I am a white Christian woman. I have a master’s degree in theology. I also have 4 gay children; 3 non-binary, 1 trangender, and their extended loved ones (friends/family alike) that fall into this alphabet soup known as Pride.
This year, Target chose a t-shirt that has been removed that said something about satan and pronouns. And although Christian backlash was, well, gutteral and violent, I think the bigger spiritual picture is missed here.
See, I know PLENTY of Jesus loving queer folk. They live in fear of judgment if they attend church at all. You see, these people need Jesus as much as I do, not more, but just as much.
That’s not the entire point of this post, however.
This stupid t-shirt, like that silly beer can, has caused an awful lot of people to come raging out of the shadows straight at each other with claws, teeth, and whatever else, bared.
Don’t y’all get it??
This is exactly what the enemy of our souls wants!
He counted on the fact that “christians” have historically hidden behind the cross, the Bible, the pulpit, and whatever else to proclaim violence against those people who don’t “meet Jesus’s mark”… you know, are on His level… because these people certainly believe they are.
I challenge you again. Begin from a place of love. Start from love and pray. You can still believe whatever you want, but the entire point is allowing everyone the same freedom of choice that God does. I mean… God gives us freedom to choose.
And… the last I checked, no one on this earth has been appointed to be another person’s Holy Spirit.
It seems to me that if Christians are going to claim Jesus’s name, then we, collectively, better take notice of our starting place.
Starting at the cross, Jesus hung there out of love. Starting with the empty tomb, Jesus came back out of love so we would have faith. Starting with His miracles, Jesus gave healing and forgiveness based on love. Starting with Peter and Paul, Jesus saw their hearts and knew their passion for Him would lead them to begin ministries based on love. And on, and on, and on.
Starting with YOU and I. How can we undo the t-shirt damage? How can we undo the hatred now brewing on every single corner?
Love. You MUST begin with love. Boycotts do nothing. Yelling hateful slurs and death threats do nothing.
Nothing good anyway.
Do better. We MUST do better.
Dreaming in Paisley 