It is happening today
Submitted by Nate on January 20 2002 15:30:01
In reply to Hardened BL hearts submitted by Jiggles on January 19 2002 17:10:44
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My church was a place of warm, supportive relationships, accountability, and a strong call to self-discipline and Christian maturity - much along the lines of the ideal that Forgiven presented below.... Until I confessed to my pastors that I am attracted to young boys. I was removed from ministry, the pastors became politely distant, and all of my friends followed their lead (like sheep?). For many years I have felt as though I must be invisible because of the way that most people avoid relating to me. What was once a call to discipline has become for me a constant barrage of criticism and condemnation, as each point that the pastor makes from the pulpit lands with a hollow thud on my chest. I could live with the discipline, I could live with restrictions, I could even learn to live with the "No Boys" rule - but I cannot live without love. I am slowly suffocating. Still, I know that this is not God's way. I recognize that these are people, like me. They could love anyone, forgive anything - except a "Child Molester". I found the limit of their compassion, but that does not express the limit of God's love. It is becoming more clear to me that there is a huge difference between the traditions that we use when we "play church" and the teachings of Jesus. The more I learn about the God of the Bible, the more consistent I find Him to be. It is the fact the He has chosen to show his grace to us through other imperfect people that causes problems. To answer your question, Jiggles: yes. Unless we can offer love, hope, and acceptance, the rest is meaningless - worse, it is repulsive unless there is love. Nate |
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