Not on Your Life...

ARLINGTON, Texas - A church canceled a memorial service for a Navy veteran 24 hours before it was to start because the deceased was gay. Officials at the High Point Church knew that Cecil Howard Sinclair was gay when they offered to host his service, said his sister, Kathleen Wright. But after his obituary listed his life partner as one of his survivors, she said, it was called off...

As all stories go, there is probably more to this one than meets the eye, but I must admit to feeling a bit sick from reading it. How can this be? How can this be, in any way, excusable for Christians to do?

The rejection of a person created in the image of God, the hurt that certainly was felt by his loved ones and those who shared his life is awful! How horrifying that we should think any statement of principle justifies our inflicting more hurt on those already suffering. There is also the distorted, hurtful image of God it projects before a world so much in need of compassion and mercy.

It also makes me wonder if this is a stand taken for all sinners, as listed in the Bible mind you..., the fornicators, adulterers, liars , drunkards, the cohabitating, the divorced and remarried and all the rest of us imperfect people in need of God's mercy.....or if it is reserved for those who happen to be gay. One thing is for certain, the message it sends to gay people is unmistakable, loud and clear; not even in death are you nor your relationships welcome here!

I have trouble believing Jesus would have put any kind of principle over people. The guy who broke all convention to get close to folk, emptied himself of all perrogative and glory, associated with publicans and sinners, put his reputation at risk by standing up for the oucast...would tell a grieving family sorry can't???

I do not know who the impersonator is that people follow....Jesus??? Not likely.. It just seems if we were all following the Christ described in Scripture, we would act less like the pharisees and more like him! I would hate to see the fate of the woman caught in the act of adultery around this crowd....!!!

I will make sure to pray for Cecil and that his family is remembered in prayer on Sunday. Hopefully no one will have brought stones!