A series of articles by Robert Buchanan, D.Min., on gay prejudice and
Christianity in order to challenge the church and help provide for the
spiritual needs of sexual minorities
Please bookmark this page and come back.
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A series of articles by Robert Buchanan, D.Min., on gay prejudice and
Christianity in order to challenge the church and help provide for the
spiritual needs of sexual minorities
Please bookmark this page and come back.
|
|
|
Jesus Never Condemned Gays
Jesus said he
didn’t come into the world to condemn anyone. It would be easy for many
people today to think the opposite due to the way some followers of Jesus act.
One can easily be confused on the issue when we see people who call
themselves Christians say and do hateful condemning things. It is important
to remember, however, that these are the ignorant actions of some misled
people at best, and certainly not what Jesus had in mind for the church.
Recent national
elections are a case in point. Two anti-gay measures won with clear and
decisive margins due to the intervention of a couple of church groups. These
would ban gay unions in Nebraska and Nevada. Its interesting that Nevada
allows for many vices such as gambling and prostitution but will not recognize
a pledge of love and devotion between two people of the same sex. An
initiative in Maine that would give equal protection from discrimination in
such things as employment and housing to sexual minorities failed miserably.
Again, so-called Christian groups fought the measure.
It saddens me
when I see the name of Christ diminished. It breaks my heart to know that
there are people who have actually believed the lie that the Bible condemns
homosexuality, and that God would condemn someone for expressing the highest
virtue of all, love. I believe God will hold those people who lead others
astray responsible for what they have done. Those who cause minorities to
stumble are weak people in search of more power. That’s what the issue is
really about. Those who are afraid to give gays equal rights are simply
fearful that they will somehow lose control over others and some of their
power.
Real
Christianity is about love and commitment. The Bible doesn’t condemn a loving
relationship between two people of the same sex. Divisive walls and barriers
are not to be recognized by true believers. Instead there is to be no racial,
social, or sexual divisions in God’s realm. The spiritual needs of sexual
minorities are just as valid, if not more so, and sexual minorities deserve
full acceptance. In light of societal attitudes toward gays, and
Christianity’s frequent promotion of those attitudes. It is critical that
every voice of love and acceptance be heard, and every effort made to stop the
dangerous philosophy of prejudice that has overtaken the church.
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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.
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