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Writer's pictureJonathan D'Elia

LGBTQ+ Pride Month and the Christian

Updated: Jun 4


It’s LGBTQ+ Pride Month, so it’s time for Christians to turn off social media, ignore the news stories, and further entrench themselves in the beliefs they’ve been told.


Or maybe this year can be different.


We could take this month to consider for the first time that perhaps we’ve been wrong.


Instead of focusing on corporations, boycotts, and culture wars, we can focus on the people this touches.


Instead of focusing on a few disputable verses in the Bible, consider the themes of scriptures highlighted by Jesus; by Paul; by John:

-- themes of obedience to the greatest commandment

-- themes of restoration of relationship with God and one another

-- themes of love


We could take a cue from Jesus and learn what this means: “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.”


We could sit with a friend or family member that happens to be LGBTQ and listen -- actually listen -- to their story. Not to change them, or save them, or whatever, but to understand them.


We could read some articles, books, or memoirs that inform us of Biblically Christian arguments that may challenge our firmly held opinions.


We could stop reacting in fear and disgust of “different” and consider things we have in common: love, fidelity, purity, sacrifice.


We could consider that it’s not an abstract or theoretical idea. It’s about real people, creations of God that are tired of being left out.


We could at least consider that not all Christians believe queerness is sin.


We could at least admit the Christian church has treated the LGBTQ community horribly.


We could at least remember that lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth were more than twice as likely to have attempted to kill themselves than their heterosexual peers.*


We could, but so many of us won’t.


“We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.” – Elie Wiesel


It’s LGBTQ+ Pride Month — an opportunity to learn and grow.


We could, if we choose to.

~


For further reading:


Photo by SatyaPrem.

*"Suicide And Violence Prevention Among Gay And Bisexual Men | CDC". Cdc.Gov, 2021, https://www.cdc.gov/msmhealth/suicide-violence-prevention.htm. Accessed 2 June 2021.

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1 commentaire


Stacy Faber
Stacy Faber
02 juin 2021

Jon, you are a warrior and I love you for giving me tools to search for understanding. One who feels understood feels loved, and one who feels loved feels sure of being understood. Understanding and acceptance are the essence of love. If you cannot understand and accept, you cannot truly love.

J'aime
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