I used to be in the evangelical church. A leader. An influencer. I was sincere, but I was sincerely wrong. Now, I often ponder the path the church has taken. How its steps, meant to follow the footprints of Jesus, have veered so far away from the open tomb and Jesus’ message of lavish, unconditional love and inclusion. It’s a path that places us back under the shadows of the law, under stones of conditional love and exclusion, and puts... Read more
In the profound journey of spirituality, there’s a palpable sense of dissonance between the inclusive, love-infused teachings of Jesus Christ and the exclusive, rules-based reality within the walls of many modern churches. This dissonance has grown so stark, with the church’s immersion in politics and exclusion of LGBTQ+ individuals, that it prompts a heart-wrenching question: Has the institution become irretrievably lost from its foundational teachings? It’s a painful contemplation that leads many to seek the Divine in spaces beyond traditional... Read more
Is history destined to repeat itself? Have we not learned from the damage and failures of efforts like Exodus International, The Moral Majority and others? In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the United States witnessed the emergence of a powerful political force known as the Moral Majority. Founded by Jerry Falwell, a prominent evangelical pastor, the Moral Majority aimed to mobilize conservative Christians around social issues such as opposition to abortion, pornography, and the perceived decline of traditional... Read more
In a world filled with rainbows, unicorns, and glitter, it seems that some Christians have taken a vow of hypocrisy. Now, before we dive into the deep end of this delightful pool of contradictions, I want to make one thing clear: I’m not here to bash Christianity or anyone’s faith. There are growing number of people who love and follow Jesus, and who unconditionally love and affirm their LGBTQ+ neighbors. My goal is to help people deconstruct from false, harmful... Read more
The Christian church’s position on LGBTQ+ has been a topic of intense debate. While many still maintain an anti-gay stance, this is NOT deeply rooted in scripture or thousands of years of history. In truth, it gained popularity with the rise of the Moral Majority movement in the 1970s. Prior to the emergence of the Moral Majority movement, the Christian church’s position on homosexuality varied wildly across different denominations and regions. Homosexuality was considered taboo in many religious communities, primarily... Read more
Remember that Bible story: “Jesus Scatters Self-Righteous Men in the Name of Mercy and Justice!” No? Mmm… How about this one: “The Woman Caught in Adultery.” Yeah, that’s more familiar. It’s the same story, but a completely different interpretation. Jesus’ point in this story is that these religious men have leveraged their considerable power and influence to manipulate this woman (without power or influence) as a pawn in their politics. The interpretation handed down to us (by religious men who... Read more
The holiday season is often portrayed as a time of joy, togetherness, and love. We’re inundated with images of families gathered around a perfectly decorated tree, sharing laughter, love, and gratitude. However, for many LGBTQ+, and those who have been rejected by their families, the holidays can be a time of mixed emotions, loneliness, and a reminder of the challenges they face. What are the difficulties that individuals in these situations can encounter during the holiday season and how can... Read more
“Even in states with bans, the overwhelming percentage of conversion therapy still continues. Every state. Every day.” I see them on a regular basis. Social media posts celebrating another state that has “banned” conversion therapy. This is great progress and I celebrate as well! These bans are a large step and critical in a journey to bring this horrible, harmful practice to light, helping make conversion therapy culturally unacceptable. But it is vitally important to remember that, even in states... Read more
Evangelical Christianity is often seen as a representation of Jesus’ teachings and values. The truth is, there could be nothing further from the truth. There is a significant discrepancy between the teachings of Jesus and the actions and beliefs of the evangelical Christian church. Maybe we can shed some light on how some practices within the evangelical church contradict the compassionate and inclusive message that Jesus preached. Jesus’ Emphasis on Love and Compassion Jesus, the central figure of Christianity, preached... Read more
When the church gave me the choice between my LGBTQ+ child and my church… I chose my child! My journey as a parent has led me to realize that the evangelical church’s stance on LGBTQ+ rights, love, and acceptance has nothing to do with the teachings of Jesus Christ. Absolutely nothing. As the proud parent of two LGBTQ+ children and one transgender child-in-law, I have grown increasingly disenchanted with the exclusionary, unloving and unBiblical approach that many evangelical churches have... Read more
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