Appeal to Christians and Parents during Pride month
June is pride month for the LGBTQ+ community. As an ally I would like to address this to Christians who do not support this community and parents who do not support their children.
First, I do not wish to cause you to stumble when it comes to what you believe but I do want to provide some perspective and appeal to you as a fellow Christian.
“Above all, let your love for one another be intense, because love covers a multitude of sins.”
1 Peter 4:8
Since love covers a multitude of sin, isn’t it better to love them than to judge them. They are just human, just like you. They are one of Gods children, just like you. As Christians, we are not saved by righteousness, we are saved by grace. How do you think Gay people, who do not know Christ, view Christ if they think you hate them.
“Then let us no longer judge one another, but rather resolve never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.”
Romans 14:13
By not welcoming Gay people, you are judging them and their lifestyle. You are also blocking them from Christ and making them think Christians are not loving compassionate people.
You are also putting them in danger. When a Gay person feels like they can’t be themselves, then they feel like they have to live in the dark. If you hate them, you are just as much in the dark.
“Whoever hates his brother is in darkness; he walks in darkness and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.”
1 John 2:11
Parents of LGBTQ+ children
To parents of LGBTQ+ children, if you make your child feel like they cannot be them selves; you are forcing them to live a lie. If they cannot be who they are then they will either hate you or hate themselves because they are not what you want them to be. They may try to be what you want them to be. Our God is a God of Truth, that means we need to accept truth. We need to love our children for who they are.
Maybe you fear not seeing them in heaven, that you believe that being gay is a choice that cannot be forgiven. Now what if your judgment of them is the sin that needs to be forgiven. If you can’t welcome your own child as they are, will Christ welcome you? God sees our hearts and judges all and loving them is reflecting Gods love for all of us. Maybe if you can receive and welcome them as they are then Christ can welcome you too.
““Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”
Matthew 10:40
Children of Christian parents should never feel unloved or rejected because we are never to prevent a child from coming to Christ.
“Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.””
Matthew 19:14 NABRE
Regarding Gay Marriage
Sexuality, regardless of orientation, can be sinful. When you seek your own desires, treating partners as objects to be used then we are being selfish and sinful. But if you fall in love with someone and want to serve their needs, fulfilling each other’s needs, this is selfless. If you make a vow and dedicate your self to that person until death do you part, I have trouble seeing how God could condemn that union.
I will share this insight that the Apostle Paul addressed to married couples, that they should “not deprive each other” to prevent lust from a “lack of self-control.” This tells me that even as married heterosexuals, sexuality can become sinful.
“Do not deprive each other, except perhaps by mutual consent for a time, to be free for prayer, but then return to one another, so that Satan may not tempt you through your lack of self-control.”
1 Corinthians 7:5
Love Remains
In the end, we only know in part. We can’t assume we know who God saves and condemns, and this is not our job. Our job is to love like Christ.
“We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us. God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him.”
1 John 4:16