The Way Towards Equality and the Way of the Cross

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people could very well be perceived as the martyrs of the modern era of Christianity.  Many LGBT individuals, couples and families are considered the "untouchables" in the Church and society.  LGBT people in many places are those that children are told to stay away from.  LGBT politicians, Priests, Bishops and activists are people who are counter cultural in a Church and society that has placed heterosexism above even charity and mutual common courtesy. An understanding of marriage to include LGBT families is a way of destroying the meaning of marriage and family according to the National Organization for Marriage and Focus on the Family.  A newly ordained openly gay bishop is said to be a source of "disunity and deep pain" within the Anglican Communion.  The ordination of Bishop Mary Glasspool in Los Angeles is the reason why Episcopalians are being removed from membership in the ecumenical dialogues within the Anglican Communion. Exactly what is the difference between what the martyrs of the Church experienced and what LGBT people are experiencing due to the actions and attitudes of religious right Christians?

Today in the Episcopal Church we commemorate St. Alban the first Christian Martyr in Britain in 304.  Alban was originally a Pagan who was converted to Christianity by a Priest who was fleeing arrest.  Later Alban was arrested and beheaded, as was his executioner and the Priest who had converted Alban.  The early Christians were persecuted because they challenged the culture of the day.  They called people to a new understanding of God, themselves and others around them.  Is the Church of today calling people to new understandings of God, themselves and others around them?  Is the Church welcoming of those who will challenge the Church to a new understanding of people who are different from others in society? 

The Gospel reading for the Commemoration of St. Alban is Matthew 10: 34-42.

Jesus said, "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.

For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and one's foes will be members of one's own household.

Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.

"Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet's reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple-- truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward."

How many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people have left their families, homes, countries, churches, work places and entire communities because we had to face the reality of who we are and how we love other people because we would never find acceptance there?  How many LGBT people even now are not able to talk to their parents, children, friends, classmates because if they do, they will be literally hit over the head with all of the clobber passages that are inappropriately used to condemn LGBT people?  How many of us are looking for peace through equal rights and justice for folks who are victims of hate crimes, but really not able to find any amount of solace?

Jesus Christ never promised anyone that we would be without conflict for following him.  Jesus did not and does not now promise us totally trouble free lives because we give of our lives and worship to God.  What God in Jesus does promise is that there is no difficulty or Cross that we will face, where God is not there with us and experiencing it with us, loving us through every victory, failure, laughter or tear.  When we fall in love, God celebrates that love with us as LGBT individuals.  When we receive and embrace children to raise them, God rejoices with us.  When relationships break up and our hearts are broken, God weeps with us and holds on to us to help us heal, even when we find it hard to forgive and let go.  When children are taken away from lesbian and gay families, because of the cruelty of an unjust legal system that is driven by political maneuvering, God gets angry and cries with the families and children.  When we receive the stranger fleeing Uganda so that they will not be put in prison or hung for being gay, God is happy that we welcomed Jesus.   When LGBT people are threatened by a bill that could put them in prison or execute them by hanging, God's heart shakes when countries do not pay attention or pretend like it is just another countries business.  We can shake our fist at God saying: "Okay God, why are you not doing anything about all this?"  However, God has placed us here and now to be agents of change.   God has placed all of us here to make a place for the outcasts of society and the Church.  How are we responding to what God has called us to?

The way of equality is the way of the Cross.  At the Cross we give up all that comfortable stuff.  On the Cross Jesus did not have the use of his hands or feet.  Yet, his arms were open to embrace all of humankind.  Jesus gave up all common human respect so that he could bring salvation to all who were lost, so that in God they could find their home.  How are LGBT people embracing each other as well as those who are not our best friends?  Sometimes the best way to embrace and help someone, is to completely let them go and let God take care of them.  Sometimes as LGBT people that is exactly what we have to do with our families, friends, churches and all of the things that we built our lives around.  When we stifle the Holy Spirit and keep her away from helping us know who we truly are, she cannot help us except to wait like a patient mother.  But when we are ready to surrender who we are to the Cross and be our true selves, to love the way God made us, the Holy Spirit throws open her arms of love and guides us with the crucified Jesus to a new resurrected live in him.  But before she can do that, we have to be willing to let the Holy Spirit work with us as we are, not as the religious right and other anti-gay voices have told us to do.

O Lord, make us have perpetual love and reverence for your holy Name, for you never fail to help and govern those whom you have set upon the sure foundation of your loving-kindness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Proper 7, Book of Common Prayer, Page 230).

Almighty God, by whose grace and power your holy martyr Alban triumphed over suffering and was faithful even unto death: Grant to us, who now remember him with thanksgiving, to be so faithful in our witness to you in this world, that we may receive with him the crown of life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Collect for St. Alban).

 Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of your faithful people is governed and sanctified: Receive our supplications and prayers which we offer before you for all members of your holy Church, that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve you; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. (Prayer for Mission, Book of Common Prayer, Page 100).