This Pastor Phillips and his wife started a new church and one year later were kicked out from the parent church because of LGBQT inclusion. He moseyed out to his first pride parade, and a friend handed him a sign to carry: "As a Christian I AM SORRY for the narrow-minded, judgmental, deceptive, manipulative actions of those who denied rights & equality to so many in the name of God."
In his old church no one dared such open declarations, for fear of attack and ostracizing. But he gulped and made the Brene Brown Vulnerable Choice and was massively rewarded. Not just because people cheered and thanked him and wiped away tears; but because that sign opened him up to his fellow human beings.
"I couldn't handle the acceptance. I couldn't handle the forgiveness. I couldn't handle the small glimpses I witnessed of healing unfathomably deep hurts."
"I have affirmed the full inclusion of LGBTQ folks at all levels of the church. But I did not realize is the full potential of what might happen if LGBTQ folks were not just included (as they are beginning to be in so many churches), but helping us co-create better communities of faith and practice.... Inclusion is not enough. What I learned yesterday is that if we truly welcome and include, we will be changed. We will be transformed. Because that's what happens when people are vulnerable enough to step out in faith, show up and share with one another. And have conversations. And take photos with each other. And ask for forgiveness. And build bridges. And seek healing."
When I read that, the words "changed" and "transformed" put this bit of Handel (Corinthians) in my head:
Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet."
Accepting LGBQT people had already (to use the metaphor) awoken Pastor Phillips. But the conversations and tears and hugs and photographs transformed him. What better example can you have of the power of vulnerability and empathy? You won't just help others, but your very nature will be changed.
To have God or Jesus in your life you don't need to "accept Jesus as your personal savior." You go out and love people. That's it that's all. The Bible says "God is love." By that logic, the very nature of God is love. So whether you believe in a god or not, love lets in life, the universe and everything.
That's my general take-away from this. But for Christians, my take-away is: Step out on faith and try on one of these supposedly verboten beliefs. The Bible says don't conform to this world, but "be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Most Christians probably think accepting gay marriage is conforming to the world; but as the world already rejects gay marriage, I'd say it's the other way around. Let in new ideas. Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
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