LifeWay Research – a division of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) - conducted a noteworthy April 2008 survey of Americans and their views on homosexuality. One question asked was “If you were considering visiting or joining a church, would knowing that the church taught that homosexual behavior was sinful impact your decision positively or negatively or have no impact?”
While the responses to this question and others are significant and can be found at LifeWay Research, a question comes to mind.
Are we failing to ask the more pertinent question?
During a children’s sermon – with pastor and children sitting on the pulpit steps- a Caucasian pastor asked a little girl “do you prefer to be called black or African American?” The little girl in the frilly dress looked up in amazement at the pastor and said “I’d like to be called Nakisha, because that’s my name.”
Maybe we too are asking the wrong questions as they relate to churches, their views on homosexuality and prospective attendees/members.
It would be fascinating to see the results of a similar survey where the following question is asked:
During a children’s sermon – with pastor and children sitting on the pulpit steps- a Caucasian pastor asked a little girl “do you prefer to be called black or African American?” The little girl in the frilly dress looked up in amazement at the pastor and said “I’d like to be called Nakisha, because that’s my name.”
Maybe we too are asking the wrong questions as they relate to churches, their views on homosexuality and prospective attendees/members.
It would be fascinating to see the results of a similar survey where the following question is asked:
“If you were considering visiting or joining a church, would knowing that the church taught that homosexual behavior was sinful and the church had a vibrant, redemptive outreach to homosexuals impact your decision positively or negatively or have no impact?” (my added words are in italics)
I believe sheer curiosity would propel people to visit that kind of church! And my curiosity wonders what the survey results would show!
