Tell Me, Who’s Being Intolerant
Today I went out for a bit and had lunch and then went decided to just knock around for a bit and I went to a pawn shop. I do that from time to time, just browsing to see what kind of bargains might be lurking. I was just about ready to leave the pawn shop, when someone said, "Excuse me, aren't you a pastor?" I turned around and acknowledged that I was. I did not recognize the young man or the man with him at all, so I stuck out my hand and introduced myself. He ignored the gesture and said, "I want to ask you a question; do you think I'm going to Hell because I'm gay?" I told him that was a loaded question if I ever heard one. He very angrily said that it was not a difficult question, that all he wanted was a simple yes or no. I responded that was exactly why it was an unfair and loaded question, because he was simply looking for a fight. He snapped back, "See, can't answer a simple question because you are afraid to be upfront with me." I told him that I'd love to answer him, but that I really needed more than a "yes or no" to answer, and that I also needed to ask him some questions.
"Like what? I've told you that I'm gay. Am I going to Hell or not? Don't give me a f-ing tap dance. Just answer the question a..hole."
I have to admit that at this point I just wanted to walk out, but somehow, I stayed composed and calm. I mean really, I knew this person was not a Christian by the way he was behaving, but if I gave an answer without an explanation, he was going to use it against me.
I said to him, "Look, what I'd like to know is your answers to these questions: Do you believe Jesus is the Son of God? Do you believe he died on a cross for our sins? Have you asked Jesus to forgive you and and to come into your heart?"
He unleashed a string of profanity and yelled, "I did not ask you for a f-ing sermon. I just want to know if you think I'm going to Hell or not."
I told him that my answer was determined by what his answer was to those questions and...
He cut me off in mid-sentence and said, "Answer the damn question! I just want to know if you think I am going to hell because I am gay."
I told him again that he was trying to trap me into a response just to argue, and I was trying to give him a real answer, if he'd just answer my questions that I could answer him. I told him I was not interested in anything other than had he asked Jesus into his heart.
He snapped back with venom in his voice, "F- you. I don't go to f-ing church and I don't want to hear all your f-ing mumbo jumbo. I just want to know if you think I'm going to hell!"
I said, "Well, based on the picture of you I'm getting, I'd have to say that if you died today, then yes, you are probably going to Hell."
He pushed the guy with him slightly and said, "didn't I tell you! He's an intolerant homophobe!"
I interrupted, "Excuse me, I did not say a thing about you being gay."
"Yes you did! You said I'm going to Hell because I'm a fag!"
His friend said, "No he didn't. You are not paying any attention to him." The first guy unleashed a tirade of profane comments at his friend, until I said, "Excuse me, but you started this conversation, and from the beginning, you've tried to put words in my mouth. If you will calm down, I'll tell you exactly what I said and why." Now he turned his assault on me, where in the midst, he again called me an "intolerant homophobic S.O.B."
His friend said, "You're the one being intolerant. You won't even listen to what the man has to say. You afraid or what?" He again started lashing out at his friend with an unbelievable string of profanities and insults that would have made a sailor blush. I again interrupted, saying that if he wanted to hear my answer, I'd be glad to talk to him, but if not that I was going to leave. He told me to go on, and I said, "What I said was if you have not confessed your sin and asked Jesus into..."
He cut me off again... "Who the hell do you think you are to call me a sinner? What gives you the right to judge whether or not being gay is a sin?" Turning toward his friend he said, "I told you he's intolerant. All these f-ing Christians are!"
I said, "Again, I said nothing about being gay. You are right, God is the judge and he says that all have sinned and fallen short of God's standard. But if you put your faith and life in Jesus..."
Again he cut me off and screamed, "I don't need your f-ing Jesus. Go to hell."
I said, "And THAT is why I said you are most likely going to Hell."
Then I turned and walked out the door.
His friend followed me out the door and said, "I think you are right by the way."
It amazes me how that people like this only hear what they want to hear.
"Like what? I've told you that I'm gay. Am I going to Hell or not? Don't give me a f-ing tap dance. Just answer the question a..hole."
I have to admit that at this point I just wanted to walk out, but somehow, I stayed composed and calm. I mean really, I knew this person was not a Christian by the way he was behaving, but if I gave an answer without an explanation, he was going to use it against me.
I said to him, "Look, what I'd like to know is your answers to these questions: Do you believe Jesus is the Son of God? Do you believe he died on a cross for our sins? Have you asked Jesus to forgive you and and to come into your heart?"
He unleashed a string of profanity and yelled, "I did not ask you for a f-ing sermon. I just want to know if you think I'm going to Hell or not."
I told him that my answer was determined by what his answer was to those questions and...
He cut me off in mid-sentence and said, "Answer the damn question! I just want to know if you think I am going to hell because I am gay."
I told him again that he was trying to trap me into a response just to argue, and I was trying to give him a real answer, if he'd just answer my questions that I could answer him. I told him I was not interested in anything other than had he asked Jesus into his heart.
He snapped back with venom in his voice, "F- you. I don't go to f-ing church and I don't want to hear all your f-ing mumbo jumbo. I just want to know if you think I'm going to hell!"
I said, "Well, based on the picture of you I'm getting, I'd have to say that if you died today, then yes, you are probably going to Hell."
He pushed the guy with him slightly and said, "didn't I tell you! He's an intolerant homophobe!"
I interrupted, "Excuse me, I did not say a thing about you being gay."
"Yes you did! You said I'm going to Hell because I'm a fag!"
His friend said, "No he didn't. You are not paying any attention to him." The first guy unleashed a tirade of profane comments at his friend, until I said, "Excuse me, but you started this conversation, and from the beginning, you've tried to put words in my mouth. If you will calm down, I'll tell you exactly what I said and why." Now he turned his assault on me, where in the midst, he again called me an "intolerant homophobic S.O.B."
His friend said, "You're the one being intolerant. You won't even listen to what the man has to say. You afraid or what?" He again started lashing out at his friend with an unbelievable string of profanities and insults that would have made a sailor blush. I again interrupted, saying that if he wanted to hear my answer, I'd be glad to talk to him, but if not that I was going to leave. He told me to go on, and I said, "What I said was if you have not confessed your sin and asked Jesus into..."
He cut me off again... "Who the hell do you think you are to call me a sinner? What gives you the right to judge whether or not being gay is a sin?" Turning toward his friend he said, "I told you he's intolerant. All these f-ing Christians are!"
I said, "Again, I said nothing about being gay. You are right, God is the judge and he says that all have sinned and fallen short of God's standard. But if you put your faith and life in Jesus..."
Again he cut me off and screamed, "I don't need your f-ing Jesus. Go to hell."
I said, "And THAT is why I said you are most likely going to Hell."
Then I turned and walked out the door.
His friend followed me out the door and said, "I think you are right by the way."
It amazes me how that people like this only hear what they want to hear.
