Wedgewood Church in Charlotte, North Carolina isn’t shy about its progressive beliefs. Its website includes a banner that reads “Wedgewood — A Liberal Church,” the congregation actively opposed North Carolina’s ban on same-sex marriage, and the community lists respecting LGBT people, members of other religions, and atheists as a “core beliefs.” So it wasn’t all that surprising when leaders added the phrase “LGBT Equality” to the church sign earlier this month. But on August 20, parishioners woke to find their church emblazoned with a very different message: Hastily-applied spray paint obscured the sign’s call for inclusivity, and the sanctuary door was marred with large, black letters that read, “Fags are Pedos.”…. Chris Ayers, the church’s pastor, said his heart dropped when he saw the damage…. “As a pastor I thought about all of the stories of rejection I’ve heard [from LGBT people] over the years,” Ayers, who blogs under the name “Liberal Rev,” told ThinkProgress. “That vandalism was a symbol of all of that negative stuff.”
I don’t believe in God, but I remember enough from my Sunday School days to know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is about love, tolerance, acceptance, and inclusion. That teaching doesn’t end with “…as long as we’re talking about Conservative White heterosexuals.” The Jesus I was taught about didn’t exist to confirm petty prejudices, massage tender sensibilities, or condemn those who choose to live, love, thinks or believe differently than the “norm.” He wasn’t about judgment, condemnation, or treating people as “less than.” He never preached against same-sex marriage, nor did he condemn Liberals and demand that His followers hew to a reliably and consistently Conservative I-got-mine-you-can-damned-well-get-your-own ideology. Would that some of His followers could actually dust off their Bibles and actually read the teachings of the Lord and Savior they profess to revere.
I devote a lot of time, energy, and column inches to people who are as much Christians as I am the Queen of Denmark. I detest the self-righteous hypocrisy so many seem to believe is part and parcel of (their bastardized, hated-addled version of) Christianity. When I come across an example of people actually doing it right, I feel compelled to pass it along, if for no other reason to show those who’ve convinced themselves I’m heavily into Christian-bashing (you know who you are) that I’m able to maintain an open mind. Though I don’t believe in Christianity, I don’t hate Christians. I’m good without God, and I believe the Bible is a shoddy collection of poorly transcribed fairy tales…but that’s my opinion. If religion is what gives your life meaning and purpose, then more power to you. If you actually endeavor to live a Christ-like life- love all, serve all- you’re doing what your religion teaches you…and that can’t help but make the world a better place.
In this case, my hat’s off to the good Christians at Wedgewood Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. The congregation at Wedgewood could have gone with the flow and become like so many other congregations in Dixie- steeped in hatred, racism, homophobia, and rejection of what most people would consider Christian values. Instead, they decided to embrace the word “Liberal,” using it to mean their commitment to living lives committed to Progressive (i.e.- Christian) beliefs- things like tolerance, acceptance, and inclusion. They’ve been open about their support for LGBT equality, something that hasn’t been universally popular, as evidenced by the vandalism done to the sanctuary’s door. If you think about it, though- and if you actually READ the Gospel- LGBT is entirely consistent with what Christ taught.
What I love about Wedgewood’s reaction to the attack was that they decided on the equivalent of turning the other cheek. Seeing that the vandalism involved spray paint on the sanctuary door, they decided that living well was the best revenge…and so they painted the door in rainbow colors.
Well played, y’all…well played.
