Have you ever received a truly disturbing text message that you wished you could unsee or never had received it in the first place? Unfortunately, I have and it came just recently from a casual acquaintance in my recovery from addiction circles when I awoke early one morning several Saturday’s ago. This is exactly how it read, word for word.
“I can’t betray my sense of right and wrong. Forgive me if you are offended. Being gay is a demonic perversion. It is an abomination to the Almighty. I beg you to ask Jesus to free you from this bondage before it is too late. Your friend in Jesus. I do care.”
At first, upon reading this, I was shocked. Shocked that anyone would send me such a thing, especially from a person I barely knew. But alas they did, yet I didn’t feel any resentment, anger or negativity towards them. Instead what I felt was sadness. Sadness that this is precisely why so many gays and lesbians in this world often avoid developing any type of relationship with God and Christ. The fact is, I’ve known far too many on my own spiritual journey thus far in life who have refused to ever connect with either because the first thing that comes to mind is a Christian who once told them something quite similar at some point along the way.
As far as I’m concerned, Christ never wanted fear, guilt or shame to be a motivating factor to seek Him or God. Rather, it was Christ’s unconditional love that always drew so many to His teachings and ultimately to God. But countless Christians and many people from other religions around the world continue to explicitly and quite outwardly denounce on behalf of Christ, God, or Whomever their Higher Power is, that being gay is a sin and one that will send an individual to some dark place such as hell. If that indeed was true, why would anyone ever want to follow what that person believed in and was selling?
If I never had been exposed to Christianity in my entire life and was still searching for something to follow, and if this text message was my first exposure to the teachings of Christ and God, I would have run as fast as I could away from it and not towards. I don’t respond well to fear, guilt, and shame, as that only makes me feel worthless and less then in life. Hence the reason why I believe this type of approach was never intended to be the one that Christ wanted any of His future followers to take with spreading the messages He taught.
That’s why I find it so sad the number of gays and lesbians who have had to experience this negative type of approach to Christianity or any other religion for that matter in their life. Personally, I’ve been refused membership at churches, denied friendships, and received plenty of hateful messages throughout my life from Christians, Muslims, Jews, to name a few, over a part of me I was born with.
I may never have wanted to be born gay, but it’s something I’ve come to accept is the way God created me. Because if God created me in His unconditionally loving image, then I trust that God didn’t make a mistake when it came to my sexuality. Thus being told by anyone I’m a demonic perversion and an abomination because of my sexuality is going against that unconditional love of God and doing nothing more than spreading greater fear and darkness in this world.
So as I conclude today’s entry feeling great sorrow over this religious anti-gay text message I didn’t want or need, I’m going to end it with an uplifting reminder for all those in this world who are gay or lesbian, or bi-sexual, or transgender, or questioning, or anything else for that matter. Know that you aren’t and never have been a demonic perversion, an abomination, or a mistake. And know that the only thing God and Christ ever intended for you to receive from them is unconditional love.
Hopefully one day, the rest of the world will see this…
Peace, love, light, and joy,
Andrew Arthur Dawson
Great post, that’s how I’ve felt, an have shyed away from religion because of statements like that, and it seems sometimes that it’s getting worse with the growing Evangelical movement and the in your face Christians!!!
It’s too bad it’s currently like this in our country because I truly don’t think this is how God intended it to be…
While it is okay for everyone to have their opinions, it is not okay for them to seek people out and then send messages that are not loving. A true “CHRIST”ian would not spew such rhetoric and disgust s many do and hide behind their religion. The Jesus I learned about did not have any exception clauses. He continued to teach and ask all people to love everyone and to minister to those in need. Love you.
Totally agree. Thank you Chris! Love you too…
I do believe that everyone, including myself are allowed to have opinions on political affiliation, religion or on any topic. We should always listen to others thoughts, feelings, or beliefs, but I tend to distance myself from those who try and push others into changing to fit into their mold or bring negativity. I have always tried to understand the differences in others and love them for those differences. It saddened me that you had to receive such an unkind message. I find you to be quite a positive person.
Thanks Tim! And I agree. I don’t believe anyone should ever receive a text like that…It is definitely not filled with Christ’s love that’s for sure…