Persecution.

The story of Saul's conversion is an example of how religious fervor can be misdirected fueled by misguided ideas.

Saul was a leader of the Jewish persecution of the early Christians.

He presided over the stoning of St. Stephen.

But on the Damascus Road Jesus appeared to him in a light from Heaven and said to him: "'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?'"  Acts 9:4 (NRSV)

Saul was struck blind and his sight was only restored when the Christian Ananais laid hands upon him.

Saul became the Apostle Paul.

A modern example of the misdirection of religious fervor is the persecution of gays and lesbians by Christians who believe that God hates us.

My prayer is that they have a Damascus Road experience that changes their hate into love and restores gays and lesbians to their rightful place in the Church and society.

God loves gays and lesbians as we are.

He does not seek to change us or correct us.

He loves us as He loves others.

We are included in His Kingdom.  

And we will be welcomed in Heaven when we die.

[Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission.  All rights reserved.]

Photo Credit: Witness and Testimony.