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When "Jesus" Called Me the N-Word

I’m sorry.

I swear you could hear a pin drop. I guess no one expected me to start a sermon on homosexuality by saying sorry.

I’m so sorry.

I’m so sorry for anyone who has ever felt hated like I did because they are ______ (LGBTQA).

I’m sorry for anyone who’s ever heard a parent say you’re no longer welcome here because you’re ____.

I’m sorry for anyone who’s ever felt unwelcome in the church because they are _______.

I’m sorry for anyone who’s ever felt like “Jesus” hated them.

Jesus doesn’t hate you. He loves you more than you can ever imagine. I don’t know if we’ll ever agree on the the issue of homosexuality, but what I do know is that Jesus loves you. I know that He loves you and I also know that I haven’t done a good job of showing you that, and for that I’m so sorry.

Something like that.

I said something like that, cried, read from the Bible, cried, said sorry a couple more times and talked about how much I hope our community is someday known for loving the gay community.

Wanna hear something crazy?

I made a bigger difference in the gay community through that one sermon than I have in over 10 years of ministry. Why?

Because it was the first time I really cared about gay people, and they could tell.

That night I shook hands, hugged and became friends with several gay people (most of who disagreed with me theologically). I also got emails from others who admitted they’ve always felt hated by Jesus and the church until that night.

“But Sammy, (what some of you are thinking right now), how do you love someone whose actions or behaviors you find really unacceptable?  How can I love someone who I believe is living in sin?”

Great question. Do your thing, Mr. C.S. Lewis: