This last Sunday, Daniel and I had the privilege of going to the local screening of Seventh-Gay Adventists. I had basically no expectations going into it; I mostly just wanted to make an appearance to support a college friend (acquaintance?). Turned out to be an incredible experience. Here's the story line of the documentary...
...three gay and lesbian Seventh-day Adventists are caught between the church they know and love and their desire to be fully accepted for who they are. One young man spent five years in "ex-gay" therapy trying to become straight, but now he's falling in love with another man and wondering if that can be okay. Another was a Brazilian pastor who was fired for being gay. Can he find his calling again? And a lesbian mom from the midwest wants her daughters to grow up with her faith and beliefs, even though she knows her church might not accept their family. {sgamovie.com}
I think this documentary is about so much more than Gay Adventists... it's more broadly about gay and lesbian Christians everywhere and Christian judgement that stems far beyond sexual orientation. (Although, there's plenty about the Adventist "culture" for me to relate with.) Anyway, I'm not going to go too much into the specifics of the documentary. I will say that it made me laugh, and made me cry, and made me think. A good pathos/ethos/logos balance, as any good documentary should have.
What really stuck with me is the conversation that followed. One of the couples in the film and one of the filmmakers stayed by after the screening to do a Q & A with the audience. I don't remember the exact question asked, but the answer made an impact. Colin, the college friend's husband, said that if someone, for whatever reason, is comfortable enough to "come out" to you, there are only two things that need to be done:
{1} love unconditionally; andThat's it. He repeated this one or two times with no further explanation. And it's been running through my head ever since.
{2} listen.
Isn't that what Jesus would do? Whether His beliefs were different or if He saw it another way--love unconditionally and listen. Isn't that what Jesus did? With cheaters and prostitutes and sinners of all sorts--love unconditionally, and listen.
I think Jesus' "new command" agrees...
A new command I give to you, that you love one another;
as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this ALL WILL KNOW that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. {1 John 13:34-35}
Love unconditionally.
Love God unconditionally--heart, soul and mind. Love others unconditionally--without judgement, regardless of our differences.
Listen.
Listen to Jesus--His patient and loving words of direction and the example He set. Listen to others--hearing their story without judgement but with love, acceptance and encouragement.
That's it.
No judgement. No correction. No withholding our friendship or support until they change. No disappointment or disbelief. Just unconditional love and a listening ear.
I don't think Jesus would have me handle differences of any kind (gender, race, sexuality, social status, education, "severity" of sin) in any other way.
Also read: How to Be a Christian: Part II {law and love unite}
