The Gay Christian (10/27/2014)

 

"When it comes to gay Christians, there's one question that causes more debate than any other: Does God bless gay relationships? Or are gay Christians called to lifelong celibacy?"

-- Gay Christian Network

And the debate continues.  But doesn't the debate go deeper than this?  It has been my experience that just mentioning new evidence, that proves the Bible may not be everything Christians think it is, can get me condemned to hell for all eternity.  I mention gays around these same hardcore Christians and a fire starts in the back of their brain that you can clearly see through their eyes.  When they open their mouth I'm blasted back with a seemingly endless verbal onslaught of hellfire and damnation which usually ends with, "The only good homo is a dead homo."  A debate?  Well, God blessing or not blessing a gay relationship would seem a trivial side note to any discussion with these "religious" people.  The right to exist, or not, would seem more to the point.

I walk away from these one-sided verbal spankings secure in the knowledge that my Christianity is more understanding, forgiving, and loving than theirs will, in all probability, ever be.  They dutifully go to the building they refer to as a "church" to pay their money for a place in heaven. They listen to the minister pontificate his latest "interpretation" of the good book, and rely on him to bless them for their hate and intolerance of their fellow man.  I hesitate to point out, to any person of color, that it wasn't so very long ago that African-Americans had to attend a chapel for "their kind" as they weren't allowed to worship with white folk.  And, as we see history keep on repeating, we have learned nothing.

Matthew Vines, author of "God and the Gay Christian: The Biblical Case in Support of Same-Sex Relationships" points out what Jesus says, in Hebrews 8:13, about the new covenant making the old one obsolete: "Now what is growing old is ready to vanish away."  Matthew also points out that all shameful activity mentioned in the New Testament is "lustful," with no mention of love, commitment, or faithfulness.  Mathew Vines makes a reasonable case and gives us a taste of it in a short video found at this attached link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmp6lLct-fQ&feature=player_embedded     

Marriages are breaking down all around us; families becoming single-parent struggles for existence; children growing up, or not, without good, solid role models.  People are getting married for a legal piece of paper and forgoing any ceremony of "Holy Matrimony" that might require a statement of faith, and a promise of forever, in the presence of God.  And, yet, religion condemns the gay community for wanting to do the right thing.  Churches are struggling to keep their numbers up as the young flee in search of alternate spirituality or no spirituality at all.  And, still, religion condemns the gay community for wanting to do the right thing.

We believe that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Christians are full participants in God’s kingdom and that the ways of holiness and the ways of sinfulness are equally available to them as to others. Recognizing this, we strive to live holy lives, turning to prayer, Scripture, and the leading of the Holy Spirit to discern God’s will.

-- Gay Christian Network

Children commit suicide in adolescence as they struggle with gender identification and find little understanding.  We are led to believe this gender struggle is due to their years of unchecked, rampant experimentation with the gay lifestyle, at the ripe old age of eight, ten, or twelve, and this propensity to be gay is a learned attribute and not genetic or a chemical imbalance.  God, forbid, an imbalance would just be too easy.  Oh, and let's not forget my all-time favorite, "It is a sickness and we need to treat it."  I haven't heard of many in the gay community running to the clinics for help with their "malady."  

I'd like to see us take a different approach.  Let's try practicing our faith in a God who doesn't make mistakes.  Let's try the saying, "What would Jesus do?"  I had someone accuse me on Facebook, just the other day, of "interpreting" the Bible so the message was different; different than their interpretation.  Again, my tilt is not based on hatred and an unforgiving attitude.  The accusers would be the same people who have never touched the Qur'an but just know all of Islam must be destroyed as they are guilty of the atrocities performed by the heretics in their midst.  They refuse to believe Islam is a religion of peace that also claims Abraham, recognizes the Virgin Mary, praises Jesus as a great prophet sent from God, and that Muhammad was given the Qur'an by the Archangel Gabriel, and much more commonality we can find, than difference.

3:5 It is He who sent down upon thee the Book, wherein are verses clear that are the Essence of the Book, and others ambiguous. As for those in whose hearts is swerving, they follow the ambiguous part, desiring dissension, and desiring its interpretation; and none knows its interpretation, save only God.

-- Qur’an (Sura 3: The House of Imran)

And, even as radical Islam desires dissension and misinterpretation, so does Christianity continue to desire dissension and misinterpretation, now with its sights seemingly set on the LGBT community.  Their goal?  It would seem they want nothing less than to continue to deny the gay community the gentle love, understanding, forgiveness, and tolerance of Jesus.  How sad is that?

One of the questions put forth on the Gay Christian Network website is, "Why identify as Christians if so many Christians are anti-gay?"  I like their answer:

If “Christianity” were like an exclusive club or some kind of “religious movement” we believed in, this site probably wouldn't exist. Modern-day Christians don't have a very good reputation when it comes to showing love to gay people. In fact, some of the most hate-filled people of our time use the name of Jesus to justify their hateful attitudes and behavior. Why would we want to be a part of that?

But Christianity is not a club or a movement. For us, it’s a completely life-changing experience of God, rooted in the teachings, ministry, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We have been changed in such a profound way that the word “Christian” describes an integral part of who we are, not something we could choose to disassociate ourselves from if we wanted. And even if we could, we wouldn't want to. We are happy about what God has done and continues to do in our lives!

Jesus modeled true Love for us, and God gives us the power to share that Love. But each of us is still a work in progress. We are only human, and sometimes we make mistakes. The people who make up the Christian community are not perfect, and they can be susceptible to the misconceptions and prejudices of the rest of the world. Sometimes our fellow Christians don’t treat us with the love of Jesus, and of course, that hurts. But we forgive them for that. After all, we don’t always act lovingly either.

I have to ask myself, "Who is the tolerant Christian here?"  It seems like every time the Christian faith hammers someone for being different, the victims show more of that tender love of Christ than their detractors.  An extreme example of this would be those saints that died at the hands of other Christians for not renouncing their "faith," or beliefs.  Such strong faith seems to be what holds the Gay community steadfast to Christianity.  I, for one, applaud them for their temerity.   

I have written much in support of the LGBT+ community.  I wish them all the best as they move forward.  I would hope, however, that more will display the values I have read on the Gay Christian Network site.  I would hope, and pray, that straight Christians will do more than just pay their Bible "lip service" and actually practice the sweet love of Jesus Christ.  Historically, this has proven not to be the case.  Even the Vatican still struggles with the issue of homosexuality, even though Pope Francis has asked for a kinder, gentler, viewpoint.    

But then, this is all just my opinion.  I could be wrong.

If you would like more information concerning the Gay Christian Network, please follow this link:  https://www.gaychristian.net/index.php? 

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 view any more right or wrong than the other. Opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form their own opinions, 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 an alternate viewpoint.

I fervently hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions while engaging in peaceful and constructive discussion in an arena of mutual respect concerning those opinions offered. After twenty-three years of military intelligence, I believe that engaging each other in this manner, and in this arena, is a 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 22 years with United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. Following his service career, he spent 17 years working with the premier and world-renowned Western Institutional Review Board, helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved in pharmaceutical research. He also served 8 years on the Board of Directors for the Angela J. Bowen Foundation.

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 a weapon for his war on intolerance, he chose the pen. He wages 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 personal, spiritual path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteered as the lead chaplain at a regional medical center.

Feel free to contact Pastor Tony at: tolerantpastor@gmail.com