Readers Respond - Pope - Comment by Chet Dickenson

Subject: Pope's comments about homosexuals

Deborah,

I appreciate your article about the Pope's comments. There is a lot of history there, and not easy history at that.

To clarify things, I am a Christian. One of those born-again ones. The real thing, or rather, the Biblical kind. What do I mean? I mean that I take the Bible at its literal word and seek to follow Jesus Christ with everything I have.

So, what does that mean? It means that I agree with you, to an extent, that the Pope is NOT following Christ Jesus in his stand on homosexuals. Indeed, Jesus loves them, died for them, and rose to give them eternal life. However, just as He does with heterosexuals, He calls everyone to walk away from sinful lifestyles. And He doesn't expect that under human power, but with the power given a new believer when they accept His gift of salvation. Salvation from ourselves, our sinful lifestyles, our self-centered lives, to a life of forgiveness and peace (internal and eternal) and fulfillment.

So, if one is to truly follow Christ Jesus, one loves all people. I don't condemn homosexuals any more than I do adulterers, or other folks in other lifestyles that are alienated from God. That was me, too. But, God does ask all of us to accept His forgiveness and turn our lives over to Him, walking in a new life, turning from self-centeredness to Christ centeredness.

I just wanted to let you know that not everyone who claims to be a Christian buys into what the Pope, or other religious leaders say about how to treat homosexuals, or other people as well. In the Bible it says that true religion is loving all people. And while I am not trying to "convert" you, I do pray that someday, you too will have a power encounter with the awesome, incredibly powerful love of Christ.

God bless you,

Chet Dickenson

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