I'm a Christian.....

[kristine9992]

And I'm also questioning my sexuality. Are there any others struggling? I just want to know if I'm not the only person like this :/

[Shevanel]

There is no correlation or problem between your faith and your sexuality. You're not a sinner, you're not an abomination. Try to not make it an extra problem for yourself, because it truly isn't. The only problem is for the anti-gay "Christians" who don't understand their religion correctly.

[TheEdend]

You are definitely not alone!

I was raised Roman Catholic and had a really rough time coming out to myself because of that struggle and the fear of my parents hating me.

Like joey said though, you can live with both things in your life if you want to. There are also many resources out there to help you cope with the situation.

[Shevanel]

^Oh yeah, I'm also Catholic, and went to Catholic School. This is pretty much where I learned this.

[U N Owen]

I'm a Catholic too and was actualy confirmed last year. I currently do not have a problem going to church each week and am even involved in hospitality. It helps that the pastor's main tirade is against abortion and he has not mentioned homosexuality once for the past 18 years that I have gone there. My parents were also both raised with religious families, however they believe strongly in the charity and giving side of things rather than following the rules that the Church created. They taught me at an early age that everyone is equal under the eyes of God and it was fairly easy to come out to them once I accepted it myself.

[Fintan]

Jesus came to earth to say “I’m here and I’m God and they’re all wrong.”

This is a clip from the sermon How Can I Be Sure That God Loves Me, Too? by Mel White.
You can watch the entire thing online.

Jesus made the radical right of His day mad every time He spoke. Who did Jesus come down on the most? The religious. They said: “You eat food that is impure.” And He said, “It’s not what goes into your mouth but what comes out of it that defiles one.”

They said “You don’t keep the traditions of the elders.” And He said, “For the sake of your traditions you’ve rendered useless and powerless the Word of God.”

They said, “You don’t obey God.” And He said, “You honour God with your lips but your hearts are far from God.”

The Church was meant to be a house of prayer for the outcast.

And it was turned into a money making enterprise.

And Jesus came into the Church and said, “Get out of here thieves.”

Before you turn your back on faith Look deep into the eyes of Jesus and ask Him if He loves you.

[WhiteFox]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSXJz...eature=related

GREAT video about the whole Bible/religion topic, Amazing. Please take a look and feel better, your fine =)

Fox

[Shevanel]

+ YouTube Video

You should also check out this film. It's quite good.

[Kidd]

I'm Jewish. When I was struggling to accept myself it was really difficult. I believed I was an abomination and everything else that radical theists try to push on us and it drove me to the edge of suicide when I was 15. One day I just really sat down and evaluated everything and I realized that I had a really good life, and God wouldn't give these blessings to someone that he despised. Don't listen to the haters. They don't know what they're talking about.

God is love, and love is never wrong. If you're a boy and you like boys, that's alright. If you're a girl and you're in love with a girl, that's alright too. There is so much hate and tragedy in this world, it seems completely absurd that he would be concerned for even a hot second with the gender of lovers. Love should be celebrated, everyday, and that's what we're doing. I don't see any conflict at all.

[Markio]

The hardest part of coming out to myself was believing that I would go to hell. After accepting myself, I found it difficult to remain a part of the Catholic church. I still pray every once in awhile, but other than that I haven't been to a church for two years.
Nearly a week ago, however, I attended an Ash Wednesday service at a Disciples of Christ service, and I was surprised by how open-minded and nice everyone was. I saw a lot of my friends there, too. Maybe it could be the denomination for me to maintain a more structured relationship with God.

[Beachboi92]

i was raised a christian and i'm gay, really there is no correlation between faith and sexuality, no religion determines if you will be attracted to people of the same sex

[kristine9992]

Thanks everyone. Those videos are great!

[AtmaWeapon]

I'm a Christian and a lesbian. I'm very happy to be both. I did struggle with my sexuality but I prayed for answers...why it was wrong, the verses used, and wanted to know the truth that would set me free.

Over a period of a year, now, I've gotten amazing answers. I also had no intention of coming out to most people, especially not my mom, and a twist of events got that one happening and now I am happy I did come out.

It's going to sound ironic, but my faith has become so much more genuine since I became genuine with myself and about who I am and about what (I believe) the Bible says and does not say on sexual orientation.

There are many good resources for Christian gays on the net which I personally have found to be worth my time, but you mostly only hear from Christians as to why it's a sin. Few hear from those who have something very different to say and who do so showing the fruits of the spirit and showing the genuineness of their faith in Christ doing so and the love of Christ in doing so (versus adhering to the letter of scripture and missing the point and falling into the error of the Pharisees who were too learned in scripture to get the message).

[TyRawr]

I was raised as a child to be Baptist Christian which set things up for me to be really confused. But as I grew older I realized that god loves all of his children.
My friend said something really cool to once
"religion is a pathway, there are so many, but they all lead to the same place"

That really helped me, I hope the same for you.

[malachite]

Originally Posted by Shevanel

There is no correlation or problem between your faith and your sexuality. You're not a sinner, you're not an abomination. Try to not make it an extra problem for yourself, because it truly isn't. The only problem is for the anti-gay "Christians" who don't understand their religion correctly.

....well, Joey pretty much said what I was gonna so, yeah

[Fintan]

Here are three BIG points that other LGBT Christians reiterated to me when I was searching. Each has helped me to reconcile my faith with my sexuality.

1. Regarding the “importance” of The Bible itself. The Bible itself says "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness." (2 Timothy 3:16) But like many other things in Christianity this is translated to mean different things to different people. Some believe that this quote means that we should literally accept everything written (fundamentalist Christians) and some believe that the book is “useful” for teaching and training about God & life (mainstream Christians).

2. There –IS- wide spread disagreement on all of the passages regarding "homosexuality" in the Bible, mainly due to the fact that there is no one word for "homosexuality" in the Greek language, thus it is translated differently. Conservatives Biblical theologians, suggest that all 6 instances of homosexuality in the Bible condemn it in all forms. While, Liberal theologians, suggest that the 6 instances don't refer to "consensual" homosexual relations, but rather, rape, bestiality, masturbation etc.

Example 1: Leviticus 20:13
“If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood [shall be] upon them.”
- The Hebrew word "to'ebah" is generally translated as "abomination." Many leading scholars interpret these passages as referring only to male Jews who engaged in same-sex behaviour in Pagan temples. The term would better be translated as "ritually improper" or "involving foreign religious cult practice." Elsewhere in the Hebrew Scriptures, the same word is used to ban wearing of clothing made up from two materials (like cotton-polyester in today's world), or having a tattoo, eating shrimp, eating pork, seeding lawns with a mixture of grass types, etc. It is also important to note that none of the passages invoking "T'ebah" are valid for Christians or non-Jews today, according to St. Paul's Gospel in the New Testament.

Example 2: Romans 1:26-27
“For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet.”
- St. Paul directed this book to Christians in Rome -- a city known for its sexual debauchery. Earlier verses in Romans 1 describe how some former Christians, presumably all heterosexuals, had reverted to Paganism.
- They once more worshiped idols, and engaged in ritual sex orgies. In the original Greek, the phrase translated "vile affections" does not refer to passion or lust. it appears to refer to the "frenzied state of mind that many ancient mystery cults induced in worshipers by means of wine, drugs and music."
- The "women did change" (or "exchanged" or "abandoned") their normal sexual activity, which had been with a man or men. They engaged in sexual activities with members of the same sex, in violation of their heterosexual orientation.
- In the original Greek, the phrase "para physin" is often translated as "against nature" or "unnatural" or "immoral." It actually means "Deviating from the ordinary order either in a good or a bad sense, as something that goes beyond the ordinary realm of experience."

Example 3: 1 Corinthians 6:9-10
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
- The Greek "makakoi" does not mean actually mean effeminate. It can refer to a range of behaviours: people with loose morals, cowards, lazy men, etc.
- The exact meaning of "arsenokoitai" has been lost. In one ancient manuscript, the Hebrew "quadesh" (temple prostitute) is translated into Greek as "arsenokoitai." Others suggest that it refers to gigolos; still others suggest it means masturbators or men who sexually abuse boys.

3. The Bible is a set of Covenants (Old Testament [Jewish], New Testament [Christian]) or 'Laws God set for His people', and while this is a common misconception – ALL Christians believe that God has changed these laws as people progressed through time.

A couple of quick examples:

Example 1. In the Old Testament (Covenant), God told the people to sacrifice animals to Him, in the New Testament (Covenant), God tells the people that His son Jesus is the ultimate and final living sacrifice for all, and animal sacrifices should stop.

Example 2. In the Old Testament, the Books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy set forth many laws which seem unsustainable and harsh (One example, is the Jewish dietary laws, no shellfish, pork, no wearing mixed fabrics and stoning for various crimes etc). However, in the New Testament, Jesus revokes many of these 'Jewish' laws when he begins to, for the first time, welcome non-Jewish/Gentile followers.

As we read the Gospels, we see that Jesus endorsed many of the old laws, but he did not follow others, nor did He require His disciples to do so. In later New Testament books, Paul and the other apostles affirm many of these laws to be good but indicate that Christians need not observe others.

And lastly, two things to hold close..."Judge not, that ye be not judged." (Matthew 7:1) and "Let he without sin cast the first stone" (John 7:8).

[stageone]

I am struggling to reconcile my faith & newly discovered sexuality. I was raised in a fundamentalist way... and though I have never agreed with imposing those standards on others or in any way demeaning people who believe/live differently... I still have a hard time reinterpreting what I have always believed literally. I'm pretty black & white in some ways and it goes against my nature to pick and choose what parts of the Bible to believe. Like if I want it to say/mean something different, then I should write my own damn book rather than misappropriate someone else's. (Please understand that this is not a criticism of those who have found a way to reconcile their faith with the rest of them. I'm just not there yet.) God has been an important part of my life- I am not complete without him- and right now I am having a hard time approaching him. But this is pretty new to me. One thing at a time right?

[Mr.Pushover]

I'm Christian. I'm not huge church-goer (I actually rarely go to church) i still believe in God, and I'm fine with it

[Aya McCabre]

The only part of the bible that is definitely the word of god (and not the word of prophets) is the new testament, so read it if you haven't already. A lot of people who use the bible to justify hatred don't actually know what it says.

The other thing to remember is that people often change their opinions on gay people when they realise that they actually know one. It may take time but even if people take it badly to start with there's a good chance they'll come around.

[U N Owen]

I found a good link to a site called the modern history sourcebook which has a LGBT section. In it it discusses the history of LGBT from the Ancient era to present day using primary documents. In the medieval section it has several pages mentioning where in the Bible there are passages that depict homosexuality in a good light as well as documents on early Christianity. The link is www.fordham.edu/halsall/pwh/index-med.html. Hope it helps.