This has been a major topic of
conversation this week among evangelicals. This actually took me a
bit by surprise. This is nothing new for the Southern Baptist
Convention. In fact it is quite old news, but what is surprising is
the uproar it is causing within the church. To affirm, or not affirm
gay marriage.
First I will say that it has been my
experience that even before my transition, and recovery from
fundamentalism, I would have taken issue with the fact that not a one
of these articles is backed with scriptural context, or at least
referenced.
Here is something I think should also
be alarming to conservative evangelicals. The denial in article 5,
denies physical or psychological anomalies rending a change in God's
plan for human sexuality. I find this statement deeply troubling. To
make such a broach claim would not just be inclusive to the denial of
the transgender or intersex community. This would also include people
born with mental disabilities such as autism and downs. Are you
telling me that someone born with one of these or many other terrible
things should be procreating, simply because they posses genitalia?
See what I just did there? I have said it once, and I will say it
again, that making blanket statements, that can be left to
interpretation of meaning is both dangerous and irresponsible. In
Genesis 3, the serpent tries to trick Eve by asking her what God said
about eating the fruit, but God was very specific, and Eve was even
able to quote word for word what God had said. The serpent had to
take another route of getting Eve to eat the fruit, cause twisting
the word of the Lord, was not of option.
Honestly, reading the statement leaves
me with a sadness. I believe that the bible says that we are to
“Judge not lest we be judged in
like manor” it says “He who Is
without sin cast the first stone” It says you must remove the log
from your eye, before you go to remove the speck from your brothers
eye. I struggle to feel like this issue is being addressed in a truly
loving and caring manner, in order to help further the mission of the
church. Sorry gang, I grew up in southern baptist churches. Let's
talk about pride, and gluttony, and gossip and adultery. Let's talk
about the church literally being the first place to get kicked when
you are down. I have seen women in the church, get shut out of their
christian social circles because they divorced their husband who
cheated on them.(BTW totally biblical reason for divorce). I have
seen everyone from the pastor to her close friends talk about her
behind her back, as if it were her fault that her husband cheated.
I cringe at the carb intake at church
functions. You can literally watch people eat their feelings, instead
of working out their faith through prayer and meditation on the
scripture. It's called gluttony ya'll, and it is a much bigger
problem in the church than the less than 5% of the population that
identify as LGBTQ.
There is therefore now no condemnation
for those who are in Christ Jesus. I can tell you, for years I felt
broken and condemned to a life of loneliness trapped in a body I did
not belong. I don't believe that the message of Christ leads us to
self hatred, and suicidal idealations. In fact, the bible says that
Satan comes to steal, kill and destroy, but Christ has come so that
you may have life, and more abundantly. The bible says “It is for
freedom Christ Set us Free” and let me tell you, I feel more
freedom now than I ever thought possible. I am able to be truthful
about who I am, and I am able to be vulnerable about my journey, and
I am able to love on people in a way I wasn't capable of before.
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