Mosaic United Methodist Church Statesville

06/10/2026

Pride Positivity
I borrowed this picture. Another group posted it and asked folks how many points they had 😆

I thought I'd use it here because this is what most people think all Christians think. It’s a loud, hateful voice. BUT it’s not what I believe, and I’m a Christian.

Today’s Pride Positivity Post is to address folks who think like this. I’m aware “they” may not hear me or listen, but maybe it can help you with ways to respond to those who think being LGBTQ is a sin.

1. We are not the Judge. (MT 7:1-2 / LK 6:7/RO 2:1– Judge not, or you will be judged, and the same way you judge will be used against you.) Scripture is clear that God alone is the judge.

2. We all have stuff – no one is perfect. RO 3:23 says all have sinned. If we were perfect, would we need a savior? This is why Jesus said to address the log in your own eye before pointing out the speck in your neighbor’s eye.

3. And my favorite quote is Philippians 2:12b-13, “carry out YOUR OWN salvation with fear and trembling. God is the one who enables YOU both to want and to actually live out his good purposes.” Scripture doesn’t call us to make sure everyone else is “doing right.” Your faith is YOURS. It’s not our job to convince others of “sin.”
Basically, scriptures in a lot of places say MIND YOUR BUSINESS and deal with your own stuff. Stuff like hate, judgment, and pride. (Another day's post can be on the word pride and how some Christians attack just that word.)

06/09/2026

Pride Positivity: (from Pastor Bridget)
Since my twins were born, I’ve sung them a song at bedtime. For a while, they chose a different song. Then, several years ago, one began to request only “Jesus Loves Me.” That’s been his song for years now. One of my kids wants to sing “Jesus Loves Me” before bed every night. I was thinking about how many in the LGBTQ community had someone sing to them “Jesus Loves Me,” only to later have caveats added. Or, how many children were welcomed in, baptized, and confirmed, only for their church to orphan them when they came out?

If that’s part of your story, I’m sorry. As a part of the church, though I have not and would not do that, I apologize. There is no excuse. I’m sure it harmed you and possibly your faith. I hope you once again see God as love and find a place that affirms you in your faith and journey.

I also want to add this voice to say Jesus loves me and Jesus Loves You, no ifs, ands, or buts. No caveats.

I believe this because God is love (1 John 4:8) and God loved the whole world (Jn 3:16). Because God demonstrated his love for us in Jesus (RO 75:8), and nothing separates us from that love (RO 8:39). Because you are a dearly loved child of God (Eph 5:1), so may you find encouragement and hope and above all love in God.

06/08/2026

Pride Positivity - we're talking about "the verses" used against the LGBTQ community and spreading LOVE.

Let’s talk about Leviticus – folks love to quote it against gay men. In two places (18:22 and 20:13), it says it is detestable for a man to have s*xual relations with another man as one does with a woman. The second passage says they are to be put to death.

Seems pretty clear, right? Well… not so much
1. Let’s talk about the “Law,” that is, the instructions given to Moses by God. This is found in the Torah, the first five books of the Bible.

2. Does the Law apply to everyone? No, it was never intended to. It was a covenant God made with the Hebrew People.

3. And Jews are not of one mind on LGBTQ inclusion. Reformed Jews fully support inclusion. They do not believe in a literal interpretation of the Law in today’s life. They use rabbinical teaching throughout time to understand the Law.

4. Orthodox Jews who do believe in a literal interpretation and abide by all commandments do not expect others to follow the law. In fact, Jews do not proselytize; they discourage folks from converting to Judaism, making them ask at least three times.

5. If you are a Christian, you are not under the law either. See Acts 15 among many other passages.

6. If you want to apply THIS law, then you must apply ALL of the law to yourself first. That means you must keep kosher (no cheeseburgers, no medium rare steak, no shellfish), and you cannot wear polyblend clothing. S*x between married men and women can only happen when the woman is no longer unclean. Oh, and you can’t have s*x except in marriage. There are 613 commandments, not just 10, and I bet you don’t know them all and are certainly not keeping them. James 2:10 says if you break 1 commandment, you are guilty of breaking them all, so by not eating kosher, you are just as guilty under the law as a gay man.

7. Cherry-picking verses and applying them to everyone is a) not biblical and b) dangerous.

So, if you are Jewish, talk to your rabbi and ask them how to interpret the law. If you are a Christian, there is grace in Christ, and you are not under the law.

For everyone the Law AND the NT are clear - LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR! This, Jesus said, along with loving God - is the gist of all the commandments.

06/05/2026

Pride Positivity

Warning - I get pretty nerdy here... if it's too long skip to the bottom.

One passage people MISUSE all the time is the story of S***m & Gomorrah. You've probably been told that the story is about God destroying those cities because of homos*xuality and that all homos*xuals will be destroyed in the same way.

Too bad that's not what the BIBLE says about that passage! The story of S***m and Gomorrah is in Genesis 18:6-19.

BUT Deuteronomy 29:23-28 says it's because those cities abandoned God's covenant and worshiped other gods. Jeremiah 23:14 echoes this.

AND Isaiah 1 says it's because they didn't care for the poor, seek justice, or defend the oppressed, or care for the fatherless and widowed. Ezekiel 16:49 echoes this.

And one last fun fact... the word S***mite wasn't coined until 1330 (see Oxford Dictionary), and to so****ze (and its derivatives) weren't created until 1601. That's A LONG time after the Bible was written.

Finally, in the NT, Jude 1:7 is where some make the link to homos*xuality. It says, "In the same way, S***m and Gomorrah and neighboring towns practiced immoral s*xual relations and pursued other s*xual urges. By undergoing the punishment of eternal fire." First, the word "homos*xual" does not appear here in Greek or English. In the original language (Greek), the implication is s*xual immorality (WHICH IN THE NT OFTEN JUST MEANS ADULTERY!) and perversion. That idiom is used only in Jude and doesn't appear in Classical Greek. The Greeks, by the way, were no strangers to homos*xuality and had words for that! That's not what's here.

Bottom line... The BULK of scripture says that S***m and Gomorrah were destroyed not for homos*xuality but for LACK OF HOSPITALITY & LACK OF SOCIAL JUSTICE. But you don't hear that from fire-and-brimstone preachers. Hmmmm.

So, hating people because of who they are, not welcoming them, and treating them poorly, or worse causing them harm ... that's more akin to the sins of S***m and Gomorrah.

06/04/2026

Pride Positivity!
People like to use Genesis 1:26-27 against the LGBTQ community. It says God made them male and female.

But here's the thing. It also says God made night and day. There is a whole spectrum between night and day. Have you watched a sunrise or sunset and seen how the sky changes from the darkness of night through to a purplish, reddish, pinkish beauty? So, are there differences between "male" and "female"

Also, Genesis is not a science book. It's a telling of creation that helps people understand that it was God-shaped. It lets us know we are made in God's image, God who is neither male nor female. It lets us know that God breathed God's life and spirit into humanity.

You are a God-breathed, beautiful creation - and so are your pronouns.

06/03/2026

Pride Positivity
You are made in the image of God. (Genesis 1:26-27) Everyone is. While that often gets twisted or used as a weapon against Transgender folks, that's not the intention here. The intention is to let humanity know we are all (just the way we are) created by a God who formed us to represent God's image. Let me say that again for the haters in the back - EVERYONE - JUST AS THEY ARE - WAS CREATED TO REPRESENT GOD AND IN GOD'S IMAGE!
God is beyond Gender. Jesus transformed bodily. God cannot be contained within our labels. You are not only not "an abomination," you are a beautiful reflection of the God who created you in God's own image.

06/02/2026

From Pastor Bridget Thornton

Happy Pride! (Insert rainbow confetti here!) This month, I'm going to (try my best to) post all the reasons I see Jesus not only welcoming but also affirming our LGBTQ siblings. There's plenty of hate out there. This month, I want to add a voice of reason and love.

Why? Because there are way too many LOUD voices telling LGBTQ+ people that who they are and who they love, or like, or have a crush on is wrong. Because those voices do real harm. Because 365 of LGBTQ+ young people seriously considered attempting su***de in the past year, and that number jumps to 40% for those who are transgender or nonbinary. Because 90% of LGBTQ+ young people said that recent anti-LGBTQ+ laws, policies, and debates caused them stress or anxiety, and 44% who wanted mental health care in the last year were not able to get it. (These numbers are from The Trevor Project – check them out!). If you’re reading this and in a mental health crisis, call 988 or visit trevorproject.org/get-help.

Why me? Because I’m an ally. Because there are LGBTQ+ people I love who have been harmed. Because I have advanced degrees in divinity and have taken the time to do the exegetical, hermeneutical, and theological work on all the ways the Bible has been used as a weapon against a group of people. Because I hope to add light and love.

Since I’m an ally and not LGBTQ+, I also want to point to some great places to listen to those in the community! If you’re local to Statesville, follow Statesville Pride and Statesville PFLAG. If you’re on Instagram, check out Jbrix_art (a former pastor) or Matthew Paul Turner

Who are other q***r voices you want to point others to?

Get immediate help 24/7/365. The Trevor Project's crisis counselors are just a text, chat, or phone call away. Completely confidential and free LGBTQ hotline.

06/01/2026

Happy Pride! This month, Pastor Bridget is going to (try her best to) post all the reasons We see Jesus not only welcoming but also affirming our LGBTQ siblings. There's plenty of hate out there. This month (and always), we want to add a voice of reason and love.

We start with the simple, and it's thanks to the NakedPastor. We make it complicated, but it's really not that hard. Start with love.

05/25/2026

From Sunday's sermon: Prayers of the Bible - Mercy & Forgiveness

See the full sermon on youtube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arurAiyHGtI&t=14s

05/21/2026

Find Hope.