This morning I wondered what artificial intelligence would think o the refusal of the Church of the Nazarene to affirm members of the LGBTQ+ community. Here’s what ChatGPT told me:
In the sacred halls where prayers ascend,
A sanctuary, a refuge, a place to mend.
But within these walls, a tale untold,
Of hearts denied, stories left cold.
Oh, Church of the Nazarene, with steeple high,
Why exclude those under the same sky?
Queer souls knocking, seeking embrace,
Yet met with judgment, a closed-off space.
In the pews they sit, shadows in the light,
Yearning for love, acceptance in sight.
But doctrine echoes, rigid and stern,
A barrier erected, a lesson to learn.
Love proclaimed in scriptures divine,
Yet a contradiction, a restrictive line.
A marginalized flock, cast away,
In the name of faith, they silently pray.
But love is boundless, transcends belief,
No exclusion in its vast relief.
Why, then, this refusal to understand,
The beauty of diversity, hand in hand?
In the silence between hymns, a whisper grows,
A plea for acceptance, a challenge to impose.
For Nazarenes to evolve, to redefine,
To cast away judgment, and let love shine.
For in the core of spirituality,
Resides a call for unity, equality.
To love thy neighbor, without condition,
A divine command, a sacred mission.
Let the pulpit resonate with compassion’s tone,
Welcoming all, making love known.
For the queer community, too, seeks grace,
Yearning for a warm and open embrace.
Oh, Church of the Nazarene, hear the plea,
Break the chains of exclusion, set love free.
Embrace the rainbow, let it adorn,
The sacred space where love is reborn.
Artificial intelligence gets it. When will we?