Hey bloggers,
I need your help, thoughts and input. I’ve been invited to speak to a Christian group about relating to the LGBT community. I know those two groups usually may not mesh together very well in our minds, but as I’m learning and exploring perspectives, I’d love to hear your thoughts and opinions, especially in light of the recent US Supreme Court hearings. Whether you identify as Christian (or another faith tradition), LGBT, heterosexual, etc., here are some questions:
- How have you been hurt or misunderstood by others (Christian, LGBT, etc.) who are different from you? What do you wish were different?
- How can faith and sexuality intersect, if at all?
- What are your thoughts, opinions and questions regarding the US Supreme Court hearings?
- How can the LGBT and Christian/faith communities better dialogue together?
Thanks!
Jon Eng 吴国盛 
This is a toughie.. the only thing I’ve heard of recently that gave food for thought was: http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2013/03/21/an-open-letter-to-the-church-from-a-lesbian/
I’d love to hear what you end up sharing with the group!
I saw this on fb and I have many thoughts on this matter but I don’t like to discuss them via the web in a public space. However, you may find this conversation interesting and thought-provoking.
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2013-03-21/jeff-chu-does-jesus-really-love-me-gay-christians-pilgrimage-search-god-america
a post i wrote a while back! a bunch of my thoughts on it because im too lazy to type it all out again hahaha: http://roymong.wordpress.com/2013/01/30/homosexuality/
something to share.
http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2013/03/27/when-did-idolatry-become-compatible-with-christianity/
Thanks for the links to the articles! If any of you would like to share your actual thoughts, experiences and opinions as we process together, please feel free to post a comment! I’d love to hear about not just what you’re reading but also how you are personally thinking. I know this takes courage, but my hope is that this is a safe space for us to share and dialogue with respect to each other.
Here are some of my initial thoughts: I realize that there has been much vitriolic language tossed back and forth in our diverse circles. For the ways that Christians have perpetuated or embodied hurtful and hateful messages that have taken away any person’s sense of God-given and human dignity, I want to apologize. Even for myself, I know that I have failed in many ways to meet my neighbors where they are. But I’m learning. As a Christ follower, I recognize there may still be areas of disagreement, but my hope is that we can begin to learn to love, understand and dialogue with each other – even if we may not see eye to eye. Where there has been unhelpful silence, ignorance and/or derisive language, would we see and strive towards greater respect and courageous acknowledgment of each other as neighbors.