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 Some Christian denominations have officially welcomed gays and lesbians in recent years.
October 25th, 2011
12:09 PM ET
My Take: Why Christians are embracing their LGBT neighborsEditor’s note: Ross Murray is director of religion, faith and values at GLAAD, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. By Ross Murray, Special to CNN America is embracing its lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender citizens. Don’t believe me? Just look at the progress being made in faith communities. The Christian church was once considered the final holdout for those who oppose equality for LGBT people. Staunch believers could gather in worship with people who thought just like them to hear sermons affirming the anti-LGBT beliefs they held in common. For those of us who identify as LGBT, church was a place of fear and secrets. We had to figure out how to hide ourselves or how to find a more welcoming community. But that is changing. Although there is still a variety of scriptural interpretations, an increasing number of Christians are reading scripture and understanding that God’s design for the world includes LGBT people. It follows, good Christians believe, that if God made them, then I am called to love and support them. Whole Christian denominations have accepted and embraced the reality of LGBT believers within their ranks and in their leadership. Lutherans, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, the United Church of Christ and Unitarians have formally accepted LGBT people within their denominations. Even within denominations and faith groups whose policies don’t fully welcome LGBT people, there are growing numbers of people who have learned to love and accept their lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender brothers and sisters. The Public Religion Research Institute found this year that as many as 71% of Catholics in America support lesbian and gay people, even up to the point of civil marriage, despite the Roman Catholic hierarchy telling them otherwise. Of course, there still are Christian groups who work actively against equal protections for LGBT people and their families. Indeed, as more Americans get to know and love their LGBT neighbors, the messages and vocal misinformation of anti-gay activists become even more shrill. And yet more and more Christians are now living out the message of 1 John 4:18, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.” How did this happen? More Christians now know someone who is LGBT. They probably even know someone from their church. There are countless faithful Christians who identify as LGBT. These are folks who have found their faith in God to be stronger than the opposition of vocal anti-gay activists. These LGBT Christians have shared their lives and their stories that build up love and break down fear, leading to tangible progress, especially with young people. According to the Public Religion Research Institute, there is at least a 20-point gap between those ages 18 to 29 and those ages 65 and older on every public policy measure in the survey concerning equality for gay and lesbian people, with younger Americans gravitating toward equality. Even Christian-identified young people increasingly support protections for lesbian and gay people, the same survey found. Those who oppose equality can call it what they like, but the reality is that we are living in a society that has learned how to value LGBT people as they would others. That attitude doesn’t rely on fear or lies, but on caring relationships and trust. It lives out the apostle Paul’s wish for the Corinthians that someday we will know fully, even as we are fully known. It is a biblically informed reality that is helping to make the world a better place. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Ross Murray. soundoff (2,403 Responses)« Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Next »
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TC
Amazing how many eveil trollers pop up and can't come up with one intelligent comment that Christians on here cannot shoot down with love, compassion and knowledge through grace. The devil never learns.
October 25, 2011 at 3:23 pm | Reply
hippypoet
you have still not yet answered my questions....do you still condem those who say jehovah... by stoning them to death? or do you only follow those laws and things that you choose? do you ever lie, steal, cheat, gamble, think of other woman doing naughty things to you? what did joshua say about knowing the words of the prophets? what did joshua say about Solomon? did joshua say to know anything but what he had to say?
still no answers from you, yet you claim to be able to shoot down anything i have to say...let go , show some more pride. i will let you tell me about the next circle of dante's inferno!
@TC
Hey, you never answered my question either! Why are prejudiced against enemas?
@HP
Pass the dutchie brother
oh bro, if i had a dutch i wouldn't be on cnn.com reading all these hatefull posts from so called peace loving, compassion filled moron liers! but if i had one and you were here...totally passed every other hit!
@HP
And always on the left hand side brother.
Christians are second only to Muslims in their hate, ignorance, and bigotry.
The world would be better off without both religions.
But then these @-holes would just find some other obnoxious belief system and follow that with equal blindness.
It looks like all of them are in second to the hate you show here............
I am unaware of any main stream church promoting "inequality" with any person in the last 20 years. The notion that any church is promoting "inequality" is not a true statement. Clearly the religious text do not say this either when put into context. Anyone promoting inequality does not understand the text that they support. As others have said .... Jesus said to "love your neighbor"
I don't understand your post either. Huh?
21. "Not every one who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
22. On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?'
23. And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you evildoers.'
I am in for sure, for I have done many mighty works to remove the sh-it from people like Jerry with my healthy cleansing program.
Christians are among the most hated religions in the world because they simply don't act anything at all like Christ.
If they did, everyone would be Christian.
G-d loves the sinner not the sin. Know the difference.
Dude you are such a hypocrite. You are accusing Christians of having the very character you are exhibiting with your posts. And you can’t seem to see that for some reason.
@God lover – atheist and gay agendas do not understand that becasue they would have ot believe in order ot understand.
"@God lover – atheist and gay agendas do not understand that becasue they would have ot believe in order ot understand."
it's because love the sinner hate the sin never came from the bible, it's a cliche quote stolen from another religion. 😉
Ummm – its not about the quote or where it came from moron (I believed thats what you called me). Its about atheists and gays knowing that God loves them regardles of therr sins.
"its about atheists and gays knowing that God loves them regardles of therr sins."
LOL! gay christians don't sin moron....but obviously you're to illiterate to figure that one out. 😉
AMEN to that! I have never seen a more hate-filled, judgemental, extremist, non-Jesus-teaching following bunch of ignorant lunactic in all my life ! I was raised a moderate Southern Baptist and I don't recognize these people who call themselves "Christian" and I douby God does either – applauding let sick people die, pretending to be "prolife" but cheering for executions, booing a soldier who is gay, cheering that people without jobs are losers, and worst supporting the Republican Party of complete and total hypocrites, racists, and hate and fear mongers. Not one Republican candidate is a Christian in action or word. Romney advocates for people to lose their homes because his banker friends defrauded them. Herman Cain says poor people are lazy and the jobless are just failures. Perry hears about increased gun violence and how a Mother sacrificed her life to save chidlren in the path of bullets – Perry laughs it off- and says he believes in gun control by "using 2 hands". Senate Leader McConnell has led the most filibusters in Senate history to stop ALL jobs bills, ALL economic recovery bills, all education bills, wants to kill SS and Medicare, wants to end food programs for poor children, no unemployment insurance, and his racist hatred for Obama is so great ("my sole goal is to destroy Obama – McConnell) that he is destroying our country and the PEOPLE just to satisfy his personal hatred and ugly racist non-Christian sickness. NOT ONE REPUBLICAN CLAIMING TO BE SUCH A DEVOUT CHRISTIAN HAS DONE ANYTHING TO HELP ANY PERSON IN NEED – THEY ONLY WANT TO TAKE AWAY MORE FROM THE PEOPLE THEY DESTROYED ONCE ALREADY UNDER BUSH AND NOW WANT TO DESTROY US AGAIN FOR SOME SICK POLITICAL GAME. DO THEY REALLY THINK WE WILL THANK THEM FOR MAKING OUR LIVES HARDER, FOR STOPPING ALL JOBS BILLS, FOR TRYING TO KILL HEALTHCARE BY VOTING FOR THESE ANTI-PEOPLE, ANTI-AMERICAN, OPPOSE EVERYTHING POSITIVE PRESIDENT OBAMA SAYS OR DOES FOR US??
CHRISTIANS???? That's a laugh. They are bringing hell on earth to the middle class and the poor – all so they can worship at their altar of GREED and CORPORATE PAYOFFS. Republicans are liars and traitors to the People and to God and his teachings.
@ UMMM – "gay christians don't sin"? Oh your personal opinion? Glad we have you to clear all that up – and you call me a moron
'Love the sinner, hate the sin' is actually something that St. Augustine wrote in a letter. The original text was actually "C.u.m dilectione hominum et odio vitiorum"...meaning "With love for mankind and hatred of sins." which is often misconstrued to mean 'love the sinner, not the sin'
It is most often used when speaking of hom.o.se.xuals. What a wonderful day it will be when christians finally wake up and realize the facts about hom.o.se.xuality. I'm not certain why it is so hard to understand that science trumps christianity when it comes to the facts surrounding this: being ga.y/le.sbian is not wrong, it is natural...regardless of what the bible states, these people are born this way.
I have lost count of all the so-called "Christians" that go around condeming "sinners' only to be exposed for engaging in the the very same things they condemn.
How many of these nut case Christians will have to fall on their own sword before they stop acting like little mini-Gods judging everyone else? When will they ever actually listen to the words of Jesus?
A muslim troll?
Christians have always welcomed LBGTs. People POSING as Christians are the ones who have rejected LBGTs. Just like the people embracing the LBGT are POSING as Christians. A Christian is someone who follows Christ. One does not become a Christian merely by labeling themselves as one. Christ always embraced and welcomed EVERYONE. But He never embraced anyone's sinful lifestyle. Real Christians to this day embrace and welcome all, including LBGTs. Wearing a white collar around your neck and calling yourself a Christian while you uplift sinful lifestyles is called POSING. Nothing has changed in the community of faith. We still have posers who reject people for their sinful lifestyles. We still have posers who embrace and celebrate sinful lifestyles. And we still have the few real Christians who love, embrace, and welcome all... while refusing to condone sin.
Hilarious!!! Oh, you were serious? Ok bend over and get in line.
Amen.
Mark 2:16-18
16 When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
17 On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Furthermore:
Romans 6:1-3 (New International Version)
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Romans 6:1-3
1 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
Embracing someone does not mean accepting them into your group of like-minded people, then trying to convince them that their way of being (no, it is not a "life-style choice" as so many ignorant christians purport) is against "God's will" and that for the sake of their "soul" that they should live like everyone else at the church lives. Your post sounds so warm and fuzzy and accepting but is still rife with arrogant thought. Maybe you should re-consider the meaning of the word "acceptance".
@ The Illinois Enema Bandit: I hope that's not the height of your intelligence
very, very well said...thank you
"@ The Illinois Enema Bandit: I hope that's not the height of your intelligence"
And I hope belief in a cobbled together bronze age collection of mythical fables is not yours.
Well said... thank you!
@Aaron
You know with enemas, it is not so much intelligence that is needed as skill. You stick that thing in the wrong place and it can get uncomfortable in a hurry. Always remember the lube of course.
Yep, calling two Gay men who have been in a monogamous committed relationship 'sinful' certainly feels welcoming.
Telling a young Gay man who has been thrown out by his fundamentalist family to survive on the street 'Well, that's because you're sinful' certainly feels welcoming.
The examples just go on and on of just how 'welcoming' you fundamentalists are.
@ derp: If it is a "cobbled together bronze age collection of mythical fables" that causes a person to respect and honor others, perhaps that "cobbled together bronze age collection of mythical fables" deserves just a little bit of respect.
@Aaron, guess what – people don't need the bible to tell them to be good people. Your bronze age collection of myths tells people to stone disobedient children. Get a clue.
"@ derp: If it is a "cobbled together bronze age collection of mythical fables" that causes a person to respect and honor others, perhaps that "cobbled together bronze age collection of mythical fables" deserves just a little bit of respect.'
Please let me know when you find one of the myth books that "causes a person to respect and honor others".
All I have seen from the bible, torah or koran is self righteous indignation and open hostility to anyone who is deemed a sinner by your archaic fairy tales.
who cares what one of the most irrelevant groups of fools cares about. Modern christianity will die with the baby boomers and good riddance.
Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! That will put me out of business!!
I'm glad I was blessed with no children
1 CORINTHIANS 6:9
Has nothing to do with gays moron, read a history book the word homosexual was added later by bias and prejudice people.
Get a life.
Meaningless isn't it?
You choosing not to accept the Bible as the Word of G-d has no bearing on the fact that in the end of time G-d will condemn those who rejected Him with their sinful life.
Period.
And to the people posting Bible verses. I am sorry but YOUR book should not control MY life or anyone elses unless they want to be controlled by it. And I would bet my brand new BMW (sorry, gotta brag a bit :p) that an Atheist will know a hell of a lot more than most Christians about the Bible and its content.
Easy Shawn, hold on to those Bibles, I recycle....
This message board should be sent to everyone in America in 50 years (if we make it that long) to emphasize how ignorant, short-sided, and blindly irrational so many Americans were. It would be the same as looking back 60 years and cringing at the sentiments so many Americans had toward non-whites in the US. I guess some of us can see the future and others are stuck in the past... the problem is that, while there are many intelligent, level-headed people embracing their LGBT neighbors, those that aren't are moving back in time, lashing out at those who have learned to accept reality. Religion has always had that problem of fear-mongering... along with the obvious flawed conceptions of reality.
Yes, and along with the flawed reality of secular agendas trying to convince the world that innappropriate behavior and actions is normal and acceptable and then accusing bigotry. It is and always will be a failed agenda.
"it is and always will be a failed agenda."
That's why gays are allowed to marry in other countries. Just like christians failed to keep their slaves, keep women in the home. Let's hope you fail again!
Seculars have a flawed reality?
Let me ask you this: Christains take medicine and eat food, utilizing the fact of evolution that created them, for their own benefit while likely saying it is a falsehood. They watch and enjoy movies with gay actors all over the place and yet what... being gay is bad? Whatever. The inconsistencies and christian beliefs and behavior are unfathomable.
Well said!
Yep, many people behave poorly and many times contrary what they claim to believe even in the secular world. An atheist can purport to believe that helping the hungry is important but do not contribute themselves. Welcome to the flawed world!
@pete – Wouldn't it be nice if we could actually learn from our mistakes? The same arguments made against the gay community were the same ones used against interracial marriage. Fortunately, progress and civil rights tend to win out in the end. Unfortunately, many people seem to have a need to have another group to put down and hate, so we're probably destined to repeat this cycle again.
I was raised in a moderate Baptist Church. Today I refuse to have anything do with "organized religion" for churches now are built and preach the dogma and words of MAN – not of GOD. Churches are groups of people will the same prejudices, self-righteous judgment of others, hate, racism, and with no one practicing the teachings of Jesus. How disgusting "Christians' have aligned themselves with the Republican Party of HATE, LIES, HYPOCRITES that ONLY SERVE ALL WHITE RICH PEOPLE and STOMP ON THE POOR AND JOBLESS.
Mom,
If you are reading this, and you still want to know why I reject Christainity, then just read the comments of your brothers and sisters here. I'm not gay, but the hate Christians spew is so self-rightous, so arrogant. They believe, mom, as you do, that somehow you have the "correct" interpretation of the Bible. This is the affliction of every generation of Christians since the time of Christ. No two are the same, and all believe that the others are blasphemous and wrong.
This is reason number 200 why to reject Christianity, and i t is as good as the other 199.
We used to sing "you'll know we are Christians by our love" in church. Well??? I guess that COULD mean that you'll know "us" by the very low level of love we have for anyone who doesn't fit our singlular view of the world, and we hate everyone else, including other Christians who.... baptise instead of immerse or predict the end of the world or don't, or allow non-members to take communion or don't... etc., etc.
That is such a screwed up notion of love, if you still call it that, that I wonder what it means when you say you love me. Christianity is a horribly disfunctional relationship with truth. Can you explain why Christians reject the scientists, but continue to drink in the gifts that science brings us?
Don't give me the "we are all imperfect" nonsense. That is an excuse. You can't just shut off your brain when it is inconvenient Mom, or you reject that which you say God made.
No... again, "we can't know God's ways" is not a defense. If we can't know them, then good and evil have no meaning. And if we can't know, then why are we arresting people or hating the gays or whatever it is that Christians are rampaging against today?
You see, Christianity is an empty promise. I feel no love from Christains, even though I violate none of their so-called rules. I still love you Mom, but you are on your own with being in the machine of hate you call a church.
'And mom, maybe you can explain to me how you can demand a strict interpretation of the Bible when it comes to LGBT Americans, but anytime I point out verses that affect YOUR rights – such as property ownership, being in leadership, or even being able to vote – you immediately demur and say 'Oh well, you should take those verses into context!' If that's all right for you, then why is 'taking verses into context' so impossible for LGBT Christians?'
Love thy neighbor as thyself.
You can't follow that rule (as your post demonstrates), and yet you criticize others for that same failing. Humans aren't perfect, regardless of what they believe in. When you aren't so angry, or perhaps simply disappointed, maybe you will be able to see all the progress people make towards the ideal of love and tolerance.
Not angry Johnny... just done pretending and done pretending to try. I value honesty for the sake of honesty, so I say hard things, but without malice. Mom knows this of me.
The fallability of humanity is not the downfall of humanity. It is the denial of the humanity in the name of a religion, which is what Christianity constantly demonstrates is both required and impossible. I won't participate in such games in the name of anyone or anything. (and I still love you Mom).
You said it so well. Isn't it interesting that the "Christians" are the ONLY ones ever right about everything? Not one follow the true teachings of Jesus -the follow a subset that their partucular church has decided fits their lifestyle the best. Republicans are the MOST "unChristian" group I have ever seen. You know who they really are? They are the greedy moneychangers in the Temple that enrages Jesus and he threw out of the Temple. Hypocrites, liars, haters, self-righteous bigots and racists. All that Jesus spoke out against. Don't you find it sickening that to appeal to these so-caled "evangelical Christians" the Republican candidates must become more extreme, use more hate talk, more intolerance, promise to do nothing for the PEOPLE in need, and use racist language and tone as they continually disrespect our great President Obama – the ONLY one who has ANY morals, values, honor, character or integrity and cares and works for ALL Americans every single day.
I would like to hear those other 199; I would also like the opportunity to explain some of the things you bring up. There is a huge difference for example between observable science which is the part of science that has brought us all of these modern conveniences and historical science which tries to deal with the origin of life. Feel free to post any respectful questions at http://www.centerpointesc.com/ask_kenney and we can start a dialog. Later....
@TC and Observer who won't answer my question
On the contrary, I am very sincere. I truely believe the large majority of the people posting on this blog are full of sh-it and would benifit from an enema. I am just trying to help. Why the hostility? Lubing up first is just good common sense. If more people had clean colons, perhaps we could avoid all of this bickering back and forth. Why are you prejudiced against enemas?
depends on which country the christians are in, in africa most christians there don't like LGBT people
Observer, I am on the same side of this argument as you but you sure do make it a tough side to be on.
Christians are nothing like Christ. Today's Christians are more like Pharasee Jews. Full of old testament rules with no love in their hearts. They use religion to justify their hate and judgement on others.
The world would be a much more peaceful place without them.
"Jacob have I loved. Esau have I hated" ... God.
Yes, all Christians walking the earth are sinners and none have a right to judge you nor condemn you. I am sorry if you personally have met with any who have insulted or judged you. I do not go around telling anyone what to do. I happen to be active in community theater, sorry not to stereotype, but it is true through that I actually have many LGBT friends including some who have had civil unions. I do take issue with this article though – I like to make the distinction between action and person because I think it helps clarify for all people. I hope we can all respect one another, even if we have different beliefs.
Dubya you accuse Christians of being hateful and intolerant, and then you spew a bunch of hatred and intolerance yourself. Seriously? Why dont you take a good look in the mirror.
Love your neighbor and hate sin is fine. However, worry about your own sin instead of your neighbor's.
Whoa, whoa, just hold on there a minute, Josh! What are you thinking, coming in here of all places and using good decent logic like that??
It is a pure contradiction to claim to be a Christian and to reject gay people. Those who do are the hypocrites Jesus was preaching against.
And you don't wear mixed textiles right? Otherwise you're not a Christian.
Please googe: No True Scottsman Fallacy and try not to commit it next time, ok?
I'm just repeating this now, but please stop and think about it. Yes, you are right Jesus would not say to be against gay people. Indeed He would tell all people to love each other. However, actions are not identical to a person. Jesus did not love all sin. Some actions are sinful. There is nothing wrong with not "accepting" sin as being ok. I am Christian and I have sinned. I would not want you to insult me or throw stones at me, but I respect your right to say I have committed sins. I hope LGBT can respect the right of Christians to their beliefs.
jesus said, love everyone, even the ones who are coming in the middle of the night to kill you-
but I say, fear and self defense are a natural reaction, and part of love
if jesus was just a man then he was one crazy dude
that's why I like to think he was the Godman, because then his stories might have meanings that aren't so "literal"
Oh yeah the hate spewed by the jesus freaks and their political arm the republican party has gotten so low that gay kids are killing themselves weekly. Anyone that is gay and joint this cult of hate is a fool. It is the number killer of gay Americans.
Amazing how many eveil trollers pop up and can't come up with one intelligent comment that Christians on here cannot shoot down with love, compassion and knowledge through grace. The devil never learns.
you have still not yet answered my questions....do you still condem those who say jehovah... by stoning them to death? or do you only follow those laws and things that you choose? do you ever lie, steal, cheat, gamble, think of other woman doing naughty things to you? what did joshua say about knowing the words of the prophets? what did joshua say about Solomon? did joshua say to know anything but what he had to say?
Agai, can;t pick and choose certain parts of the Bible – have to read it and take it in its entirety and guess what? The Bible is full of sinners and flawed people – bcasue that is what we are and we all need saving.
wow, that was a very good lack of an answer... best one today infact – bravo... now try answer the questions..,. they are all answerible, just maybe not by you! maybe i need a person who has acutally studied the book you base your life on.
"Amazing how many eveil trollers pop up and can't come up with one intelligent comment that Christians on here cannot shoot down with love, compassion and knowledge through grace."
Amazing that Christians spew their hate, bigotry and self-righteousness and then refer to it as love, compassion and knowledge through grace.
'Eveil', like the fru-its of the dev-il! LOL
Love, compassion and grace...yeah, you're typing that right after calling people evil. Damn, you are precious.
hippypoet, Feel free to post any respectful questions at http://www.centerpointesc.com/ask_kenney and we can start a dialog.