Gay pride parades. They’ve been around for years – since 1970 actually, when the first parade hit the streets of New York City.
I’ve never been to a gay pride parade before, but I want to go. Why? Not because I’m eager to see drag queens (I’ve seen the shows plenty of times back in the day), or rainbow flags parading the street. I want to see people. True, genuine people who are fighting for something they believe in, whether it’s right or wrong.
I imagine there will be plenty of “Christian” activists on the streets as well, chanting their fair share of lingo as the LGBT community yell out their slogans, too.
I picture this in my mind, and maybe I’m over analyzing. If I were to go to the Gay Pride parade, where would I stand? In the streets with the gogo dancers or on the other side of the street with the Christians?
I would have to choose neither. I don’t want to stand up for a cause that doesn’t line up with God’s Word, but I also don’t want to stand up with a religious cause that doesn’t stand up to God’s Word, like staring at Bill and Bob holding hands with contempt in my heart because of their lifestyle choice, while my own life is in shambles because my sin is different and not as present.
I don’t want to stand with a big chunk of wood in my eye and preach Bible verses to real people because that’s what we’re “supposed to do.”
But aren’t we supposed to do something?
Yes we are. We are to love as Jesus loved, just like he said in John 13:34. We are to love with grace and truth the way Jesus did.
If Jesus were at the gay pride parade, would he hold a sign and chant? (tweet that)
So, what can we do as Christians? Randy Thomas, Executive Vice President of Exodus International, couldn’t have said it any better.
Leave the little tracts and testimonies on brightly colored paper at home. Don’t make any signs quoting the Old Testament and look to do acts of service instead of bullhorn evangelism.
Guess what? Jesus can be at the gay pride parade. If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, then He is in you. And according to Ephesians 2:10, we were created in Christ Jesus to do good works. So, lets do it.
Pass out water to thirsty people standing for a cause. Smile. Trust the Lord to provide His light to the world through you.
Randy wrote an amazing blog the other today that gives some great ideas on how to put labels on your water, invite the LGBT community to church, and more. Check it out here.
Let’s stop pretending and actually love like Jesus loved. Who’s with me? Leave a comment below…
Everyone needs Jesus. To act like some are more deserving than others is to totally misunderstand why Jesus came. When Jesus walked this earth no place was beneath him. And HE is the Son of God. To place ourselves above others is to place ourselves above Him.
Preach it, Anne. 🙂
Thanks for the shout out and of course I totally agree with your post! Have a great day.
Thanks for stopping by Randy.
I do agree with your post, to an extent =P (always, that’s just me). What I don’t like about your post is that it pits Christians against the LGBT, and the simple fact of the matter is that the LGBT side pits the LGBT against Christians. There is no intermingling of the two in the little world that gets seen, and I flat out do NOT like it.
I am bisexual. I am a minister and preacher for Christ. I work in a church, and I am completely comfortable with my sexuality.
This seems to be a group that is vastly overlooked and ignored simply because it is easier to have one side and another side pitted against each other. This group, seems to me, does what you are doing–walking the line.
I don’t think Jesus would be holding a sign or standing with the “Christians” on the other side of the street. I think Jesus would be bouncing back and forth between the two sides and sparking up conversations about subjects that every individual there had never thought to even have.
So yes, I did go on a bit of a rant. =P whoops! sorry. But I do agree. I’ve been to pride parades, and as an LGBT person, I can say that I much rather walked the line between the two than picked a side to be on.
Adrian, thanks for sharing. Though my post may have pitted one against another, I simply wrote that because unfortunately it’s the truth. As you will read, I chose neither side.
I didn’t mean in anyway to imply that you personally had picked a side. But there is also the fact that not talking about the complications and the in between people will help the pitting of two sides will continue to occur. I wish that had been done on a larger scale in this piece, rather than just your personal story/choice (if that makes sense)…guess it’s just a blog post that perhaps I should write. =P That or a paper for a class.
I’d love to read it, Adrian. Can’t cover it all one in post. That’s why I’m writing a book about it. 🙂
Well said… Unfortunately in many cases we allow our hearts to be drawn into the judgment of others, rather than finding ways to reach out in love and serving those around us as Jesus very clearly taught us to do. We all sin, and casting our scorn on people who sin differently than us really does miss the plank in our own eye…
Have a Blessed Day!
That dang plank will get us every time. Thanks for stopping by, Phil
Reminds me of this Christian group that attended Chicago’s gay pride day holding signs of apology and sharing the love of Christ. Jesus Himself said that He did not come to condemn, but to save. We are called to love and to share the truth of the gospel in love. No one was ever won to Christ through protest. http://www.practikel.com/2012/01/27/christian-group-shows-up-to-chicago-gay-pride-holding-apologetic-signs/
Wow – thanks for sharing that article, Nadia.
How can we deal with our wickedness if we can’t overcome on our own? What did Paul say his answer from Jesus was; “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” (2 Cor 12:9) Honesty is the best antidote to hypocrisy. If Paul could boast on his weakness – shouldn’t we at least acknowledge ours. And in so doing appreciate our complete need for His righteousness in our lives.
http://walkingwithtony.blogspot.ca/2012/10/turn-from-wickedness.html
Yes, Tony.
As a Christian, and someone who honestly struggles with where I stand on the issue (because, lets be honest, I’m not sure where I stand in my own sexuality most days) it hurts me to see other Christians so violently choosing this as their main topic of distain, so much so to the point they don’t build relationships with people, they just yell at them.
I recently attended Nashville Pride with 2 of my best friends, both in support of their relationship together, and in curiosity as to what would be there. We were very much greeted by people handing out tracts telling us to our face we were going to hell, not asking me anything about my religious beliefs (I’m a member of a church and highly active in their congregation there and have been for over 5 years.) It hurt me to be told I would go to hell, without them getting to know me, nor having walked an inch in anyone’s shoes there.
A pastor once said, “We condemn most the sins we struggle with the least.” Most people will not struggle with same-sex thoughts. And until you do, how can you tell them it is a choice? Just like how can I judge an obese person for their choices of food? I don’t know if it is a side effect of some other health issue.
Such great points. I’m so sorry you experienced that at the parade. They’ll answer for their actions.
I completely understand why someone would choose to not pick a side… 1) I cannot bring myself to accept the BEHAVIOR of homosexuality, only because of everything that is said in the bible pertaining to it. ex/ Genesis 19:1-11, Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13, Judges 19:16-24, 1 Kings 14:24 and 15:12, 2 Kings 23:7, Romans 1:18-32, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 and Timothy 1:8-10. I am sorry if I have offended anyone by saying that. This post is not meant to offend but only to share what the bible has to say about the matter. 2) The bible also states that not one of us on Earth have the right to judge another being for none of us are without sin and no sin is greater than the other. Just because I am not gay doesn’t mean I’m not without sin and therefor I am no better than anyone that is gay. Let us not forget also the book of Jude. So whether wrong or right, I know what the bible says and the BEHAVIOR is wrong but we are to hate the sin not the sinner. Again, I mean no harm or offense but I hope that those of you that are struggling with this can look at the previous scriptures listed and come to your own terms with God. John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Rachel, thanks for sharing. You don’t have to accept the behavior, but where does grace come in? Where do we stop playing the Holy Spirit and just show love?
I can guess that every time someone says, “Hate the sin, love the sinner,” the sinner doesn’t feel loved; they feel further away. Just something to think about.
Hi Sundi Jo, I’m way late to this post, but I think you did a great job with it. I thought CTR’s comment about condemning the things that aren’t a struggle was spot on. I view same-sex attraction as a misplaced search for love or significance. People search for those things in a host of wrong places: careers, health/body image, wealth, etc. You can even find it in family dysfunction — things like finding your worth in your children’s accomplishments, or striving for the approval of a parent who withholds it for some reason. (I’ve know adults who struggle with this their entire lives.) All of those things break my heart.
We’re all searching for a love that fills the deepest emptiest holes in our hearts. The problem is that our hearts have different holes, and shame on anyone for thinking that one person’s attempt to fill an empty place is worse than another’s. PTL there is One who fully knows us, fully loves us, and meets us in our emptiness.
Thank you for making me think.
Thank you for stopping by Susan, and thanks for your heart.
This is great. Sorry, I am stalking your blog.
Thanks for stalking by. 🙂