By Bruce Lowe

A Letter to Louise

Dear Reader,

Louise has been a dear friend for fifty years. The last time my wife, Anna Marie, and I visited her she shocked us with a statement, repeated in the first sentence of this Letter, about her brother’s being gay. At that time I really knew nothing about gay people or homosexuality. I did have some suppositions—quite negative—and had never thought I needed to study the subject. But her words made me want to know as much as I could learn about it.

When I began reading I soon realized things about myself I now deplore: I was ignorant of the many facts about homosexuality and harbored some myths about it, a subject that had been very important to mainline denominations for several decades Without facts I had pre-judged it; I was prejudiced. Carelessly, I had read into the Bible what I presumed it ought to say instead of reading out of it what it does say. My idea of not needing to study the subject was pure anti-intellectualism. I am now most grateful that God led me to study.

I have read over fifty books by theologians on both sides of this issue and by eminent psychologists, psychiatrists, sociologists and ethicists. This letter to Louise reflects what I now have come to believe is the truth about homosexuality, what the Bible says and what God wants us to think and do about it.

Now I want others to study seriously this matter of such importance to many lives and many churches and denominations. I asked for and received Louise’s permission to share the Letter. I pray it may be helpful to those who have not yet studied. I hope any reader will feel free to share it with anyone else.

Bruce Lowe

2005

Note: Bruce's series of articles are as follows:

• Dear Louise...

1. The Homosexual's Nature

- Unchanging

- Normal

- God Created

- Superior

2. The Homosexual's Suffering

- A Homophobic Society

- A Condemning Church