The Bible it tells stories of how Jesus treated those that the society of that time hated and looked down upon; tax collectors, prostitutes, etc. He had dinner with them. He washed their feet with the most expensive perfume he could find. He showed them love and acceptance and ministered to them.
I think I’ve been wrong in trying to pin all the anti-gay hate on Christians. According to the Bible, Christians minister God’s love. They aren’t in the divisive enemy-making business. In fact, the only time Jesus got mad was with the established religion of the time because they were trying to make money off people’s religious beliefs. (Sound familiar?) Jesus didn’t go around preaching condemnation at anyone.
Anyway, so I ran across a Southern Poverty Law Center article that documents some of the behavior of Christian evangelists. If you click on the “watch slideshow” link there’s a few telling quotes from prominent bigots.
“Rev. Jimmy Swaggart
Founder, Jimmy Swaggart Ministries “I’ve never seen a man in my life I wanted to marry. And I’m gonna be blunt and plain: if one ever looks at me like that, I’m gonna kill him and tell God he died.”
— In a September 2004 evangelism television broadcast
Hmm, is that what Jesus would do? See, I fell for their lies too. If Christians are those that attempt to live as Jesus did, then there’s nothing Christian about that statement. It’s just pure bigotry. To me, his statement is way more vile and harmful to children than the HIV prevention pamphlet the conservatives were all upset about. I would think at least a few Christians agree. Jesus would not start an Anti-Gay movement . Conservatives use the fears of the ignorant as a cash cow. If Jesus were here, they’re the ones he’d be upset with this time, imho.
Maybe progressive politics and Christians alike could do well to start dispelling some of the associations with Christianity these people claim.