OK, Jotters. To get things out of the way, I need to tell you all that this is going to be a controversial post, but every Christian blog gets to it at some point, and I thought it was time. In this post I will be talking about my support for the gay community.
Now before you go all "That's blasphemous!" or "It's a sin against God!" please hear me out. I know that it's not the popular view of most Christian blogs and talks.You know how I said that I had been taking some time to myself for a while this summer? Well this was one of the subjects I stumbled upon, and a subject I thought needed some research and clarification for my spiritual journey for answers.
A lot of us in the church have been told that homosexuality is a sin and that all sinners go to hell unless they repent themselves to God and agree that their sin is wrong, right? Well ever since I was in middle school, I thought that the preachings about homosexuality were too blurred and not specific enough to my liking. It was like they were completely condemning a group of people who were humans just like all the rest of us in the church or not in the church. This honestly made no sense to me in the least, no matter how many times I was told it's a sin and it's a sin to support it. How can a group of people who are taught about the love of Jesus and how we are supposed to share the love of Jesus (i.e. Christians) ignore people who's biggest wish is to feel that same love and acceptance (i.e. homosexuals)?
I felt it was time to completely turn the tables on what I had been taught since birth and my very own belief that being gay was an act that needed to be punishable by us humans and completely looked down upon. Now, wouldn't you say that's blasphemous? In my own opinion, from what I've read in the Bible, God is the ultimate judge and ALL humans are sinful. So therefore, we have absolutely no authority in the least to judge another human being as long as, we too, are sinful (and it's impossible for us not to be). Here's some verses to explain where I'm coming from.
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Now before you go all "That's blasphemous!" or "It's a sin against God!" please hear me out. I know that it's not the popular view of most Christian blogs and talks.You know how I said that I had been taking some time to myself for a while this summer? Well this was one of the subjects I stumbled upon, and a subject I thought needed some research and clarification for my spiritual journey for answers.
A lot of us in the church have been told that homosexuality is a sin and that all sinners go to hell unless they repent themselves to God and agree that their sin is wrong, right? Well ever since I was in middle school, I thought that the preachings about homosexuality were too blurred and not specific enough to my liking. It was like they were completely condemning a group of people who were humans just like all the rest of us in the church or not in the church. This honestly made no sense to me in the least, no matter how many times I was told it's a sin and it's a sin to support it. How can a group of people who are taught about the love of Jesus and how we are supposed to share the love of Jesus (i.e. Christians) ignore people who's biggest wish is to feel that same love and acceptance (i.e. homosexuals)?
I felt it was time to completely turn the tables on what I had been taught since birth and my very own belief that being gay was an act that needed to be punishable by us humans and completely looked down upon. Now, wouldn't you say that's blasphemous? In my own opinion, from what I've read in the Bible, God is the ultimate judge and ALL humans are sinful. So therefore, we have absolutely no authority in the least to judge another human being as long as, we too, are sinful (and it's impossible for us not to be). Here's some verses to explain where I'm coming from.
"Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you
pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be
measured to you." -Matthew 7:1-2
"There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you--who are you to judge your neighbor?" -James 4:12
"There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you--who are you to judge your neighbor?" -James 4:12
"Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law." -Romans 13:8
I think you get my drift.Yes, I may have some of your negative energy flowing through the computer trying to bite my head off right now, but let's be real, people.
Let's completely forget about the topic of homosexuality for a few and use another situation like....couples having children before they're married (ex. teenage moms, cohabiting couples, etc). In today's American society, this is extremely popular, and in many churches this has become completely acceptable because children are a miracle of God, and we can just let that slide with no judgement or punishment. Am I saying they deserve punishment? Of course not. But why is it ok to show them love when they've done something that the church should be preaching as wrong because it states in the Bible "But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband" (1 Corinthian 7:2). I hope you're following where I'm going with this.
This is what really ticks me off with how the church and Christian community operates today. They show love to everything single sinful human being on the entire planet, but when it comes to homosexuals, they're cast down as, basically, demons to the devil. Ya, harsh, but it's reality. Seriously, what gave us the right to turn them down love and hope when Jesus himself would have done the very thing we're afraid or too prideful to do? I can't even express how hurt I am that this is happening in our church and schools and Bible studies and everywhere we can think of. The secular world, anyone who is not Christian or simply does not believe in any sort of organized religion, show them more love than we do! Um, what?!?!? This is the cause for many people to label us Christians as "intolerant" and for many people to turn away from Christianity completely.
Let me clarify where I stand in regards to this article: ALL human beings should be treated with love and respect, NO ONE should be judged based upon their beliefs, lifestyle, or interests, and let's not forget we're ALL sinful. Not just the people who steal or murder or lie. No, EVERYONE sins. Got it???
To sum up my ranting, I believe that Jesus told us to show love to everyone for a reason. Feeling accepted, in my opinion, is the greatest feeling in the entire world. If someone chose to judge me because I like to eat pumpkin flavoring in everything, I'd be hurt and confused as to why they have a right to judge my choices. So let's show the world what Christians are REALLY made of, people who have nothing to give but love and hope, not a bunch of stuffy, intolerant, overly-religious nuts. Jesus would have wanted it that way.
<3
For more articles on this point of view, click on the titles below. They're convicting.
Be careful what verses you use.
The look inside the heart of a gay Christian.
Now that's intolerance...
Someone who questions their faith because they are gay.
I think you get my drift.Yes, I may have some of your negative energy flowing through the computer trying to bite my head off right now, but let's be real, people.
Let's completely forget about the topic of homosexuality for a few and use another situation like....couples having children before they're married (ex. teenage moms, cohabiting couples, etc). In today's American society, this is extremely popular, and in many churches this has become completely acceptable because children are a miracle of God, and we can just let that slide with no judgement or punishment. Am I saying they deserve punishment? Of course not. But why is it ok to show them love when they've done something that the church should be preaching as wrong because it states in the Bible "But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband" (1 Corinthian 7:2). I hope you're following where I'm going with this.
This is what really ticks me off with how the church and Christian community operates today. They show love to everything single sinful human being on the entire planet, but when it comes to homosexuals, they're cast down as, basically, demons to the devil. Ya, harsh, but it's reality. Seriously, what gave us the right to turn them down love and hope when Jesus himself would have done the very thing we're afraid or too prideful to do? I can't even express how hurt I am that this is happening in our church and schools and Bible studies and everywhere we can think of. The secular world, anyone who is not Christian or simply does not believe in any sort of organized religion, show them more love than we do! Um, what?!?!? This is the cause for many people to label us Christians as "intolerant" and for many people to turn away from Christianity completely.
Let me clarify where I stand in regards to this article: ALL human beings should be treated with love and respect, NO ONE should be judged based upon their beliefs, lifestyle, or interests, and let's not forget we're ALL sinful. Not just the people who steal or murder or lie. No, EVERYONE sins. Got it???
To sum up my ranting, I believe that Jesus told us to show love to everyone for a reason. Feeling accepted, in my opinion, is the greatest feeling in the entire world. If someone chose to judge me because I like to eat pumpkin flavoring in everything, I'd be hurt and confused as to why they have a right to judge my choices. So let's show the world what Christians are REALLY made of, people who have nothing to give but love and hope, not a bunch of stuffy, intolerant, overly-religious nuts. Jesus would have wanted it that way.
<3
For more articles on this point of view, click on the titles below. They're convicting.Be careful what verses you use.
The look inside the heart of a gay Christian.
Now that's intolerance...
Someone who questions their faith because they are gay.
