Okay I’m going to ramble for awhile, because what I am thinking is sort of difficult to talk about, let alone write about. \u00a0There is a lot of talk at General Conference about inclusion and sexuality. \u00a0I think I read that there are more than a dozen annual conferences petitioning to change the church’s stance on homosexuality.<\/p>\n
This was always a pretty easy topic for me. \u00a0I had no issue with Christians who weren’t straight. \u00a0I figured, if it was so important Jesus would have said something about it. \u00a0In addition, homosexuality as a definition was much different long ago, so I didn’t buy the arguments from people who quoted the Old Testament or Paul.<\/p>\n
Things have changed for me recently; I’ve had quite a year. \u00a0I have had many medical issues both for myself and for close family members, but there was more that I’ll go into just a little in order to give a better understanding.<\/p>\n
A family member of mine has recently divorced her husband of many years and is now living with another woman. \u00a0She doesn’t consider herself a lesbian, but is definitely living a homosexual lifestyle. \u00a0She has never been attracted to women before, but this woman is the love of her life.<\/p>\n
I write all this, though it is difficult for me, because I want people to understand the complexity of this issue. \u00a0Never have I thought she was unworthy of God, God’s love or mine. \u00a0I have no problem with her in the church. \u00a0At the same time, I’m struggling a lot. \u00a0There is a lot I don’t understand. \u00a0I have a lot of questions. \u00a0There are things I struggle with on a personal level; there are also things I worry about with our current church.<\/p>\n
When she goes to church will everyone still embrace her? \u00a0I mean REALLY embrace her? \u00a0Will someone say something? \u00a0How will they act? \u00a0Will she be shunned? \u00a0Will she be judged?<\/p>\n
Jesus said essentially that a sin is a sin. \u00a0I don’t believe homosexuality is a sin, but I accept that many people within our denomination do. \u00a0I accept that I may never change their minds, though I hope I can. \u00a0My question to them is this: what is so different about that ‘sin’ that you would condemn it with such fierceness? \u00a0If we were to take a church of 500 members there is bound to be at least someone who has been arrested for something semi-serious. \u00a0Someone addicted to pornography. An alcoholic. \u00a0Someone who beats their wife and children. \u00a0A sexual predator.<\/p>\n
These are all big issues, and big sins. \u00a0What’s different between them and the ‘sin’ of homosexuality is that being gay is part of your being. \u00a0You can’t change it. \u00a0So for all those people out there who think it’s wrong, is it really more wrong than anything else? \u00a0So wrong that it trumps all else?<\/p>\n
You let those people in. \u00a0Why not everyone?<\/p>\n
How can we really show God’s love if we are still ostracizing an entire group of people for being who they are?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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