Just wanted to say HI

[mnguy]

I am what you might call a typical conservative Christian Alumni of one of the schools you chose to visit on your EQ ride. Im not hiding anything including my sexuality. I graduated from NCU in 03 and I am completely heterosexual in orientation. I just wanted the chance to let all who participate in the Ride or at all post on the Soulforce forums that I do not have any bad emotions or feelings for any of you. Even though I do not agree at any end with a good portion of your cause, your methods, or lifestyles, and was disappointed at the results of how you guys carried yourselves on our campus (sorry that way to long not to be 3 sentances) I do love you guys. I know in your hearts you are doing what you have examined and found to be what the Lord wants you to. Very simply and not as represenative for my school or my friends, but as Christian who disagrees with a GBLT life style/choice(whatever you decide to call it) I want to apologize for anytime in my life where I might have ever knowingly (none to my knowledge) or unknowingly injured the soul or heart of someone on your side of this issue. I would never want to distract someone from their personal search for the truth. I choose to keep my standing beliefs with no plan to alter them, However this is an issue where I have decided to examine the idividual cases and make a judgement call. If that person is honestly and constantly seeking to know Jesus more each day and letting him be the judge of their soul, then I have to trust the Word that those who truely seek truth are going to find it. I dont assume that seeking truth is going to mean they are going to "see it my way". I just leave that part of the work of the work to the Holy Spirit. I do really love you guys and I do pray for you, not that hes going to change your sexual orientation but that you will have the relationship i know that most involved in this group are truely seeking to grow in. Eph 6:24

[Daniel]

Thanks for your post. There is a lot of generosity in what you write. And that's nice to see posted here.

I only hope your with time (you indicate that you intend your beliefs to remain "standing"- which I take as meaning immutable), that you will be able to see that gay christians as having lives, rather than lifestyles. The latter may be an unfortunate choice of words on your part- and I do not mean to be picky myself here- it's just a simple matter of perspective.

Thank you for bring yours to these forums. I hope we'll hear more from you.

Many blessings to you.

[themattperry]

Welcome! And thank you for your post. I appreciate what you have to say regarding any time you have hurt gay Christians etc ... it feels good to read. In my experience, all are welcome here on this forum, regardless of perspective.

It's funny, though, because i would have to echo Daniel in his observation about your unfortunate choice of words. Some would find the following hightly offensive.

but as Christian who disagrees with a GBLT life style/choice(whatever you decide to call it)

What I call that thing is simply my boring everyday life, or just the way I was created by the living God to make my way through this world. That's my perspective. The question that I always ask folks who say they "disagree" with my life is just ... how would you respond to someone who "disagrees" with your heterosexual lifestyle/choice (whatever you decide to call it) The other question is .... do you even have a "life style/choice"?

More than all of that .... just welcome ... hope you stick around and God bless.

[Zerbie]

Me three. Thanks! I feel positively about your message overall. Me three, I was put-off by "lifestyle choice" - oh my, it's anything but! Perhaps the interpretation that being gay (or queer, bi, lesbian, whatever word one uses) is a neutral issue is an *interpretation* with which you disagree. Pretty hard to disagree with waking up in the morning, going to work, coming home and cooking dinner. . .do you see? *That's* lifestyle.

But all that quibbling aside, I thank you for your sincerity and for the good wishes contained in your note. You remind me of a conversation I recently had at the grocery store while I was buying food. I wear gay pride jewelry & make my support for our "causes" very visible, and a guy who works at the store is what I would term politically anti-gay. He approached me not long ago specifically to offer an apology if anything he has done has hurt me personally. He was sincere. It was obviously hard for him to do and took some real guts. I said I believe we are all going to end up in the right place in the end, that God will take care of us and bring us to where we belong. So it's okay to disagree while we're on our way there.

[mnguy]

I just cannot consider myself a follower of Christ if i do not allow myself to conform to his will and love like i know he would of and still does. Thanks for the obviously sincere welcome to this forum. Also, thanks for pointing out my error in syntax concerning GBLT people. My goal here is not to convert or confront but to know people. I have many regular aquaintances with GBLT people here in the Twin Cities and I only want to understand each individual better. And once again, not for conversion or anything like that. I cannot call myself a Christian if my love isnt allowed to flow freely to everyone I encounter.
I dont know how much I will post on the forums because sometimes opinions might cause strife, necessary or not, to become something else. I joined so I could have the opportunity to add my silly two cents when i feel its okay. Some people are called to stir up things and create difficult debate and for those, I think God will strengthen them and help acheive his purpose. However, :) Im not one of those people, so im just going to keep reading along and trusting God to guide me in my use of words. Thanks again for your welcome. Eph 6:24

[pnggrad79]

I must respectfully disagree with you mnguy about homosexuality being a lifestyle choice. If it is such, then so is heterosexuality. This was not a choice for me. I ran from it for years, pretending to be something I wasn't. If you possibly think that in the social climate all gay people have been brought up in that they willingly jumped out of their closets, you are wrong. The majority of us hid for a long time because we had been beat over the head by so called spirit filled Christians and their 50 lb. bibles. Many of us have had to sacrifice our families and friends because we are gay. Many of us are not allowed to work in churches in the mainstream if we admit we are gay. Those that did come out with no adverse effects-more power to ya. I would daresay the rest of us didn't have it so easy.

Secondly, thank you so much for your welcoming spirit. I pray that as time goes on and the Lord leads you to a deeper understanding that you will come to accept GLBT people as people deeply loved by their Creator.

[mnguy]

I just wanted to make sure everyone on this site knows I do believe and am 100% certain that God does deeply love GBLT people and everyone else in this his creation. I dont think I said otherwise and Im sorry if someone misunderstood me in anyway.