Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Progressive Christian
The Right Way to Love God?

The Right Way to Love God?

Last updated on: October 20, 2014 at 9:19 am by Susan Cottrell

The Right Way to Love God? 2014-10-20T09:19:59-05:00 Susan Cottrell

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

_D3_61511383185352

What does a “godly” person look like? Is there a right way to love God? Is there a correct path to follow Jesus?

I recently returned from my fourth “Christian” conference of the year.

January I was in Chicago for the Gay Christian Network Annual Conference, where some 700 people gathered to celebrate, learn, and share community. Rob and I were among 200 parents, the rest were LGBTQ people, mostly in their 20s and 30s, gathered in the name of Christ. The worship, the camaraderie, the joy of the Lord, filled the conference hall. If you had been there, you would have basked in it! No denomination, no distinction, no made to feel second-class. They’re just brothers and sisters in Christ, full of gratitude for Christ in us, the hope of glory.

God is God.

In June I returned to Chicago for a “By Parents, For Parents” conference. Parents of LGBTQ children coming together to learn how to unconditionally love, accept and affirm their children. They disagreed on whether or not it was a sin – on whether or not they needed to “fix” their kids. But in the midst of that disagreement – and some heated discussion – there was an overwhelming sense of God’s grace. These parents were coming together for the sake of their children.

God is Love.

Also in June I was in St. Louis at the EEWC conference – Christian Feminism Today. Some 150 feminists gathered to learn and grow and experience the love of Christ. Mostly women over 40, they push boundaries (and buttons), reminding us that we are neither male nor female in Christ. They point out the Bible’s many feminine images of God, and use gender inclusive language to remind us that God is God of ALL of us, not just men.

As Nadia Bolz-Weber put it, “If God is male, then male is God.” An exclusively male God is not a biblical God. “God created them (humankind) in his image, male and female he created them.” (You see the awkwardness of English, using “he” to mean male and female – said to be “gender inclusive” but the image that comes to mind is undoubtedly male.) Feminists often spell God as Godde, to nudge out that white-bearded old man we envision, to remind us that women have a stake in this too. It is not to be a pain in the neck (or blasphemous as many accuse them), but to remind us all that we women are not merely observers in this astoundingly good news.

God is Godde.

Recently I was in Houston at The Evangelical Network, Conference. It is maybe 150, mostly gay men but plenty of lesbian women, who also count Jesus as their Savior. Voices sang out old-time gospel, charismatic hymns that most had learned as children, growing up in churches that no longer welcome them through their doors. But these people love and belong to God too. These people have a stake in the Gospel too.

God is Good.

God is so much bigger than the image from our own little box, so much more welcoming than our own tradition expects, so much more magnanimous than we could possibly imagine. Seeing God and all these colors is broadening and exhilarating.

The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Here. Now.

Thank God.

homosexuality and the bible

lgbt

Mom I'm Gay

Nadia Bolz-Weber

Previous Post

October 18, 2014

Jesus Blog: Let Your True Colors Come Out

Next Post

October 21, 2014 For Gay & For Straight - A Place At The Table

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Church & Religion Dear Susan Family Support Gay Weddings & Marriage GCN Conference Jesus Blog LGBTQ Support Parenting Personal Stories Suicide The Real Jesus Theology Transgender Uncategorized X Archived Posts

Select a Month August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 January 2025 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 June 2022 December 2021 May 2021 February 2021 November 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 May 2019 March 2019 January 2019 November 2018 March 2018 January 2018 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What was the disciple Luke's profession?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Tentmaker Fisherman Carpenter Physician

Support this
Column