The LGBT Seat at Christ’s Table
And your pending RSVP
This essay is written in response to a thread about the importance of LGBT Christians speaking out and being visible and active congregants despite having been wounded by organized religion. There’s a tendency to throw Jesus out with the holy water, but I’d like to offer another option. What follows is a recounting of my firsthand experience dealing with those who would deny my invitation and rightful seat at the table. Peace be with you.
As a forty-eight-inch tall, gay, black man, I encounter plenty of people who think and demonstrate through their actions, “You don’t belong because — ” With that said, my need for a self-concept that is not tethered to a human perspective is integral for my well-being.
My relationship with Christ serves that purpose and has been a good thing. A very good thing. I am well aware of the fruit that relationship has produced in my life; including understanding myself, the world, how I fit into, and most importantly my value to Christ — which supersedes the opinion of anyone.
And because I value that relationship and the positive effects it has had on me, whenever the opportunity presents itself, I talk about it with anyone who’s interested (or write about it, if prompted), but do so with respect, care, and an awareness that not everyone has the…
