Sadly almost a hundred years after some of these artists were struggling to live authentic lives we are still in the same struggle. There are still those screaming from the street corners and the rooftops that LGBT people are less than, screaming that LGBT people do not belong, screaming that LGBT people should not be given the chance to live their lives. I was recently told that I should not go around talking about the Evangelical Christian right that seems to have a need to rid the world of homosexuality (as if such a thing is possible). I was told that even if I disagree that I have to allow them to have their beliefs. Well of course, I live in the United States and here you are allowed to believe pretty much whatever you want as long as it is not cause harm to yourself or others and there are a great many court cases talking about exactly how harm is defined. To that I say harm is being done and so I am going to speak out against that which I believe the false teaching shrouded as Biblical teachings. As someone seeking to be a pastor it is my duty to speak against this claim that LGBT people are somehow inferior because of their sexual orientation. I am going to stand up and scream from the rooftops and street corners just as loud that LGBT people are fully equal and fully loved by God as they are created. As long as there is voice seeking to keep LGBT people in a box, to keep them a second class people I will continue to speak out.

This whole issues boils down to the arrogant notion of exclusive moral understanding. It is a notion that says I do not care what your morals say about homosexuality because my morals say it is evil or unnatural. This arrogance can be seen beyond Christianity, though Christianity in the Western world seems the loudest voice. It is universal among those who wish to maintain a certain status quo on sexuality. This voice says regardless of what you believe you are wrong and my understanding of sexuality is the only correct one so conform to heterosexual culture. It says whether you ascribe to my views or not you will live by them because it is the way I believe the world should be.

What is hardest about this for me is it is so exclusionary. It leaves no room for dialogue and discussion . It allows no room for those who disagree to live out lives alongside those who disagree and forces them to the margins and into the shadows.

How many more generations of people are we going to force to live in the shadows of society? How many more generations are we going to sit on the sidelines watching a group of people being marginalized and viewed as less than? I believe we are at a unique point in history in which we can learn to live with and among those we disagree with. I believe conflict is part of human nature but I do not believe we have to live in conflict eternally. In my own beliefs it comes back to the scriptures. In John 20 when Jesus first appears to the disciples after the resurrection he speaks these words “peace be with you”. Jesus is inviting us to live in peace, leaving behind those mistakes of the past and moving forward to a new future. Come live in the peace and with all of God's beloved creation.

In the Book of Hebrews 13:2 it states “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.” Now if we look at this law it is about reaching out to those who are legally strangers among us. It reaches to the core of who we are as Christians and United Methodist. We understand the calling of Christian living to be reaching out to the last, the least, the lost, and the lonely. We reach out to those on the margins and these strangers, who really are not that much of strangers.

It is our job to be love in the world, to show the light of Christ. It means we care for all of creation and lets be clear creation extends far beyond Christianity. Anytime we see people who struggle we should be there to offer a hand. When we see the person longing to be legal in the place they have lived most of their life we should support them. When Islamaphobia rears its ugly head as it has in the past decade we should be there speaking against it. When a family struggle to feed themselves and make ends meet we should be there. That is the way Jesus lived reaching out to the last, the least, the lost, and the lonely. So Mr. Phillips, I am proud of the UMC because we stand up not just for ourselves and protect our own interest but are interested in the well being of all the world.

No, I do not believe they believe that Christmas is really in danger because as long as there are professing Christians I believe there will be Christmas. I think what they fear is America being a diverse nation of many faiths and beliefs. They fear that some how moving from Merry Christmas to Happy Holidays will take away something from them. The reality is that it only taking away from the perceived power of the Christian majority. It is about a sense of self importance. Something inside them that says what I do and believe is more important than what others do and believe and if you don't believe like me then tough luck cause you are going to have to.

I believe there is also a group that fears the secularization of Christmas. Sadly I do not think there is a way to stop this. Now for me Christmas is an important religious holiday and I believe that it should remain a holy day set apart for special worship among Christians. After all it is the day we celebrate the birth of the Christian savior so it is important and I get why there would be a push to save it from commercialization. What I do not understand is the tactics used to do this. The focus is on retail businesses which say “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas”. So what the war on Christmas is trying to do is force stores to celebrate Christmas. Now this sounds like a further secularization of the holiday by reenforcing the idea that Christmas is not in church but at the stores and in the malls.

Regardless of the motivation I am insulted for people of others faiths and no faith. I am appalled that people calling themselves Christian would feel that Christmas should be a war and that it should be forced on others. I ashamed to be connected with those that feel the holidays of Christians is more important than that of other faiths. It is disrespectful plain and simple. If you wish to celebrate Christmas and keep it a holy I say go to church on Christmas Eve/Day. I say decorate your house in religious Christmas symbology. I say give Christmas presents and light the advent wreath at your house (I know we do at my house). As for the public lets leave it at Happy Holidays and respect those that are of others faiths and beliefs.