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\nSpeaker: Vince Klassen
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\nI went to a grad from someone from our community recently named Shaun Pulsifer. He graduated from the Los Angeles Film School. And as part of his grad ceremony, they showed a bunch of his films he made for school.
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\nBut there was one short film that hit me hard – really hard.
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\nYou see, we told you last week that in the last few months we\u2019ve been on a journey. We thought the gay debate was finished. Gay people were as welcome and loved as anyone else, could hold their heads up high in every church they went to.
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\nWe were wrong. Really wrong.
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\nAnd it really hit me when I was watching one of Shaun’s films called Nobody\u2019s Prayer. It’s an autobiographical look at a time in his life where he was very influenced by a traditional reading of the bible, and a traditional conception of God that, as you might have guessed, was against gay people.
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\nHere’s the problem, Shaun is gay
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\nHe\u2019s been out for years. But in his late teens, early 20\u2019s he was just realizing that he’s gay and that love and the church didn’t seem to go together for him. And its heartbreaking. He’s crying out to the creator, “Why? Why did you make me like this?”
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\nWhat hit me watching his movie was this:
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\nThe issue of gay people being accepted into the church wasn\u2019t an interpretation issue. It wasn\u2019t something academic, kind of “What does the Bible say?” thing.
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\nThe issue of gay people in the Christian tradition is, for many, a life and death issue. The character who represents gay people in Shaun’s film, at one point, pulls out a bottle of pills and a knife to end their suffering. To end this feeling of being torn apart by the church and who they are.
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\nThis is life and death for many.
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\nAnd so before we look at the Bible and see how all the “clobber” verses are interpreted, I wanted us to see the people who this issue touches. Deeply touches. And I want all of us, queer or straight, to realize this conversation matters. For many, its life and death.
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\nSo join us this week, as we explore the Christian tradition through the eyes of 2 gay men (Shaun and his partner Ken). It will be at the same time heart wrenching, inspiring, hilarious and give us a glimpse into hard won love – something that we all want.
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\nInvite a friend, it will be safe for anyone with any views. And plan a coffee or a walk in the park to talk about together after the service.
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\nTo donate to this podcast and support the making of more of these please visit www.friendschurch.ca/podcast
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