In all my posts

[K-Dog]

Before I go on too long and offend too many people, I want to make plain my intention in what I am doing. It is my number one life goal to change how the gay community and the church see one another for the better. When I say something, it is usually coming from a point of view of Christianity because I am a Christian. What I have seen in the past has always been animosity between the church and gay people. It is in movies, on tv shows, and in the news all over. And it sickens me. What I see is the fault of the church, but assigning blame isn't going to make things any better.

Sin can be defined only in your own heart. When your heart is screaming at you to not do something and you do it anyway, or if it is telling you to do something and you refuse that is the core of sin. The problem is that most people are taught to fear and distrust gay people. That a homosexual is always trying to have sex with every man they see and convert them to homosexuality as well. This is of course ridiculous, but there was a time when such ridiculous ideas as a flat earth and other crazy things were very widely accepted and taught. It doesn't make it right, but it does make it popular. It is human nature to automatically believe your way is the right way and to try to get others to believe that too.

If nothing else from what I say matters, this does. Not everyone in the church is against the gay community. There are bigots and haters in the church, no question, but it is a relative few among many.

[Pablo Rafael]

Hi Keith,

Since I did not say hi to your welcome post, I will do so here. Glad to have you on the forums.

I agree with you 100%. There should be no gulf between gays and Christians. The hostility between the two groups is totally unnecessary. I for one am happily a member of both groups.

As much as I would like to think that the church influences our culture, I think it is the other way around. American society has historically been very homophobic; the church went along with that idea. Now as society is changing so is Christianity. Churches are among the last organizations to adopt a new mindset and are therefore the last holdouts of the homophobic ideas of times past.

I am an Episcopalian and have seen great progress toward inclusiveness in the Episcopal church. There is still work to be done, but there is hope.

Sin exists, and I agree with you that it is not so much breaking a list of rules as it is an attitude of the heart. But as strong as sin is, the grace and love of God is so much more powerful. And that grace is given to all, not just to those who deserve it; if that were the case, we would all be lost.

Besides churches need the gays. We always spruce the place up a bit.

Tu Amigo, Pablo

[Gennee]

Actually the church should be influencing the culture. That changed with the advent of the Industrial Revolution. I'm pleased that the Episcopalians are becoming more accepting of GLBT persons. What I'm often reminded of is that living a testimony is better than all the preachig that is done.

Gennee

[Alecto]

Worth noting: there are gay Christians, and there are versions of pretty much every kind of Christianity that are open / affirming. You might look into groups like Dignity, the Metropolitan Community Churches, etc.

You're not the first nor the only one looking to reconcile the beliefs, anyway.

[tymejumper]

Maybe if we all try it could make a difference. It starts little by little. Read my post in the forum about the pastors wife. People judge on stereotypes that they are taught and it is up to our children, the next generation to change things by getting to know us as gay individuals and most importantly humans. I am hoping we can all make a difference.

Oh by and by welcome to soulforce, i usually dont get to say hi to all the newbies......

[Rick336]

Originally Posted by Pablo Rafael

Besides churches need the gays. We always spruce the place up a bit.

I bet there's a high percentage of stained glass window designers who date choir directors or church organists.

Rick