My Sunday Thought for 030418: The Gay Religious

"LGBT Catholics’ image of God changes as they struggle to reconcile their religious and sexual identities and as they go through a process of “conversion” from deviants and sinners to loved children of God. One study participant compares his faith in God to peeling an onion: “With every layer one peels off, one destroys false images of God.” Most study participants have moved away from the image of God as a bearded old man and father of creation and moved more toward a conception of God as love once identity conflicts are resolved."

-- Angele Deguara, Sociologist/Anthropologist

There is bad in everything, especially when that's all we go looking for or all we wish to see.  The accusers of this perceived bad usually have little righteousness to brag about themselves.  I believe  their "vanity" is akin to being prideful, and pride is a cardinal sin, isn't it?  Well, it is certainly contrary to humility, a trait which most religions see as beneficial to one's self view. 

Christian's are historically "guilty" of, what have come to be called, crimes against humanity, such as the multiple Crusades for wealth and glory in the name of Almighty God, or using God as their excuse for multiple Inquisitions, as well as the Salem witch trials.  Then there is the Vatican's ill-advised signing of the "Reichskonkordat," a negotiated treaty between their Holy See and the German Reich which was viewed by several Allies as tantamount to collaboration with Nazis.  And, so, the Holy See adds yet another stain the Vatican will have to, eventually, answer for.  I suppose this explains one aspect of Christian guilt, but how much guilt is too much for God to ignore?  And, now, Christians continue to stand in judgment of the LGBT community.  It makes one wonder which of them is more righteous, as they both search for closer relationships with Jesus and God.

Islam has issues with righteousness as well, with some Islamic sects condoning the murder of innocence, even among their own people, as long as it furthers the spread of Islam.  There have also been incidents of Islam tossing Muslim members of the LGBT community off of rooftops.  Which is the greater sin, murder, misplaced vengeance, or homosexuality?  And then, of all people to disregard tolerance, there is Judaism who, like some Christians, seem to be tolerant, they also seem to stand in judgment of the LGBT community.

Vain are the beliefs and teachings that make man miserable, and false is the goodness that leads him into sorrow and despair, for it is man's purpose to be happy on this earth and lead the way to felicity and preach its gospel wherever he goes.

-- Kahlil Gibran

Religions would excuse their actions as following scripture, which is the "go to" easy out for not doing the right thing.  They would argue that the only real harm done is by the homosexual to their own soul.  They will argue this as conflicted children commit suicide as society turns their collective back on the innocent.  One saving grace is that we are learning more, becoming more understanding, and acceptance is getting better.  It's not perfect, but what is?  Changing long held prejudices takes time, and it takes more time when other victims of prejudice and bigotry side with the current abusers. 

We have all heard the reasoning religions give for many of their questionable actions, and many of us have our own opinions as to the validity and morality of their reasoning, so I will not belabor the pros and cons, of which many of us are aware.  However, since the LGBT community is looking for acceptance, and not tolerance, what I will do is give my reason for choosing non-judgmental acceptance of the LGBT community at large.

“Who am I to judge a gay person of goodwill who seeks the Lord?”

-- Pope Francis

It should be foremost in any minister's mind to not lose the faithful, and that should include any faithful or potential faithful.  Why would you presume to judge someone and risk losing another lamb of Christ from the Christian fold?  Your view of them is insignificant to the loss for God of another child's salvation.  My personal view is to leave judgment in the hands of God, and to minister to those in need, to those who have ears to hear; your hands will certainly not be idle.

All people need to have faith in something.  We can only hope what they choose to have faith in will lead them down a moral and righteously humble path.   If they choose not to have faith in religion, then perhaps a more personal faith is a better path for them, and this might be the path which is actually set forth in Christian scripture: "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." (Matthew 6:5-6)  It makes one wonder why we build multi-million dollar cathedrals, when we already have so many rooms for privacy.

But, religions seem to be afraid of losing the faithful, and they should be.  If you don't practice what you preach, where does that leave you in the minds of intelligent people?  Religion peoples the churches, synagogues, and mosques, with mindless followers who will strap explosives to their chest and murder innocence because their clergy requires it.  They will dutifully line up with their children at the punch bowl to partake in cyanide laced refreshment because their clergy requires it.  Let's be gentlemen, now; women and children first!  More often than not, mass media keeps us informed of how religion seems to be more about mind control than loving God.  Is it any wonder Lenny Bruce said, “Every day people are straying away from the church and going back to God.” 

“Neither Peter in his work to include Gentiles in the church nor the abolitionists in their campaign against slavery argued that their experience should take precedence over Scripture. But they both made the case that their experience should cause Christians to reconsider long-held interpretations of Scripture. Today, we are still responsible for testing our beliefs in light of their outcomes—a duty in line with Jesus's teaching about trees and their fruit.”

-- Matthew Vines, "God and the Gay Christian: The Biblical Case in Support of Same-Sex Relationships"

Basically, my reason for working with the LGBT community, instead of against them, has to do with a finding stated by Angele Deguara in the opening quote to this post, above.  I also "have moved away from the image of God as a bearded old man and father of creation and moved more toward a conception of God as love" after I resolved my own issues and identity conflicts.  After I let go of the need for "organized religion" my personal views on faith became much clearer, and stronger.  While organized religion might welcome the LGBT community into their flock so they could pray for them to heal, I approached the community with new scientific evidence which states they may not be broken.  How can one determine guilt if there is a shred of doubt?  More importantly, and from a Christian viewpoint, "Who are you to judge a Servant who is not yours? For if he stands, he stands to his Master, and if he falls, he falls to his Master, for it is appointed to his Master to be able to establish him." (Romans 14:4)

In our zeal for righteousness we force people away from religion who have a serious desire, a need, to find God.  Who are we to deny them the love of God which they seek and, many times prove, they so richly deserve?  Call me a coward, but I prefer not to piss off the Almighty due to, yet another, scriptural misinterpretation by man.  What ministers need to do is look at a much broader picture, as many of these gay couples are raising heterosexual children who clergy might also be slighting by not giving them a shot at a religious or spiritual opportunity while they are young.  So, it might seem clergy are still okay with destroying innocence?  You be the judge, or they will, and I will continue to accept what I can get to help these children, and their loving parents, along an accepting spiritual path.

How about we educate ourselves and stop listening to the "righteous" ravings of others?  Where are our unerring balance, intuition, and sweet reasonableness of Christ which the poet, Matthew Arnold, said is missing in the Christian church? If your minister isn't ministering to everyone, you might want to ask yourself who God is testing, the minister, or you?  Until all the evidence is in, how about we stop judging?  Better yet, as we keep finding in the political arena, how about we stop looking for evidence of sin in some misguided hope that people are found wanting?  When all the evidence is in, those people found wanting may, very well, turn out to be you. 

“But as I became more aware of same-sex relationships, I couldn’t understand why they were supposed to be sinful, or why the Bible apparently condemned them. With most sins, it wasn’t hard to pinpoint the damage they cause. Adultery violates a commitment to your spouse. Lust objectifies others. Gossip degrades people. But committed same-sex relationships didn’t fit this pattern. Not only were they not harmful to anyone, they were characterized by positive motives and traits instead, like faithfulness, commitment, mutual love, and self-sacrifice.”

-- Matthew Vines, "God and the Gay Christian: The Biblical Case in Support of Same-Sex Relationships"

Editor's Note

(Re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card)

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider another viewpoint. 

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and while engaging in peaceful, constructive, discussion in an arena of mutual respect concerning the opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience, and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 23 years with United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with an Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects in pharmaceutical research. Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, to wage his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteers as Chaplain Program Liaison, at a regional medical center.