Loving My Neighbor

[Gennee]

I was just struck with the notion of what it means to love your neighbor as yourself. I have been a Christian for many years and I understand my neighbor to be anyone regardless of how they feel about me.

I bring this subject up because I have read so many posts here and on other forums about how men and women left their church because of their sexual or gender identity. It is the same thing when a person of another color or culture moves into the neighborhood. What hurts me is that people rob themselves of learning about the other person. I always maintain that in order to really know someone, you have to find some common ground in which you can share.

I have learned so much about the gay and lesbian community just by being with them and taking with them. I share what it is like to be transgender. I only discovered that I was transgender 2 1/2 years ago. I can honestly say that I never had anything against LGBT people at the time. How could I? I didn't know any gay people or anything about them. I would be a hippocrite if I didn't show my love to them.

Today, I am happy to say that my love for the gay and lesbian community knows no bounds. I believe that I am a better person because I understand some of the issues that you deal with. Being a neighbor is being willing to put aside all preconceived notions and seek in earnest about what the person is about. This love has really blossomed because I met and know gay people who are comfortable with you as they are. I shared many times that I am comfortable and content as a transgender.

There are those who wish to hurt and harm us but we are to pray and love them in spite of how they act. It is wonderful when someone who has been homophobic and transphobic realize one day that they are wrong. If they genuinely repent and forge friendships, an ally has been gained.

Gennee

[pnggrad79]

We were studying the Spanish Inquisition yesterday in class and I asked the question "How is the church persecuting Jews by torture and forced conversion loving your neighbor as yourself and showing Christ's love?" They were silent for a few seconds and quietly answered, "It isn't." Then I said, "When the church closes its doors to ANYONE, it does NOT show Christ's love and is not about Christ's mission and should just shut its doors and stop saying it is a church."

[Gennee]

Originally Posted by pnggrad79

We were studying the Spanish Inquisition yesterday in class and I asked the question "How is the church persecuting Jews by torture and forced conversion loving your neighbor as yourself and showing Christ's love?" They were silent for a few seconds and quietly answered, "It isn't." Then I said, "When the church closes its doors to ANYONE, it does NOT show Christ's love and is not about Christ's mission and should just shut its doors and stop saying it is a church."

You're absolutely right.Pnggrad. I read a little about the Spanish Inquisition and will read more in the future. Right there the church is showing partially, James 2:11 states. Perhaps what is needed is new churches which are welcoming to EVERYONE.

GENNEE

[antiochian]

Dear friends,

I struggle so deeply with this command to love. It means not only should straights love transgendereds, gays, lesbians, etc., it means that transgendereds, gays, lesbians, and bisexuals must love those who call them "disgusting, sinful, perverse," etc. I have a hard time loving homophobes and heterosexists. I have a hard time for that matter loving some of the more disagreeable people I've worked with. I have a hard time loving the people who have snubbed me in any way at all. My heart has more hate in it than I care to admit at times. The question, dear ones, is how do I make it go away?

Harder yet is forgiving ourselves. I've hurt people in my life, badly, and my soul mourns and sheds spiritual tears for those inflicted wounds. Some things cannot be glossed over by a thousand "sorrys." How do we learn to forgive ourselves?

Let me attempt to break hate's cycle (of self and others) by wishing all on this forum peace and love. Whether you think I'm crazy, annoying, or cool I love you the same. Even if you're a homophobe reading this who thinks I'm going to hell, I love you in the name of the One who is love. From the prison of hate may we be set free.

--Jeff

[Gennee]

Jeff, I have found that praying at the beginning of the day helps. It is said that while we can see what is in front of us, only God knows what's around the corner. We don't have to respond to everything that is said. I look at the said Jesus responded to those that persecuted and killed Him.

It says in scripture that we are to pray for those who persecute us. It's not an easy thing to do but God can do more than we can with the situation.

Gennee

[iowan woman]

Gennee,

Am I bad? As I reread your last comment about praying for the people who are cruel I thought of some of the psalms, e.g., Dear G-D, these people are really bothering me, make them go away.

I'm bad.

:-(


It is hard to be open to groups of people who have been hostile but you are right, true friendships can be forged when people wake up to their ugly and then decide to do something to make ammends for their actions or for the actions of others within their own group.

[sailaway58]

Of course we have to love them, love the sinner, hate the sin.