone familiar with the Old Testament would tell you God pretty much takes care of things Himself when he thinks someone or some group is acting out of step.
I don’t personally have any problems with gay people. I have no desire to live in such a fashion, I but I hold no contempt for those who do. How funny then, that I’ve wondered if I am a bad Christian for feeling this way.
I realize though that I am probably not, because I don’t think Christ would spew hatred at a gay person. I think he would treat them with respect and compassion and most certainly would view them as equal.
One thing that’s become very important to me is to judge Christianity by Christ, not by Christians. A lot of what Christians talk about and do goes completely contrary to what the man himself taught. I think if Jesus were around today he’d probably want to slap Fred Phelps’ silly.
I know gay people are treated poorly by a lot of Christians, but I want to stand up and say those of you who live that way: There are some of us, like me, who believe you deserve the same respect and rights everyone else does. I believe any true follower of Christ would feel the same way.
I cringe at the hatred I see spewing constantly on this topic and I know my voice is small, but I want it to be heard nonetheless.
No doubt the hatred against gays will continue unabated, but I’ll be damned if I’m not going to take a stand against it any way I can.