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| From Travel |
The last time I was in Northern California (2005 in Stockton) a very muscular young man shared with me that he worked for a beer company handing out free samples at gay bars. He shared that he gets hit on all the time but he just laughs cause he loves those guys and will hand them a beer and tell them about Jesus. He knows that homosexual behavior isn’t Biblical but he is just happy to get to explain the gospel. He doesn’t know how to approach the “gay” subject and felt kind of guilty about it.
::: blink ::: I am sorry but that kind of question, how to help a body building beer slingin’ bar hoppin’ evangelist, just doesn’t come up that often. You know what I’m sayin’?
For about ten seconds I just stood there trying to figure out where to start with this question. There was so much that could be addressed. Eventually I said, “Do you party with them?” He said, “Oh no…they invite me but I don’t. I don’t even do private parties.” I asked, “and they let you share the gospel?” He said with a big I love Jesus smile, “YES! It’s not like I am pushy but when there is an opportunity I do and many times they will listen.” I said, “then don’t worry about the gay thing.” The Gospel is the first and most important priority. After they trust in Him, it’s His responsibility to bring about what when and how to repent from whatever is in their journey. He looked very relieved but I didn’t let him completely off the hook. I talked to him about some of his personal motivations, accountability and being careful to not to be exploited. I said that I used to hang out in gay bars. Not all, but some exploited male dancers and vendors (alcohol samples, dancers and sometimes even bartenders) as bad or worse than what happens to women in strip clubs.
If sexualizing and objectifying women is sexist, sinful and disrespectful … the same is true of that same type of treatment toward men.
It was his turn to blink.
It was a really good conversation and I appreciated his heart to share the gospel with the gay community. On the same hand I was concerned that he was being exploited and not aware of it.
That’s just one example of some very memorable conversations I have had here. I loved my time here in the past and today. The Bay area Christians, from what I have seen, are wonderfully honest. Today’s questions weren’t anything on the level of my first trip here but that straightforward honesty was once again appreciated.
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