My recent experiences with hate speech

I don’t know if hate is increasing in our culture. I did a simple google search on the question, "is hate increasing?" The search led me to the FBI web site which reported in August 2025 that in 2024 there were 11,679 hate crime incidents involving 14,243 victims for calendar year 2024. This compares to 11,862 incidents in 2023 with 14,416 victims. About the same. The link to these statistics is here: https://www.justice.gov/hatecrimes/hate-crime-statistics.

The United Nations commissioned a report that said there was an exponential increase in hate speech. The report covers the whole world and includes convincing statistics.

I’m most interested in what is happening in our local community, Is hate speech increasing here? I’ve had three incidents in the last two weeks that makes me wonder.

On Sunday, May 24 we had a full house at Chain of Lakes during worship. The music was beautiful, guests came, the sermon seemed to connect. We had a wonderful day. I greet everyone who comes through the door and before worship I greeted two young, Caucasian men. They seemed interested.

After worship I also greet people as they leave. And it took a long time for these two gentlemen to leave. I was interested in talking to them and learning their story. Finally they approached me. They asked me about the flag on the north side of our building. I told them that it is the rainbow flag. They asked me how Jesus would think of this. I shared that I thought Jesus would applaud our congregation for flying the rainbow flag as he frequently reached out and cared for people on the margins. They then pulled out their Bibles and asked me if our support of LGBTQIA+ people was biblical. I then realized that these two men did not come to worship to check out our congregation. They were there to let us know that our views on LGBTQIA+ issues were not biblical and morally wrong.

 I’ve had these conversations with many people over the last 33 years of ministry. I’ve lead Bible studies on this issue; I’ve given talks on this issue; I’ve attended many, many meetings where people have shared different views on this issue. I’ve seen our Presbyterian denomination split because of this issue. A few years ago I shared a short video on how I came to my own views. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=600056857967631

This is a hard issue. We have people at Chain of Lakes who hold the traditional view about LGBTQIA+ issues. I let them know that they are very welcome in our congregation. I will welcome them and care for them. But most of the congregation at Chain of Lakes is not in this place. I don't argue with people who have connected to Chain of Lakes who hold the traditional view. 

But I won't let two young, Caucasian men who were guests instruct me on the Bible after a powerful worship service. They wanted to talk about 1 Corinthians 6. I shared that I’ve read 1 Corinthians 6. I’ve read through the Bible at least five times, I’ve preached on the Bible for 33 years, and I read the Bible every day. I told them with all due respect that I know the Bible very well. 

To me what matters most is how Jesus would respond, and I believe he would accept and love the LGBTQIA+ community. I asked these men if they believed in child abuse, as part of Leviticus supports child abuse. I asked them if they support slavery, as part of the Bible supports slavery. I'm not going to hate on a group of people because of six passages in the Bible. And I especially won't when Jesus taught and always displayed that what is most important is to "love God with our heart and soul and mind and to love our neighbor as we love ourselves." I’m part of a denomination that ordains the LGBTQ+IA community. We’ve had people from that community serve on the Session at Chain of Lakes. The first marriage at Chain of Lakes was a gay marriage.

I am still a bit taken aback that these two young men came to Chain of Lakes. Their words would not be “hate speech,” but they were quite bold and even aggressive in their approach. I had and still have a lot of questions about the faith community that formed them. Do they feel they have the right to come in as guests to the faith community I serve and tell us that we are wrong.

 This past Saturday, I attended Anoka Pride. I went by myself. In the past we’ve had a group from Chain of Lakes attend. The celebration was even bigger than last year. It is now taking place at Riverfront Memorial Park. There were many booths and food and music—the celebration was beautiful.

 And there was a man with a sign. The picture of the sign is here. The picture is hard to share.

I chose not to engage this man as I’ve had too many conversations like this in the past. I’m not going to change this man’s mind. Though I’m very disturbed when a person represents faith in a way that is quite judgmental and certainly hateful.

 A person from our congregation shared an encounter she witnessed of another person with this man. 

“Early in our interaction this man had obviously decided that I must be gay, fine. He then proceeded to tell me that I am a sinner, I am going to hell, I don’t deserve to live in this world and he could save me if only I were to repent and come to Jesus. This was after several minutes of arguing over the teachings of Jesus that I learned. I was exhausted by this, asked him to leave several times and eventually security came to “help” him out.”

I have so many questions about this encounter that I could probably blog every week for a year. But how does a person become so full of hate? How has his faith community taught and even encouraged him to treat people so terribly.

After the sermon this past Sunday I shared my story of being at Anoka Pride with the people gathered for worship at Chain of Lakes congregation.  I shared that I understand that people can land in different places on the LGBTQIA+ issue. But most people at Chain of Lakes have chosen acceptance. 

People don’t choose their sexual orientation. As one of my favorite people at Chain of Lakes has often said, “who would choose to be discriminated against, attacked, and fearful for their orientation.” At Chain of Lakes we will land on our Core Value of acceptance, “we will welcome people as Jesus welcomed them, with open hearts and open minds.”

 After worship a person from Chain of Lakes shared their experience at Pine City Pride. This was one of the first Pride festivals. I was shown a picture of men dressed in T-Shirts, wearing masks, and carrying flags—one of the flags was upside down.

I was a bit scared just looking at the picture. I was told that one of the messages this group was communicating is they want to take American back. My question is “take America back to what?” Times when people lived in the closet because they were afraid for their safety.

 Where do people get these ideas that they can show up at a festival and try to intimidate others.

 I’m a white, male, straight guy—my privilege has not led me to be concerned for my safety. But as a white, male, straight guy I’m always going to stand up for those who are forced to live on the margins. 

We still have a long way to go in our area in celebrating the diversity of creation.

People can have different views on issues, but the approach of intimidation, bullying, and judgment must be countered. Hate speech has no place in our country.