What I Expect of Christians

What I Expect of Christians

     With the debate about gay marriage getting hotter, and the end of DADT, it has come to my attention that a small discussion needs to happen where I explain what I expect of Christians regarding matters of homosexuality.

     I do not expect Christians to embrace my choice to live openly.

     I do not expect Christians to congratulate me on choosing not to hide being gay by lying to a woman and marrying her.

     I do not expect Christians to perform gay weddings in their churches.

     I do not expect Christians suggest sinful behavior liking having sex with a woman to make sure I’m gay.

     I do not expect Christians to change their beliefs or compromise them—in fact I expect them not too.

     I do not expect Christians encourage me to continue to do volunteer work within the gay community.

     What I do expect are these things:

     I expect that if Christians are going to quote the Bible and expect change, then I can quote the Bible and expect change. In fact, I expect when I remind them of their faults by pointing out how they are disobeying the scripture that they apologize, repent and obey the rules.

     I expect that if Christians can justify not following some of the rules in the Bible, that I can also justify me not following some of the rules.

     Mostly, what I expect of Christians is to be as Christ-like as they can. This is an expectation, it is required of you as followers of Christ, you do not have the option. I expect that when a friend of mine, who is a Christian, realizes that I’m gay, that he will continued to enjoy my company, he will invite me to dinner as he always has, he will join in my celebrations as he always has.

I expect that Christians, instead of showing me the face of anger, fear and scapegoating, that they show me the face of happiness in the Lord, they show me the same smiling face that Jesus showed the sinners of His day when he sat down and celebrated with them, enjoyed their company, shared meals with them.

I expect that Christians not only repeat the words “all have sinned and fall short of the Lord,” but they believe it, and understand their sins and seek repentance.

     I expect that when I meet a Christian, that I do turn and leave never wanting to get to know God. I expect that when we meet, I should see the joy of the Lord in Christ and consider that heaven might be a place I would want to go.

     I do not expect Christians to ever yell at me, taunt me or harass me. I expect the opposite. I expect that when Christians see me being abused they stand up for me, just as Christ stood up for the adulteress by stopping her execution.

     I expect that Christians become upset at those who would harm me, just as Christ was upset with those that would harm the adulteress.

     These are my expectations.