I am from China, needing supports!

[shechina]

Hi, there:

Thanks.
May God bless all
Sheshe

[Steven E. Webster]

Here is an excellent source for information about the Bible and Homosexuality from Mel White elsewhere on this website.

http://www.soulforce.org/article/homosexuality-bible-gay-christian

There are many other scholarly sources that provide a positive viewpoint on the Bible and the inclusion of gay people in God's beloved community. Looks like we should share some of those in this discussion, because there are people who are in need.

Anyone else know of other good on-line resources on the Bible and homosexuality that take a positive view towards gay people?

Steven Webster

[Jamie McDaniel]

Welcome shechina!

Here is one of my favorites from the Baptist Peace Fellowship:

St. Peter and the Jerusalem Protocol (http://www.bpfna.org/stpeter)

[BruceChris]

You may wish to read this thread, it was started by a man from the Phillipines.

http://www.soulforce.org/forums/showthread.php?t=1291

He had many of the same questions that you seem to.

Peace and Love, Bruce Chris

[dewdrop_world]

Welcome!

My partner (four years next month!) is Chinese and I'm very familiar with social and family pressures about sexuality. That's a heavy burden. I can also remember when I was first coming out, watching Pat Robertson on the 700 Club, just waiting for him to say something about homosexuality so I could torture myself with the thought, "What if he's right?" (And my religious upbringing is Catholic -- why was I concerned with the Southern Baptist point of view? Looking back, I know exactly why. I don't think I ever really believed him, but he was expressing fears that I had that I couldn't say out loud for myself.) So, I know very well that adding religious pressure can be very painful.

To me, it all comes down to the great commandment -- to love God with your whole heart, whole soul and whole mind, and to love your neighbor as yourself. Those last two words are easy to overlook, but I think they're crucial. Can you truly love your neighbor if you don't love yourself? Which leads the point I made on the thread BruceChris posted:

- What does it mean to trust God completely? My opinion is that obsessing over commandments, as fundamentalists do, suggests a lack of trust in God, as if one must "earn" God's favor through "good behavior." What is it like to trust in God without that anxiety?

- What does it take for you to love yourself fully, as a child of God?

- If loving yourself fully, as a child of God, means that you embrace your sexuality (I don't think everyone must necessarily embrace it, but most of us do), then what is more important? Obeying scripture or religious authority to the detriment of your relationship with God and with yourself, or worshipping God even when others don't recognize God in it?

Just a few thoughts for now... please write in again if you can!

James

[Zerbie]

Hello.

I am sorry to read that you feel guilt and pain. Please remember that God knows exactly who and how and what you are. God always has known. If God didn't want you in the world, you wouldn't be here. Since you're here, you know you are wanted.

I believe that we honor God by the worship we hold in our hearts. That there are many people in the world who we do not know about who uphold the great teachings, and that some of the people around them fail to see that they are sons of God. Listen not to the things that people around you say, but listen to your heart and listen for the word of God everywhere you can (the Bible and other books, the natural world, and especially your private prayers and meditation.) Get as close as you can to the Source and see what happens then to your questions.
:pray:

[R.J. Diaz III]

check out these sights:

go to "iwgonline.org" then choose the section named "Documents" (it will be on the right-hand side of you screen, or at least it was for me) in this sections you will find a number of articles dealing with sexuality. look at the titles "what was the sin of sodom" and also "response to the judicial charge"

peace