Being Christian and also supporting gay rights

[LeaningIntoTheMuse]

This is my biggest issue with Christianity.

 

I was raised Episcopalian, and I believe a lot of what is written in the bible. However, I find it horrifying that gay and lesbian, not to mention transgendered, rights are considered poorly in the religious context.

 

I am a huge LGBT supporter, and belong to several mailing lists and support groups. I also donate whatever money I can.

 

I am straight (I've flirted with the idea that I'm Bi before, but I'm definitely not.) However, how do I accept that a lot of my fellow Christians are homophobic? How do I accept that they're not acting the way that Jesus would have wanted them to? Jesus loved everybody, and practiced tolerance; he wouldn't have been cool with hating gay people.

 

How do I get past this, and accept my faith, when it's so judgmental?

[desertIslandCactus]

This is my biggest issue with Christianity.

 

I was raised Episcopalian, and I believe a lot of what is written in the bible. However, I find it horrifying that gay and lesbian, not to mention transgendered, rights are considered poorly in the religious context.

 

I am a huge LGBT supporter, and belong to several mailing lists and support groups. I also donate whatever money I can.

 

I am straight (I've flirted with the idea that I'm Bi before, but I'm definitely not.) However, how do I accept that a lot of my fellow Christians are homophobic? How do I accept that they're not acting the way that Jesus would have wanted them to? Jesus loved everybody, and practiced tolerance; he wouldn't have been cool with hating gay people.

 

How do I get past this, and accept my faith, when it's so judgmental?

 

 

Everyone wants it their way. The closer people get to God, the more they revere Him and His Word.

 

I am pro-life and hate baby killing. Others judge me for my stand. But I know abortion is not of God.

 

Jesus loved, but He also preached.

 

I would consider Mike Huckabee an example. A very nice loving man, but he is vocal on the diff between right and wrong. Christians should also teach, as he does.

[GorillaTheater]

I consider myself to be a Christian, but a half-assed one in many respects so take what I say with a pillar of salt.

 

Homosexuality is considered to be a sin, but not necessarily worse and even "less worse" than the myriad of other sins, most of which I've been guilty of at one time or another. I get no more upset about homosexuality than I do drunkeness, anger, selfishness, pride, lust, etc. I think many Christians zero in on homosexualtiy without addressing the sins in their own lives. Me, I support gay marriage and gay rights, just as I support civil rights for those who get drunk, get angry, are selfish, are prideful, and lust after the hot chick in the halter top. If we were to deny civil rights to everyone who sins, nobody has any rights.

 

I think my view is supported in the Bible. Take this passage concerning Sodom for example:

 

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%2016:48-50;&version=NIV;

 

“‘Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy. They were haughty and did detestable things before me."

 

If "detestable things" refers to homosexuality, it takes last place behind arrogance, eating too much, and not caring including not caring about the poor and needy. This tells me that God is more concerned about these things, which should hit home to most of us in the US, than our sexual orientation.

[Feelin Frisky]

To me Jesus Christ is not to be worshiped--he is to be emulated. This is the critical distinction which unfortunately has been gotten wrong since Christ's appearance. I flatly reject that Jesus performed any of the "miracles" that have been attributed to him in the new testament. If he were at all about suspending the laws of physics and nature to grant favors and prove his own super-nature, he would have flown out of the sky in a golden chariot working miracles from on high to the masses below. But he didn't. And the laws of physics and nature have NEVER been suspended--much less in the quirky little gestures of multiplying fishes et al. Christ was a human being. And he never asserted that he was more than that. He led by example and paid the ultimate price. We all do him a disservice by believing him super-natural and holding out that somehow he'll return to do an unfinished job. He was a human being. And what was in him that made him a great human being is inside us. We just need to get off our knees and get on the ball to found out where that greatness is in us and how to fulfill it.

 

The church has been evil to keep mankind on its knees all this time. And being on our knees has let evil run free with little if any resistance. The return of Jesus is simply a matter of realizing that he never left--what made him Christ is inside of us but we need reject god as a super-power to be "of god" in our potentials with each other, a paradox which so few have had the courage to risk. I for one would be willing to brave the crucifix to change that as the only thing I truly believe is that humanity could be so great if we value each other and live to facilitate each other so much more than we do. This is also why I'm so against the "rightist" ethos of trying to die with the most toys while our fellow man is denied a subsistence. The human condition will always be on the verge of destruction when that kind of ignorance reigns. And guess what? The right are the ones who think they have a monopoly on god. They really have a lock on anti-Cristianism.

[Cee]

The Bible preaches poverty as the path to heaven, but I don't see anybody damning multi-millionaires to hell. Personally, I think the greatest injustice is when people have more than their fair share of resources, while others suffer and die.

 

I think most people develop their own values and ethical guides in regard to larger institutions, including religion. I am saddened when religious institutions support the persecution of people who are gay, lesbian, and bisexual and not say a word about corporations and governments denying people basic needs like water, food, shelter, and medical care.

 

I believe in spirituality that uplifts all people to their greatest potential, in connection not conflict with the earth. I don't really know what religion that would be called - I pretty much borrow from everywhere, including my own idealism and imagination.

[Duckduckgoose]

It is God's job to deal with sinners, not humans. Being gay is not violating any laws so why do we try to hold homosexuals down?

 

I know some gay Christians. They have sinned just like every other Christian has sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God. Do we deny liars or adulterers the right to marry or serve in the military? No... so why deny homosexuals?

[Trojan John]

Isn't it amazing how what you're told to believe is moral is often contradictory to what you actually believe to be moral?

[skydiveaddict]

 

how do I accept that a lot of my fellow Christians are homophobic?

 

How do I get past this, and accept my faith, when it's so judgmental?

 

 

"homophobia" implies a fear of homosexuals. Ask your christian friends if they are indeed afraid of homosexuals.

 

The Episcopal church has recently ordained many lesbian and homosexual ministers. I think you need to read up more on your church.

[johan]

"homophobia" implies a fear of homosexuals. Ask your christian friends if they are indeed afraid of homosexuals.

 

The Episcopal church has recently ordained many lesbian and homosexual ministers. I think you need to read up more on your church.

 

Homophobia is not fear of homosexuality in others. It's fear of homosexuality in oneself. It's typical to judge people most harshly when they have traits you recognize in yourself and hate. That's homophobia.

[taiko]

It is God's job to deal with sinners, not humans. Being gay is not violating any laws so why do we try to hold homosexuals down?

 

I know some gay Christians. They have sinned just like every other Christian has sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God. Do we deny liars or adulterers the right to marry or serve in the military? No... so why deny homosexuals?

 

Article 134 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. It is illegal for a soldier

[skydiveaddict]

Homophobia is not fear of homosexuality in others. It's fear of homosexuality in oneself. It's typical to judge people most harshly when they have traits you recognize in yourself and hate. That's homophobia.

 

 

Where did you come up with that?

Edited February 23, 2011 by skydiveaddict

[johan]

Where did you come up with that?

 

That's the true definition of the term. A homophobe is a hyper-masculine guy who is irrationally hostile to gay men because of issues he has with his own sexuality. It's either hatred of what they represent for him personally or acting out to convince others he could never be gay.

 

Homophobe is not the right term to use for people who have problems with homosexuality on moral grounds. And few people are afraid of gay men outright, but they may be afraid of what they could do to society. That's not homophobia.

[skydiveaddict]

ok, since you didn't read the last definition here's another, from Websters dictionary: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/homophobia

Edited February 23, 2011 by skydiveaddict

[AmySheaves]

Dear LeaningIntoTheMuse

 

"Jesus loved everybody, and practiced tolerance; he wouldn't have been cool with hating gay people. How do I get past this, and accept my faith, when it's so judgmental?"

 

You've answered your question...we aren't called to be like each other, but to be like Him...loving, accepting, understanding. This is all that matters: to be like Christ.

 

My advice is to find a more forward thinking church, or to just accept that the whole issue of LGBT still has a long way to come in the secular world let alone the church! You are only accountable for your actions.

[LeaningIntoTheMuse]

It is the word of GOD, are you telling me that you are now allowed to just pick and choose what parts of the Bible you like and what parts you don't like? That completely debunks the entire reason you put faith in the Bible as the word of God. If you are questioning the laws laid down in the religion you have chosen to follow, maybe you should start questioning whether or not any of it is moral?

 

Jesus didn't preach hate.

 

While I can understand that homosexuality *might be* unnatural, I don't believe that God hates homosexuals. I believe that, if Jesus were around today, he'd be standing out there waving "Equal rights for everyone!" signs, just like all GLBT supporters.

 

It just bugs me how some Christians are so...judgmental. They refuse to accept that maybe there are some things they don't know.

 

And the bible is the word of God, but written by man. I believe some things got mistranslated along the way. Should we all go out and stone adulterers?

[max2go]

.....as has already been pointed out, the Bible was written by man, but if one believes in the teachings of Christ, he was reputed to have said "judge not, lest ye be judged" and "let you have not sinned cast the lst stone" etc. Who of us are in any position to condemn anyone,especially for their sexuality or those who have problems with their gender. These people have enough to contend with and are just like anyone else, Christianity has taught, spirits in the form of flesh - Christians believe they are created in God's image, so that must include everyone!

Those who condemn and judge others will themselves receive the very same treatment - and thats karma...........so no need to worry about others attitudes, just live by your own beliefs and leave them to theirs:)

[austyre]

Homophobia is not fear of homosexuality in others. It's fear of homosexuality in oneself. It's typical to judge people most harshly when they have traits you recognize in yourself and hate. That's homophobia.

wow that was quite interesting message thanks:)

[Ross MwcFan]

This is my biggest issue with Christianity.

 

I was raised Episcopalian, and I believe a lot of what is written in the bible. However, I find it horrifying that gay and lesbian, not to mention transgendered, rights are considered poorly in the religious context.

 

I am a huge LGBT supporter, and belong to several mailing lists and support groups. I also donate whatever money I can.

 

I am straight (I've flirted with the idea that I'm Bi before, but I'm definitely not.) However, how do I accept that a lot of my fellow Christians are homophobic? How do I accept that they're not acting the way that Jesus would have wanted them to? Jesus loved everybody, and practiced tolerance; he wouldn't have been cool with hating gay people.

 

How do I get past this, and accept my faith, when it's so judgmental?

 

I think you'd be better off ditching your faith. Just what you're saying now about how they view gays proves that the religion is poisonous.

[Buddha]

Jesus loved everybody, and practiced tolerance; he wouldn't have been cool with hating gay people.

 

This is, if you'll forgive the pun, not quite straight.

 

Jesus was a deeply loving and compassionate man, that is correct. Jesus practiced tolerance, this is true in many ways, but Jesus also whooped hardcore ass when the spirit moved him to do so. He called various people hypocrites, vipers and told them they had turned the house of God (the temple) into a place of desolation.

 

So Jesus did NOT tolerate everything, this is flat out not scriptural, if that's your reference.

 

Think about this phrase: "Think not that I come to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword." What do you think that could mean? That everyone was fine to do whatever they wanted and Jesus would not challenge them?

 

However, you are correct to say that Jesus does not support hatred of any kind. Instead, he encourages people to support those who are still learning to find the spiritual balance between their masculine and feminine sides.

Edited April 8, 2011 by Buddha

[Taramere]

This is my biggest issue with Christianity....

 

How do I get past this, and accept my faith, when it's so judgmental?

 

I don't see how you can regard it as a faith, if you don't have faith in it as the absolute authority on everything. If it's you faith then you believe in it lock, stock and barrel. If there are aspects of its teaching that you have questioned thoroughly and find yourself unable to accept as morally or intellectually correct then it's no longer your faith. It becomes a philosophy that is important to you, but that does not completely govern how you think and conduct yourself.

 

I guess if is still your primary source of moral guidance then there's no reason that you can't call yourself a Christian...but you'd be a Christian in terms of following many aspects of the philosophy Christ taught but ultimately retaining independence from it, rather than giving yourself over to completely, it in the manner that people are supposed to do with faiths.