Yesterday, I read a diary written by The Nephew in which he told his personal story of faith in light of his sexuality. He openly discussed how sometimes he struggles to reconcile his sexual identity with his religious path.
I started to comment in his diary and soon realized that my comment was long enough to be a diary. I tried to post this diary yesterday, but ran into some pretty strange issues with the diary editor... (The diary published but didn't show up on the list). I'm re-posting with hope that other Gay Christians will find the information useful. With that, I'd like to start with a video.
More after the jump...
There are various liberal Christians (including myself) who understand that the Bible was written by people who didn't have an understanding of science, medicine, or human sexuality. The book most Christians have grown to revere is now viewed by many theologians as a historical snapshot of how an ancient civilization understood the nature of God. Rather than viewing the Bible as the literal Word of God, many believers now know that the Bible is the Word of Humanity as we've tried to know and experience divinity.
We don't run from history, science or truth... Although we wish the Bible were all-encompassing, reliable truth about the world, we embrace that it can no longer be viewed as the definitive resource for how human life and relationships should be understood. We know that if it were such a resource, then we would be stoning our disobedient children (Deuteronomy 21:18-21), refusing to eat shellfish (Leviticus 11:9-12) and avoiding interwoven fabrics (Leviticus 19) when shopping for clothing.
There are arguments like the ones found on ReligiousTolerance.org that discuss how the "clobber verses" have been mistranslated over time. There are also organizations like the Gay Christian Network that work hard to affirm and nurture those who wish to walk the Christian path. There are ministers like Rev. Yvette Flunder who understand that God doesn't have to be an "Either/Or" or "One Answer" God...
There are Open and Affirming denominations such as the United Church of Christ and the Unitarian Universalist Church that welcome gays into their congregations, worship proudly with same sex couples, perform same-sex marriages, and embrace gay clergy. (I noticed in The Nephew's most recent diary that he is considering this option. I applaud his willingness to step outside the box.)
There are new movements in Christianity, such as the Emergent Church, that welcome those who are trying to reconcile faith with modern life. In the Emergent church, congregants discuss God, the Bible, history, and science. They embrace that each person must walk his or her own path, and through the journey of life, we may all come to different conclusions about God, life, and eternity. And by the way, this is okay... As Dr. Smedes says, "There's a Wideness in God's Mercy." See video... (Note to viewer: This video is about 28 minutes long, but worth every millisecond you'll spend watching it.)
Take it from me (a former Bible thumping, rapture ready, fundamentalist), it is possible for Christians of all backgrounds to truly have life and have it abundantly. I would invite you to explore your faith outside the context of your conservative background. In doing so, it will be easier for you to see how great you are and how much God really does love you. There will always be people in this world, who (as Rev. Flunder said) will not accept you because you don't accept their limited concept of the "Either/Or" God... But there will be many others who, like Dr. Lewis B. Smedes, understand that there is A Wideness in God's Mercy.
John Shelby Spong (a controversial liberal theologian) said that we are crazy to believe that we can confine the nature of God, His will, and all of His opinions into a 66 book Bible. I invite you to consider this as well.
I know that dKos is not usually welcoming of diaries with religious themes, but when I read The Nephew's diary, I couldn't help but think about the number of gays who are interested in exploring the Christian experience apart from the dogma and hatred we see every day. I would like to submit to you that there are Christians who don't view the world through the lens of fundamentalism. My prayer for you is that you'll find peace in whatever path you choose.
Links to Explore:
- Worldwide Affirming Church Directory
- Black Affirming Churches
- Bishop John Shelby Spong on Homosexuality
- Soulforce
- Sojourners
- Living the Questions
- Whosoever Magazine
Clarification: The Unitarian Universalist Church is an interfaith organization that focuses on encouraging meaningful discussions about faith and humanity. While it welcomes Christians and hosts a weekly service, it is not a "denomination" in the traditional sense of the word. Thanks to Arakiba for pointing that out.