There was a time many years ago when I was younger and thought I was a heteronormative male, that I felt that gay and trans people were leading sinful lifestyles. I didn’t think they were going to hell. After all we all sin in our own ways. But I sincerely hoped that they would see the light and become “normal“. I thought they would be so much happier.
What I did not realize at the time was how thoroughly I had been indoctrinated into the narrow minded intolerant legalism of my rather mundane main stream denomination. On the surface they seemed to profess love and joy, but underneath there were storm clouds indicating that something was amiss. I thought that I was happy and that the Church had given purpose to my life. In some ways it had, but in other ways it gave me a very narrow worldview that did not allow me to appreciate the diversity of all God’s creation.
When I accepted my transgender identity and began my evolution to becoming the woman I always had been, my traditional Christian friends abandoned me. I expected this. What was somewhat surprising was how completely my perspective on traditional Church doctrine changed. I thought I had always associated with a loving group of people who wanted only the best for everyone else. I began to realize that that was not true at all. Their attitude towards groups who were different was: God loves them, but they need to change to be just like us. I am now appalled by how hateful and intolerant this attitude is.
Now that I have found a new community, which is my true home, among other LGBTQ people, I have found a group who are some of the most sensitive, caring, loving and generous people I have ever met. It is we who truly embody Christ’s command to love one another. I look back in horror at how long I was so self-deluded. Would that well-meaning Christians could have an awakening and see the error of their ways. Ignoring the most hateful and intolerant, I think most are well-meaning and good intentioned. What is required is a dramatic paradigm shift so that they will become more enlightened. The question is how to accomplish this. It is hard when you do not think you are doing anything wrong or fail to understand that your values are at least partially defective. I now better understand the old adage. The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
