“Crushed, overwhelmed, devastated, torn – these waves of feelings wash over those who suffer, obliterating hope and threatening to destroy them.  Suffering has many forms – physical abuse, debilitating disease, social ostracism, persecution.  The pain and anguish tempt a person to turn back, to surrender, to give in.” – Life Application Study Bible, Preface to the first Book of Peter

Crushed for Christ?

The book said it.  In the preface to the bible book of Peter, a letter that I am somewhat familiar with, they said something along the line that people would be oppressed, tempted to turn back, to leave the truth and to practice what they no longer believe.  Instead, we’re told that Peter persuaded the early church Christians to stand for the truth.

Basically the pre-chapter review of 1 Peter also says what we already know applies to Gay, Lesbian, Trans and Bi – oppression tries to force us back in the closet, to pretend it never happened and go on happily – more like miserably – living non-Gay, non-Lesbian, non-Trans or non-Bi. 

The proverbial “They” are never quite happy unless “we” live a lie.  The lie makes “them” happy because we’re conforming to their sense of what is right for them, not the truth of what is right for you and I.  By association, “they” mean that what is great for them should be good enough for us.  But that’s like a mortician saying that everyone should be a mortician!  Isn’t it?  I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to see dead people.  I don’t want to be straight either…

So what is Peter’s response to those first Christians who were tempted to deny their faith, or worse, become closet Christians?  Starting at 1 Peter 2:15, let me paraphrase for you, my dear LGBT Christian:

‘It is God’s will that your good lives should silence those who make foolish accusations against you.  You are not slaves (of the closet); you are free.  But your freedom is not an excuse to run back to the closet when it is convenient.  You are free to live as God’s closet dwellers – out dwellers of heaven, on earth, and therefore subject to God’s truth.  Let God’s truth enslave you, while you show respect for everyone else – whatever they believe is right for them.  Love your Christian family (even the ones who oppress you).  Fear God.  Show respect for those in authority over you; and ultimate authority belongs to the One who set you free.’

Like Peter, we follow Christ.  And we follow what we know to be truth about ourselves.  I cannot be something I am not; I follow Christ, and I am lesbian. For you, I trust you will grow to know Christ as you remain true to yourself.  And stand firm in your faith, as Peter did, with unshakable confidence in your risen Lord.

Invitation to pray: Living Word, those whom you have made free are free indeed.  I am free to be your out child in a foreign land.  Heaven is my future home, and the land of my present citizenship.  Challenge me to remember well, always and at all times, who I belong to – the God of heaven and earth – my heavenly Parent.  Abba, thank you for your precious promises.  Amen.