His call to the Moderate Christians got me thinking about many things. First, I thought about Ritsch's rallying cry from the perspective of the pastor of a Metropolitan Community Church. I think that's a natural place to start, and further, I think it's a natural place for all of you members and friends of MCC churches to start. We as a community of LGBTQ people (the Q includes our allies) regularly find ourselves raising or joining this cry against homophobia/heterosexism and transphobia. We hold vigils and memorials and wear purple and raise rainbow flags and create sites to promise kids (and probably lots of adults) that it gets better.

The thing is, we often start and stop at this same point of rallying as LGBTQ community. Ritsch's article, along with this week's Gospel lesson, has me convinced that that isn't enough. We, in addition to being a queer community, are a Christian community, and more than that, we are in many ways part of that Moderate Christian/Silent Majority that Ritsch wants to rally.

In this parable from Luke, we have the Pharisee: legalistic and loud. We have the tax collector: humble and quiet. I'm not saying that we are nothing like the Pharisee, never legalistic or loud. But I am saying that we often stand apart and speak our Christian truths quietly, to one another, or not at all.

This really is a call for all of us to "Come Out Christian." I see now that we missed an opportunity in the last couple of weeks to bring the Christian community together. We could have gathered as Christians in defiance of the distorted Gospel message that God chooses God's beloved ones according to a list of rules, commandments, and codes hand-picked by a group of people that somehow have positioned themselves as speaking for all Christians. We could have, and I think should have, organized a rally in which we raised the Christian flag and proclaimed that even if we can't all agree on what exactly the Gospel message IS, we can all agree to what it IS NOT.

Now, don't start worrying that I think the Gospel is up for interpretation or subordinate to relativism or anything like that. I just mean that if you ask several Christians to state the lifesaving message of the Gospel, many of them will offer slightly different statements or emphasize different pieces. Here's a sampling:

Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and was buried, and was raised on the third day. I Corinthians 15:3-4 

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to God except through me." John 14:6, 7

He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. Acts 53:5, 6

If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9-10

Not everyone who says to me, "Lord, Lord," will enter the heaven, but only the one who does the will of God who is in heaven. Matthew 7:21-23 

For God so loved the world that God gave God's only Child, so that whoever believes may not die but have eternal life. John 3:16

I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes God who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; this one has crossed over from death to life. John 5:24

We certainly can all agree, though, that the Gospel is not "Condemn others so that they may lose hope, doubt God's love for them, and take their own lives." Likewise, the Gospel is not "God so loved a certain group of people that God sent Jesus Christ so that those people will have eternal life."

We are called to proclaim the Gospel. Our orientation does not disqualify us. Our gender identity does not disqualify us. Our church affiliation does not disqualify us. Let's raise our voices so God does not find it necessary to resort to the stones' crying out.

Come out. Write letters as Christians. Engage your friends, coworkers, and families in conversations about the tragedy of a certain segment of Christ's Church preaching a message that is antithetical to the Gospel. Remember, "Love can endure all things save silence." Share the Love. Share the Good News. Share the Gospel.

See you Sunday,