Quote:
|
Originally Posted by pnggrad79
My screen name is my high school Port Neches-Groves (png) of which I am a grad (grad) and the year I graduated 1979.
And Matt, I know Christ beat me to the punch. Is there anything wrong with trying to reach others for Him?  |
Thanks for the reply about your name ...
Interesting question.
While I come from a rather stayed denomination (im Lutheran) that is not big on overt pound-the-pavement evangelism, I certainly don't think that there's anything wrong with spreading the gospel.
For me, however, the Church is as the Church does ... and not so much as the Church says or advertises. When the Church as an institution begins to take up as its own cause the promotion of freedom for all of God's children, then maybe gay people will feel comfortable coming to church. In other words, pnggrad, I don't think we have an image problem in the gay community that can be corrected by a postcard or anything else, we have a problem of substance, theology and of policy. Most churches need to take a hard look at themselves and change their ways -- then maybe we can think about going into gay neighborhoods and evangelizing.
In no way do I wish to besmirch your Church -- of which I know nothing. These are just my own thoughts.
I guess the only other thing that comes to mind is just that I've lived in several "gay" neighborhoods in my life (including Lakeview in Chicago and Capitol Hill here in Seattle, where I now live.) The idea of an outside (perhaps suburban?) group of friendly, well-meaning and loving Christians coming into the neighborhood attempting to "reach" me or other gay people for Christ just kind of strikes me as somewhat odd to be honest. I guess the image that comes to mind is that the people from outside somehow see my neighborhood as a mission field, and not as a community infused by as much faith and life as their own.
If you can reach people with the unending love of Christ through the gospel, then good on 'ya -- go for it. But should we view America's gay neighborhoods as mission fields? I don't know .... any thoughts?