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| Day of Silence-how should Christians react? |
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I find myself very torn about the upcoming Day of Silence. It's a day set aside to react to bullying and hate actions against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender people. While I have strong feelings about the advocacy for those groups, I also have strong feelings about mistreating people who are, many times, easy targets. So how do we as Christians respond to these kinds of issues? I ask this also because I am surrounded by many of the young people who are involved with this issue at Indiana State University. The Music department has many people who are either living, or advocating for people who are pursuing alternate lifestyles. I find myself often drawn into friendships with many of the young men and women, and even older ones, so I am at least finding myself spending a lot of time praying for these men and women. Again, I'm not wanting to start a discussion of the properness of the lifestyles, my mind is very settled on my personal beliefs about this area. I am just looking for continued wisdom on how to find a voice to speak into hearts that very often are wounded by the world in the area of their sexuality. I wouldn't even be concerned, but it really does keep coming back up, and God keeps putting me into places where these friendships occur. |
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| To add a comment to "Day of Silence-how should Christians react?" |
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| April 01, 2009 |
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| Dennis....that is so awesome! God appears to be calling you into these relationships, a GOOD thing! What better way to share God's love, than to share God's love! By being interested, caring, talking and listening, giving, sharing, accompanying.... It's great when gay ppl get an opportunity to really know an authentic loving, non-judgmental Christian. God will do the judging, he won't miss anything. That takes the pressure off us, so we can just share the good stuff! Hope to hear how it's going. |
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| April 01, 2009 |
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Thanks for the star Barb..
Mike, I appreciate teh encouragement. In so many ways my heart hurts for many of these young men and women. So often their choices are driven more by pain than anything else. I know it has really increased my prayer life! Thanks also for your prayers in this area. God has so clearly moved me here, I am just trying to be faithful as He reveals things along the way! |
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| April 01, 2009 |
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Ah, as a musician myself I have many friends who are of various sexual persuasions. I personally believe that everyone needs compassion and love, and love/acceptance is exactly what has often been lacking in the lives of those who practice what many of us consider "unnatural acts." I strongly believe that, unless we have walked in someone else's shoes, we as Christians have no right to condemn anyone else; instead we should always be ready to tell all our friends about the hope that is within us. Many people have yet to hear about a loving God.
If someone else is to be convicted about living a gay or lesbian lifestyle I think God is the one to do the "convicting." IMHO a lifestyle of loving God first and our neighbors as ourselves is what it's all about. We aren't to be someone else's judge, bully them or commit hate crimes against them. We're called to display/operate in God's power no matter who we are with. Sorry to be a little lengthy here, so I will conclude by commenting that even when we support our friends, we probably still don't need to feel obligated to participate in the various so-called observances that support their cause. |
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| April 01, 2009 |
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| Good insight Barb, I am probably not going to participate, but I am going to have to figure out how to react when and if I am asked about it. I am thinking Godly wisdom is well in order at that point. |
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| April 01, 2009 |
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| Barb, I also have been realizing that I need to know how to talk about this because of all the younger Christians who are getting to know me, and know my thoughts in these areas. I have good foundations to work with, they are still developing their foundations. |
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| April 02, 2009 |
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| Hey, Dennis! First of all, good for you! I know too many people, especially Christias, that are too tolerant about alternative lifestyles or otherwise completely ignore it. Like you, I also find God connecting me with those who are struggling with their sexuality choices. Although I am friends with some who are gay, etc, I choose not to demonstrate along with them because that often looks like I am advocating it. I want them to understand that, even though I'm friends with them, I don't agree with their lifestyle choices. Besides, I would rather talk to them one-on-one. Also, I try to treat this as just another sin. If someone confronts me about my beliefs, I tell them; otherwise, I try to demonstrate to them God's love first and let everything else follow. I am also open to different "techniques" to minster to people who are struggling in this way, but so far this is what has worked for me. Thanks for sharing! Good luck with "Day of Silence"; may God continue to use you as his ministry tool in this area. :D |
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| April 02, 2009 |
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| I think Kris hit the nail on the head when she said "I try to treat this as just another sin." With that mindset, we can get to know people one-on-one and as friendships develop the Lord will direct us to say/do the right things at the right times. |
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| April 02, 2009 |
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| "So often their choices are driven more by pain than anything else." ..BINGO! They need our mercy, for crying out loud. Preach if we must, but season it with a HEAVY dose of mercy!!! |
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| April 02, 2009 |
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Dennis, or maybe sexual orientation is not a sin at all. It wouldn't be the first important issue the church has gotten wrong. http://www.mychurch.org/blog/219849/sexual-orientation--its-not-a-sin
The question you bring up here is a good one. The day of silence seems to be a day to "speak out" against violence toward gay people. It is not meant to advocate any "lifestyle." I did not know about the day until reading your blog, and I probably won't participate in it, but it does seem a good opportunity, even for the Christian community, to acknowledge to others the distinction between being "against" something and reacting to it in violence. Nonetheless, if you are not comfortable with it, there is certainly no obligation to be involved or even to explain why you aren't.
If we love always with God's love, attempt to find deeper understanding of issues that divide us, and speak out whenever God so leads us, we make a better world for everyone around us. A prayer for you as you discern God's voice in this decision. Above all things, love. |
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| April 03, 2009 |
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| Thanks Barb, Mike and Kathy. I very much value each of you and the wisdom I recieve from each of you. As I become more and more involved in these young lives I am finding that each one has areas of struggle, I can find reasons and ways of categorizing those struggles, or I can do. You know, the work of intercession and healing. As God brings each of these men and women to my heart I have to use the same discernment I use in all those other areas of my life, and pray for each one as persons. As to their areas of sin, weakness, or immaturity, wow, I cold live on my knees just trying to find mercy for my own failures, so I try to listen carefully to the Holy Spirit and pray for those things that God would do now. Thank you again for each of your input, in many ways I am becoming so familiar with each of you that I already may know what I think you'll say, but I really do need the reminders that you are so faithful to make personal. Thanks again for your input and prayers. |
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