Discrimination or Principle?

[Tiara]

At times, it can be hard to be a Christian. You are taught to love, not judge, equality, tolerance, etc. But then you are taught that certain lifestyles are just wrong. So how do you handle this conflict of interests? Are you being discriminatory when you decline to offer your services to someone who leads a different lifestyle? Or are you following your taught principles? Here's the story: C. H. Sinclair was a vet of the Gulf War. He was also member and janitor at a souther mega-church. Sinclair recently passed away due to complications of a preporatory surgery. What else could the church do but to hold his memorial service at the place in which he served for many years. It's what any church would do for one of their own. On the day before (24 hours) the memorial service was to start, the pastor of the church cancelled it. Why? Sinclair was gay. Church officials admitted not knowing Sinclair's lifestyle choice until preparing a memorial video. The video contained several photos of Sinclair and his life partner in well, couple embraces --shows of affection. The partner was also listed in the obituary as one of the survivors of the deceased. The pastor admitted that yes, that is the reason the service was called off. He did not want anyone to think he and the church were endorsing a homosexual lifestyle. However, the church offered to pay for another venue, food and other costs. It had nothing to do with the family, said the pastor, but everything to do with principle. You know, the principle taught based on the Bible. But this is where it becomes hard to understand, if we are supposed to be tolerant; if we are supposed to love unconditionally; if we are supposed to be non-judgemental, why can't we hold a service for a deceased homosexual. Fine, I understand that it goes against the principles of many Christians. You always have the option of not showing up. As the family member said, it's like they were being told 'we're sorry for you loss but, he was gay'. To me my friends, that is discrimination. You couldn't keep activists from picketing in front of the church if the deceased had been black, immigrant, non-mainstream. I personally feel this is horrible. As a Christian, I learned to be accepting. It's not a matter of agreeing with the lifestyle, it is a matter of agreeing that this person is human. I don't have to accept the lifestyle but I do choose to accept the person for what he or she is...a person. Imagine being told that your parent or other loved one couldn't be memorialized in whatever church ---a place of acceptance -- because that person was "blemished". No, you can't have a service for your prostitute sister or drug dealer brother. No, you can't have a service for your immigrant-supporting cousin or non-baptized grandmother. In the end, the family held the service at one the only places that do not care about your life choices - the funeral home. To be Mr. Sinclair in the coffin. I'd think, wow I cleaned your choir loft, vacuumed your vestibule, scrubbed your toilets, and I can't even be layed to rest and remembered here? Hm, I wonder, would they have fired him if they knew he was gay? Probably not, then they'd have to look for another janitor.