More Love!
We live in a world that loves classifying everyone into categories so that we can sort them into groups, which can then begin to drag in implicit bias we may have towards these groups.
One area that is common for these behaviors to manifest is in religion.
Too often we like to condemn others in the name of God because they don’t fit into our perception of what we believe they should be. It is easy to simply follow what we are taught because that is how it has always been. This thought process, while important as a starting platform, can be a very dangerous road to walk. It leads to moments of confusion, in which we don’t understand why a person is this way or why they don’t believe as I do. Sadly, instead of taking the opportunity to engage and learn perspective, we as people would rather persecute these differences. In these moments it is okay to do that because after all, we’re driving the evil away right?
I knew I was gay long before I had accepted it was who I was. I was afraid. Afraid that the same people who loved me and thought me to be a good person, would instantly turn on me and cast me out of that community because now I was no longer a good Christian, I was a lost cause to many. I didn’t understand how I could feel these things and yet still believe in a God that would hate me because of what I felt. I tried praying the gay away, as I’m sure many others have. I contemplated suicide, fearing I would be unable to reconcile my identity to my soul. Eventually I was able to find my anchor and truly understand who I am and that I am loved beyond measure.
Unfortunately, not everyone has a positive outcome.
Everyday, members of the LGBTQ+ community take their own life out of not being able to reconcile who they are with what they’re “supposed to be.” Some of these people are thrown out of their own homes and no longer loved because now they are a thing of sin and evil, and forever lost. Some want to tell someone else who they are, but lack the courage to take that step. They’re scared of what others will think of them. That fear within leads to those dark places that not all return from. And while there is so much hurt, anger, pain, brokenness, fear and rage, we as humans need to share love a whole lot more.
Only when love is the way will we begin to see people as they are, and not some stereotype our implicit bias wants to fit them into. We’re all part of the human family. As Christians, we are called to seek and serve Christ in others, loving our neighbors as ourselves. We are called to love God, and love others. it’s that simple. God is love and where true love is, God Himself is there. Only when we walk the path of love will we begin to heal the divisions in the world. Only when love is the guiding star, will our fellow friends of the LGBTQ+ community have reconciliation for all the pain, suffering, hurt and anguish so many people have thrown at them in the “name of God.”
If you are reading this, and you feel lost, hurt, broken, or that God doesn’t love you, the church has failed you and I’m so terribly sorry you had to experience that.
But please know that not all Christians hate you as you are. Actually, God loves you as you are right now. This very second, God loves your actual self and not the ideal self you strive to move towards. Not only that, but the rest of us imperfect beings also love you for who you are right now. We all have scars and wounds we carry. We’ve all been told we’re damned to the fires of eternal torment and torture. I stopped counting.
However, my scars and wounds are beautiful. They are signs of struggle, pain, agony and so forth. It is these very scars that drive me to love others so fiercely. It is my hope that my scars and wounds may be beautiful to you. That from this wounded beauty, you may find strength and comfort.
If you are reading this and don’t understand why someone could be different than you, I implore you to have an open mind and try to understand their perspective. These are people too, and deserve honor, dignity and respect just like you do. I challenge you to love these people. They need this love so very much. We all want to know we are loved. It’s hardwired into our genetic matrix. It’s an inseparable part of who we are. Will you choose to love these people as yourself, or cast them away and leave them to whatever sadness and horrors await. Please open your hearts. Seek Christ in these broken people, for He is very much among the least of these. Show love, compassion and forgiveness. It is our charge.
To those hurting right now, know you are loved beyond measure. Not only by me and others in this world, but an endless love that endures through the ages. God loves you, and is very much with you. Please know how valuable you are in this world, and that we grieve and hurt when you do not return from those dark places.
We all must show more love. Otherwise, we become complicit with the fractures of this world and apathy that comes. Choose to love today and everyday. You might be saving a life.
I choose. Will you?
