But You're a Christian

The other night I was out at a local pub...it was one of the local Seattle bars that is gay friendly. I was sipping on my soda and lemon enjoying some lighthearted conversation with a few of my friends who came out to socialize.

We were continuing in our typically friendly banter when one of my friends stopped and point-blank asked me, "So, I've just gotta ask ya...are you ever horny?" placing a heavy emphasis on the word "ever." I was taken aback by his brutal honesty, but that was sort of his style, a quality that I dearly appreciate.

I took a sip of my soda and thought about my reply. He was waiting with baited breath, as were a couple of other people standing around us who were caught in the vacuum of his question, curiously anticipating what my answer would be.

Now, I have to say that part of me wanted to play the stoic, but truth be told, I am not. And what benefit is there to being dishonest? I set my drink down and simply said, "When am I not." He laughed, as did a couple of others around me, much to my relief.

And then came his reply, "But, your a Christian," he said with an elongated emphasis on Christian.

I retorted, "Well, yeah. But I'm also human!"

Frankly, it set me back on my heels a bit to be called a Christian. I've become so used to being labeled NON-christian due to my book, arguing for the acceptance of gay-partnered persons in the church. Unbeknownst to him, my friend actually paid me a huge compliment and favor: letting me acknowledge my discipline of faith, while being very generous in letting me be just as human as everyone else.

I think it is all too often that those representing the Christian Church fail to realize the benefit of honesty. It is one thing to be a proponent of responsible living, it is another thing to not acknowledge our own human realities. Sometimes sharing our humanity with others is a more powerful communication of love and empathy than requiring sacrifices we ourselves hope that God will ignore on our behalf.