Friday, November 8

They scoff, and speak with malice; in their arrogance they threaten oppression. Their mouths lay claim to heaven and their tongues take possession of the earth.  Psalm 73:8-9

Christians from the LGBTQI community are called to be strong in the face of adversity.  How many times have you heard someone make comments that cut sharper than any knife could?  How many times have you wanted to cut back with words but held your tongue?  I can remember times when my daughter would run up to me calling mom and within seconds turn to my partner and say mom.  People around us would look and make little grunts and noises of disapproval.

I remember some cutting words when I served as church council president and was not yet out to everyone.  The church council was speaking of the LGBT community and stated they could sit in the pews but not teach or work with their youth.  There I sat, (a grown lesbian still in the closet at church) listening to them say I was not good enough to teach their children as they were afraid it would affect them.  Little did they know a lesbian had been teaching their children in Sunday school for 3 years and a lesbian's daughter was their youth group director.

As time passed, before I ever came out to them, one of their children broke open the discussions.  He was gay.  What were they to do now?  Their tongues that lashed out were now held in as they knew not what to do with one of their own.  They asked questions, they sought answers and they grew.  I admit not all grew at the same pace and years later some are still in the crawling stage but they are indeed holding their tongues and opening their minds.

God has placed us all here with a purpose.   God is waiting for us - all of us.  God's presence in our lives helps us through things we would otherwise not get through.  I am now returning to that same church to speak about LGBTQI issues in a forum as they seek to grow into the future and into the kingdom of God together.  We need to bring our cares, concerns, and prejudices to God, then we can stand strong against the arrogance and in turn show the ones who scoff at our presence that we too are children of God; the same God that loves them.  That means we are all one big family and we all need to learn to live together and worship together.

Come and worship, come and find the peace of Christian community and be blessed in the outcome.

My prayer:
Creator of the universe, shower us all with your blessings. Create in all of us speech that fosters welcoming and not malice, acceptance and not arrogance, love and not cruelty. Guide us that the words we speak are to lift up our Creator and not cut down our brothers and sisters. Help the seeker find courage to join in as who they are and not hide in the wings because of fears. Give the LGBTQI community the knowledge to move forward in our cities, churches and homes as children of God and be recognized as equals by others. Bring us together in your love. Amen

Marty Freitag