Lauren Hale offers an open letter to those who cheered for the little boy who sang a heartbreakingly hate-filled song in front of his church.
Dear Members of Apostolic Truth Tabernacle:
As you are now well aware, video of a young member of your church, a child far too young to understand the words which he sang, has gone viral. People are discussing your church. Your practices. The audacity of your congregation’s reaction to this young child’s song.
I watched the video this morning. My heart shattered into a million pieces with every syllable his young voice sang. It shattered even further as your congregation cheered. As someone shouted out, above the melee, “That’s MY BOY!”
Stop. Think. Please.
What if a child listening to that song, or other members of your congregation are gay and that’s where they are “on their spiritual journey” right this moment? What if, there were those in attendance who finally broke down and decided to come to a Christian church only to be met with such a glaring display of hatred? This does not seem accordance with your welcome statement on your website which reads:
“Welcome to Apostolic Truth Tabernacle – where our doors are open to you regardless of your background or where you are on your spiritual journey.”
Is this the way in which we are to present the Gospel? To present the words of our Father? The spirit of Jesus does not instruct us to hate with such voracity and vigor.
At your website, you posted this message:
“The Pastor and members of Apostolic Truth Tabernacle do not condone, teach, or practice hate of any person for any reason. We believe and hope that every person can find true Bible salvation and the mercy and grace of God in their lives. We are a strong advocate of the family unit according to the teachings and precepts found in the Holy Bible. We believe the Holy Bible is the Divinely-inspired Word of God and we will continue to uphold and preach that which is found in scripture.” (source: Main page of Apostolic Truth Tabernacle website)
Forgive me for not believing the first sentence. Forgive me for loving those in my life who are homosexual. Forgive me for hugging homosexuals. For accepting them as they are, where they are, and as fellow travelers on this journey of life. Forgive me for apologizing to them on behalf of those who dare to call themselves Christians and then behave such as your congregation has clearly done.
You hide behind the words of the Bible, dear members of the Apostolic Truth Tabernacle. The Word is love. The Bible is not just words. It is a call to action. Love in action does not look as it does in the video of your young member.
Your actions do not express love. Your actions are in direct contradiction to the first sentence of your statement—the viral video of a young child singing, “Ain’t no homos going to heaven” absolutely condones, teaches, and practices hate of homosexuals. Are homosexuals not people according to your definition? Is this how you feel justified and morally comfortable with putting this statement out there? Or are you simply covering yourself?
I too, believe the Holy Bible is the Divinely-inspired Word of God and strive to uphold and preach that which is found in scripture. For me, however, unlike you, the most important thing within the Word of God is to LOVE ONE ANOTHER. To do unto others as we would have done unto us.
The Bible places a moral expectation upon us as Christians, yes. Expectations we should each strive to uphold and live out within the bounds of our own lives. The Bible also charges us to love one another. “Love thy neighbor.” It does not charge us to only love our neighbor as long as they are exactly like us. No. It charges us to love each other despite our differences.
My heart breaks to see you forget how to encourage love and acceptance as part of the Christian Faith. We do not selectively love others. We are called to love ALL.
I pray for you. I pray for the young child in the video. I pray for your community, for your members, and for your hearts to be open to the love which Christ charges us to put forth into the world.
Be the change. Be love. Be open.
Let God judge. We are but servants carrying His message. A message which should only include love.
Sincerely,
Lauren Hale
I JUST now returned from my daughter’s DARE graduation event at her grade-school. We live in a very small, affluent, rural town in NH. The absence of bullying is so valued that even the older boys remark at the paradise it is. The kids accept and allow no bullying. If it occurs, the good-and-the-brave put the instigators in their place immediately, without getting the faculty and staff involved. I was amazed when I heard my son and his (then) 10yo peers discussing one certain fellow student. It came up that certain girls like him, but they chuckled at the irony.… Read more »
You’re so very right. It makes my heart soar to hear how the kids there are with each other – that’s how it should be. It is absolutely tragic that it’s not like that everywhere.
I dreaded clicking on this because I was worried it would be nothing more than religion-bashing, but I am glad I did.
I don’t really attend a church since I’ve drifted towards Buddhism, but I know all my former ministers would weep over this boy’s song, and not with joy.
I’m glad you clicked…and I’m glad you’re glad you clicked.
Several ministers I know as well would most certainly weep over this video and most definitely not with joy. I wept as I watched it.
How is this not child abuse?
Jesus, if he is eternal, must have cried.
A few further thoughts occur to me in relation to this, simply because this so reminds me of the mindset of Klanners: “He who stand with me shall be my brother.” And “On alert brothers! The enemy must be nearby.” Thankfully, living in a rule of law and democratic state, it is unlikely that war will ensure over this issue, However, if it came to war and we had to put up or shut up about our principals, I wonder where we and I would stand? Love of civil rights is one thing. Dying for them is another. Works in… Read more »
Anyone ever see the movie “Red State”? Just sayin’? On a further note, I suppose the kid is technically correct based on his holy books and their older understanding. That is according to his holy books. Remember, there are lots of other gods and lots of other heavens out there (see here: http://www.graveyardofthegods.org/deadgods/listofgods.html). Anyways… As for the author’s wish, it reminds of a classmate in my international politics class asking “Why can’t we all get along?” in respect to the endless war, scheming and conflict inherent in the international system. This is the real world kiddos. It ain’t pretty. Be… Read more »
I actually did see “Red State”. And yeah… O.O This kind of stuff just breaks my heart. It just kills me. I don’t understand it. I used to, kind of, but even back then it wasn’t songs or “God hates fags” or anything. I was just in an environment where LGBTs were, you know, against God. So, it hurts because I have friends who still have this mindset, and through my own personal life and journey I’ve found that environment and that view is not correct, loving, or tolerant. And the worse part is, when you talk about “loving” people,… Read more »
OK….my head is about to explode, so I’ll get this out short n sweet: Call Child Services right fkg NOW. THAT is freekin child abuse, and this is coming from a devout Christian (of no religious affiliation). Tolerance be dammed! You’ll never change human nature, but these turkeys are NOT what they think they are, and I defy them to show me where in the Bible we are to judge and/or enforce anything to do with homosexuality! There is NO Book of XXXX that claims: “Thou shalt smite and condemn the homosexual with great ignorance and fury…you shall enforce my… Read more »
Standing O!
If the song is true, then Heaven doesn’t sound like all that great a place.
On the positive side, the people clapping probably won’t make it there either….
The song is most definitely true, because heaven is a fiction. Dan Savage won’t be going to heaven, and neither will this kid or this pastor.
Great essay, Lauren! One of my BFF’s became a born again Christian in JHS, but she had crushed on me in 7th grade….for years she would say that she wanted to find a good preppy Christian man….what she eventually found was a woman….and a tolerant church….she still hides in the closet in front of me and some of our old friends from HS, but whatever….I accept her no matter what and I wish she would just feel comfortable enough to just say it….
Too much hate does not allow for people to just be themselves….