I am more than just livid.

[KriLankaLadyLoo]

I am absolutely shattered, all because of one person who treats me like I've got some disease or an addiction I can't shake. I'm supposed to trust this person, since I am supposed to go on a mission trip with him as my leader, but after tonight, I don't see how I can. This person is my pastor, and he made it very clear tonight that he believes homosexuality is a sin.

I won't say I didn't see this coming, because I did. I tried fighting it, leaving it up to God to take care of it instead of me. I tried to keep it between God and me, but good ol' Satan couldn't keep it that way.

My pastor wants me to see a counselor and get help. Get help? For what? For being gay? Homosexuality is not a disease, nor an addiction, nor something one can fix. Either you are or you aren't, just like the color of your skin. How ridiculous are those who think otherwise.

I didn't choose to have romantic feelings for the same sex, and there are so many others out there who didn't choose that either. I didn't choose to be discriminated for something that so many people hate, all because they just don't understand. I am who I am, yet my pastor believes that's just some kind of cop out.

If I were truly copping out, I'd live a straight life. I wouldn't follow my heart. I'd date only men, and I would get married to one someday. I wouldn't give women a second glance romantically. I wouldn't think about certain ones as possibly being my wife someday, or what my life will be like when I'm in my sixties and can hopefully live my life without that ugly discrimination all around me.

I am not a cop out because of my sexuality. I am not a cop out because of my proud display of rainbows, pink triangles, and equality signs. I am not a sinner because I have romantic feelings for girls. I am not disobeying God because of any of that. Instead I am fighting the enemy - the misinformed, the ignorant, the ones like my pastor who simply have no idea. Let me tell you that this battle is not winless, that I am far from alone. I will keep fighting for the ones not able to fight. I will continue to follow the God who loves me and accepts me, the one who made me this way, despite the others who are quick to judge. I will continue to fight the injustice that laid out before me. May God bless me on the path He has so lovingly given me. May God bless those who don't understand, don't know what my life, what OUR lives, are like. May God open their hearts to His unfaltering love and change their lives like he has begun to change mine.

God bless you, Pastor Beau. Thanks for the eye-opener. Thanks for helping me find the fire in my belly to continue fighting my fight. I'll remember you when the GLBT community stands victorious through the grace of God.

[BruceChris]

I cannot imagine being in your place. Your pastor sounds more and more like those we used to call a Pharisee, or even a Philistine.

More and more evidence is showing us that for the first few weeks, we ALL have the same body, that our sexual anatomy, our gender identity, and our sexual orientation are formed at different times, and in different ways.

It is even true that all of these things are not always affected by whether we have XX or XY chromosomes. I wish that I could offer you true emotional support, and not just cold facts. I am sure that other members here will do so.

Peace and Love, Bruce Chris

[antiochian]

What you wrote was very moving. I admire your determination and courage. Kudos to you for realizing your intellectual and spiritual right to question what Rev. X says in the pulpit.

I find it so ironic that these people see themselves as "speaking the truth in love." Yet, that so-called truth in love leads to rejection by loved ones, self-hatred, loss of hope in self/others/God, and sadly to suicide. People are so afraid to question what they've always taken to be a given. They make the Bible appear as nothing more than a dead book of cold facts--regulations. Their "god" is not the "philanthropos" I was taught to believe in, but a judge with a gavel.

[Rick336]

Originally Posted by KriLankaLadyLoo

I am absolutely shattered, all because of one person who treats me like I've got some disease or an addiction I can't shake. I'm supposed to trust this person, since I am supposed to go on a mission trip with him as my leader, but after tonight, I don't see how I can. This person is my pastor, and he made it very clear tonight that he believes homosexuality is a sin.

I won't say I didn't see this coming, because I did. I tried fighting it, leaving it up to God to take care of it instead of me. I tried to keep it between God and me, but good ol' Satan couldn't keep it that way.

My pastor wants me to see a counselor and get help. Get help? For what? For being gay? Homosexuality is not a disease, nor an addiction, nor something one can fix. Either you are or you aren't, just like the color of your skin. How ridiculous are those who think otherwise.

I didn't choose to have romantic feelings for the same sex, and there are so many others out there who didn't choose that either. I didn't choose to be discriminated for something that so many people hate, all because they just don't understand. I am who I am, yet my pastor believes that's just some kind of cop out.

If I were truly copping out, I'd live a straight life. I wouldn't follow my heart. I'd date only men, and I would get married to one someday. I wouldn't give women a second glance romantically. I wouldn't think about certain ones as possibly being my wife someday, or what my life will be like when I'm in my sixties and can hopefully live my life without that ugly discrimination all around me.

I am not a cop out because of my sexuality. I am not a cop out because of my proud display of rainbows, pink triangles, and equality signs. I am not a sinner because I have romantic feelings for girls. I am not disobeying God because of any of that. Instead I am fighting the enemy - the misinformed, the ignorant, the ones like my pastor who simply have no idea. Let me tell you that this battle is not winless, that I am far from alone. I will keep fighting for the ones not able to fight. I will continue to follow the God who loves me and accepts me, the one who made me this way, despite the others who are quick to judge. I will continue to fight the injustice that laid out before me. May God bless me on the path He has so lovingly given me. May God bless those who don't understand, don't know what my life, what OUR lives, are like. May God open their hearts to His unfaltering love and change their lives like he has begun to change mine.

God bless you, Pastor Beau. Thanks for the eye-opener. Thanks for helping me find the fire in my belly to continue fighting my fight. I'll remember you when the GLBT community stands victorious through the grace of God.

Keep up the fight!! We're behind you.

Rick

[scott snedeker]

Your sense of entitlement is outraged! That's very normal! Be grateful that you can sense when your right to live and thrive is being trespassed! Feel your rage and revel in it, knowing that your spirit is free and entitled!

[BruceChris]

There is no such thing as pure Binary gender. Never has been, and never will be. I assume that you got my email, yesterday.

Peace and Love, Bruce Chris

[scott snedeker]

[marcdash]

Originally Posted by KriLankaLadyLoo

I am absolutely shattered, all because of one person who treats me like I've got some disease or an addiction I can't shake. I'm supposed to trust this person, since I am supposed to go on a mission trip with him as my leader, but after tonight, I don't see how I can. This person is my pastor, and he made it very clear tonight that he believes homosexuality is a sin.

I won't say I didn't see this coming, because I did. I tried fighting it, leaving it up to God to take care of it instead of me. I tried to keep it between God and me, but good ol' Satan couldn't keep it that way.

My pastor wants me to see a counselor and get help. Get help? For what? For being gay? Homosexuality is not a disease, nor an addiction, nor something one can fix. Either you are or you aren't, just like the color of your skin. How ridiculous are those who think otherwise.

I didn't choose to have romantic feelings for the same sex, and there are so many others out there who didn't choose that either. I didn't choose to be discriminated for something that so many people hate, all because they just don't understand. I am who I am, yet my pastor believes that's just some kind of cop out.

If I were truly copping out, I'd live a straight life. I wouldn't follow my heart. I'd date only men, and I would get married to one someday. I wouldn't give women a second glance romantically. I wouldn't think about certain ones as possibly being my wife someday, or what my life will be like when I'm in my sixties and can hopefully live my life without that ugly discrimination all around me.

I am not a cop out because of my sexuality. I am not a cop out because of my proud display of rainbows, pink triangles, and equality signs. I am not a sinner because I have romantic feelings for girls. I am not disobeying God because of any of that. Instead I am fighting the enemy - the misinformed, the ignorant, the ones like my pastor who simply have no idea. Let me tell you that this battle is not winless, that I am far from alone. I will keep fighting for the ones not able to fight. I will continue to follow the God who loves me and accepts me, the one who made me this way, despite the others who are quick to judge. I will continue to fight the injustice that laid out before me. May God bless me on the path He has so lovingly given me. May God bless those who don't understand, don't know what my life, what OUR lives, are like. May God open their hearts to His unfaltering love and change their lives like he has begun to change mine.

God bless you, Pastor Beau. Thanks for the eye-opener. Thanks for helping me find the fire in my belly to continue fighting my fight. I'll remember you when the GLBT community stands victorious through the grace of God.

Delight in persecutions and trials.
Just because someone is a religious teacher doesn't make them any better or worse than anyone else. Jesus came down on them the hardest and used a child as an example of the type of person who enters the Kingdom.
To me, love is the most important, more important than faith, if only Christians would practice that more they wouldnt have time to use the bible to support their own predjudices. When gay people got mentioned in my old church there was always the little sniggers and titters of laughter from the churchgoers....that should tell you what kind of arrogance, ignorance, hypocricy, stupididy etc etc that were all dealing with here.
But wisdom is proved right by her actions says Jesus and im very sad to say that not one of them truly knew what love is, they were proud, boastful, arrogant...all the stuff that Jesus and Paul warned against...worshipping God with their lips but theyre hearts far from him...You know they used to pray and pray for HOURS but never once actually went OUT THERE and offered ANYONE a helping hand...
Who is my neighbour? Everyone...Very sad, because its when we love most (love covers a multitude of sins) that the really great stuff happens.

[Dakota]

Conservative Christians will stop hating us and trying to change us and start loving us and accepting us for who we truly are: Brothers and sisters in Christ who stand at the Right Hand of God.