On the news was the Pride March by the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGTB) community held last weekend. The parade seemed tame compared to other gay pride marches held in the U.S. or Europe, so it wasn't actually that disconcerting.
What I found more disturbing was the condemnation and unlove showed by Evangelical protesters. They had their "God can change you" placards coupled with their "You will go to hell" message hollered out in holier-than-thou fashion.
Sigh. Another attempt to win people over by insulting them first. Way to witness. I wonder why some churches still think that works.
Images from here.
What do you hope to accomplish when you impose standards on the community without building relationships first? All that convenient conviction without going out of the way to care = clanging cymbal. Though everyone can hear a clanging cymbal, no one wants to listen to it.
It should be shaming that one of the marchers showed more grace than the protesters. A smartly-dressed (not in drag queen attire) young man came up to them, gave flowers, and with a smile, tried to initiate a rational conversation. Someone had to use his head, right? Alas, it was not the Christians who did. What did the supposed-envoys-of-Christ do? While the gay man kept his cool, the protesters shut their ears, refused to make eye contact and yelled out condemning non-sequiturs. Gay man politely says, "I have nothing against you, but what is my sin?," Christian man answers, "That is an abomination!!!!! Hellfiiiiire!!!!!!!" -- Who do you think came away looking more respectable and admirable?
The Jesus of the Bible was not averse to the pariahs of society. In fact he spent time with the most detested ones - swindlers, hookers adulterers, untouchables - he had dialogues with them, drank with them, offered forgiveness and hope. He did not want anyone to remain in their wrongdoing, but he made an effort to see people as human beings loved by and in need of God, not as infidels who can't meet God's standards. When it came to dealing with the weak-willed and immorality-prone, Christ never came in with guns blazing. Even if he spoke to them about their sin, he loved them first. That should be our model.
You know what's paradoxic? The ones Jesus did openly condemn were the self-righteously religious folk who claimed to know the way to Heaven but made it hard for "sinners" to get in. Tsk.
Final note: We shouldn't forget that heterosexuals are just as sinful as homosexuals. It just so happens that the GLBTs make an easy target. Whether we are male or female, homo or hetero, religious or nonreligious, blatantly obvious or good at hiding things - whatever sin we commit is equally detestable to God, and we are all in need of His mercy. Having a relationship with Christ and knowing the Bible isn't a license to look down on anyone; it should rather be a humbling experience that moves us to show others the same mercy the Lord extends to us. Share
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