Taboo – Different Doesn’t Deter Love is the first in our series for pride month. This series is based on a portion of the book Taboo written by Pastor Mike Novotny. Gay and God is the title for this section of the book.
What month is it?
It’s not just June anymore. This is Pride Month.
Hey, Pastor . . . When I was 14, I came out as a lesbian. Today I have an amazing marriage and want to start a family. I want my children to grow up in the church and hear God’s Word. I would like to know if my wife and I and my future children are welcome at your church.
This was an email that the author received from a woman who was interested in his church. What would you tell her? Personally, I would love to get this message from any family. It’s an opportunity to share the gospel!
Love Your Neighbor
Before we get too far ahead of ourselves, it’s important to simply love our neighbor. Folks who identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community are absolutely our neighbors! Jesus was approached by an expert in God’s Law about what he had to do to get eternal life. Jesus asked the man what God’s word said and he correctly summarized it – 1) Love God and 2) Love my neighbor. Jesus says, do this and you will live. We’ll that’s easy enough!
Houston We Have a Problem
The expert in the Law wasn’t satisfied. Why? Because he new he couldn’t do it. It was too hard. So he tried to qualify God’s love by asking who is my neighbor. And to answer THAT question Jesus tells the story of the Good Samaritan. We know it well. A man was the victim of robbers and was left for dead on the side of the road. A Priest and a Levite walked past on the other side of the road. I don’t want to get involved. But a Samaritan (remember Jews don’t associate with Samaritans) came by and loved the hurt man. He cared for his wounds. Jesus asks the question (this is where the blog ends) Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?
Want to hear more? Watch this week’s lesson, Taboo – Different Doesn’t Deter Love.
Please click HERE for the Bible class slides.