Don't worry, I'm going to write a long sermon and try to convert you if you're not Christian. Nor am I going to bore you all with the story of how I came to become one.
What I am doing is wondering what other people's definition of "Christian" actually is and what they think the word means.
I've previously had people tell me "You're not a Christian", without giving any explanation. Well, yes I am; deal with it. Recently someone on Twitter said my handle there "contains two mortal sins". Since my Twitter handle contains two words and one of them is my name, I would posit that my complainant can't count.
The other word, of course is "Boylover". Now, this is a description, and to sin requires action. Loving boys (and, indeed, everyone) is not a specific action, it is an attitude, a concept used in day-to-day life. For that matter, loving boys is not mentioned anywhere in Scripture as being sinful. "Love you neighbour as yourself" doesn't, of course, exclude anyone of any age or gender. Nor, of course, does love include fornication, and particularly not with children.
I think my responder's attitude is just an extension of the pseudo-religious homophobia displayed by some fundamentalist God-groupie. "There is no such thing as a gay Christian" they say, completely ignoring the fact that there are in fact millions, all over the world. "They need to repent" they say, demonstrating that they don't know what homosexuality - or paedophilia - actually means.
By claiming I'm not a Christian, or that I can't be, they are actually trying to create a form of Christianity that only consists of people they like. Sorry, it doesn't work that way. Anyone who accepts Jesus - no ifs, buts or maybes - is a Christian, and I'm not going to give up my Faith just because some people don't want me to have it.
If you are one of those people, perhaps it's you who should consider if your faith is quite all you think? John 13:24 "Love one another as I have loved you". John 14:15 "If you love Me, keep My commandments". Matthew 5:44 "Love your enemies" - though I am not your enemy, even if you want to be mine. I forgive you.
