When Scripture Becomes a Weapon

Galatians 3:28 There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.

Summary: This Pride Month, I reflect on the harm done when scripture is used to wound LGBTQIA+ people and why I believe the gospel calls us toward humility, truthfulness, and love.

Dear People of God,

June is Pride Month. I want to say something clearly. I am especially adamant about supporting our LGBTQIA+ siblings because I have seen the damage done when people use the Bible to beat up homosexuality.

I want to be fair. Most Christians who reject LGBTQIA+ people are not trying to be cruel. Many are honest people trying to live biblically. They believe scripture demands a certain response, and so they act accordingly. I understand that impulse. I am a person who takes scripture seriously too.

But sincere faith does not protect us from bad interpretation.

Throughout history, Christians have used scripture to defend slavery, silence women, justify antisemitism, and support segregation. We know now that faithful people can read the Bible wrongly. That is why interpretation matters so much.

When it comes to homosexuality, a very small number of biblical passages have carried enormous weight. Yet scripture was written in cultures with very different understandings of sexuality, relationships, family structures, and gender roles than our own. We must be careful not to flatten ancient texts into modern debates without asking deeper historical and theological questions.

I believe Christians should approach these passages with humility, scholarship, compassion, and honesty.

More importantly, I believe we must pay attention to fruit. What has happened when LGBTQIA+ people have been told they are disordered, rejected, or unwelcome by God? Too many have carried shame, loneliness, family rejection, spiritual trauma, and despair.

That matters to me deeply.

Jesus said we would know a tree by its fruit. The gospel should sound like good news.

This Pride Month, I want every LGBTQIA+ person to hear this clearly. You are loved by God. You bear the image of God. You are not outside the reach of grace, dignity, belonging, or blessing.

And I believe the Church is called to do better.

This month, I am praying that we become people who handle the Bible with wisdom, historical honesty, and Christlike compassion.

May we be Christlike in how we deal with others,

Pastor Anny+

Prayer God of truth and mercy, teach us to read scripture with humility and love. Heal those wounded by religion and help us build communities where every person knows they belong. Amen.