After Pastor John Pavlovitz published “If I Have Gay Children: Four Promises From a Christian Pastor/Parent,” Rabbi Avi Katz Orlow was inspired to write out his own promises.

In early September, Pastor John Pavlovitz of North Wake House Church in North Carolina wrote a personal blog post titled, "If I Have Gay Children: Four Promises From a Christian Pastor/Parent."

Facebook: johnpavlovitzofficial

"For whatever reason, it's something that I ponder frequently. As a pastor and a parent, I wanted to make some promises to you, and to my two kids right now…"

My children won't be our family's best kept secret.

I won't talk around them in conversations with others. I won't speak in code or vague language. I won't try to pull the wool over anyone's eyes, and I won't try to spare the feelings of those who may be older, or easily offended, or uncomfortable. Childhood is difficult enough, and most gay kids spend their entire existence being horribly, excruciatingly uncomfortable. I'm not going to put mine through any more unnecessary discomfort, just to make Thanksgiving dinner a little easier for a third cousin with misplaced anger issues.

If my children come out, we'll be out as a family.

I won't pray for them to be made "normal". I've lived long enough to know that if my children are gay, that is their normal.

I won't pray that God will heal or change or fix them. I will pray for God to protect them; from the ignorance and hatred and violence that the world will throw at them, simply because of who they are. I'll pray that He shields them from those who will despise them and wish them harm; who will curse them to Hell and put them through Hell, without ever knowing them at all. I'll pray that they enjoy life; that they laugh, and dream, and feel, and forgive, and that they love God and humanity.

View Entire List ›