A Month in the Life

I completely agreed with what Bro. Gaddy said about anyone who was struggling with their sexuality. (Actually, I completely agreed with EVERYTHING he said, controversial or otherwise!) I have a number of friends who are (or have struggled with being) gay, and ironically, they've all been apostolics. Everyone of them have told me that they have left the UPCI organization because in their experiance, it full of nothing but hypocritical people who give them nothing much judgement and condemnation. No one tries to understand, to see what they're going through.

I was very close to one of my friends while he was still attending one of our churches, and he would confide in me (I was actually the first person he ever told) about how hard it would be to ignore the feelings he had. I don't care what anyone says, it's NOT a choice. I can't specifically say what it is, probably a combination of many things, but it is absolutely NOT a choice.

Another friend of mine told me once, "Why would I CHOOSE this life for myself? I have been ostracized from everthing and everyone that meant the most to me. My friends, my family, even my God." (He was a preacher's son, and used to minister at his father's church until he stepped down after years of struggling and finally came out. He hardly speaks to his family anymore.)

All of them, without fail, have left pentecostal churches because of the condemnation they feel even stepping into our churches. We shouldn't be hurtling judgement and condemnation at them, we should be lavishing them with love and understanding! Be sure they know that in their darkest time, in their deepest struggle, the Church will be there for them! As one minister so aptly put it this week, we will BE the Church!!

I say this respectfully, because there's nothing I love more (God not withstanding obviously) than my church and this organization I'm apart of, flaws and all (For no church, no organization, no group of people will ever be perfect). However, until pentecostals can open up their minds and their hearts enough to show love and compassion for those that struggle, we'll never see the revival God has for us. I think that's what God had in mind when Bro. Gaddy said that. He knows the hearts of man, and He see's where we come up short, and this is an area we are sorely lacking in. I think people are so worried about becoming the next Presbyterian church who has a gay priest, that they just go as far as they can in the other direction to compensate.

Sorry this was so long, but this is an area I'm rather passionate about, and it's something that not a lot of Pentecostals want to hear about. I end up being made to be some horrible sinner for simply sympathizing with them. Suffice it to say that if there's a movement to cause Pentecostals to see that we need to change our thought process on this subject, I'll be front and center.