Telling Matt that the way he loves–one of the deepest aspects of his soul–is a “contagious disease”. That’s not rude? That’s not nasty?

You don’t offer Matt the polite decency and respect properly accorded to any human being. To you, he is less than a person.

You don’t know what love means.

Yet you dare to consider yourself a person who follows the example of Christ.

Do you read Scripture at all? If so, you never put any effort–of your mind, or your heart–in pondering what it means. You just replay in your mind what you’ve been TOLD it means.

Not being a Jew, you don’t follow Mosaic law–you don’t consider pork unclean, for example–but you tear off one tiny piece of more than 500 admonitions in Leviticus, and use it to justify hatred. Of people you’ve been taught to regard with disgust and contempt.

These are people who’ve never done anything to hurt you: although you act as if your faith is under attack, by the very fact that such people are alive in the same world as you.

Perhaps someday, a rumor will spread, and suddenly you’ll find the members of your church all shun you: as if you were heretical, unbelieving, criminal…or a homosexual. Maybe you’ll have an illness (physical or mental), and as a consequence you’ll be treated in a manner which shows you they really do hate not only the sin, but also the sinner.

Even though we are all sinners.

Only then will you know.

But it is more likely that nothing will happen to shake you from your smug superiority.

“Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.”

Sometimes I wish that this ‘loving’ god of theirs is real and that hell exists so he can actually judge the evildoers and kick them into hell – but then again, if he’s a loving god, why would he not just forgive them and do away with the whole concept of hell altogether?

Then I realize that there is no need to encourage these bigots to invent new interpretations of some book that they don’t even read in the original language or time frame to find ways to justify the evilest of their actions.

In what can only be described as a miracle, he is now one of the greatest advocates for gay rights, gay acceptance, full gay inclusion and gay affirmation that I know and he is still 100% dedicated to the Christian faith. Contrary to popular myth, the two things are NOT mutually exclusive.

Additionally, the church I grew up in was chock FULL of self-righteous, saccrine dripping false compassion homophobes like dear Brother Tarron. I knew literally HUNDREDS of them. They are a dime a dozen and all have the same “love the sinner hate the sin, especially CERTAIN sin” schtick.

Your whole article brought back HORRIBLE memories for me. I had a MAJOR anxiety attack when I thought about all the times I sat in a group of kids listening to homophobic rants from people I was supposed to admire and respect. It did untold and long lasting damage to my mind, my heart, my soul AND my spirit. When I think about the sermon that Brother Cox gave to 250 kids, I can’t help but wonder how many gay kids (like I once was) were sitting there in dispair, having their heart and soul torn from them, leaving them distraught and without hope. There is NO love and NO Christianity in such abuse and torture, NONE!

I pray for gay kids today, that they survive the abuse that is inflicted upon them in the name of a God that loves them completely and unconditionally.

Jesus most surely weeps!

Thanks for your courage and conviction.

I hope the story about my dad’s amazing and unexpected journey will give you hope for your church family that I know you love, even though they have hurt you beyond belief.

Miracles do happen. It’s just a shame that so many people (like gay kids) have to be destroyed before people’s hearts are touched and their minds are changed.

Hang in there bubba. I will pray for you, your brother and the people from your former church DAILY.

Matt, I wasn’t going to post this, but when you say our church is filled with hatred, bigotry and oppression, I felt obligated to write a comment, especially as a person who was in the room and also tried to encourage you as a youth, and I can’t think of a time when Michele or I were ever mean or rude to you. I remember taking you to many youth activities including conferences at the very church Bro. Steve Cox (who you rip pretty well) is out of.

I’m amazed that for a church of “hatred, bigotry and oppression” we “haters” are the ones that send buses into neighborhoods, picking up kids (and adults), feeding them and trying to teach them about Jesus. Our church of “hatred, bigotry and oppression” is the ministry you were saved under and called to preach under. The problem’s started when your point of view changed, not our church’s, because it hasn’t.

Matt, everyone at Grapevine, to my knowledge, has been kind to you. If they haven’t, please accept my apology for us. You could call Pastor Comer today and ask his councel on any matter and you know he would be there for you, he would not be rude or nasty toward you in any way.

As far as Sister Ruth, perhaps that situation should have been handled differently, but as a father of six, I can tell you, I wouldn’t let my kids go to any activity that I thought could disagree with my beliefs. I don’t let my kids spend the night with their cousins, not because I think I’m high and mighty and they’re not, it’s because I believe differently than they do about a lot of issues. Furthermore, I wouldn’t give 5 cents for any parent who wouldn’t try to protect their children.

Matt, I believe homosexuality is a sin, I believe their are plain teachings in the Bible against it. That’s my belief, that’s Grapevine’s belief and you know that no one their “hates” you even though your beliefs differ from ours now.

I’m sorry once again, if you truly feel we are a church of the things you mentioned earlier, I think deep down, you know that’s not the case.
I wish you would focus your energy as much on getting folks saved as you do on the issues you believe in on this website. (And you may! If you do, put that info on your website as well!) I wish you nothing but the best for you and your brothers as I’ve spent time with you all, and despite what you may think, I enjoyed seeing you at Grapevine and will be praying for you. Take care!

I learned a great deal from my involvement with Soulforce. I’m so grateful to have learned about non-violence and direct action. What I did that Sunday was nothing short of a non-violent direct action.

As much rhetoric I throw out on my blog, though, I still have to admit that I am quite the good ole’ Southern boy. I usually am VERY respectful to those older than me or those in a position of authority (i.e. elected officials, ministers). It isn’t always like that in my writings, but face-to-face, I try hard.

The contradictions between my spirit when writing and when addressing someone face-to-face is something I’ve yet to solve.