What if our churches took Jesus seriously when he said to love one another just like he loves us?
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A friend of mine once told me about a black woman in a largely white church he was going to. He said the people of this church didn’t seem to be very welcoming of her. They were sort of ignoring her, not really acknowledging her presence the way he thought they should. When he asked a few people about this he learned that she had been in a relationship with another woman. It wasn’t because of her race she that was being treated this way. It was because she was a lesbian.
I was with a group of people one time, one of whom had just come back from a big Christian conference. He told us about a person in a small group he met who was extremely active in her community. She volunteered in many social justice areas helping feed the needy, providing school supplies for children of poor families, and assisting in meeting the needs of rundown neighborhoods. He also told us that she was transgender. When he told us about this, another person in the group said, “Well, I guess she could still be a Christian.”
Several years ago I was in a Sunday school class and we were talking about some of the negative things that were going on in the world. Someone mentioned gay churches. Everyone kind of nodded in agreement that this was something that was going on in the world that was wrong.
What if our churches took Jesus seriously when he said to love one another just like he loves us?[1]
What about when He said not to judge, not to condemn, and that we’ll be measured the same way we measure others?[2]
How about when one of Jesus’ closest friends said that if you don’t love other people you can’t really love God either?[3]
What if we remembered that every single commandment can be done just by loving our neighbors as ourselves?[4]
What if people on the outside knew that we were part of a church because they saw that we truly love other people?[5]
What would our churches with that kind of love look like?
I’m not sure, but I don’t think it would look like a place that says, “You can’t be part of our group … unless you make a significant change to your very being … it may not be possible … we’re not actually sure … but that’s what you have to do. Okay, bye.”
No, I think it would look more like a place where our LGBT neighbors could come and be safe, welcomed, accepted, and loved right where they are. A place where we could worship our creator together. A place where we could feed the hungry[6], give to the needy[7], bring peace to conflict[8], see in each other what we have in common instead of what’s different[9], and help each other live life the way it should be lived[10]. Together.
I think that might put us one step closer to bringing God’s Kingdom here, to God’s will being done here, on earth as it is in heaven.[11]
When my friend learned that it wasn’t because of the woman’s race, he thought, “I see … is that any better?”
“Of course someone can be transgender and Christian,” I said.
And in that Sunday school class I agreed. Because there is something wrong in our world if gay churches must exist because gay people don’t feel like they can come to our church and worship the God who loves us all.
[2] Luke 6:37-38
[3] 1 John 4:20
[4] Romans 13:8-10
[5] John 13:35
[6] Luke 3:11
[7] Luke 6:30
[8] Hebrews 12:14
[9] Colossians 3:11
[10] John 10:10
[11] Matthew 6:10
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This post is republished on Medium.
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Photo credit: iStock
What if we took serious all that the bible says regarding the topic of sin and practicing homosexuality? What if we stopped read bible passages out of context? What if we took serious the teachings of marriage which Jesus emphasized. In conclusion: If so we would not have gay Churches at all…
Sincerely Magnus
Jacob, I think this article really tackles something that I have thought a lot about lately. I totally agree with what you have said and am thankful that you were able to put it out there.
The following prayer is said at the beginning of every mass. For me, it sets the stage that when I am present with God at church, I am no better then anyone and that I stand before God as well as my brothers and sisters and ask that they pray for me as I will pray for them. “Confiteor I confess to almighty God, and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have sinned through my own fault, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and what I have failed to do; and I… Read more »
Thank you for this comment Tom. That’s a very humble way to enter worship and set our hearts free of judgement.
Very well spoken and I agree completely! Funnily enough my article in the same vein just got posted yesterday (https://goodmenproject.com/in-good-faith/the-false-dichotomy-of-christians-vs-gays-gmp/). It makes me sad to think that the Church has taken on a persona of exclusivity concerning this particular topic, the exact opposite of what Jesus wold want. It makes me very glad to see that there Christians out there that are desperate for this trend to end in the name of loving one another.