Were arrested Christians acting Christ-like?
Seeing as how there are numerous news stories these days of conflict between faith and sexuality, more significantly, Christians and Homosexuals, I thought it might be a wonderful idea to swap blogs with April Gilford of Life as a Christian Woman.
I know many loving and welcoming Christians, and April is one of them. She is understanding, compassionate and, in my eyes, the perfect example of what God intended a good Christian to be. She is not unique, however. There are many people out there like her. Unfortunately, with the news today, you often hear about those Christians who tend to twist the words of the Bible and act from a place of hate rather than love for their own personal agendas. At the same time, you often hear about homosexuals who bash organized religion or who lump all Christians together in one discriminating group. I’ll let you in on a little not-so-secret. There are just as many homosexuals who embrace religion, as there are Christians who embrace homosexuals. April and I wanted to take an opportunity to show that side. So here it is. A Christian perspective on a gay and lesbian blog.
Were arrested Christians acting Christ-like?
By April Gilford
Life as a Christian Woman
There have been several reports lately of Christians being arrested around the US for protests held at various public events. Citing the freedom of speech, these men and women have attempted to share their faith particularly at Gay Rights gatherings. The freedoms of speech and peaceful protest are certainly important in order for a democratic society to function. But were the actions of these arrested Christians upholding the standards they were trying to share?
As in all things, we must look to the Bible and the teachings of Jesus as a model for our behavior. Using a Biblical guide, Christian should also mean Christ-like, especially when trying to share our faith with others. World Net Daily has featured several articles on these arrested Christians and the circumstances surrounding the conflicts. Applying these circumstances to the teachings in the New Testament brings up an interesting debate on how we should share our faith.
Romans 14:15-16 - Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil. The food and drink referred to in these passages has to do with the relationship between early Christians and the Jewish people. The Jews would not eat in a gentile household and were very strict in the types and preparations of their food and drink. Biblical scholars have long recognized this passage as an analogy for other customs, also. In the case of the arrested Christians, their presence was an affront to those people gathered to exercise their own rights to freedom of speech and assembly. As protestors whose intent was to pray and hand out tracts, the arrested Christians knew before they ever went that their presence would not be welcomed.
Romans 13:2 - Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. According to WND, Julian Raven and 7 others contacted police about praying and sharing the Christian faith at a gay pride rally. The police told them they could not cross the street and could not enter the park. Then Raven and the other 7 proceeded to do just that in direct defiance of authority.
Matthew 6:5 – And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. When those same men defied authority and chose to cross the street and enter the park, they did not just walk across and join the crowd. They held their Bibles over their heads, crossed the street, and prostrated themselves face down on the grass of the park.
It was not until all this had occurred that police had no choice but to arrest these Christians. Why now do those same men claim that they were singled out for their religion and had their rights violated? As so many are fond of espousing, the authority of the Bible is to be our guide. And if Christians are to be known by their love, the actions of these men and so many others like them leave a bit to be desired.
Read my gay and lesbian perspective on April’s Christian blog.
christian, religion, homosexuality, glbt, faith, gay rights, the bible
August 21st, 2007 at 9:38 am
[…] Lack of Faith a Common Misconception of Homosexuals August 21st, 2007 by April Gilford I am swapping blogs with a fellow writer today. The issue of homosexuality and Christianity gains more and more attention in society’s headlines. Some Christians use the Bible to despise homosexuals. Some use the Bible to love them. Some homosexuals hate Christians for centuries of persecution. Some are Christians and find no struggle in their faith and sexual preference. But every human being deserves our ears, our understanding, and our attempt to live in this world together in the harmony God intended. To that end, I am handing over Life as a Christian Women to a woman of faith, courage, and compassion, who also happens to be a lesbian. I pray that you will give some serious thought to what she has to say. I also invite you to visit her blog at Lez Keep It Real to read my post, Were Arrested Christians Acting Christ-like? […]
August 21st, 2007 at 1:40 pm
Christian demonstrations at gay pride events are, well, they’re often troubling. Not because I am offended by Christianity or a Christian message but because the protesters are often insulting and demeaning.
We just happened to be in St Augustine during PRIDE a couple of years ago and there were protesters who held up signs saying that it was God’s will that homosexuals were dying of HIV… and applauding their deaths.
Hand me a tract, say “God bless you have a good day” as I walk past and I’m happy to have you there sharing your beliefs and opinons. Hold up a sign at the edge of the gathering if you feel like it. Peaceful protest is fine with me. You can hold a protest without attacking and insulting peopl. Thankfully the Christian protesters in our little town seem to know this. So far.
August 22nd, 2007 at 7:11 am
This is a wonderful idea, Lyndsey and April! Thank you both for doing this.
Last spring, the Soulforce Equality Ride stopped at the campus of the Christian university I attend. I was deeply touched by the stand these courageous young people took, speaking out as a voice for our LGBT students who are kept voiceless by oppressive university policies. When I watched as several of them were arrested for peacefully violating one of these policies, I wept not only with sorrow, but with profound gratitude. They were offering themselves for arrest on my behalf, making a painful, personal sacrifice for *me*.
In the weeks following the Equality Ride’s visit, I heard many students make the same arguments from Scripture against the Equality Riders that you make here, April. They considered their protest an affront to the university community, a shameful defiance of civil authority, and an unloving act of hypocrisy. It hurt me to hear their interpretation of events that had meant something so different–and so Christlike!–to me.
As the effort to gain full civil and sacramental rights for LGBT people moves once again out onto the streets, I think it will be important for us to be able to articulate what makes our acts of non-violent civil disobedience different from those staged to protest our position. I wish I’d been able to do a better job of this in my situation, because the differences seem to me to be very stark.
August 22nd, 2007 at 8:47 am
I agree that this is a great idea. Thanks for this post.
October 26th, 2007 at 9:40 am
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