Saved by faith & Jesus the gay icon

Romans 10:1-13

          I may have my suspicions as to who may or may not be going to hell but I know better. There are so many people who feel free to make such judgements, to proclaim it like it's truth. The truth though is that we have no idea and we should never be in the business of condemning anyone. I don't even think the Holy Roman Church can do that. There may have been a time when their moral bank account was full and such judgements may have seemed to mean something but today we realize for all the worst possible reasons, that even that church cannot be counted on to pass judgement on anyone.

           This passage has a great deal to say about our personal faith and how we approach life and life with others. You don't pass judgment on anyone else and you worry about yourself and how hard you are working to be the best you can be, to have the best and closest relationship you can with your creator. Then you can say/ believe that if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 

           It seems that this opens the door to many, many people. The gate isn't after all as narrow as we think it is.  I've written before about our (human) sense of justice, entitlement and forgiveness as opposed to God's. God is all embracing, all loving and all forgiving. Where do we get this from?

          One need only look at the life of Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus our Savior.  Jesus spoke in many parables and rarely said anything exact in words. He never said" Homosexuality is a sin!". ( the word and concept had not been invented yet ).  But Jesus lived an exemplary life and we can see that he embraced all and loved all. He did not forgive in terms that he said, 'you are saved but only if you do this'.  The one time I can recall he did say something remotely like that he told a man to give away everything he owns. How much do literalists obey that now? But by his compassion, love and inclusiveness, he gave very strong messages.

          When I look at the inclusiveness of Jesus, the compassion and when I look at the passage of of the Centurion and his 'dear slave', I come to an astounding revelation. Not only was Jesus ok with people who were gay ( at the very least insofar as they were in loving committed relationships) but Jesus could easily be a gay icon. This is why we I see the Rainbow Crucifix by gay British artist and minister Richard Stott.  

            While many churches seek to establish why people are going to hell in  hand basket, Jesus' own words and life proclaim the exact opposite, not only for gays but for multitudes of marginalized and condemned peoples. It is Jesus' life we are to emulate and embrace and by doing so in our hearts and proclaiming it loudly by our acts of love, we are saved.

Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. I can testify that they have a zeal for God, but it is not enlightened. For, being ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking to establish their own, they have not submitted to God’s righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.

Moses writes concerning the righteousness that comes from the law, that ‘the person who does these things will live by them.’ But the righteousness that comes from faith says, ‘Do not say in your heart, “Who will ascend into heaven?” ’ (that is, to bring Christ down) ‘or “Who will descend into the abyss?” ’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say?
‘The word is near you,
   on your lips and in your heart’
(that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. The scripture says, ‘No one who believes in him will be put to shame.’ For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. For, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’