When They Call For Death
We are living in a time when some pastors, some clergy are calling over the pulpit for the death of LGBT+ people or their parents.
Not enough Christians are unequivocally condemning the statements. And that worries me.
I worry that too much of the conversation is about the explanation or apologetics of the doctrinal position that we lose sight of the harm being perpetuated by the language.
This rhetoric doesn’t even qualify as hate speech. People are running active churches and even some political campaigns on this rhetoric. And the only people who have the right voice and perspective to change it are those who believe in Christ as well.
The way we speak to our brothers and sisters who are of the LGBT+ community needs work.
I understand the moral misgivings some may have. The challenge to relate. Maybe we’ve reached a point where if we can’t be truly supportive we shouldn’t say anything at all.
The speech used to isolate the sin of Same Sex Attraction from the sinner is problematic. I see speech equivocating being gay to pedophilia all the time. I see equivocations to drug addiction.
I see conversations about demonstrations of relationships and families being considered grooming.
That scares me so much.
The line between equivocating just being LGBT+ with crimes and grievous harm needs to stop. That’s the very justification used for the most dangerous and damaging of rhetoric.
Those of us who are of conservative Christian denominations and practices have caused and contributed to harm with our language. And we need to recognize that.
There are ways to accept people for who they are, where they are and hold ourselves to a higher individual standard. That’s not happening. I can see why. It’s hard.
I myself struggle with how reconcile who I am and my faith. I’m not perfect at either. But I’m trying. Because that’s the love I feel from my Heavenly Father, from Christ. Unconditional love and guidance and aid.
I’ve turned a point where accepting who I am. Growing and praying more. Deepening my relationship with Christ’s atonement required radical honesty with myself. It’s left me with more questions than answers. But that’s just room for growth in my opinion.
It’s also left me more convicted to stand up for those who are marginalized by our society. By those like me who live a life in the open that my wife and family shields me from. I need to stand for them. And I think all of us should.
Standing for human rights and dignity does not weaken our rights, it does not cheapen or weaken our worship. I would argue the struggle of reconciling our love for the person and our doctrine will make us stronger.
Now I know as I’m writing this some reading this will say, “I don’t support anyone who has these views they’re too far.”
Now most don’t. But some do: they attend these churches.
Some of us use phrases and rhetoric that harms.
It’s my hope and prayer that we all can grow closer to our savior and be there for each other. Condemn dangerous language that is not reflective of the love and guidance I’ve come to recognize from my Savior. Maybe then we’ll heal the world, close some divisions a little more.
What can I say, I’m an optimist. I see the growth in love and support that has occurred in my lifetime. I see the changes in individuals I know. Because of that I know we all can do a little better. Be a little better. That outlook is getting stronger. That’s why I have the conviction and courage to say something now.
The sources for some of the incidents that inspired this post:
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna32748
https://www.newsweek.com/pro-trump-pastor-wants-lgbtq-indoctrinators-executed-treason-1714767?amp=1
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