True North

On October 10, I spoke at First Baptist Church in Coon Rapids to 40 youth about helping those struggling with homosexuality and minister to the hurting. My message as a former lesbian is of hope and love, that it was the key to my deliverance from my destructive past.

My talk was received very well by some teens, and others were all for homosexual acceptance. The pastor’s daughter supports loving the unlovely, which I thought was great. But one girl felt that I shouldn’t speak against homosexuality. I explained I was not speaking against homosexuals, but sharing my story on how God called me out of darkness and into the light. (1Peter 2:9). She felt that she was called to support gays and help them accept their lifestyle, and who was I to tell her differently. I was saddened because our kids are growing up with the message that homosexuality is okay. The only alternatives they might find is at their church, or from their parents. Their schools believe in tolerance and trying to fit into groups that will accept them.

I spoke with leadership at other churches and they said they would take on any other issue but leaving homosexuality. They are not ready for this issue in their church. In reality, they are afraid of losing their 501(c)3 status.

The Alliance Defense Fund says issue advocacy may not be limited by government and can be freely engaged in by churches. The Chalcedon Foundation further stated:

Although churches are often threatened with loss of their tax-exempt status — sometimes by anti-church activists, sometimes by the IRS itself — there is no law that restricts churches from defining moral positions and asking people to vote accordingly,, according to the ADF.

But that doesn’t stop militant groups from intimidating churches. In San Francisco October 7, two men dressed as catholic nuns (from the “Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence” ) disrupted mass, and the Archbishop (caught off guard by their intrusion) was filmed giving them communion. This was a clear attack on the church by a group of homosexual activists to accept their lifestyle. The church as of yet has done nothing to fight back.

When someone like myself who asks to speak and promote an alternative option, I am turned down by some churches, or told that they’ll fight for any other cause but leaving the gay lifestyle. They are afraid of losing their tax status, or very public attacks from gay activists. Intimidation is winning over scripture.

Too many gays and lesbians “hate” Christians and feel condemned. My message to youth and those struggling with homosexuality that it’s the love of Christ, not condemnation, that draws us toward repentance. After all, everybody wants the same thing: love and acceptance.

It’s ironic to find some churches more afraid of promoting my message of repentance than condoning a gay lifestyle. I guess I’ll also need to promote that a church’s right to speak out on controversial issues is protected by the First Amendment.