One of the biggest areas of acceptance that was and still is so needed in the community, is the fact that we are accepted by the church and as you say without an agenda. Before I was born again, my ex’s close friend who is a Pente Christian hung out with us, it blew me away at the time, she’s a Christian and she cares? she wants to even get to know us on a social level and be friends? THAT spoke volumes to me.

Then when I was (still am 😉 )a full on Christian myself, I went out on the scene with my friends and caught up with girls I hadnt seen in a few yrs or so and they asked how I was etc.. I told them I was a Christian as part of what was going on and it didnt go down well to say the least and they started yelling ” hallelujah praise the Lord” around me lifting their hands 😆 BUT one of them came to me later and said “well I guess this blows my chance of ever having sex with you and us being friends? (interesting order 😆 ) so I said to her ” Just because Im a Christian doesnt mean we cant be friends, I dont have to have sex with you to like you I like and accept you now” she looked like she was about to cry, she was stunned that I could like her because Im a Christian and still want to hang with her I found out later.

So in telling this little story(I have so many 😆 ), my suggestion would be, to just be yourself and “hang” and if its found out youre a Christian, the questions will come(sometimes even a telling off too and being called a hypocrite) but also with some, a resolution that maybe God does love and accept us and the church also via this.

Christian = judgement and rejection to many and to some hypocrisy because “you are on the opposing side and gay so you must be like that too 😯 “………..We just have to be ourselves and let our actions and personality speak volumes.

Just my thoughts 8)

People often came to check out my former church because they could see you were GENUINE and cared about their needs.

How needed is that in EVERY church 🙁 ………the church i recently attended and cant wait to get access to again is like that 😀 , the church I attended previously was all about “numbers” for the kingdom and “building” the church and not much about the people and for sure the view was taught that every person is to be viewed as a potential convert and if they couldnt be the friendship ended or even you as a Christian if you were seen as not fitting a certain criteria then you were ignored or never contacted again or if you happened to attend a different church God forbid 🙄 Personally, I love people, not perfect at it but see people as the ants pants 😉 😳 😆

Indeed Kay, love has no other agenda but to love.

Hear hear on the “love without agenda” comments! So many churches (particularly evangelical & pentecostal/charismatic) have the “save the lost” conversion mentality which I don’t think is where it’s at. i.e. if you aren’t in line with what that church is teaching you’ve gone off the rails… It makes me uncomfortable somehow.

So yes – just being there and being interested in people and how they tick and what drives them (without judging) is where it’s at I feel.

It’s also hard identifying as a gay Christian because a lot of the baggage of the “Christian” label – most people are turned off by the thought – and understandably so! Interesting topic – I like hearing stories of people who have identified as Christian and how their other friends take this and how some of the misconceptions may get shattered… 8)