"A [person] cannot be bludgeoned by vulgar threats of damnation, into accepting that what other people say is true."

Leslie Weatherhead,
The Christian Agnostic

I received another piece of damnation via email again tonight. One thing these letters have in common is the author's conviction that I have not read my Bible, and that I am fooling myself into thinking that homosexuality is not condemned by the Bible. Then, there comes the inevitable, ultimate piece of damnation. Since I "obviously know nothing about the Bible" and continue to "live a life of sin" [Hello? Do these people know anything about me?] then I've got my one way ticket to Hell all stamped and ready to go.

Excuse me while I roll my eyes. I will not be "bludgeoned by vulgar threats of damnation, into accepting what other people say is true." I wrote this particular letter writer back only one line: "Thank you for expressing your opinion." He returned my letter with the words, "It's the truth, you need to read it." Oh, and read it I did ... I thanked him again ... for his opinion.

His truth is not my truth ... and there's nothing in the Bible that says it has to be. We are told to work out our own salvation "with fear and trembling." I take that very seriously. I have worked years to work out my own salvation as a lesbian and a Christian. I've done that by [gasp!] reading the Bible, studying its words and what it's really saying about homosexuality. I've worked out my own salvation by recognizing the Holy Spirit constantly at work in my life, guiding me, comforting me and above all, teaching me God's will for my life. Not once has God told me I'm wrong being gay. Not once has God demanded that I renounce my sexuality. Not once has God turned God's back on me because I continue to be a lesbian. I'll take my very real experiences of God's love over another person's "truth" anyday of the week.

This is my truth, my friends: God has blessed me ... yes, me ... a "practicing, self-avowed homosexual." I will not be bludgeoned by vulgar threats of damnation. Your truth is not my truth ... and vice versa. That's the beauty of God ... and God's grace. We don't have to hold the same truths to hold God in our hearts.

Blessings,
Candace