LGBTQ+ Pride Month and the Christian
Updated: Mar 2, 2022
It’s LGBTQ+ Pride Month, so it’s time for Christians to turn off social media, ignore the news stories, and further entrench themselves in the beliefs they’ve been told.
Or maybe this year can be different.
They could take this month to consider for the first time that perhaps they’ve been mistaken. Instead of focusing on a few disputable verses in the Bible, consider the themes of scriptures highlighted by Jesus; by Paul; by John. Themes of obedience to the greatest commandment. Themes of restoration of relationship with God and one another. Themes of love.
They could take a cue from Jesus and learn what this means: “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.”
They could sit with a friend or family member that happens to be LGBTQ and listen -- actually listen -- to their story. Not to change them, or save them, or whatever, but to understand them.
They could read some articles, books, or memoirs that inform them of Biblically Christian arguments that may challenge them on their view.
They could stop reacting in fear and disgust of “different” and consider things we have in common: love, fidelity, purity, sacrifice.
They could consider that this is not an abstract or theoretical idea. This is about real people, creations of God that are tired of being left out.
They could at least consider that not all Christians believe homosexuality is sin.
They could at least admit the Christian church has treated the LGBTQ community horribly.
They could at least remember that lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth were more than twice as likely to have attempted to kill themselves than their heterosexual peers.*
They could, but so many won’t.
“The real damage is done by those millions who want to 'survive.' The honest men who just want to be left in peace. Those who don’t want their little lives disturbed by anything bigger than themselves. Those with no sides and no causes. Those who won’t take measure of their own strength, for fear of antagonizing their own weakness. Those who don’t like to make waves—or enemies. Those for whom freedom, honour, truth, and principles are only literature. Those who live small, mate small, die small. It’s the reductionist approach to life: if you keep it small, you’ll keep it under control. If you don’t make any noise, the bogeyman won’t find you. But it’s all an illusion, because they die too, those people who roll up their spirits into tiny little balls so as to be safe. Safe?! From what? Life is always on the edge of death; narrow streets lead to the same place as wide avenues, and a little candle burns itself out just like a flaming torch does.”
~ Sophie Scholl
It’s LGBTQ+ Pride Month — an opportunity to learn and grow.
They could, if they choose to.
~
For further reading:
K. Keen, Scripture, Ethics, and the Possibility of Same-Sex Relationships.
J. Lee, Torn: Rescuing the Gospel from the Gays-vs.-Christians Debate. A memoir of a gay Christian's experience.
W. Loader, M. K. DeFranza, W. Hill, S. R. Holmes, Two Views on Homosexuality, the Bible, and the Church. A balanced and respectful conversation of different views.
M. Vines, God and the Gay Christian: The Biblical Case in Support of Same-Sex Relationships.
Website. The Reformation Project. "Brief Biblical Case for LGBTQ inclusion" A helpful source for a short, introductory read.
Photo by SatyaPrem.
*"Suicide And Violence Prevention Among Gay And Bisexual Men | CDC". Cdc.Gov, 2021, https://www.cdc.gov/msmhealth/suicide-violence-prevention.htm. Accessed 2 June 2021.