I need to be preparing for my MORTIFIED pitch in the morning, finishing the episode two script for PROJECT: PHOENIX and sending an investor package out for LIZARD PEOPLE, but I feel momentarily compelled to stop everything and write this.
If you'd told me that Chick-Fil-A would be the straw that would break the camel's back for many of my relationships, I never would have believed you.
I don't care if you're an atheist. I don't care if you're a devout Southern Baptist. And if you scream "Freedom of Speech" one more time, I'll drive to your house and punch you. Yes, you can say whatever you want to say, but that DOES NOT MEAN I HAVE TO LISTEN TO IT.
These past few weeks have been about people using their own personal interpretation of the Bible to justify their political stances. (And at some point, there was such a thing as separation of church and state.) We get it. You don't like President Obama. We get you don't like that he came out in support of gay marriage. We all get it.
I have watched my feed fill up from friends from high school and extended family members about their support of Chick-Fil-A.
To each, his own. But if in 2012 you still think homosexuality is a "choice," YOU'RE A MORON. Seriously, I want you to get up right now, walk to the mirror and say, "hi, my name is (insert name) and I'm a MORON."
If you believe that homosexuality is a choice and you are following me on Twitter or friends with me on Facebook, I need you to go and and unfollow me or defriend me. Or never post another word about your stupid ideals involving homosexuality. IT IS NOT A CHOICE. No one CHOOSES to be gay.
If they did, have you ever noticed it's all mostly very attractive men and women who are very good with power tools? Have you ever noticed that a lot of them love musical theatre and if female, a lot of them love really short hair? ALL OVER THE WORLD. Since like the dawn of time? Like, you would think it would be a fad if it were a choice, like Crocs. And have you ever noticed gay people don't wear Crocs? Because gay people have style.
It's not like at 2 years old, a child up and throws a purse over his shoulder and decided to play dress up in mommy's shoes because he thinks, "hey... this works for me. I mean, I don't know what I'm going to be when I grow up, where I'm going to live, or what political party I will choice, but here and now at 24 months old, I have decided that I will here and forever remain A HOMOSEXUAL, cue the dance music."
HOMOSEXUALITY IS NOT A CHOICE, NO MORE THAN BEING TALL IS A CHOICE. SO GET OVER IT. You can have your belief. Your belief is wrong and you're a MORON.
IF I see you post a single thing about Chick-Fil-A or homosexuality being a choice, I will defriend you myself.
This has gone from "what I believe" to WAKE UP PEOPLE!
WHY ARE YOU TRYING TO DENY RIGHTS JUST BECAUSE THEY LOVE SOMEONE WHO IS THE SAME SEX? Don't give me the Bible rhetoric, otherwise we should be stoning most of you for not being virgins or killing most of you for what you are wearing and don't get me started on SHRIMP!
YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO PICK AND CHOOSE WHAT PARTS OF THE BIBLE WORK FOR YOU!
I'm willing to bet most of my "Christian" friends haven't even been to church in the past month or two.
I'm very proud of the fact I've traveled all over the world, met thousands of people, experienced different cultures and cities. Had my heartbroken two hundred ways to Sunday. Experienced cancer. Been held at gunpoint. I've lived. And I have many friends who have lived too and based on their life experiences, they choose to believe there is not a God.
Sure, it's not great when I read their status updates about how if you believe in God it's like believing in the tooth fairy. I've had too many experiences to not believe that once we die, that's it. I just refuse to believe that. I don't think heaven is on a puffy cloud with gates. But I believe we all ascend to something else.
What I love about my church (Hollywood United Methodist Church) is that we believe it's okay to ask questions. It's okay to not believe everything.
But MOST IMPORTANTLY - I love that I can connect with a group of people who are trying to help my community and the world. Even if you don't believe in God, you're welcome to come play with us.
We send teams to Haiti, Mississippi, far away lands and help rebuild clinics and hospitals and homes. This fall we are sending a team to Northern Alabama (that's irony for you) to rebuild homes there. Because that's what Jesus would do. We're not there trying to save their souls. We're there trying to give them a place to live.
The red ribbons on our tower have been a beacon of hope to people suffering from HIV/ AIDS and the people who love those suffering from HIV/ AIDS. We have provided counciling and support. During AIDS Walk every year, we fall in the top 10 fundraising teams out of hundreds.
We have "throwdowns" to raise money for Chile, Japan, Kansas. We raise money to build wells in Africa.
We collect toys for the homeless women and children of Hope Gardens. We collect backpacks for underserved children in LA County.
We prepare meals for PATH (People Assisting the Homeless) and a local AIDS clinic 5p21.
We build homes for Habitat for Humanity.
We hand out water every year at the corner of Hollywood and Highland during the LA Marathon.
We march in the Pride Parade every year (even winning the community service award) as a show of support to our community that not only do we support you, but you are welcome to join us. Or as Jesus would say, "come, follow me."
We support Community Supported Agriculture and offer our gym as a location for the community to support local growers.
We support Marriage Equality for ALL. Very publicly from the wall outside our church with banners. (Which were vandalized, cutting the word "EQUALITY" out of the banner... yet, not changing our message...)
Our church held one of the largest NOH8 photo shoots in the history of the organization. And we proclaimed "HATE IS NOT A CHRISTIAN VALUE." And just recently, our congregation drew up legislation that will make a huge difference in our denomination.
Every Tuesday, we feed and clothe nearly TWO HUNDRED HOMELESS PEOPLE from the gates of our church in our community. EVERY SINGLE TUESDAY. You don't have to believe in God to donate clothes. You don't have to believe in Jesus to hand out a bag of food. Again, that's what Jesus would do.
My church is GROWING. In the past four years, we have nearly doubled in attendance. Because people see what we're doing and they want to be a part of something GOOD. They want their children to be raised in a church where the star of the number one television show in the world, sits next to a homeless man, who sits next to a college student, who sits next to girl who just moved to Los Angeles and hopes she can survive a year alone in the big bad city.
It's not a "gay" church. It's a church. It's a place where families, homeless people, single people, and yes, movie stars can feel safe to be involved in their community because THAT'S what Jesus would do.
You can look at the Bible as a series of life lessons. "Forgive." "Help others." "Don't steal." "Love one another." The same kinds of stories we gather from THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF BEVERLY HILLS, we get at my church. The difference? We're a family that supports one another. Loves one another. Visits each other in the hospital. Takes up donations when you're sick. Attends your play. Gives you legal advice. Tells you where to get a car. Prays for your family. Supports you when your family kicks you out.
Because THAT'S what Jesus would do.
We're growing. Are you?
So I ask you, "Christian" friends. What has your church done? If Jesus were to walk into your church tomorrow, would he be proud of you? Do you think Jesus would bring a bag of Chick-Fil-A sandwiches and waffle fries? "Eat this in Remembrance of Me?" I'm going to go with, "NO. NO, HE WOULD NOT."
Jesus never said ONE SINGLE WORD about gay people.
Christianity is the act of being "Christ-like."
Ergo, I am a "Christian." And in many ways, most of my atheists friends are more "Christian" than most of you will ever be.
Do you think Jesus would hang out with you? And remember, MY Jesus hung out with prostitutes and in a pinch could turn water into wine.
So I'm guessing he's not going to want to have anything to do with you.
Would Jesus defriend YOU?
Don't attempt to engage me in a debate about this. After all, this is my freedom of speech and common sense and decency. I will defriend you, unfollow you, and disown you. With the love of Jesus.
