Additionally, he said that they’ve learned “that the people who will cry at your funeral matter, and the critics in your social media feeds do not.”
“We have learned that while we may sometimes fight WITH each other in private,” he continued, “we can still fight FOR each other in public, and most of all, we have learned that loving across difference is messy and difficult, but in this case, it’s worth it.”
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Jonathan concluded by telling the story of how he joined his father to share with other pastors what they’ve learned through their committed father-son relationship. Jonathan said this was the first time the two had appeared onstage together since 2012 when he was “publicly outed” regarding his sexuality.
“If more people were willing to learn the spiritual practice of ‘loving across difference,’ I think our coarse-edged world might become a gentler, kinder, more hospitable place for all of us,” Jonathan said.
People often ask me how in the world I maintain a close relationship with my dad. I’m a progressive gay man, and as many of you know, he is a Southern Baptist preacher who describes himself as “to the right of Ronald Reagan.” 🧵 pic.twitter.com/VZNe4Xd5jr
— Jonathan Merritt (@JonathanMerritt) September 28, 2023
