Stained Glass Masquerade And The Bullies Who Wear Christian Masks

Plastic people under shiny plastic steeples! That's all they are, as far as I’m concerned, if they turn people away and act as if their sin is less of a sin!

One church member yelled in anger at Adam Fraley, and said that his supporters should be ashamed.

Another, 20 to 30 members, dressed in matching blue t-shirts said they accept Adam Fraley with open arms. “Its really difficult to come from a place of love and acceptance and heart and see other people treat others like that. I don’t care if you are a bible literalist or an atheist, you don’t treat other people that way,” Noelle Steele told WishTV 8 news.

Adam Fraley was the church’s choir director for six years when he says he had no choice but to resign–because he’s gay.

I brought up the discussion on Facebook where my friend Jim posted this comment:

Some time ago our church adopted an open acceptance policy. After all the UMC motto is “open hearts. open minds. open doors”. Unfortunately this caused some division and some dearly loved folks left. I don't understand the same sex attraction, but it's not necessary that I do. I go back to “judge not lest you be judged”.

To which I replied:

I could not agree more Jim. Now, if the person who were forcing the issue were doing so while walking on water, I might be more inclined to follow – since not, I am like you – it's not my place to judge. I often think about Jesus, hanging on the cross with the thief beside him. Even in the end, he was not trying to “covert” or disassociate. I will never understand why so many Christians feel it is their place to place demands on others.

Romans 1.28-32 God gave us free will. We make our choices to do things which are not fitting; we make choices to do what is unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness. The whisperers, backbiters, haters, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful. And those who, know the righteous judgment of God, and who practice such things do the same and, in the eyes of God, approve of those who practice them.

I am baffled at why so many omit all other sins, discussed in the SAME passage, to focus entirely on sexual immorality? Is it because the rest of the passage might just pertain to them?

Know what I mean?

Michelle commented:

As a Christian myself I do struggle with this issue. My belief is that it is truly wrong in the eyes of the Lord but isn't it our job to live and teach his word and leave the judgment up to him?

First let me say I am in NO way trying to persuade anyone from their own views, I am simply stating my own views and expressing my own confusion based on how I have learned the Bible and what I feel to be my own Christian convictions.

Ephesians 4:29-32 Let no corrupt communication come from your mouth. Only that which is good and ministers grace. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor (loud and insistently), and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all ill will. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving, even as God has forgiven you.

I believe it's our job to live a life that teaches, but it's not our job to force anyone to believe or disbelieve as we do. God gave us free will – why, as humans do we want to force people to believe what we believe?

The Bible says “whoever causes one of his to sin, it would be better for him to have a millstone tied around his neck and to be drowned in the sea.” It also says “whatever we do to others, we done unto him.”

I think about babies and how resistant they are when we try to “force” them to do anything. BUT, when they think something is fun; makes them happy, or they know they will learn something new, they want it.

Why don’t Christians want Christ to be the same way?

Babies are without sin – we can learn a lot from them as they are learning from us.

It's one thing to “witness” to others – it's another to be judgmental and forceful in teaching.

I would much rather teach with my life, than mislead anyone with my lips.

One could easily say, I am standing in judgment too because of my opinions toward those who turn Adam away. I am, I suppose, but if the minister and Adam were both standing at my door, I would invite them both in for a cup of tea. I would embrace them both equally and would not turn either away if they were hungry or needed refuge. I will, however, choose to disagree with actions that assert ill feeling and turn anyone away from the house of God.

If that were God at the door, would HE turn Adam away?

I think not!