Everett, Wash.
Published: Sunday, July 5, 2009

CHURCHES

Exclusivity not in keeping with faith

 Regarding the June 27 article, "Gay-friendly shift at 2 churches": Many churches have rules of behavior that can disqualify or at least discourage membership. The rules may be written or unwritten. If you enter a church and happen to be on their list, you find out very quickly. You feel unwelcome, probably hurt, and you go elsewhere. Or you might decide to avoid church entirely.

Besides gays, the list might include: divorcees, street people, drinkers, people with different skin color, smokers, unmarried couples living together, ex-cons, atheists, female clergy, non-tithers, etc. You might get the evil eye if you have tattoos, piercings, or if you wear dirty jeans, or even if you wear a fancy suit.

These "to be avoided" lists are so large and varied, that we are probably all listed somewhere. None of this exclusive club-building behavior has much to do with Jesus, though. He showed us his all-inclusive love, mercy and forgiveness. He taught that we are all imperfect, and that none of us has the right to judge and condemn anyone else when we always have our own dirty laundry to deal with.

The more attention we pay to the (perceived) sins of others, the easier it is to ignore our own very real ones. And that is a decidedly hypocritical, un-Christian cop-out.

Tim Ruggenberg
Camano Island
© 2009The Daily Herald Co., Everett, WA