John 15, 16-21
16 You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. 17 This is my command: Love each other. 18 “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. 19 The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you. 20 Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you. 21 They will do all this to you because of me, for they have rejected the One who sent me.


I have read some pretty nasty stuff that has been posted over the few years I have been a member here. And I would just like to take this time to mention a few things that we face as Christians and as boylovers. As Christians the word tells us that we will be hated and persecuted by the world. So as we love and support each other here as we try to live a life that Honors and is pleasing to our Savior we are hated and called hypocrites and many other things by our fellow believers because we are boylovers. And we are hated by nonbelievers and also seen to be the worst of all people because we are boylovers. I have read our statement many times that I am listing below.

Most Christian boylovers find themselves in the position of having no one to turn to who shares their faith as well as their sexual feelings. This board attempts to fill that gap by providing a friendly, safe place where we can be honest about our feelings and struggles with sexuality and faith, without fear of destructive criticism or harassment. This is a place for mutual encouragement, support, and advice, as we seek to deal with our sexuality and society's reaction to it in responsible and healthy ways, to live out our lives with integrity, and to express our faith in a way that honors God and demonstrates the love of Jesus Christ to all people.

I know that as we are hated and harassed by a lot of our own brothers in Christ as well as the rest of the world. It can be so hard to not lash out at these people that do this to us, but instead to show the love of our Lord and savior to them. I am so glad that when I see these posts that they are either just deleted or warned to show respect. It is also nice to see and makes me glad that I am a member here that we really do as members respect this statement which is evident by the posts that anyone can read.

So yes as Christians we will be hated and persecuted by the world. And as boylovers we are going to be hated and persecuted by just about everyone. But I challenge us to show love instead of hate when we are faced with this in our lives and on this board. And to love each other as we are commended to do.

PRAYER

Dear Lord God thank you that you chose us, help us to produce the lasting fruit that you have appointed us to. Help us to show love instead of hate when we are persecuted and give us the strength to endure it. Thank you that you Lord love us boylovers and for the many blessings you have given us in our lives and on this board as we support each other. IN JESUS NAME I PRAY AMEN