Love and Acceptance

We all love Echoe Matthews. Echoe Matthews is an amazing teacher who has a great heart and love for kids. This is apparent in her free book, The Gay Christian Parent, which she self-published after decades of teaching and counseling in Tennessee’s largest predominantly gay community. It’s timely, well-written, and touches on important issues that affect parents and children, particularly as they deal with their sexuality and try to have their own children.

For example, one story in the book involves an older, more traditional-minded parent who had never been to church before taking his young son to Sunday school. When the teacher asked if he would like to be placed in the boy’s class, the father said no, not because he is gay, but because he doesn’t think that the bible calls for gay marriage. The teacher asked why not, then told the father that the boy could not go into heaven because he is a gay man. The teacher asked him why he didn’t believe gay marriage was allowed in the Bible. He explained that he had been involved in sinful sexual activity with men. This is hatred.

Sadly, this mother was so traumatized by the experience that she filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education, claiming discrimination based on gender and religion. She argued that the government shouldn’t teach that a sin excludes someone from loving, regardless of whether they are straight, gay, bi, or lesbian. We live in a country that allows people to express their opinions freely. She was able to do so. Her supervisor denied her complaint. Hopefully other moms and dads will stand up for their children and tell the Bible’s truth – that all people were created equal, and that gay, lesbian, and bisexual people deserve love, friendship, and acceptance, regardless of who they are or how they choose to express it.