The Gospel of Hate
A hate crime is defined as a crime in which an individual intentionally selects a victim because of the actual or perceived race, color, national origin, ethnicity, gender, gender expression or identity, disability, or sexual orientation of any person.
One would have not believed that a nation (United States) that was founded on religious freedom would have developed into a nation of hate. Our history is one of hate and intolerance towards others who are different from us. Individuals from all walks of life have been persecuted because of hatred, accepted prejudices, bias, and ignorance.
It was not to long ago in our own American history that when the settlement of the west was in full swing, our own government ordered the death and destruction of all the various tribes of Indians...based on race. In the years preceding the Civil War, slavery was another chapter of hate in our history. As the hatred of race took root, war broke out between the States which took the lives of millions of people and brought great shame upon this nation...again, based on hatred. Soon after the Civil War, another form of hated developed...discrimination. As the freed slaves moved into all parts of the United States, white individuals keep the hatred of blacks in full swing by discrimination of individuals based on the color of their skin.
Individuals show their own personal prejudices and biases not just based on race (skin color) but also sex. Women for a long time throughout our history have been struggling for equality, the right to vote, the right to work outside the home for the same pay as their respective male counterparts, and the right to hold elected offices. All of their struggles are still fought for in our day and age...Guess that some things have yet to change...
When will we ever learn from our past? George Bernard Shaw once said, "If history repeats itself, and the unexpected always happens, how incapable must Man be of learning from experience." In today's America, sexual discrimination is now the new form of hatred. One can only look into the recent past events showing people expressing their hatred of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and Transgendered individuals.
One would think that when a civilized society could just mind their own business and not have, or produce, their own personal extreme prejudices or hate related crimes against others, we would not need to introduce more laws protecting the rights of individuals that are living their own personal truths. The Constitution provides the freedom and protection of anyone to live their life as they choose to be... Hate crimes have increased within our society to the point of needing stricter enforcement and severe punishment of those individuals that seem to think that "their will" should be followed rather than that of an individual's right to choose for themselves.
Spiritual hate crimes are different than that of other types of hate crimes in that there is no direct physical violence to an individual, yet this type of hated is perform throughout many churches around the world, however, there is no earthly punishment to those who practice this type of hate crime like that of other forms of hate crimes. Devout gospel ministers in today's times have suggested that all members of the GLBT community are being punished by God through the HIV/AIDS viruses. They seem to stop short of explaining why children with no connection with the GLBT community contract this disease...which begs the question, "Does God really hate these children that are infected with this disease...or does God hate the individual spouses of cheating partners who engage with unprotected sex outside the marriage?" It doesn't take too long to figure out that this is not what the Bible says or endorses.
Isn't it ironic that this country is based on religious freedom, that the mass majority of "so-called devout Christians" show the opposite of what the scriptures really teach about living the Christian life? Jerry Falwell and other devout ministers around the country preach that all GLBT individuals are an abomination to God and they are destined for Hell with no hope of a life in Heaven. While these ministers preach hatred and not allow the GLBT individuals the right to worship God, as it is written, within the walls of the worship place and refuse to allow GLBT individuals to participate in partaking of the Lord's Supper... It astounds me that this is in direct conflict with the teachings of Jesus Christ. In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus says to His disciples,
"...All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
Does this mean that in today's times Jesus' comments to His disciples tells Christians to exclude some people from a life of love in Jesus? The scriptures further teach that based on all the laws given to us, Jesus teaches us in Matthew 22: 37-40,
"Jesus said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind,' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang the Law and the Prophets."
Today's Christians seem to forget that their neighbors may be members of the GLBT community and means that they are to love their neighbor while not expressing hatred or condemnation. In Romans 2: 1-3, the Bible states,
"Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practicing such things. And do you think this, O man, who you judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God."
Does this mean that God turned over His right to judge people as to whether or not people go to Heaven or Hell to these ministers who teach falsely the word of God? As a student of the Bible, I have yet to find the passage that transfers His authority to any human being!!!
Some Christians think nothing of openly discriminating against individuals that differ from their own personal beliefs, lifestyles, and "spiritual doctrine." Individuals that do not profess any type of religious practice or personal faith in God see these "so-called Christian" actions as proof that there is NO GOD. "Kinda ironic...isn't it?"
This is what Marlene and I experienced from the leadership and Ministers at the Southeast church of Christ after I told them of my intentions to transition from a male to a female:
[Forum posted on the Houston Diamond T-Girls Website -2/18/07]
Hey everyone,
Saturday morning Marlene and I had a visit from the leadership of the Southeast church of Christ were we were informed that we will no longer be welcomed to worship at Southeast.
In addition, I found out that a dear friend (over the past 9 years) of Marlene and I made it very clear to these church leaders that she will no longer worship there if they were to allow Marlene and I (as Charlene) to attend.
What really hurt me is that as I understand the scriptures that Jesus died for everyone and not just the "normal" people of this world. They told me that there is no scripture that will support their decision and asking us to leave is for the good of the other church members.
For whatever I have done (as Chuck or as Charlene) I will never have thought this is how "God's people" would react, especially after attending this church for the past 10 years. (Marlene and I fell in love with each other there and have had an amazing loved-filled marriage to date.)
I can't tell you how this has affected me personally... guess time will only tell. Thanks to each of you for accepting Marlene and I in this group.
Your sister,
Charlene
As of April 11, 2007, here are some interesting facts:
Michael: Sr. Minister/Pulpit Minister - After two months being banished from this congregation, called us out of the blue and wanted to come over "to lend his help" to Marlene and I. [Per Michael's phone call to me on 04/10/07: Showed no remorse for his actions that led to our banishment from Southeast church of Christ... Michael's intentions - will be revealed on 04/12/07 at our home] On the day of this meeting, Michael and Bob (Elder) made it very clear that the help he wanted to give us was to encourage us to leave this congregation for the "good of the church." They told us that if I showed up as Charlene that the church would experience a "train wreck" and have tithe paying members leave and jeopardize losing the church building.
Michael did stipulate that there are no scriptures that regard my transition as sin or that my salvation is in jeopardy. He also stated that God really does love me and that Jesus died so that I may have salvation. It was also stipulated, and confirmed by Bob, that they would not minister to me as Charlene. He also stipulated that if I had already completed my transition, that I would be welcomed with a "don't ask, don"t tell" policy.
I specifically asked both of them would other Transgendered individuals be allowed to worship at Southeast and they told us that they would not be welcome. So I asked them if God loves people within the GLBT community and they said yes, however, we are still banished.
Before my transition, Marlene and I had the opportunity to hear three very notable sermons which are in direct contradiction to our banishment:
Sermon Notes of Friends, Relatives, Associates, and Neighbors (FRAN):
Original FRAN sermon notes:
We are to minister God's love to our friends, relatives, associates, & neighbors...
Amendment to the original sermon:
"Only the Southeast church of Christ elders and ministers can decide who can and can't worship God at this congregation"
Sermon Notes of Signpost, Foretaste, and Instrument (SFI):
Original SFI sermon notes:
We are to be a signpost of God's love to everyone, a sweet foretaste (peppermint candy as a prop) in the mouth of those who seeks God, and an instrument to be used by God in sharing His message to others...
Amendment to the original sermon:
Signpost: We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone...
Foretaste: Bitter, vile tastes of what Christians do in the name of God...
Instrument: Spiritual Hate Crimes committed to individuals who "don't fit the mold of Christianity."
Sermon Notes of Ruined beyond Repair:
Original Ruined beyond Repair sermon notes:
In the eyes of God...NO!
Amendment to the original sermon:
In the eyes of Southeast church of Christ leadership...Yes!
Alan:
Ministry Leader of the Pathfinders: Openly hostile and vindictive to Marlene and I...both publicly and privately.
Told Marlene in a phone conversation (Marlene put his call on speaker so I could hear it) , "...he's like those kind of people...and you will be put out on the street curb...so get used to the curb."
4/12/07: Marlene told me today at lunch that Alan told her that she needs to keep me away from "his family."
Most Memorable Comment:
02/17/07: Larry, Elder of Southeast church of Christ: After coming to our home to announce their decision to banish Marlene and I from worshipping at Southeast church of Christ told me on his way out the door, he said, "I want you to remember that God loves you - no matter what!." After he said this to me and after my initial shock, I thought his statement added insult to injury and stipulating that the leaders at Southeast don't love us despite what God did for us...
To date: None of the elders, ministers, or other members ever called Marlene and I since their decision to remove us from the congregation - except Judy, who called to accuse me of "trolling for women online..."
Final Thought:
"When will these types of hatred be stopped?" When will individuals that make up our society leave others who are different alone to live their lives as they see fit as the Constitution stipulates? I realize that these types of hate crimes will continue throughout all ages...so please, don't let the hate stop you from living your life.