Gay and Christian, Can it Happen?
Over at JJ's blog, people are having a discussion about whether one can be gay and Christian. The whole premise of JJ's blog really delves into that question, and I think nearly every gay person that has any faith has at one point in their lives struggled with this apparent contradiction. Ex-gay Nathan Sheets even comments that JJ just calling herself gay is a sin (the implication is that you can't even be a celibate gay person and be Christian). I'm glad to see JJ hold her ground on that one, especially seeing as how she is completely celibate and is only admitting that she has same sex attractions (honesty that is often not heard from many "ex-gays").Some people have decided that Christianity does nothing more than cause heartache for gays, and others have decided that their Christian faith can't allow them to be gay, and they try hard to fight it, or even move beyond being gay to being ex-gay.
I'm sure you all know what my stance is by now. I think--I know--I can be Christian and be gay. I really did struggle with this for a long time. It's one of the main reasons I didn't come out until I was 23 or so. After years of fighting, I took a step back and tried to decide what was right and eventually came out--very, very slowly.
I know now that my salvation is not in jeopardy. I know that I can still be a Christian and be gay (no matter what some in the right wing will say). I realize my being gay does not say anything about my morals or ethics (someone please tell the rest of the world this because way too many people don't get this). And, I realize that my religion does not ostracize me (just certain confused members of it do). This is something that has taken me years to deal with, but I'm so much happier now than I ever was before. My only regret is that it took me so long to see the light. My life could have been so much easier and less stressful had I come to this realization earlier.
It's funny though, because so many gay people I know report similar experiences with having the weight lifted off of their shoulders when they came out. But, everything I read from the far right makes it sound like every gay person lives in some sort of a wasteland of humanity with no redeeming qualities.
I heard once that the devil's biggest achievement was homosexuality. Not because he had a group of gay people that were doomed to hell but because he was able to convince other Christians to have such hostility toward gay people, that they will never want to know Jesus. I think it's a good point.
posted by Brady @ 1:47 PM
3 Comments:
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I have to say I was shocked at the response to my last blog entry. I had just been writing stream of consiousness stuff, and suddenly people were telling me that I need to stop calling myself gay... it was weird, and to be honest, it felt a little condemning.
I try not to be too obviously upset in my responses to people's comments, but I have to say I find it really frustrating, and not just a little arrogant, when 'ex-gays' insist that because they changed, everyone can change. It's an experiential theology that has no real basis in anything. It's like those preachers who say things like "I prayed and fasted for 3 days and God gave me a car, so if all of you pray and fast for 3 days God will give you guys cars". It's ridiculous.
I do believe God could change me if he wanted to, and if He does, I will accept it with joy, but if He doesn't (which it looks like is going to be the case) I want some joy anyway.
JJ,
Good post. I agree. I was just telling my friend this the other day. Do I think some people were exclusively attracted to the same sex and now are exclusively attracted to the opposite sex? Sure. But, there are also people that have been miraculously cured of cancer and countless other diseases, afflictions, issues in their lives.
Admitting you are attracted to the same sex (that you are gay) is nothing more than being honest.
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