Regrets only

I'm a bit late here because I don't read fundamentalist Christian websites. I found out today that on April 29th vehemently anti-gay "pastor" Scott Lively wrote us a letter entitled "My RSVP to LGBT." Us as in the gays. All of us. (In case you didn't know, that LGBT stands for Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgendered. So clever.) It's long-winded and chock-full of chapter-and-verse justification, but it basically says we should repent. There's a hint of the usual "love the sinner, hate the sin" thing that we always get and a bit of "I've sinned too" as well.

It kills me to link, but should you be interested enough to take a look you'll find it here.

As a good-mannered gay I've looked around to see if anyone responded, and I don't find that anyone has. So I will.

Mr. Lively,

Thank you for your recent note inviting us to repent. You obviously spent a great deal of time composing it, and I know that you have little to spare with all your work convincing East African governments that loving someone of the same sex should be a capital offense.

I can't speak for all of the gays as I haven't personally talked to everyone, but among those I have chatted with the general consensus is either that the bible is open to interpretation, or is not actually the word of god. Another salient point raised by more than one of us is that our eternal salvation is our business and definitely not yours.

That last point leads me to a question which I've always wanted to ask: If we're not going to change our ways (and clearly we're not), and you believe (which you clearly do) that we're going to spend eternity in a firey hell of unimagineable agony, wouldn't a Christian response be to support our safety and security in this lifetime? You don't have to love us. Indeed I sleep just fine knowing you believe my 13+ year relationship both displeases god and will bring about the eventual fall of civilization. Couldn't you just stand aside, perhaps read one of those Left Behind books, and just let us live our lives with the rights and dignity you enjoy? Couldn't we all just live the way that feels right for ourselves? And when the afterlife finally arrives we can play whatever hand we're dealt. Wouldn't that be fair?

Sincerely,

David (for a bunch of the gays)

10 comments:

christopher said...

Right on David!!!! If the rev really has a problem with it he should talk to the friends and relatives of the gays!!!! I promise I won't be as nice or civil with my response towards his judgemental attitude. Chris(the friend and family member of the gays!!)

Raina Cox said...

I always wonder about the Fundies who take such an interest in all things LGBT.

In my experience, the one who screams "Fag!" the loudest usually is one.

MFAMB said...

it just makes me very very sad david. i am sorry. of course other days it makes me wanna kill someone.

David said...

Jenny do NOT be sad. I honestly believe that Scott Lively and his followers represent a kind of religion that is currently going through its death throes, thus the hew and cry and demonization.

The glacial pace of people's evolution is just frustrating some days, thus this post.

Russ Manley said...

Amen, bro.

home before dark said...

Having grown up in a small southern Oklahoma town, I say RC is right on target. For you it is being gay. For me, it is being an atheist. We are the evil doers. As I said to my mother when she cried that I would not be in heaven with my family, "My idea of hell is spending the rest of my life with the people who believe this stuff." Love is love. Love is rare. Love is good.

David said...

HBD, I was just wondering the other day how you were, and here you are with a comment that left me smiling. Love IS good.

Karena said...

David I am sorry to have been away....All love is good and makes the world a much better place.

xoxo
Karena
Art by Karena

Mrs. Blandings said...

I'm with Raina - I don't think it's you he's trying to "save."

amber said...

Amen David! I couldn't agree with you more.

-Amber, an episcopal Texan family member and friend of the gays