Christian Lesbians

I recently came across this blog post that tears apart the idea of being a Christian Lesbian. Since I believe in the great United States and the freedoms it allows, I do not bemoan the writer’s right to share his views, nor do I mind that he has his views. I afford him the same rights I myself seek and expect - the right to believe, the right for religious freedom, and the right to love whomever I choose……..

The article is attacking two wonderful women based on their site christianlesbians.com (not affiliated with this blog, but a great site nonetheless!). One woman is an ordained minister, a vocal Christian, and a lesbian. Apparently, the writer of the blog opposing her has issue with these facts, and that is fine…..

My biggest issue with his post, however, is what I see as his incorrect use of the Bible. I have found that many Christians take scripture out of context and apply it to current events to prove their case. This is true for David J. Stewart as well. If you read the post, the first “arrow” he uses refers to Jeremiah 7 as proof that claiming to be a Christian Lesbian is “evil, just like in Old Testament times”. Ironically, the words he shows can be construed as almost PERFECT for the point he is making! However, in taking into account what Jeremiah was really dealing with, you will see the people he was addressing were doing “fast food religion”, or playing with all the religions of the time to be safe. So they would go here or there, and then come back to the God of Israel almost like insurance - they were not faithful. So THAT is what the deal is. It doesn’t seem fair to overlap these verses with the argument of homosexual Christians today.

More importantly, I would like to point out that there are much better ways to address concerns regarding the whole idea of homosexuality. If, as a Christian, you are truly concerned that someone is going to hell because of their sexual orientation, does it make sense to insult them? I argue that you really don’t CARE about the person at all, but you WANT them to go to hell! And how does that align with the message of Christ? Christ Himself says in Mark 12:28-31:

(Note: all scripture quotes are from the NIV version of the Bible)

One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important? “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

So what does “love” mean? And did Christ mean “neighbor” as fellow Christians? Did he define love for only Christians we decide are really Christians? With or without sin?

Well, first of all, let’s look at the idea of WHO Jesus meant. Matthew 5:43-48 says:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Christ clearly states we need to love EVERYONE, even those who we view as enemies or whom we do not agree with. And perhaps I am wrong, but I see loving them is CARING about them, especially their eternal life. So to tear apart someone because of who they are, demean them, call them evil……that doesn’t seem very caring. Perhaps a better way is to get to know someone before you rip them apart (although I would never rip them apart), and then maybe reason with them in love and pray for them. Just saying….

What about the definition of LOVE? Paul is very eloquent in describing what this is about in 1 Corinthians 13:

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

I aim to meet the credentials of true love as noted above, although I am definitely not perfect. I also acknowledge that my “mirror” is not clear and I cannot ascertain a person’s heart, whether or not they are a “true Christian”, and that I am not God. So I really am in no position to say clearly if ANYONE is a Christian……

I am sure there is much more I could say about this topic, but these Biblical words seem very powerful in addressing that the Bible should not be used to impale others. Again, I don’t mind opposing views on this subject, but I hope more Christians can act more like Christ and stop beating up people we see as evil. At least try to save them, okay? And I will be praying for you.

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