Christians Limit God’s Love

I sent an email to the pastor who served when I was a teenager recently to get his wife’s phone number. We had always been close, and I heard she was very ill. They are separated now after 50 years of marriage. I came out as gay to both of them a few years ago, and they seemed quite accepting when we were speaking face to face, but haven’t had contact since. He wouldn’t give me her phone number, but took the liberty of giving me what he said was my final warning from God that I must repent of being queer. He proceeded to tell me that my partner and I would be telling each other "I love you" as we burn forever and that we are on a "rocket ship going straight to Hell."

I receive a great deal of email responding to my writing. Much of it is supportive, some is questioning, and some people tend to send letters to attack positions I have taken. Some of those who disagree with me call me names, and still others pronounce special damning curses. This week I received one from someone asking, "Where did you come up with this perverse chronology of supposed gay Christians?" and stating, "Christianity and homosexuality are incompatible." Aside from the fact that his question doesn’t make much sense, I get the idea that he is trying to purvey. He thinks Christianity is limited to a few.

The Scripture give us clear information about why Jesus came, and the group of people his ministry was intended to help. Many people have a very limited view of the scope of God’s love. They have allowed their prejudice to replace God’s intention and the message of Christianity. They think that God only came for those who are in a patriarchal nuclear family with a male, female, and children or single celibate people. Sometimes people limit God to those who are of their own gender, color, race, and among their own social status (Usually at least middle class if not wealthier).

Interestingly, the Bible reports that: Jesus came for the whole world (John 3:16), all who believe become the children of God (John 1:12), Christ will give all rest (Matthew 11:28) and "neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39)

Those who want to limit God’s love, and who can be a Christian do so by following another god than the one found in the New Testament. They may have made an institution their god. Perhaps it is a particular denomination. It could be the institution of the patriarchal nuclear family that people have raised to the status of being a god. They elevate their own principles and prejudices to replace the God of Christianity. Saint Augustine taught that the only rule for the life of a Christian is that which Jesus taught. ^"Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (Matthew 22:37-40)

I feel sorry for the pastor of my youth who can’t see beyond his own prejudice to see the true and genuine love of God. I have pity for the one who writes that one’s status as a sexual minority is incompatible with being a Christian. They take such effort to limit God’s love that it must build up hate and prejudice within them and those they influence. The only people Jesus ever condemned were hypocrites who condemned others. Christ warned his followers not to judge other people, yet some who call themselves Christian today have no problem ignoring these words of Jesus. Love and acceptance don’t seem to be in their vocabulary.

Jesus didn’t come only for white heterosexual wealthy people, as some would believe. Contrary to being on a rocket ship to Hell, Jesus said, "For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:40)

Robert Buchanan is a minister of the Ecumenical Catholic Church and a psychotherapist who lives with his partner of many years in Durham North Carolina.  He is the author of  Love, Honor & Respect: How to Confront Homosexual Bias in Christian Culture and serves as director of the Institute for Inclusive Christianity. a training program for ministers and clergy who do not discriminate against gays, lesbians, bisexuals, or because of financial, familial or social status.  Additional resources for inclusive Christians can be found at our Resources page.

Your gift using Pay Pal's secure site can help this web site operate and help educate others on these important issues:

Inclusive Christian Resources:

Institute for Inclusive Christianity

Send mail to mark@inclusivechristians.org with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2003 Different Spirit
Last modified: 07/09/05