Breakroom Gay Talk

I've been back in the south less than three months and I've been witness to more latent racism and anti-homosexuality than I've experienced in the last 9 years. 

The most blatant of these incidents was recently in the breakroom at my place of employment. It involved a conversation between three men who were comparing stories of encounters with homosexuals. It was inspired by a story about two best friends whose friendship ended when one of them "came on" to the other and the result was a dead gay guy. 

The most shocking part of this overheard conversation was that the loudest opponent to homosexuality was a person whom I know was a professing Christian and who very animatedly exclamed that if his best friend came onto him he wouldn't kill him. Rather he'd "beat the crap out of him, take him to the hospital, then take him to a psychiatrist and the pastor." 

What little I know of this guy leads me to believe his protestations were largely hot air but the underlying hostility was real and significant. Knowing his proclamation of Christian faith, I asked him, "Is there no room for mercy?" There wasn't an immediate response but my break was over and I had to go back to work. 

I don't know how that conversation ended but it's had me thinking for weeks. 

Is there no room for mercy? It can be very confusing to try lining up the Bible's condemnation of homosexuality and reconciliation of the sinner. Outside of certain social or professional circles, homosexuality is a bit like a myth. It's something that people have heard of but rarely, or never, encounter. That makes it easy to judge out of hand and dump all homosexuals into a big sack together. 

Let me be clear. I don't buy the genetic argument (or rather attempt at justification) for homosexuality. It is a learned or chosen behavior. I believe it's morally grotesque and above all, a sin. However, I've known and worked with many people who've chosen that lifestyle for themselves and have called many by the title "friend." 

It's important that we remember that "homosexual" is a choice or a lifestyle, not a person. God made us all out of the same stuff and came in flesh as Jesus to make it possible for us all to spend eternity with Him. He did that because He loves and cherishes ALL of us. Not just American white Christian heterosexuals. 

So as you sit around the breakroom, stand around the water cooler or wait in line at the super market, remember that Jesus died for all of us, O Sinner, and regardless of the sin a person commits, none of us had a chance; no hope of survival before Him. That means you, me, the gay, the Jew, the person of color, the drug addict, the corporate raider, the pastor, the relief worker, the philanthropist, and the street thug were all in the express lane to hell... together. 

You and me are no better or worse than anyone else. There's no corner on the truth except for Jesus. And you may need to re-evaluate some things in your heart and mind before you open your mouth again. 

Luke 18:9-14