Should Christianity reach out to the LGBT community?

[at9009]

The fact that this is even a question here is pretty sad.

It’s part for the course on here. There have been worse unfortunately.

 

[Rau]

It’s part for the course on here. There have been worse unfortunately.

The better question would have been to focus on the how. That would tease out just what is meant by “LGBT community” and “reach out”.

 

[at9009]

The better question would have been to focus on the how. That would tease out just what is meant by “LGBT community” and “reach out”.

Well the general response here seems to be to thrown the book at them and if they don’t respond well, shake the dust of one’s feet and move on. It doesn’t not seem to approach from humility knowing that the truth is on our side but rather to approach from the position of we’re right their wrong and an almost adversarial position.

I wrote a long detailed response about how to address it post 15 if you are interested about how to reach and some of my perspectives.

 

[Rau]

Well the general response here seems to be to thrown the book at them and if they don’t respond well, shake the dust of one’s feet and move on. It doesn’t not seem to approach from humility knowing that the truth is on our side but rather to approach from the position of we’re right their wrong and an almost adversarial position.

I wrote a long detailed response about how to address it post 15 if you are interested about how to reach and some of my perspectives.

Yes, I read it and have no issue with it. I think the weighting in the responses to an abrupt kind of response reflects a view that “LGBT community” means a group of people committed to and strenuously advocating for a range of social policies relevant to LGBT persons, and not in the least responsive to a catholic approach which ultimately sits on a view of right and wrong unacceptable to this group.

I remarked earlier that not all LGBT persons are happy about their situation. Many may understand these persons not to be part of the “LGBT community”.

 

[at9009]

Yes, I read it and have no issue with it. I think the weighting in the responses to an abrupt kind of response reflects a view that “LGBT community” means a group of people committed to and strenuously advocating for a range of social policies relevant to LGBT persons, and not in the least responsive to a catholic approach which ultimately sits on a view of right and wrong unacceptable to this group.

I remarked earlier that not all LGBT persons are happy about their situation. Many may understand these persons not to be part of the “LGBT community”.

I think that perspective is part of the problem. The perspective is US vs the Group. We don’t evangelize to the group but rather to individuals who might identify with a particular group. We should and cannot underestimate the power of one good conversation and the seed it can plant. There are plenty of examples of conversion stories from all walks of life always on the individual level. So even if ‘the group’ is antagonistic towards us, we should still reach out to the individuals and the difference we can make can go far.

 

[o_mlly]

…An LGBT person has just as much a need for salvation as anyone else.

Yes. So does the fornicator and adulterer. But an association of adulterers, say “Wife-Swappers of America,” does not have a right to organize, encourage membership, gather resources public and private funds in an attempt to normalize within society their abhorrent behaviors.

 

[Peter_J]

Yes, I read it and have no issue with it. I think the weighting in the responses to an abrupt kind of response reflects a view that “LGBT community” means a group of people committed to and strenuously advocating for a range of social policies relevant to LGBT persons, and not in the least responsive to a catholic approach which ultimately sits on a view of right and wrong unacceptable to this group.

I remarked earlier that not all LGBT persons are happy about their situation. Many may understand these persons not to be part of the “LGBT community”.

I think that perspective is part of the problem. The perspective is US vs the Group. We don’t evangelize to the group but rather to individuals who might identify with a particular group. We should and cannot underestimate the power of one good conversation and the seed it can plant. There are plenty of examples of conversion stories from all walks of life always on the individual level. So even if ‘the group’ is antagonistic towards us, we should still reach out to the individuals and the difference we can make can go far.

Amen. The phrase “LGBT community” tends to raise a red flag for me. For a number of reasons, some of which you’ve already mentioned. I’ll just add that some LGBT persons might know many other LGBT persons, but some know few, and some don’t know any at all.

 

[edwest2]

Yes, I read it and have no issue with it. I think the weighting in the responses to an abrupt kind of response reflects a view that “LGBT community” means a group of people committed to and strenuously advocating for a range of social policies relevant to LGBT persons, and not in the least responsive to a catholic approach which ultimately sits on a view of right and wrong unacceptable to this group.

I remarked earlier that not all LGBT persons are happy about their situation. Many may understand these persons not to be part of the “LGBT community”.

Well written. It seems that intellectually, we can only go so far. The answer, in most cases, is standing in front of a prominent building and holding a sign that reads “No hate in my State.” This derails all communications and paints an entire State or, more specifically, State government as hate-filled. This is not a good way to dialogue.

Any Church will allow LGBT persons to come in for Mass. To give an example: I don’t ask the homeless I help if they are LGBT, I just help them.

Ed

 

[Peter_J]

Any Church will allow LGBT persons to come in for Mass. To give an example: I don’t ask the homeless I help if they are LGBT, I just help them.

Unfortunately not everyone feels the same way you do. I’ve even come across some ostensibly good Christians who are downright nasty toward homosexual persons.

 

[edwest2]

Unfortunately not everyone feels the same way you do. I’ve even come across some ostensibly good Christians who are downright nasty toward homosexual persons.

A certain segment of the population can be broken down into a list of personal grievances that they are quite emotional about. And individual experiences do vary, along with learned perceptions. I was walking past a few people from a certain ethnic background. One called me a very bad word in his language twice, thinking I didn’t know what it meant.

Ed