I got a Yelp account just so I can keep other LGBT Christian families and people who love someone who is LGBT from any high hopes for this seemingly progressive non-denominational Christian church to be inclusive.
My family loves Jesus. And He loves us. We were so excited to find this church when we moved here from the PNW. During those times when we are asked to introduce ourselves to our neighbors, my wife and I would proudly refer to each other as "my wife." Not one funny look. Every person we met showed us so much respect and kindness, week after week, for the three months we attended there.
After the most beautiful words of the pastor's sermon on how Jesus loved everyone and loves everyone, cares about human rights, women's rights, cares about equality and justice, etc. etc., I thought it was a good idea to make sure that he didn't mean to talk about every minority group EXCEPT LGBT people.
So after the service, when most pastors seem happy to speak with people, I asked, "Does what you said today include my wife and I?" He said it was "not simple" to answer that. Huh. Love seems simple to me. He could have just said "YES! Of course! Everyone is a child of God! Duh!" but instead he said we can talk during an appointment that I can set up. It wasn't the right time to talk about this. Then, his usually handsome face turned into the dirtiest, ugliest look I've ever seen.
So, after a moving, absolutely beautiful message on LOVE, it is NOT THE RIGHT TIME to talk about love. Ok. Got it. Gotcha. Question answered. I am not conflicted about who I am, God's unconditional love for me. I am conflicted about attending a church who misrepresents who they are. Put it on your website. NO PRACTICING GAYS- you aren't our equals, you are less, you are sinning by being in a God-centered, committed, loving relationship with your same-sex spouse.
Because we really believed that justice and equality included us receiving God's love and acceptance and that The Grove stood for that too, we won't be attending anymore. Our faith in God is unwavering. Our faith in people not being bigots, not so much.
It may be pretty and slick on the outside, but the true heart of the leadership of the church is not that. Well, maybe for everyone EXCEPT people who didn't have the luxury of being born heterosexual.
Please read some books people! Get educated! Do some research! God is NOT an asshole. read more