A Tree is Known by its Fruit

The Human Cost of Bad Fruit Theology

Misinterpretations of Scripture haven’t just shaped theology…they’ve hurt people.

Online algorithms reinforce how Christians perceive LGBTQ+ people. By amplifying outrage and creating an echo chamber of negativity, people we are called to love have been dehumanized and deeply harmed. 

Remember, these are not statistics – they are our sons, daughters, friends, and church members. They are the precious souls God entrusted us to love and reach with His Gospel of grace.

Harmful Outcomes

• Reparative (Conversion) Therapy: Attempts to “fix” LGBTQ+ individuals have left deep trauma—emotionally, spiritually, and psychologically.
• Rates of Suicide: LGBTQ+ youth, especially those rejected by their families or churches, face significantly higher suicide rates.
• Mental Health Impact: Discrimination, shame, and exclusion contribute to elevated rates of depression, anxiety, and PTSD among LGBTQ+ individuals.
• Purity Culture & Sexual Shaming: Rigid, shame-based teachings around sexuality have distorted healthy understanding of intimacy and left many burdened with guilt.

When the fruit is pain, shame, and destruction, it’s time
to re-examine the tree and expose the roots.

The goal is not to condemn those who taught these doctrines, but to realign our theology with the heart of Jesus so that we may bear good fruit and fulfill our mission to share the Gospel with all. LGBTQ communities often offer a deep sense of worth and belonging to those who’ve felt rejected by their faith circles. Feeling loved and accepted isn’t just nice, it’s essential for mental health and well-being.

But there’s a tension. Communities that aren’t seeking God can leave people feeling empty, while some churches that do seek God may be affirming but fall short of sharing the full gospel.

The good news? There’s hope. When we build a bridge between these two worlds, we create space for love, truth, and transformation to flow both ways and that’s where good fruit grows.

Good Fruit = Equality & Full Inclusion

• Restored Trust in the Church – LGBTQ+ people who felt pushed away by Christians begin to see the church as a place of grace and healing rather than judgment.
• Healing of Deep Wounds – Affirming the Gospel for all allows past hurts caused by rejection, shame, and exclusion to be addressed, opening the door for forgiveness and reconciliation.
• Lives Saved – Preaching hope instead of condemnation can reduce despair, self-harm, and suicide among these youth and adults.
• Families Reunited – Parents, children, and extended families experience restoration when the church models love and inclusion instead of division.
• Stronger Marriages & Families – Affirming monogamous, covenantal same-sex marriages creates stable homes rooted in Christian values, strengthening the fabric of the church.
• A Clearer Gospel Witness – The church reflects the true Gospel. Grace, truth, and welcome for all, which attracts those who have dismissed Christianity as hateful or hypocritical.
• Obedience to Jesus’ Command to Love – By treating all people equally, churches live out Galatians 5:14: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
• Cultural Credibility – When the church demonstrates compassion and fairness, it earns back respect in a world that often sees it as a source of harm.
• Revival of Mission – Instead of getting stuck in culture wars, the church returns to its core mission: sharing the Good News with all people.
• Greater Unity in Christ – Divides begin to close as believers rally around Jesus’ Gospel rather than fear, politics, or cherry-picked verses.