Dear Evangelicals,
Why are you persecuting our LGBTQ+ Brothers and Sisters?
We are all in Jesus’s family. Yet, you Evangelicals may not realize the depth to which you are harming LGBTQ+ family members.
Dear Evangelical Brothers and Sisters,
My heart continually aches each time I hear a story of an Evangelical persecuting an LGBTQ+ Brother and Sister in Christ.
I know that, as an Evangelical, you strive to love others like Jesus loves you. And I know that you and I need to love our neighbor — just as the Good Samaritan did. Further, as hard as it is, you and I are required by Jesus to love our enemies.
So, how, exactly, did you come to view your LGBTQ+ Brothers and Sisters as enemies?
I understand Evangelicalism. I was one of you for 40 years. Thus, I am not speaking to an audience in whom I am ignorant. I know your doctrines, dogmas, Sola Scriptura, Systematic Theology, and apologetic methods.
But I left Evangelicalism and am now an Exvangelical.
How I Became an Exvangelical Gay Christian | by Mike Rosebush, PhD | GAYoda | Medium
I specifically left the fold because of the vindictive hostility that Evangelicals have imposed upon me, a gay Christian. You see, as a closeted gay for 40 years, I was “privileged” to see and hear what Evangelicals said about LGBTQ+ people. And you never knew that I was privy to such abusive hate speech and actions.
I heard first-hand how lots of Evangelicals showed contempt. It is as though we LGBTQ+ people had raped your children and committed mass murders within your tribe. Quite the contrary. I am aware of the hate crimes against LGBTQ+ people. I am personally aware of how Evangelical family members kick LGBTQ+ people out of their homes. Also, how some (if not the majority) of Evangelicals refuse to attend their son or daughter’s gay wedding. Even worse, how some mean-spirited Evangelicals cease to communicate with LGBTQ+ family members — excommunicating them.
Are you aware that 85% of LGBTQ+ youth in Evangelical families felt uncomfortable coming out to parents? Parents should be the first trusted source in which to come out — not the last. Similarly, 81% of these youths feared being viewed as disgusting by Evangelical family members. Also, 42% were forbidden to share their story with others outside the family. Relatedly, nine percent were literally kicked out of their home — forsaken to a life as a homeless person who sleeps in the cold and is constantly at risk for taking drugs and being sexually abused. And 68% of homeless LGBTQ youth report serious family rejection. Finally, LGBTQ+ youth are four to eight times more likely to attempt suicide in rejecting families.
Folks, the above atrocious statistics all refer to Evangelical families!
By reputation, Evangelicals are famous for promoting “family values.” Are rejection and ostracization family values?
Since I am so intimately familiar with Evangelical beliefs and practices, I know that you believe you are treating your LGBTQ+ sons and daughters so shitty because they need “tough love.” In reality, your “love” virtually ensures that your LGBTQ+ child is given a crash course in homeless survival, drug addiction, and sexual abuse. You truly believe that your harsh actions “are best for the rebellious child.” But what is the LGBTQ+ child actually rebelling against? In most cases, it is not Jesus whom they shake their fist. It is you! And, by the way, coming out is not an act of rebellion. Rather, it takes tremendous courage to out oneself to Evangelical parents. Furthermore, possessing same-sex attraction is not a sin.
Ah, now we are getting to the heart of the matter!
Evangelicals almost unanimously believe that being gay is a sin. As their evidence, Evangelicals point to the two Leviticus verses that supposedly state that gay sex between men is an abomination. Also, they cite three verses from the apostle Paul that appear to denounce gay sex. Yet, please understand that all five verses refer to homosexual rape and assault by powerful men (who usually were straight) to the oppressed man who could not refuse the raping. Now, that behavior is worth condemning!
Is Homosexuality a Sin?. That depends upon one’s definition of… | by Mike Rosebush, PhD | Medium
And for those Evangelicals who believe that gay marriage is likewise a sin, I encourage you to read the following article.
The Definitive Case for Gay Marriages | by Mike Rosebush, PhD | GAYoda | Medium
So, come on now, my Evangelical Brothers and Sisters: isn’t your disdain for all things gay really due to you “cherry picking” which Bible verses to read literally? Could it possibly be the case that your literal interpretation does not consider the context of the verses?
Let me now shift directions. Even if the homosexual verses were truly to be taken literally, then you Evangelicals would need to murder every man who engages in gay sex. What stops you from such murder? Obviously, because that would not be a loving thing to do. Thus, even if LGBTQ people are your “enemies,” Jesus still obligates you to love them. And condemnation is not an act of love.
Finally, let me discuss our common Savior, Friend, and King — Jesus. He was famous for intentionally hanging out with the marginalized. In fact, Jesus’s reputation was that He was “a friend of sinners.” Even if you believe that LGBTQ+ people are “sinners,” then you and I are still required to love them in Jesus’s way.
Can you actually imagine Jesus refusing to interact with LGBTQ+ people? Would Jesus’s response more likely be, “Come, follow Me,” — or did Jesus usually say, “Get lost, you sinner!”
Please — please!! — my Evangelical Brothers and Sisters in Christ: stop persecuting us LGBTQ+ Christians. And while you are at it, please refrain from persecuting anyone. This is a national crisis, and it is time for all Evangelicals to love all people.
Love,
Mike
Dr. Mike Rosebush (Ph.D., Counseling Psychology; he, him, his;) is the creator and editor of GAYoda, plus a writer for Backyard Church. A short synopsis of Dr. Rosebush’s life can be found at I Lived the Most Unusual Gay Christian Life Ever. He may be contacted at mikerosebush75@gmail.com.
