I Stand With You

When Jesus was on earth His focus was on the outcast and marginalized, who at that time were women, lepers, tax collectors (to name a few).  I now believe in my heart that if Jesus were here now, that group of people that he spent most of his time with, that he welcomed into His inner circle, that He saw as beings created in God's beautiful image, would include the LGBTQ community.  Those who continue to be shunned, outcast, misunderstood and hated by so many BELONG at the table.  

I am ashamed to say that when I was growing up I was in the camp of people who were angry that the rainbow had been "co-opted" by the gay community, but that was before I knew how to think for myself.  Today when I see rainbow flags or t-shirts, I am reminded that God's promises belong to ALL of us and that we were all created in the beautiful image of God, which is so much more mysterious than we will ever understand.

There are some changes happening in the CRC denomination and a clear line is being drawn in the sand.  Someone I love, admire and respect very much recently said to me, "I would rather have Jesus tell me I showed love to too many people than to get this wrong" (which I'm pretty sure Jesus would not do because He was all about the love).  I cannot and will not be on the side that would tell a couple they can't get married or that they can't be in leadership because of who they love, just as I cannot agree that women should not have equal rights as men when it comes to church leadership.  A woman can teach Sunday School to children but not preach from the pulpit?  BS.  Our former church did not think women should be pastors and after living with that knot in my stomach I vowed I would never again be a member of a church that follows that line of thinking; and the same goes for being part of a church that would exclude the LGBTQ community.

Discriminatory views are pretty easy to have until you find out that these people are near and dear to you.  They are your neighbor, your co-worker, your friend, your relative, your child. 

This past Sunday there were a few things that happened that I know were not an intentional response to the current state of the CRC but to me, they were special and I felt like God was telling me something.  When we took communion, the leader said "this is not Sanctuary's table or the CRC's table, this is the Lord's table".  I believe that ALL are welcome at the table.  We sang a song with the words "no longer a slave to fear, I am a child of God" and I realized that there is freedom to be found in opening our arms wider and accepting and affirming that ALL are children of God.

For far too long Christians have been debating this "issue" but it is not an issue, it's a group of people; a group of people who have been marginalized and discriminated against and made to feel so worthless that countless have taken their own lives.  This is not the way.  I firmly believe this is not what Jesus would want and I think we are breaking God's heart when we respond in that way.

I apologize for my complicity.  

For probably the past five years I have been mulling this over and figuring out where I stand.  I feel like I have personally come to a crossroads where I must make a choice between standing in the shadows and being quietly affirming or standing with my LGBTQ brothers and sisters and saying, I don't stand with "them" anymore, I stand with you because I believe Jesus would.  I believe Jesus loves you just as He loves me and I believe He is calling me to leave the 99 sheep to go after the 1 because you matter, you have worth and you are beautiful just as you are.

Some might say I'm on a "slippery slope" but I don't care.  I know when I feel the assurance of the Holy Spirit and I feel it.  I have been conflicted for a long time but now I feel peace.  Thank you for reading this, I hope you will at least re-consider where you stand and think about the precious lives that are in the balance.  This community NEEDS the church...the church as she was meant to be but we need THEM just as much.  They have a lot to teach us about community, love, diversity, acceptance, freedom, beauty, art and so much more.  It's time we stop talking, stop debating and just listen.