Conservative Christians “with a heart for the homosexual” still don’t get it

Every once in a while an article comes along that blows my socks off. today on Box Turtle Bulletin was just such a post relating to conservative Christianity and the gay community. I found it to be so clear and powerfull in its message that I have asked, and recieved, permission to reprint it in its entirety. Whether or not you agree with it. It may give words to feelings we sometimes can not express. Even with my beliefs and religious upbringing, I resonated with this article. I hope it will be of value for you as well. Without further ado:

By: Timothy Kincaid

With the growing openness of gay men and women and as they become more incorporated into the fabric of the culture, conservative Christianity has been challenged to rethink their position.

For years the only visible response was “it’s a vile sin”. As gay people slowly became visible, up sprang vitriolic “family” groups dedicated to fighting for the civil subjugation of gay people and the denial of social equality or even basic civil rights.

Although this approach was often phrased as “love the sinner, hate the sin”, there was little evidence that the “sinner” was much loved at all. Rather, she was reviled as being immoral, militant, radical, anti-family, and a threat to children, the church, and all of Western civilization. Advertising campaigns, legislation, rallies, and political movements were generated to take away his children, deny his employment or housing, ban him from civil service, tax him more heavily, incarcerate him if he dare fight back, and in all ways keep him a second class citizen.

But over time, secular voices were joined by mainline Christians in calling such treatment barbarian and un-Christian. And some of the younger conservative Christians had a hard time aligning the “evil homosexual” image with those gay men and women they know.

So a new face of conservative Christianity is arising calling for more tolerance and seeking to share a loving God with their gay neighbors, to welcome them and love them rather than loudly condemn them.

And almost without exception, they get it entirely, completely, and miserably wrong.

Spreading The Light...Uganda and America's Fundamentalists

Not so long ago, America's largest export used to be things that we had built with our own two hands. However, these days, we export ideologies more than products.

Our latest gift (/sarcasm off) to the developing countries of the world has been through the efforts of christian fundamentalists, who are again turning to African and Asian countries to find new believers and to advance their causes. A big goal of the American churchs, is to put gays back in the closet...or worse.

It has already been posted in comments on this blog how much the exgay movement in the U.K. owes its funding to American evangelicals here in the U.S. These churches sure seem to have inexhaustible funds to be able to support these oversees efforts AND resist marriage equality back home. Now there most recent efforts have put them in bed with some nasty bedfellows.

Curious thoughts On The Power of the Pen ...The Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act

Few people have the power to change the world with only the power of their pen. Even if that change only protects those who are most at risk of violence and victimization. Today, as we speak, President Barack Obama has signed the Matthew Shepard Hate crimes bill into law.

I imagine the presidents inbox looks rather full and on the top of today's "to do" pile would be sitting this particular bill as he takes it off the pile and holds it up to the light...duly considering its benefits and implications while thoughtfully stroking his chin. Then, with great care, he places the document on his desk and reaches for his silver presidential pen, The heaviest pen ever made, carrying with it the weight of conscience and history. He sweeps aside the flotsam and jetsam of presidential duty (like a Doma repeal and a moratorium on Don't Ask Don't Tell). Then, With one fluid movement he signs his name and ...