From a Christian Who Doesn't Hate Homosexuals
A Response to Tiffany Ranae's Apology to the Christian Right
No one wanted to tell us. I guess because they assumed we would shun this family member for his homosexuality. This could not have been farther from the truth. While my family was just trying to make sure that no one hurt the feelings of my homosexual cousin, I cannot tell you how much it hurt my feelings that my family let the stereotype of the judgmental Christian override their knowledge of the accepting person that I am.
In Tiffany Ranae's "A Transsexual Woman's Apology to the Christian Right," she points out the fact that two prominent Christian figures, James Dobson and Jerry Falwell, and have commented about Sponge Bob, one of the Teletubbies, and even Winnie the Pooh, having gay tendencies, and then she proceeds to sarcastically apologize for all homosexuals in the world because the Christian right apparently wants "a homo-free society." This is exactly the kind of stereotyping I absolutely cannot stand.
I am a Christian. Not because I follow the conservative agenda of some religious leader, but because I aim to follow Christ with reckless abandon. I do not think Sponge Bob is gay, I do not hate homosexuals, and I am not alone in these opinions. Just because George W. Bush says something about our need to be in Iraq doesn't mean that all Americans agree with him. In fact, given his current popularity ratings, I would say the majority probably don't. It is the same with Christians. Just because Dr. Dobson says something does not mean that we all agree. There's a large group of us who don't.
I have many friends who are homosexual. They are not my friends because they are homosexual. They are my friends because I like them as people. I do not choose my friends by their sexual orientation. I do not care who you slept with last night, what gender that person was, or if you are married to that person. I do care to know how your week is going, what is going on in your life, and how I as your friend can serve you. I am not saying this so people think I am a great person or something; most of us Christians are this way.
We don't want to assimilate the world to a common style of dress, activity, or behavior. In fact, I am not even sure that any one church could agree on one common style of dress, activity, or behavior. Yes, the Bible does say that homosexuality is a sin, but, as Tiffany Ranae pointed out when she brought up the sin of gluttony, the Bible mentions a whole heck of a lot of other sins as well. Christ also makes it pretty clear that there is no one sin that is worse than any other. There are fat people who go to my church. There are homosexuals, too. No one condemns either of them. Christ did not come into this world to condemn it; he came to save it. We as Christians do not want to do any condemning either.
To Tiffany Ranae and any other homosexual, bisexual, or transgender person- I am truly sorry if you have been hurt by someone out there who treated you hatefully while claiming to be a Christian. The Bible makes it very clear that anyone who is capable of treating another child of God (yes, we are ALL children of God) hatefully is not truly a Christian. God is not in that person. It says in 1 John 2:9, "Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness." Please give Christians another chance. I think you will find that most of us are truly accepting, caring people who follow a Christ that preached a gospel of love.
Published by Nicole Mohr
Niki lives in beautiful So. California, where she enjoys spending time with her friends and family. She is a high school English teacher, youth worker, freelance writer, wife, and mother. View profile
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10 Comments
Post a CommentFantastic article. I'm another Christian who believes in respecting everyone. Gays should never be judged by those who claim to worship God. It's a sin to hate, judge, or say someone is going to "hell" because they are someone they don't understand. It's totally wrong and those people are sinning, period.
A wonderful article. I am also a Christian that does not hate homosexuals or any other sexuals. I think people should mind their business and focus on their own families instead of sticking their noses into everyone elses business. Bravo on an article well done!
The bible tells us that God loves the world but He hates sin and that's the reason He sent Jesus to come die. Homosexuality is a sin and while we must not hate the homosexual man or woman we must hate the sin of homosexuality. Jesus, the Bible says came to reconcile sinners to God and our message to the homosexual like any other sinner is that God loves them and yearns for a relationship with them.The cities of Sodom and Gommorah were destroyed in the old testament cos of homosexuality and the book of Romans 1:26-28 talks about it.
Also we are all creatures of God but are not all children of God. He longs for all of us to be but only those who accept His invitation to be are-BORN AGAIN CHRISTIANS.Jesus died for all of mankind so potentially we are all God's children but cos He will not force Himself on any man He has thrown open an IV and those who accept this IV are His children.
I love Tiffany and other homosexuals even though i don't know them just as i love the next person with Go
Unfortunately, in my experience, you are part of an extreme minority. As a transsexual Christian, I live in the fifth largest city in the US, and attend an evangelical church of about 30, located in the worst part of town, The first building was burnt to the ground by "Christians". Why attend there? Because none of the mainstream evangelical churches will have us. Most of us have tried to attend. The churches usually don't tell you to leave (though that does happen on occasion), or treat you horribly (although one pastor changed his sermon to pertain to me when he saw me walk in). They simply pretend you're not there, and ignore you. I don't hate mainstream Christians any more than you hate us. But having been called every kind of sinner by Christians, including a murderer when my spouse passed away, simply because I'm transgender it is VERY hard not to be bitter.
You did a nice job on this article. It's time for more Christians to discover that the Bible is not so clearly (or accurately) against homosexuality as it is sometimes presented. Read "Sins of Scripture" by Rev. John Spong and "Misquoting Jesus" by Bart Erhman for more reference points.
i myself am afraid to go into a church because i feel like everyone is burnin holes in the back of my head, if we had more ppl like you more open about this issue there would be more gays like me in church without fear.
I agree with you that generalizations and stereotyping definitely does exclude the population who feels differently. In Tiffany's defense I do believe that piece to have been satirical in nature, and unfortunately, satire is all about extremes and generalizations or it wouldn't be satire. However, you are right - not all homosexuals are flaming perverts and not all right wing Christians are raving lunatics... and it is those people who do not fall on either extreme whom I am proud to call my friends. You wrote a nice article here with good sentiment. Thank you for sharing it.
good work.as a non-christian i am happy to see that the other side of the story is finally coming up.like other religions, i feel christianity is being hijacked by hard liners. we need to hear more from people like you.
To those christians who are not part of the hate mongering, the fear, the suttle (and not so suttle) racism, the zealotry...The onus is upon you to stand up, to challenge those who now seem to lead the christian community...
We know you by your works. Unfortunately, they are being drowned out by hate-mongers who claim to be following Jesus. I've been very heartened by the rise of the religious left (not necessarily a political affiliation so much as an opposition to Falwell etc.) Keep your chin up.