Why Do Some Christians Hate 2SLGBTQIA+ People So Much?

When people see the title of this post, they might push back and say it is not hatred. It is simply a disagreement about a lifestyle.

That may be true about some but for others, by any definition it is hatred. You will find Christians on social media calling for the imprisonment and even execution of 2SLGBTQIA+ people. I think we can say that is hatred.

Of course that is a very small minority, but even some of those who do not call for such extreme measures express more than just disagreement. For example, take a look at the assumption that 2SLGBTQIA+ are groomers, abusers, and pedophiles. Many evangelicals and other conservatives would agree with that.

And yet when the Southern Baptist Convention was revealed to have allowed and covered up abuse, what did we find? Heterosexual pastors were groomers, abusers, and in some cases abusing underage girls. And what was their reaction? Outrage that the organization that did the investigation was supportive of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community!

So why is there so much hate?

I don’t think not it is as simple as reading the Bible, seeing passages that seem to condemn same-sex activity, and logically hating the sin.

Why do I say that? Because in the same sin passages in Paul where they find warnings about same-sex activity, there are other things that are condemned such as greed, envy, jealousy, quarrels, and dissensions (see my post “Acceptable” Sins in the Church). I do not see anything like the hatred of these behaviours that we see to even a married same-sex couple who are committed Christians.

So why the hatred?

For some, I think it is the “yuck factor.” The idea of someone being jealous or envious does not bother us. But some might have a reaction to certain types of sexual activity (ignoring the fact that most of that can also happen in heterosexual relationships).

More likely, some Christians (and people in general) need another group to see as the enemy. This group has changed over time in the church’s history. Sometimes it has been Jews and Muslims. Sometimes it has been Roman Catholics and Protestants. And when you look at those conflicts, rarely was it just a theological disagreement.

Having a group to hate makes some people feel better about themselves. It is a distraction from one’s own failings. If we can see that other group as the problem, then we don’t have to focus on our own issues as much.

I am not saying by this that we cannot have discussions about what the Bible says about same-sex relationships. We should have that conversation.

But I see no biblical support for hating a particular group and working toward making their lives miserable. We are supposed to be known by our love. It’s about time that we start demonstrating that love.

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