They hosted a party and hundreds of people showed up, including me. “They estimate two thousand people will be here today,” somebody said to me. And I believe it. It was a bright, beautiful summer day in the public park of Henderson County, North Carolina. The annual PRIDE PICNIC.
I went because our church has an exhibit, because our church is welcoming and affirming to LGBTQ people, and because I am an ally to people seeking to discover themselves, especially those who are also seeking to follow Jesus.
The first person I saw was Josh Bledsoe, a member of my congregation. He had just finished speaking to the crowd, and you can watch his talk here.
The next person was Beth, active in another church, but who has attended events at our church. I must have said something about the sermon I was preparing for the next day, about Noah, the ark, and the rainbow. I asked, “Have you seen the ark in Kentucky?” Surprisingly, she said yes, then added: “The ark is unbelievable, but their gift shop was all about rescuing the rainbow flag from the gays, and it made me sick.”
Not two minutes later, I passed the influential Christian writer John Pavlovitz walking in the opposite direction. We had never met, but we did that moment: shaking hands, exchanging greetings, and comparing notes. I took a picture. Later, he wrote an article about his experience at the event.
I stayed several hours, met a horde of people, enjoyed the colors of the days, and traveled 30 miles back to my house in Travelers Rest, South Carolina. That’s when I received the email.
“I came across a news video with Pastor Dwight Moody and was interested in his stance on PRIDE LGBTQI+ month…. Jesus calls people to repent and turn from sin…I would love to hear your views on Biblical truth.”
It came through our church web site from a person I did not know. I answered her inquiry:
“I am glad to answer your questions… Every one of us is called to walk in righteousness, mercy, and humility …. I welcome all people and receive those who call Jesus lord. I offer communion to all.”
She responded: “Thank you for responding…. I believe we are to love all people, yet we must preach the truth of His Word.” She added some scripture references.
“Tell me about yourself and your journey with Christ,” I wrote, wishing to shift the conversation. Which she did, of a Catholic upbringing, a broken home, a personal search for God, and a conversion to Christ. A marriage, a church just down the road in Hendersonville, and a family with children and grands.
I told her my story, summarized my faith, then invited her to watch our Sunday morning church service. “Did you see or read somewhere that my church participated in the Pride picnic? Did you attend?”
“I did attend the picnic. I did walk down the church row. … I believe confusion is being targeted to our youth. Such things as Drag Queen story hours are not good…. Confusing a child with numerous sexual orientations is not good. Dressing up as an animal is not right… I prayed aloud whe2n I walked down the church row for God’s truth to be revealed by His Spirit…. Jesus calls people to go and sin no more….”
“I am sorry we did not meet…. I am not aware of any violence that has been incited by such costumes or such theater, do you? On the other hand, think of all the killing that is a result of racism, homophobia, and guns! I’ll take the animal parade over the gun show any day!!”
“I sent you a friend request on FB,” she wrote on Sunday morning; and I responded Sunday after worship: “I accepted your friend request. We are eating at Janitzio’s. We always go out to eat after church. Four of those around our table are gay…. I will celebrate 52 years of marriage on July 1.”
That prompted a lengthy comment by her on how marriage is a symbol of the love of God, including biblical quotes (Ephesians, Corinthians, Romans, and Revelation). Before I could answer, she continued: “Yes, I did watch your sermon and I am flattered you spoke about me … Prejudice and hatred and murder have no place in our lives and neither does the LGBTQI+ ideology. It is all sin and should be treated the same.”
My response Sunday evening: “I have read all your emails more than once. Did you hear our special music vocalist, Reggie? Did you listen to the hymn we sang afterwards?” And I printed the text of the hymn (which I had written for our worship). To which she replied, “As I read your words you wrote and understand what you are trying to express, I do not think I could sing that. It appears you have taken on new meaning to God’s Holy Word that sounds very universalist.”
A day later I wrote, quoting somebody, maybe Joshua: “John 3:17, ‘God did not send Jesus into the world to condemn the world…’ If God did not send Jesus to the ministry of condemnation, I am sure God did not send me (or us) to condemn people. Grace and Peace. Pastor Dwight.”
But she responded, “There were no words of condemnation coming from me. That is a defense mechanism for many to jump to that conclusion that people are condemning when they are simply speaking the truth in Love of what God’s word says.”
This morning, Wednesday, I sent her a link to the John Pavlovitz article, and she responded “I did not witness this either [referring to the episode described by Pavlovitz] and I do not condone such action…. It is wrong and does not reflect the way of the Lord.”
And that is the way this pastoral conversation (much longer than summarized here) stands as I send this newsletter to you, my readers, and to my new FB friend. What do you think?
(Written Wednesday afternoon, June 12, 2024)
They hosted a party and hundreds of people showed up, including me. “They estimate two thousand people will be here today,” somebody said to me. And I believe it. It was a bright, beautiful summer day in the public park of Henderson County, North Carolina. The annual PRIDE PICNIC.
I went because our church has an exhibit, because our church is welcoming and affirming to LGBTQ people, and because I am an ally to people seeking to discover themselves, especially those who are also seeking to follow Jesus.
The first person I saw was Josh Bledsoe, a member of my congregation. He had just finished speaking to the crowd, and you can watch his talk here.
The next person was Beth, active in another church, but who has attended events at our church. I must have said something about the sermon I was preparing for the next day, about Noah, the ark, and the rainbow. I asked, “Have you seen the ark in Kentucky?” Surprisingly, she said yes, then added: “The ark is unbelievable, but their gift shop was all about rescuing the rainbow flag from the gays, and it made me sick.”
Not two minutes later, I passed the influential Christian writer John Pavlovitz walking in the opposite direction. We had never met, but we did that moment: shaking hands, exchanging greetings, and comparing notes. I took a picture. Later, he wrote an article about his experience at the event.
I stayed several hours, met a horde of people, enjoyed the colors of the days, and traveled 30 miles back to my house in Travelers Rest, South Carolina. That’s when I received the email.
“I came across a news video with Pastor Dwight Moody and was interested in his stance on PRIDE LGBTQI+ month…. Jesus calls people to repent and turn from sin…I would love to hear your views on Biblical truth.”
It came through our church web site from a person I did not know. I answered her inquiry:
“I am glad to answer your questions… Every one of us is called to walk in righteousness, mercy, and humility …. I welcome all people and receive those who call Jesus lord. I offer communion to all.”
She responded: “Thank you for responding…. I believe we are to love all people, yet we must preach the truth of His Word.” She added some scripture references.
“Tell me about yourself and your journey with Christ,” I wrote, wishing to shift the conversation. Which she did, of a Catholic upbringing, a broken home, a personal search for God, and a conversion to Christ. A marriage, a church just down the road in Hendersonville, and a family with children and grands.
I told her my story, summarized my faith, then invited her to watch our Sunday morning church service. “Did you see or read somewhere that my church participated in the Pride picnic? Did you attend?”
“I did attend the picnic. I did walk down the church row. … I believe confusion is being targeted to our youth. Such things as Drag Queen story hours are not good…. Confusing a child with numerous sexual orientations is not good. Dressing up as an animal is not right… I prayed aloud whe2n I walked down the church row for God’s truth to be revealed by His Spirit…. Jesus calls people to go and sin no more….”
“I am sorry we did not meet…. I am not aware of any violence that has been incited by such costumes or such theater, do you? On the other hand, think of all the killing that is a result of racism, homophobia, and guns! I’ll take the animal parade over the gun show any day!!”
“I sent you a friend request on FB,” she wrote on Sunday morning; and I responded Sunday after worship: “I accepted your friend request. We are eating at Janitzio’s. We always go out to eat after church. Four of those around our table are gay…. I will celebrate 52 years of marriage on July 1.”
That prompted a lengthy comment by her on how marriage is a symbol of the love of God, including biblical quotes (Ephesians, Corinthians, Romans, and Revelation). Before I could answer, she continued: “Yes, I did watch your sermon and I am flattered you spoke about me … Prejudice and hatred and murder have no place in our lives and neither does the LGBTQI+ ideology. It is all sin and should be treated the same.”
My response Sunday evening: “I have read all your emails more than once. Did you hear our special music vocalist, Reggie? Did you listen to the hymn we sang afterwards?” And I printed the text of the hymn (which I had written for our worship). To which she replied, “As I read your words you wrote and understand what you are trying to express, I do not think I could sing that. It appears you have taken on new meaning to God’s Holy Word that sounds very universalist.”
A day later I wrote, quoting somebody, maybe Joshua: “John 3:17, ‘God did not send Jesus into the world to condemn the world…’ If God did not send Jesus to the ministry of condemnation, I am sure God did not send me (or us) to condemn people. Grace and Peace. Pastor Dwight.”
But she responded, “There were no words of condemnation coming from me. That is a defense mechanism for many to jump to that conclusion that people are condemning when they are simply speaking the truth in Love of what God’s word says.”
This morning, Wednesday, I sent her a link to the John Pavlovitz article, and she responded “I did not witness this either [referring to the episode described by Pavlovitz] and I do not condone such action…. It is wrong and does not reflect the way of the Lord.”
And that is the way this pastoral conversation (much longer than summarized here) stands as I send this newsletter to you, my readers, and to my new FB friend. What do you think?
(Written Wednesday afternoon, June 12, 2024)
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