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Readers are an integral part of Whosoever. We appreciate hearing from our readers, whether they have praise or hot coals to heap on our heads. With the new year, we're beginning this new feature of a reader forum. Here's some of the things our readers are saying.
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Editor:
Hi:
It's late and I'm tired and barely coherent (not unusual at any hour,
actually
Tom L.
Editor:
I just wanted to let you know how wonderful I feel your Web site is. I
grew up with many of the same prejudices as many americans toward
Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual people until my eyes were opened by several
members of my own family. I watched my baby brother struggle with being
homosexual and the pain caused by the secular church that should offer
acceptance and love then I watched a grandson and I knew from about age
2 or 3 he was going to be gay. I saw these two beautiful people, both so
kind and loving, and I started to reach out to God and ask for
understanding. I could not believe that something made by God was a
mistake and slowly the words of the Bible were revealed to me and I saw
that God loves all people that we all are born with faults that none are
perfect but it is the blood of Jesus that makes us all perfect in the
eyes of God that covers our sin no matter what it is. We assign weight to
sin, not God, and all of us are as important to God as the next person. I
love what you are doing and I just wanted to say Thank you and God Bless
you.
Love through Christ,
Editor:
Nothing bashing, as I am an open minded person...to
anything that can be
backed, supported, or proven. I still do not agree
at all with
homosexuality or bi-sexuality, and definitely not
transexuality. I read
what you had to say with an open mind, and I will
say you make a few good
points and present your material well, although some
of it is "iffy" and
assertive (well, much like anything even most
Christian views today) and
further research is needed on my part to validate
some things.
Anyway, my
question to you is kind of personal. Does it not
bother you that
homosexuality and transexuality goes completely
against what God has setup
and created and the way He set things to be? If you
just look at the pure
biological and scientific perspective of it, you are
going against nature,
which was created by God. Man was MEANT to be with
woman, man was meant to
mate with woman, sex was designed and created to be
between a man and a
woman - to procreate and make children - to survive
as a species. Just look
at the mechanics of it LOL! Look at mammals in
general. Going beyond this
would be naive and soaking in denial!
You can be
who you are. I can't
change that but at the very least I would like to
see "you people"
acknowledge at least that it is not "right" or
"correct" for lack of a
better term. For instance, I know I am a sinner, and
sometimes I commit sins
even when I know I shouldn't or can't help it (not
only that, but it never
ends). But I ask for forgiveness after I realize it
was wrong (every time
it is required). Thoughts?
-Tony
Editor Candace Chellew Responds:
Editor:
I just "found" your on-line magazine while net surfing. What a treasure! I, too, have wanted to read Christian magazines but got tired of being slammed in every article.
What a contribution you are making to the GLBT Christian community!
I look forward to reading all of this fine, magazines' articles in the days ahead.
A BIG thank you and God Bless.
Christine
Editor:
Just caught your publication today -- it was a link from one of our United
Methodist Churches that has issued a statement on Holy Union.
Thanks for taking on the difficult task of putting on the internet all that
GREAT information for lgbt persons who are struggling with how it is OK to be
Christian. I'm very involved in the Reconciling Ministry Network in the
UMC. One of our sorrows is how difficult it is for us to identify churches
in the SouthEast to be Welcoming. Keep up the great work!
In Christ, Chip
Editor:
This may seem like a really weird
question but I was just
wondering if all the stuff on your Web site is true.
I just know a lot of
things are done to be politically correct. I'm 16 and
live in a southern
Baptist home, ever since I learned what sex was I've
been told Homosexuality
is a horrible sin; now that I'm pretty sure I'm gay I
have no idea what to do.
It didn't really bother me until a couple of years
ago when I had gay
feelings. I've always considered myself to be a good
Christian so I just
don't understand why this would happen. Coming to
your website was like my
whole world turning over. I really don't know how to
feel right now. I really
want to believe in your Web site but it just goes
completely against
everything I've been told. I don't if I should go
with what your Web site says
or just keep praying to become straight. Anyway
sorry for rambling I'm just
really confused I guess.
Steve
Editor Candace Chellew responds:
Dear Steve,
Yes, everything on the Web site is true. It IS
possible to reconcile your sexuality and your
spirituality.
I, too, prayed for God to make me straight when I
finally admitted the homosexual feelings I had been
experiencing all through my teen years. I struggled
mightly with the Southern Baptist doctrine I had been
taught about homosexuality. I left God for many years,
and didn't darken the doorway of a church for a long
time.
When I did finally come back to church (at an MCC, a
gay affirming church -- check out their website.) I had trouble with the pro-gay
interpretations of scripture. I thought they were
reaching ... trying to make the scripture say
something it didn't say. After all, for hundreds of
years we've interpreted the passages as condemning
homosexuality in any form, right?
I took the matter to God and asked for the answers to
be made plain ... and they were. God never abandoned
me, even though I abandoned God. I look back on my
"godless" years and discover that God had been with me
all the time. Miracles happened under my nose and I
didn't even notice. When I came back to God, I found
God's arms outstretched to welcome me back like the
prodigal (daughter) that I was.
I discovered that all those years ago when I thought
God was ignoring my plea to be made straight that he
had given me an answer ... NO. There was no need to be
made straight since it was never God's intention for
my life! He created me to be a lesbian ... a lesbian
child of God ... loved, cherished and blessed.
Since I embraced both my God-given sexual orientation
AND my spirituality, the blessings have been enormous!
God has shown me great things and has cultivated my
spirit and given me peace that passes understanding.
I know it's hard to go against the conventional wisdom
and the traditional interpretations of scripture. But,
if you look at what Jesus was all about ... he never
said word one about homosexuality ... and his overall
message was not one of "love the sinner, hate the sin"
but of "love the sinner, forgive the sin." Our sins,
whatever they may be, are forgiven when we embrace
Christ. We are saved by faith, not works. Giving up
your natural sexuality in order to gain favor with God
is not necessary. God has already given you favor.
It's humans who urge you to give up your sexuality.
God knows you're gay because God made you that way! Don't
give up on God just because some people hold a narrow
view of the Bible. God is bigger than the Bible,
bigger than any religion or dogma. God's love is
unconditional, and grace covers us no matter what.
Could we be wrong? Sure ... but so could those who
tell us we're condemned. God knows our hearts and God
knows the path we need to be on. Pray about your
journey. Don't jump too fast in either direction,
either toward or away from your sexual orientation.
Search your heart, search the scriptures, and search
out Web sites and other resources that can help you as
you seek to reconcile your sexuality and your
spirituality.
As a start, please read through Whosoever and explore Rembert
Truluck's fine site.
You're in my prayers, Steve. Please, let me know how
things are going. If there are other questions I can
answer, don't hesitate to ask. I've been where you are
and I know your confusion and pain very well. Give them to
God. God knows your heart and your path. Trust God
to show it to you.
Blessings,
Candace Chellew
Editor:
Thank You so very much for such an informative place in the web. Your site has helped me tremedously. I am a lesbian and recently my brother had told my mother that I was committing a sin and that she was just as guilty as I because she treats my partner as one of her own.
Your site has helped me to show her that the verses from the Bible he chose were taken out of context, and that he, like so many others, don't know the Bible as well as they may think they do. I tried to explain this to her before after all I had been a Sunday school teacher for 4 years.
Once others in the parish found out I was gay they judged me and sent me out if the church asking me to not return. I now do not attend church. Instead, I read and study my Bible at home everyday. I just wanted to say that I love your site keep up the good work I realize it's hard sometimes but with God's grace it all works out in the end
Take care and God Bless to you and your staff,
Dusty
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