God, Gays and the Gospel

God, Gays and the Gospel May 29, 2015

coffee cups

A gentleman who resides in the tower behind our church speaks to me each time we cross paths. He keeps threatening to visit and of course I give him the same response, “By all means come. You are always welcome.”

Today, however, sensing something, I said, But of course you know everyone can’t attend a church led by a woman.

He went back and forth with how he is from the country and he was trying to grow.

Mind you, I never said, You probably have problems attending church led by a woman. He volunteered that on his own. Nor am I in the habit of defending the ministry to which God has called me. An older man told me years ago, Reverend, you don’t have to argue or defend yourself. Just do what God has called you to do and God will take care of the rest.

But then it got, well, interesting. He informed me that the “rumor” in the tower is that I am gay and we are the gay church.

*Sigh*

I said, Well I am not, but I don’t know why it matters.

He seems particularly relieved and said, Oh I’m so glad to hear since you are so beautiful.

Now I am irritated, but for some unknown reason, and to my complete surprise, I remained calm.

Well, I said, I have no idea what that means nor what it has to do with anything, but let me be clear, so you can get the “rumor” straight. (no pun intended)

Go back and tell them what I said. Yes we do have members of our church who are indeed gay. But that should not surprise you. Every church I know has gay people in it. The difference however, is that here they are not shamed nor condemned. I don’t preach them into hell and they are not expected to be seen but not heard. No one is asked to be in the closet here.

*again I sigh*

Well will you marry them, he asked.

It is not yet legal in the state of Tennessee, but yes I do have a member who is engaged.

Well, he says, I’m not a theological scholar like you.

Now I sense the condescension commencing.

He continues, now with a flirtatious tone in his condescension; maybe I need to come by and study with you.

(Because since I’m single and not gay, I must also be stupid and thirsty)

I reply, I teach every Sunday at 9a.

His response, as I close my car door, “Well you pray for me.”

*sigh*

I don’t preach folks into hell but I fully wanted to tell this gentleman to go there on his own.

While I am not sick of church I am completely sick of people and all of their unchecked judgmental, condemning criticism, both in and out of church.

Sick of those churches that have distilled the Jesus Movement down to permission to hate and find fault, thus making the ministry we do at Freedom’s Chapel Christian Church at odds because we seek to love like Jesus did.

Rev. Dr. Rosalyn Nichols (Roz) is the pastor of Freedom’s Chapel Christian Church in Memphis, Tennessee and the Dr. Henry Logan Starks Advancement Director at Memphis Theological Seminary


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