As a parent, I believe in the power of love and acceptance. The greatest message we can ever give our children is that they are loved, that they are enough. The Bible has unfortunately been misused to convey a very different message that justifies harm, discrimination, and exclusion against many groups, including LGBTQ+. It saddens abd angers me to witness so much harm against those for whom I love and advocate.
So, let’s talk about this…
Interpretation:
As we navigate Christian teachings, it is crucial to approach the Bible with compassion, reading everything through the lens of the universal message of unconditional love. We must use love to understand the Bible, not use the Bible to understand love. It is through interpretation that we glean meaning from ancient scriptures. However, we must recognize that the verses often misused to condemn LGBTQ+ were written in a different time and context, very different from our present understanding of sexuality and identity.
Misinterpretation and Selective Usage:
Misinterpretation of biblical texts has caused immense harm, particularly to LGBTQ+ people and their families. When certain verses, such as Leviticus 18:22 or Romans 1:26-27, are selectively used without considering historical and cultural contexts, original language, and edit/translation history, they do tremendous damage. It is essential to encourage a comprehensive and holistic understanding of scripture, beyond isolated passages, in order to embrace the full, Christ-like message of unconditional love, inclusion and acceptance.
Translation and Cultural Bias:
We often hear, “The Bible is clear.” and “The Word of God does not change.” Well, the truth is that it is far from clear, and it has already been changed multiple times by kings and scribes and translation teams. This is not widely taught as it would significantly impact us in many ways, and weaken religious leaders who very much like their power and control. It is important to acknowledge that the multiple edits and translations were subject to cultural biases and often done with particular motives in mind. As a parent, I recognize that these influence our understanding of scripture, often fueling prejudice against LGBTQ+. To ignore the truth of how the Bible has been changed, how the handful of “anti-gay” scriptures have been changed, is indefensible.
Promoting Understanding and Inclusivity:
As parents, it is our responsibility to create a safe space of love, acceptance, and inclusivity for our LGBTQ+ children. This includes fostering open dialogue, educating ourselves, challenging harmful beliefs that contribute to discrimination, and deconstructing those beliefs in our own heart. In addition, parents often hold positions of great influence in our communities and churches. By engaging and advocating, we encourage a shift towards greater understanding and acceptance, and we create a safer and more compassionate space for our children to thrive.
As a parent, witnessing the misuse of scripture to harm, attack, oppress and marginalize LGBTQ+ breaks my heart. At FreedHearts we are committed to standing up, speaking out, and challenging harmful interpretations, and helping people deconstruct those harmful false teachings and beliefs.
Our goal is to help change the human conversation on love and inclusion, setting hearts free to love and be loved.
That’s what my children deserve. That’s what your children deserve. Because they are beloved.
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