For the first 17 years of my life I identified as someone who was very religious. My grandmother is an Episcopal minister, I attended Sunday school throughout my childhood, and I was actively involved in my high school youth group. Every summer I went to Christian camp in New Hampshire; some of my fondest memories took place there. Although I was no stranger to wrong-doings, I knew that I would be saved as long as I believed that Jesus Christ died for my sins. This is what I was told, and this is what I whole-heartedly believed to be the truth.
During confirmation class we were given the opportunity to ask our leaders uncomfortable questions. The bulk of our curiosity was centered around who would go to Hell and why. The answer was simple; anyone who did not repent their sins.
Unlike the Catholic church, which promotes confession, Protestants believe anyone can communicate with God directly. While Protestants aren’t required to “hail Mary” or whatever else goes on in that closest-thing, they are responsible for recognizing their sins and improving their loyalty to God. The only issue with this is that if you don’t believe the actions you are committing are sins, said sins go unsaved, and you aren’t permitted entrance to Heaven. So as a proud homosexual, you are “denying” Jesus, and therefore are denied access to the light. Similarly, as a devoted Jew/Muslim/Buddhist you are choosing to deny Jesus, and therefore are rejected entry to Heaven as well. Meanwhile, someone in prison for murder can read the Bible in solitary confinement, “find God”, and spend the rest of eternity floating on clouds and dancing with the angels. As one might imagine, I wasn’t cool with that concept. The church’s rejection of those outside the church (unless they want in) was one of the main reasons why I turned away.
When you’re a kid they tell you to love Jesus and “be a good person,” but as you grow up in the church you find there are many more conditions. I watched my once considerably large youth group dwindle to very few members. The pews in my church have become increasingly empty over time. People are rapidly forfieiting their faith.
What once brought people comfort and soothed souls has become the center of political turmoil. Radical conservatives who read the Bible like an instruction manual are outraged by Washington’s decision to legalize gay-marriage nation-wide. Those who speak up about their disagreement with SCOTUS are verbally crucified. In our lifetime gay-marriage went from a somewhat awk/far-fetched hypothetical conversation, to a nationally accepted union. While I am 10000% on the supportive side of marriage equality, I sympathize with those who have yet to come to terms with it.
I’m not saying their opinion is right, but I will admit that at one point I was one of them. Those who mentored me in my church, some of whom I still like and respect, taught me that homosexuality was a sin— that it was against God’s will. At one point in my life, I believed that people who “committed homosexuality” would end up in Hell. It wasn’t that I hated gays, I didn’t like believing this, but that is what I was taught by those in authority. It saddened me to believe such horrible shit, but I was taught that the Bible was the whole truth. If you’ve ever indulged in Exodus, you know better than to live “by the book.”
So friends/family/strangers, I ask you to be patient. I am lucky to live in a very progressive community, but our country is extremely diverse. It may not even make sense to you that some people can think such outlandish thoughts about such a huge group of people. For some people SCOTUS has served as a green-light for sinning. Although in my mind they are wrong; at the end of the day– this is the “truth” they have always known.
We don’t need to agree with or even understand those opposed to gay-marriage. However, as forward-thinking individuals we must stand for tolerance. We must recognize the difference between homophobic d*bags and those who are passionate for Christ and more conservative than ourselves. Bottom line: lets celebrate the victory of marriage equality instead of mocking those who feel they’ve lost. It may take time, but many of them will eventually realize that the right decision was the one that was made.
As for those of you who identify as Christians— your duty is not to judge thy neighbor, but to bring others to Christ. By rejecting the love between same-sex couples as authentic, you will fail to grow the church. I believe in God, and I believe that this is his work.
