Christians Must Welcome Everyone: World Student Christian Federation

morungexpress

Christians must welcome everyone, executive secretary of the World Student Christian Federation for North America, Luciano Kovacs said opposing the attitude of Naga churches towards people from a spectrum of genders—lesbian, gay, transgender, intersex, queer (LGBTIQ).

Addressing a discussion on 'Gender and Sexuality' held in Dimapur, Nagaland, on Oct. 30, Kovacs emphasized why it is important, most of all, for Christians to welcome different genders into the community.

"As Christians, we should be able to welcome everyone in our midst," he said, according to Morung Express.

But many churches, in Nagaland and elsewhere, reject people from LGBTIQ. "This is quite contrary to the gospel of Jesus Christ," Kovacs added.

He referred to Jesus' ministry as a ministry of liberation, where the Lord liberated people from their misery.

"Many gay people are left asking themselves, why am I hated because I love (a person of, say, the same gender)," said Kovacs.

People need to be loved and welcomed; and love is the premise to welcome God, he added.

"The spectrum of sexual orientation is very wide; there is a range of gender identities between heterosexuality and homosexuality," said Kovacs, referring the 'Rainbow' that the LGBTIQ community identifies with to celebrate diversity.

The struggle for liberation is not only personal but political too. Such persons' attempt to change laws has been oppressed by the society and the church, he said.

A preacher's sermon from the pulpit condemning homosexuality might push a person to self-harm and suicide. Therefore, it is important to be mindful, he added.

"It is important to deconstruct theology. Here, we start from the liberation perspective," said Kovacs.