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The Bogeyman Myth of the Hateful Bigot
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they aredoing.”
 
And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. Luke 23:34
I have been told the church was mostly silent on that day. Evidence of myongoing struggle with homosexuality was presented, a vote was taken and Iwas declared unfit to be a member and removed for the destruction of my soul.I was not there that night, but instead was angry and alone in the darkening endof a long and frightening day, as they proclaimed me unworthy of them. Oh . . .my soul. And all that is within me.I have not seen, in the almost two years since the fateful vote, the faces or heardthe voices of those present on that night. No simple note, no gentle whisper of hope or reminder that a prayer has gone forth on my behalf. No Christmas card.No condolences on the burning of my home. Nothing. Separated with only ashred of hope for reconciliation somewhere in eternity.And yet my soul remains secure. It was not destroyed, but was insteadstrengthened by the knowing that there is One, who was there that night, who isalways with me, and who always will be. Who truly knows my soul.I have re-invented the scene in my mind's eye. Presumed which scriptures werecited. What examples of my betrayal of all-things-Christian given. I knew that
 
the pain of my children was displayed to support the need for the harshestpenalty possible for my sexual sin. And, like a late-night bogeyman emergingfrom behind a closet door with sword drawn, eyes glaring and lips pursed, theyproduced a greater fear than that inside me, a sharper pain than than my ownself-induced: judgment. Shame. Rejection. Aloneness. Unworthiness.And then, well, life pretty much returned to normal for all of us, each seekingGod and each falling short, sometimes knowing what we were doing, but oftennot. And, as God does, He looked beyond their rejection and my self-revulsionand on to redemption and restoration, accepting my repentance.I thought of them then as the bullies of the pulpit, bearing down on a witlessvictim already buried beneath the debris of his bad decisions. "Here . . . we'llmake this one for you. You're outa' here."Hateful bigots?No.Bewildered believers?Yes.I know now that many times we are unable to separate strugglers fromembracers; those who fight and fall under the relentless pull of a never-wantedhomosexual attraction, from those who wrap themselves in it in a shrillproclamation and flaunt it in the face of believers, bating a response they candeclare as hateful, damaging and destruction babble from an ill-informedhateful bigot. They build a bogeyman and feign fear so the cries can drown outthe truth and stifle the motivation of compassion.It is a useful myth and, in its relentless repetition, it divides us and reduces us tolessening relevance. And some no longer care. We surrender and adopt a codeof silence.How dare we?Have we forgotten that behind the face of the loud and lost lies a heart that Godlongs for regardless of whether it longs for Him? Is our only choice to thickenthe walls and batten down the hatches? Can we only put on the full armor of 
 
God to assume the attack mold? Are we to cover out eyes with the hands whichshould be reaching?The pro-gay agenda is making ground with the weapon of two simple words:hateful bigot."You don't want me to be happy?
You hateful bigot." 
"You don't think I should marry my same-sex partner?
You hateful bigot." 
"You believe in a God that thinks I sin just by being . . . who He made me tobe?
You hateful bigot." 
"You say you love me and then quote your scriptures that condemn me?
Youhateful bigot." 
"You want me to be like you?
You hateful bigot." 
"You drive me to suicide with your judgment and ignorance and bullying andyour chains and you make me feel so unloved and rejected and put down . . .and, on top of that, you deny my civil rights and don't want me to be proud of who I am . . . and you think you't just better than me, that's what.
You hateful bigot.
Repeated over and over and over, the myth becomes, to some, a twisted reality.And while we will always have hate and we may always have bigots, they areremarkably few among bewildered believers.And yet, we know that homosexuality is a sin and is destructive, as all sins are.Sins are indeed "evil" and can pollute the soul of the man to the point hebecomes inseparable from the sin . . . outside the prying power of love.
“An evil man is rebellious to the core. He does not fear God, for he is tooproud to recognize and give up his sin.The words he speaks are sinful and deceitful; he does not care about doing what is wise and right. He plans waysto sin while he lies in bed; he is committed to a sinful lifestyle; he does not reject what is evil” (Psalm 36:1-4).
Christians who are brave enough to love will find themselves surrounded bymen and women who struggle with unwanted same-sex attraction and onlywant help in the rescue. Their lives hang in the balance and they are the softer 
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father mike carvell FOURTH PROPHET F...

terrific caring write power to all people God teaches thanks

reply03 / 26 / 2011
Thomasthefree

Thank you Michael. God Bless,

03 / 27 / 2011
tawingfield

if God didn't want gays he wouldn't have made them gay. Simple.

reply03 / 26 / 2011
Thomasthefree

T.A. -- God wants and loves us all; that is true. But He calls us to live lives that honor Him. Clearly the Bible says that homosexual acts are sinful. God does not create people who are bound by sin. As much as might like it all to be, it is not simple at all.

03 / 27 / 2011
CarlFMaulbeck

the key is not to hide behind the lie - "What is the easiest way to kill a myth? Live the truth" - very good, thomas

reply03 / 26 / 2011
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