It's never finished

[angledge]

I just came out to my Bible study group. It's a small group (8-10 most Wednesday mornings), but there are a few members (conservative older white men) to whom I would've never imagined coming out. But we were discussing what people outside of the church might see within the church that they would want (fruits of the Spirit). I was silently considering the question when Sam said, "Angela, I can see that you're mulling this over; do you want to tell us what you're thinking?"

I couldn't turn down an opportunity like that, so I said, "I'm gay, so the community I interact with is completely different from the ones you all are involved with. It's hard to take the Gospel to the GLBTQ community because most of them are familiar with only the hateful, condemning face of Christianity." Then I told them about the picketers at SundayOUT. I told them that what the GLBTQ community is looking for - that the church can offer - is peace, love, comfort, hope - in other words, the same things straight people are looking for.

Afterwards, the only other woman in the group thanked me for sharing my life with them. Ray said that they loved me. But no-one else said anything. I think I really shocked some conservative old white men today.

Here are some of the things that make it hard to preach to my "Family":

http://www.confessingchurch.homestead.com/
http://www.augustinecollege.org/papers/EH_00_3.htm
http://www.godhatesfags.com

Comments

[chaosvizier.livejournal.com]

That last site must be a really good one; it's blocked off from our office servers.

Remember, we still love you, even if conservative old white men don't. Is their opinion that important to you? Are their beliefs about your worth more valid than mine, just because they are "good" Christian folk and I am not? Are Stacy, Tym, Kirsten, or I of lesser familial value to you just because we have not accepted God as our personal saviour?

Those who condemn you and other gay persons in the name of their Christianity must remember: Let him who is without sin cast the first stone. Likewise, judge not, lest you yourself be judged. In the end, only God will cast judgement on you. And until that last day, you will still have true friends to stand beside you in all things.

[angledge.livejournal.com]

CV said: Remember, we still love you, even if conservative old white men don't. Is their opinion that important to you? Are their beliefs about your worth more valid than mine, just because they are "good" Christian folk and I am not? Are Stacy, Tym, Kirsten, or I of lesser familial value to you just because we have not accepted God as our personal saviour?
The answers to your three questions are no, no, & no. I hope my LJ entry didn't make it sound like I was sorely hurt by this morning's little scene. I do not attribute any overarching value to the love/acceptance of these particular people. It's just shocking to me that DIRECTLY after an hour-long discussion about the things the church offers to the world (salvation, love, etc.), that this group would still display ... well, they weren't exactly being bigots, but they were definitely uncomfortable (latent homophobia, or maybe just disappointed expectations - "But she doesn't LOOK like a dyke!"). I was amazed that they couldn't sense the incongruity between their words & their deeds.

CV said: And until that last day, you will still have true friends to stand beside you in all things.
I know it, buddy. ::gives CV a big hug::

[azure-dragon.livejournal.com]

There are some scary people in the world...
But like racism, homophobia will decline with new generations ^^

[mrsjadephoenix.livejournal.com]

I always admire GLBT people who are religious and have the guts to come out to their church or Bible group or something similar. Of course, it's not easy to come out even if you're not religious, but I feel like there's such a deep-seated misunderstanding and hatred of homosexuality that's gotten built into so many belief systems.

Being not religious myself, it took me quite a few years to figure out that not everyone with traditional religious values automatically hated gay people. I now know some people who are religious and GLBT. Even more importantly, I know people who are religious and actually seem to understand that their religions were founded on the principals of love, peace, and using spirituality to better one's self rather than irrational hatred, or turning their attention to other people's "sins."

It's too bad that your coming out may have really shocked some people at the group, but hopefully it will force them to think a little outside the box they've been in.

[d4b.livejournal.com]

Wow! That took guts!

[angledge.livejournal.com]

The way I do it is by not thinking about what I'm about to do. I just open my mouth & start talking.

[d4b.livejournal.com]

Well, that can yield a variety of results. :-)