But this is something I can't stay silent on anymore.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, I beg of you: You are hurting the Christian church with your loud mouthed opinions about homosexuality and gay marriage. You are. Now before you go judging my opinion, please hear me out first.
I was raised in a Christian family. I attended a Christian private school, I've gone to church all my life. I was heavily involved in my church's youth group. I went to Bible school. I went to a Christian film school. I attend a church here in Hollywood. I LOVE JESUS. With everything I am. I study the Bible as much as I can. I believe the Bible is 100% accurate in every way. I talk to my friends about God and the Bible when I am able. My whole life's drive is to serve the Lord. Nothing else comes before that. Nothing.
Growing up, I was very judgmental of homosexuals. I was taught that the Bible is very condemning of the idea, so it was also very easy for me to automatically condemn anyone who was homosexual. It was also very easy to be condemning because it was very uncomfortable for me. As I've gotten older and more experienced in life and circumstances, I've realized something very startling: The Church is approaching this from the exact wrong direction that we should be. Christ's message was one of love and salvation. While saying "there is only one way to heaven" is rough statement for may to grasp, Christ still commanded us to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. As Christians, we tend to say "Love the sinner, hate the sin" a lot. But you know what? Homosexuality is different. It's hard for Christians to separate "homosexual the person" from "homosexuality the lifestyle". We as Christians know what we mean by "love the sinner, hate the sin", but know what that sounds like to homosexual? "We hate you, but want to cover it up with words." The whole drive in my life is to guide people to Christ, to let them see how much He loves them and wants them to be His children. But in order to be His child, we have to choose to start a relationship with Him. But who would want to be in a relationship with a God who's "followers" are constantly attacking and slandering who they are on a personal and intimate level?
I want to be a light for people, a guide, a reason for people to say "You're a Christian. Why is that so important to you? Why does it change you the way it does? Tell me more about Jesus."
Church, "Why do you look at the speck of dust in your brother's eye, but pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?" Matthew 7:3. This verse applies directly to us. Why are we eager to point out these sins to others, but aren't willing to correct our own sins (in this case, unloving legalistic judgement and hate) We can't go around telling homosexuals "You're a SINNER! You need to REPENT!" That won't win anyone to Christ. That is a personal attack, not love. We as a church have to learn to unite in love and not judgement. Only after a person becomes a Brother or Sister in Christ do we have the right to come to them on a personal level to talk to them about their lifestyle (and only if you are close personal friends). To say "that thing you're doing, that is a sin" has no relevance in a non-Christian's life, and certainly does not put us in a position to condemn them, or even say anything against them.
Yes, we don't agree with homosexuality. But I don't go around saying it, because giving my opinion on this doesn't help anyone see Christ in a loving light. My opinion, and YOUR OPINION, does not matter. Not in this case. I'm not talking about laws, or who you hang out with, or anything like that. I am talking purely about our mission on this earth, and that is "Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19). Does saying "these people need to repent!" help anything or draw anyone to Christ? Only some, but those people need to be told in a personal friend to friend situation, not a "I'm waving this statement like a flag" situation.
I love the church, but I am so disappointed in how we are handling this. We are attacking PEOPLE, children that God loves and wants to gather to Himself. But that's not going happen very often as long as we are, or at least come across as, hating.
Growing up, I was very judgmental of homosexuals. I was taught that the Bible is very condemning of the idea, so it was also very easy for me to automatically condemn anyone who was homosexual. It was also very easy to be condemning because it was very uncomfortable for me. As I've gotten older and more experienced in life and circumstances, I've realized something very startling: The Church is approaching this from the exact wrong direction that we should be. Christ's message was one of love and salvation. While saying "there is only one way to heaven" is rough statement for may to grasp, Christ still commanded us to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. As Christians, we tend to say "Love the sinner, hate the sin" a lot. But you know what? Homosexuality is different. It's hard for Christians to separate "homosexual the person" from "homosexuality the lifestyle". We as Christians know what we mean by "love the sinner, hate the sin", but know what that sounds like to homosexual? "We hate you, but want to cover it up with words." The whole drive in my life is to guide people to Christ, to let them see how much He loves them and wants them to be His children. But in order to be His child, we have to choose to start a relationship with Him. But who would want to be in a relationship with a God who's "followers" are constantly attacking and slandering who they are on a personal and intimate level?
I want to be a light for people, a guide, a reason for people to say "You're a Christian. Why is that so important to you? Why does it change you the way it does? Tell me more about Jesus."
Church, "Why do you look at the speck of dust in your brother's eye, but pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?" Matthew 7:3. This verse applies directly to us. Why are we eager to point out these sins to others, but aren't willing to correct our own sins (in this case, unloving legalistic judgement and hate) We can't go around telling homosexuals "You're a SINNER! You need to REPENT!" That won't win anyone to Christ. That is a personal attack, not love. We as a church have to learn to unite in love and not judgement. Only after a person becomes a Brother or Sister in Christ do we have the right to come to them on a personal level to talk to them about their lifestyle (and only if you are close personal friends). To say "that thing you're doing, that is a sin" has no relevance in a non-Christian's life, and certainly does not put us in a position to condemn them, or even say anything against them.
Yes, we don't agree with homosexuality. But I don't go around saying it, because giving my opinion on this doesn't help anyone see Christ in a loving light. My opinion, and YOUR OPINION, does not matter. Not in this case. I'm not talking about laws, or who you hang out with, or anything like that. I am talking purely about our mission on this earth, and that is "Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19). Does saying "these people need to repent!" help anything or draw anyone to Christ? Only some, but those people need to be told in a personal friend to friend situation, not a "I'm waving this statement like a flag" situation.
I love the church, but I am so disappointed in how we are handling this. We are attacking PEOPLE, children that God loves and wants to gather to Himself. But that's not going happen very often as long as we are, or at least come across as, hating.
