I've begun reading a new book. It's completely fiction and its rather funny, but about 100 pages in I got a little grossed out when it was revealed that one of the main characters is gay, and being the homophobe that I am I thought well I guess I'll stop this one and move on, but I kept reading and trying to put in different words for the gay parts... well there was this one part where a preacher gets up in front of an anti-gay crowd and gives a speech... I was amazed, and I loved what he said... I've always been under the understanding that yes, being gay is not right and the action itself is a sin, but just because they sin it doesn't mean we are supose to cast them out and hate them. Everyone sins. so why do they make such a big deal about gay people. yes, I am a complete homophobe and I do not believe that we should allow gay marriage and such, but I believe in loving the sinner and hating the sin. Just like God...
Romans 5:8
8But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
God loves us all even though we are all sinners.
and now I am going to quote my book...
"Some among us, would have us believe that God hates those who are different from the majority. That people who do not live the way we live or love the way we love are an abomination. We are afraid, and in our fear we strike out at those who threaten the beliefs we hold dear. Fear expresses itself in words and deeds of hatred..."
"I am sometimes ashamed of being a Christian, because of what Christians have done to the name. I am sometimes ashamed of being a minister because of how ministers have abused their power. I am sometimes ashamed of claiming the Bible as my sacred text because of how it has been misused to hurt millions of people. But it remains my sacred text, because the voices of hatred and hostility do not tell the story of who God is."
As for me I am going to continue to read this book, even though my homophobic side is in agony, because I want to better understand the thinking behind it.