A Coward's Response

A while back, I was looking for answers. I was beyond confused and could not reconcile my life long support for the gay rights movement with the council of my church.

It wasn't an easy time to be in my head. But I came to a place of clarity.

It was not well received.

As always, I survived. Mostly intact. More cautious.

Now. Now I am afraid. Afraid to say one word. To comment. I am afraid my attempts at illumination will be taken as an attack. I am so weary of the topic. It confuses me that such anger came from an attempt for understanding?

I can handle being wrong; it happens all the time.

I have to continue following that blog. I care. I need to know how it goes. It is illuminating.

But I can't contribute there: today was the third time I wanted to post a comment, started to, and decided I better not risk it. Anonymous isn't an option for me and I worry that my name makes my words unreadable.

Go read today's post. If you're lazy, to summarize, it lays out the parallels in experience between religious fundamentalists and LGBTs which makes the two communities such perfect rivals.

One line I wish to contend, here, safely on MY blog: "Both camps also saw themselves in an ultimate struggle. For gays, that meant the eradication of prejudice; for fundamentalists, it was the scripturally demanded battle against sinners and their sins.

Maybe I'm not fundamentalist enough, but my goal in life is not the eradication of all sin in the world. That would be an effort in futility. All are sinners and God loves us all anyway. My scriptures warn ME against sin and command me to warn my brothers and sisters. But those who believe in Christ, believe our faith and obedience activate the power of the atonement. Though our sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.

I don't think sins are a big deal.

I'm sure there are plenty of scriptures one could pull up about the battle against sin (well actually, my perfunctory search turned up nothing relevant), but the purpose of my life, as it relates to others, is to obey the two great commandments: to love God and to love my neighbor. All the commandments focus my life at one of those two purposes. I can't find any scriptural reference indicating MY purpose is to universally eradicate sin or sinners. I'm pretty sure none exist (78.452%).

When you talk of battle lines and you vs me, it tells me, in your mind, we are at war. It tells me you think I want you dead. That's a lie you tell yourself so you can hate me.

You think I am unbendable. You refuse to acknowledge how far I have stretched.

You keep calling for war, for a leader to wage your war. I want peace. There are a lot on my "side" like me, confused, trying. We're not out for blood, yet you lump us all together as one evil enemy, without even the slightest attempt (as far as I've read) to hear, listen, or understand. You don't have to agree with me, I don't agree with you ... but if we truly seek for progress, we all have to abandon the us/them mentality.

Where to start?

one...