I have really been wresting with something for quite a while. So I thought I would post my thoughts in an effort to release and maybe get some feedback.
I grew up in church my whole life. I knew where I was going to be on Sundays for years in advance. I love God and look forward to praising Him and giving Him thanks. Since I moved here, I have been part of a holiness church, which is what I am accustomed to. I enjoy just about everything in the services. However, lately, the pastor has been on this homosexuality kick. Don't get me wrong, I love him and his spirit. He is a wonderful man and even when he preaches about it, it isn't the gay bashing technique that some others do. He usually will just say something like "a man should walk like a man" or "a young woman should be a young woman". I guess to say, he does more alluding. The problem is that this has really made me think. Why do I give my money, time, and gifts to an organization that openly discourages my lifestyle? Why do I subject myself to that?
I understand that some people say that it is a way of social change. That by making ourselves actively seen and to be viable parts of the church that we are forcing them to accept us. I don't know if I agree with this stand for two strong reasons. 1) Just like we don't like people forcing their beliefs on us, why should we force ours on them? They have established a church/organization that doesn't believe in our lifestyle, why am I trying to force my way in? 2) Especially since there are gay and gay-friendly churches everywhere. Why not support these organizations?
I know that we are still in a fight for equal rights but does equal rights mean that we MUST be in EVERY organization that they are in? Or does it mean that we have the OPPORTUNITY to make OUR OWN organization/church and free to worship as we desire?
Social Change or Stupidity?
Posted by
Ty
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
7 comments:
Just do what makes you feel at peace with yourself.
I believe that it means that we have the oppurtunity to make our own orginization. Thats about it I have to say on that. I have mixed feelings toward it all. Ty we have very similiar backgrounds...
God don't need you! God doesn't need your money.....but he cares for your soul.
Just because you stop attending church or giving money, doesn't put you in any "BETTER" position.
You guys kill me with this stunt of leaving a church or stop tithing because a Pastor hit your demons......did you ever wonder it is their job to preach the gospel?
If a preacher spare the word to satisfy your flesh, he/she is not sent by God to witness or preach!
@ dpm - -
I feel you on that one. I just don't mistake it as convication because I honestly don't believe that this is how God feels. That is a whole different blog entry. I appreciate your honesty and thank you for sharing.
@ the captain - -
I think you really missed the point by a mile.
1) I NEVER said that God needs me or my money. We already know this. I already know that he cares for my soul.
2) "Better position"?!? This is not about sex. I didn't say anything about position. I guess what you are talking about is on me going to a place that I can worship comfortably. I learned that from my "straight" christians who want to only attack homosexuality and protest gay-marriage and even support gay bashing (how Christ-like is that) They do this instead of going to preach to the drug dealers who sell drugs right outside of their churches. Or going to clubs and preaching to the drunks who come out. I can go on but you get the point. They pick a "better position" by picking an easy target (gays). Easy because even many non-christians even are against gays.
3) "YOU GUYS"?!? and "hit my demons". No, so far from true. My lifestyle is not my demon but yours. Some of YOU GUYS are haunted and fear my lifestyle.
4) About a preacher sparing a word to satisfy flesh. To me, when a preacher speaks about homosexuality, that is him trying to satisfy flesh. Him/her satisfying flesh by preaching their personal interpretation of the bible. Them trying to keep members of his church by jumping on the gay-bashing bandwagon etc. My post doesn't discourage that at all. If that is how you believe. God bless you. But this is not what I believe.
Your post assumed that everyone believes the interpretations that you were taught and believe. I am saying that I think that I should support what I believe by joining a gay-gayfriendly organization/church. This should be done instead of mingling with people and doctrines that you believe. And allow for YOU PEOPLE to worship as you wish. Simply!!!
Another point that I forgot to make. History has told us that people just can seem to come together on one interpretation of the bible. That is why we have "christians" who believe that you should baptize in the name of Jesus only. Then have ones that believe that you should baptize in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. In other words, the reason for denominations.
Just like those denominations were created to further their belief, I feel that I should support a "denomination" that supports mine.
Wow, very simply put! i wonder if i'll make that step one day...
Great post, Ty. I can only imagine. Part of the reason I stopped attending church is that I couldn't handle the judgmental nature and narrow-minded opinions expressed of the pastors and parishoners. It's suppose to be about love, right?
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