Gays, Lesbians, Christians and Others - 2

To summarize my thinking:

• We all fall short of God’s intention for humans
• Even right-wing politicians, evangelists, ranters and ravers fall short
• (We must agree that they are humans, too, although they don’t act much like it)
• The Christian “Good News” is that Jesus came to give his life for those who fall short
• No boundaries -- “For God loved the world so much...” (John 3:16
• Therefore people with differing sexual preferences are included in God’s love.

Although “inclusion” is not an English word used in the stories of Jesus, the concept of inclusion underlines Jesus’ behavior in the face of religious opposition.  In his day it was “tax collectors and sinners” who were excluded by the mainstream, and who were included by Jesus.  

In my view, inclusion is what people of Christian faith must be all about.  

Exclusion is what we must not be about.  God will handle that if God needs to.  In fact, churches and other Christian oriented groups would do better to hold classes on “Ways to Include Others” than to hold classes on the Trinity, the Deity of Jesus, or I and II Chronicles.  Most Christian folks I know aren’t very good at including others, even others they believe conform to their doctrinaire positions.  

By extension, then, gays, lesbians, bi-sexuals and heterosexuals along with Middle Eastern people must all be included.  

If you worry about the “purity” of the church, read my next blog.  It turns out to be easy.  

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