Friday, June 26, 2009

Well, Duh...

... to quote author Rev. Candace Chellew-Hodge. She is responding here to a new Barna poll that reveals-- better sit down folks-- that lots and lots of LGBTQ people cite faith as being central to their lives. Despite being portrayed over and over by right-wing media as "godless, hedonistic Christian-bashers," turns out an awful lot of us claim--GASP!-- to have a relationship with Jesus Christ, whom we consider to be our Lord and Savior.

Of course, George Barna being the author of this poll, he helpfully points out that we're not the right kind of Christians, that our faith is somehow defective.

Don't you get tired of being told what you believe by others?

I have long suspected that LGBTQ people were pretty much crazy about Jesus (those of us who are raised within the Christian faith and who haven't taken the very reasonable route of rejecting it outright because it so many of its "orthodox" proponents degrade and bash us and do us spiritual violence). In fact, I have long suspected that LGBTQ people are over-represented in the clergy in proportion to the rest of the population.

I have a theory as to why this is so. It's pretty simple. Once you get past the Pat Buchanans and the Jerry Falwells (may peace be upon him) and Pat Robertsons to the actual, you know, core of the gospel-- what some are calling "red-letter Christianity", which I take to mean the words of Jesus-- you find a faith that is...

Inclusive.

Liberating.

Love-centered.

Focused on gathering the lost and lonely at the banquet table.

Focused on healing that which has been broken.

Well, Duh. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out why LGBTQ people might run right into the arms of such a God, such a faith. Thanks be to God.

10 comments:

SCG said...

Amen!

ClosetedBaptistLesbian said...

ditto!

KJ said...

Amen. Nothing like taking a dive into the loving arms of one's creator to clear the head of all the religious nonsense.

PamBG said...

Amen! This is the Gospel message that I am passionate about preaching.

Preach it, sister!

Sara said...

Amen

LittleMary said...

yeah....

Jan said...

I wish this was true for my daughter and her partner.

Processing Counselor said...

Yea. I would agree with that. Meeting with my little group of Catholic Lesbians who are the best, most loving, mostly happily coupled and great friends and taking the church for what it can offer and leaving the rest.

Erika Baker said...

That's when you have faith, not religion.

Heather W. Reichgott said...

Yes, yes, yes.
We really ARE religious... imagine that!
And big blessings on the uncloseted life
(cause being out is almost as vulnerable as having faith in God)
xo
Heather