When thinking of the LBGT community from a Christian or Nazarene point of view, positive aspects of the topic are not usually the first ones to pop up, if at all. It is especially difficult when attending a university that forbids even the simple formation of a support group. Of course there are always different sides to every story and at PLNU one side speaks louder than the other.
In 2010, alumni Sean Lewis, who was a senior at the time, tried for months to start an LGBT club, BridgePointLoma; however, the offices of Student Development said they would not allow any clubs to be formed that focused on sexual orientation. I understand the reasoning behind this decision, I do; however, I do not believe in denying the LGBT community the opportunity to create a support group for themselves in an environment in which most people’s core belief are based on Leviticus 18:22 that “you shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.” And yet John 7:24 says: “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.” But where do we draw the line? No matter what the group, humans need love and connectedness. Why shouldn’t a suffering population on this campus be allowed to have a place to share similar stories and feelings? What does that say about us as members of the PLNU community?
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 says: “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” It is not up to us to judge others on what they have or have not done with their lives. It is our job to help them, guide them, love them, be there for them, allow them to touch our lives like no one else can or simply listen.
As Nazarenes and Christians it is our job to lead by example, to speak to others through our actions, and despite what the Bible says about homosexuality being a sin, they are still people, people who need Jesus’ love and support to get them through any difficult times they may be going through. Whether people say they are born a certain way or not, it is important for them to know there is a safe place where they can talk about what they are going through and where they can be themselves
It can be especially difficult when many of them are as hungry for God as anyone else. There is no need to bring up how wrong something is when they so obviously understand their predicament. BridgePointLoma summed it up nicely in a sentence from their mission statement: “We are aware that LGBT students are a suffering population on the campus of Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU), and we have realized that the common exclusiveness of the Christian community can overlook the spiritual and interpersonal needs of LGBT community.” Why the school denied these students a chance to have an official support group is beyond me.
Grace Gaines