There’s a beautiful story at the Chattanooga Times Free Press by Joan Garrett about a Southern Baptist minister/father, his dying gay son, and the church that got in their way:
Matt thought about the stories his son had told him in the hospital that weekend — stories of friends turned out of their families and churches, stories about bullying by people who knew their secret, stories of double lives and failed marriages — he couldn’t help but wonder who would choose to be gay.
He read and reread the Bible’s passages on homosexuality. Then he read and reread different interpretations of the Scripture. He wondered if the verses mentioning homosexuality were meant to condemn rape or pedophilia and not love relationships between two men or two women. And holes started to form in his tight theology.
He prayed to God, long prayers full of questions.
Why would you make someone like this? Why would you tell them they have to be alone?
He didn’t want to tell Stephen’s friends that they were in sin. He didn’t want to tell his dying son that his soul was sicker than his body.
So over the months, a new belief took hold. In Matt’s mind, there was no conflict between homosexuality and Christianity, and the hundreds of years of church tradition had been missteps.
It was only a matter of time before the church realized as much, he thought.
…
Stephen looked at his father. The room felt tight with fear and embarrassment. Matt knew his son was waiting to hear his voice, listening for reassurance.
And Matt began to cry in front of his son. Frances held her hands over her mouth and cried, too.
“Son, it’s OK,” Matt said. “We are going to love you the way you are.”
Stephen sobbed. He crawled out of bed and into Matt’s lap and Matt held him like he did when he was just a boy. Stephen put his arms around his father’s neck and kissed him on the cheek.
“Son, don’t worry,” Matt said softly. “Nothing between us is going to change.”
Those things streaming down your face are tears.
The ending of the story is a little disappointing for different reasons… feel free to discuss in the comments.
(via Boing Boing)
