Comments on Lesbiatopia: Lesbian Apologetics: A Bible Study

The fact that you want to know what I say leads me...

2011-08-02T04:39:23.488-07:00

The fact that you want to know what I say leads me to believe that you are likely a very lonely person who needs attention and that perhaps your walk with the Lord isn't as fulfilling to you as you might have hoped it would be.

The Bible says to put a knife to your throat if you're given to gluttony (Prov. 23:2). Do they allow people who are overweight in your church or do you urge them to obey the scriptures and kill themselves? Do you call for laws to ensure that a woman is a virgin on her wedding night or be put to death? That's also in the Bible. So is killing disrespectful kids. Where do you stand on these issues? Or do you recognize that some of these Biblical mandates are not the will of God but rather cultural norms of those ancient times?

I know it's much easier to listen to your pastor preach the simplistic message of "God said it. I believe it. That settles it." because it absolves you of any responsibility to attempt to read the scriptures in light of cultural and historical context. Who would not prefer to just be a parrot and squawk what someone who you think is smarter than you says each Sunday and hope that it gets you another jewel in your crown when you get to Heaven? But please consider this:

1 Corinthinas 13:13 says "And now these 3 remain: Faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is LOVE." If you really believe that gays are going to hell, why not help their lives here be a little bit nicer by not being so hateful towards them because God chose to create them differently? That verse says that LOVE is GREATER than FAITH. Stop being a pharasee and go hug a gay!

The bible literally says being gay is an abominati...

2011-08-01T22:59:40.135-07:00

The bible literally says being gay is an abomination.
And quite frankly, it'd be hard to misinterpreted that.

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God? Be not deceived: Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor the effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

There it directly states that homosexuals will not get into heaven.
What say you now?

I think the question is fairly meaningful, and I d...

2011-06-28T21:10:47.163-07:00

I think the question is fairly meaningful, and I don't mean to disparage your argument, but I think you might want to question the scientific evidence you're finding.

The scientific evidence that people are 'born gay' is actually evidence that people can be born with a predisposition or drive towards homosexuality. Whether or not that is true does not impact the morality of the act.

The reason I argue this, is that there are a number of predisposed genetic behaviors which are without a doubt sinful. Examples would include alcoholism, rape, and violence.

It would be fair for me to mention at this point that I struggle with inborn drives as well. I have a psychological condition which remains undiagnosed, but is borderline between sociopathy and autistic spectrum disorder.

Either way, I have an incredibly difficult time connecting with people, and often have difficulty empathizing. I have rage issues, when stimuli hit me the wrong way, and sometimes I lash out at people for no reason.

But no matter how hard it is, I have no excuse for those behaviors. It is vitally important that God made me this way, but not because it condones my behavior. It means that God has given me this challenge to overcome, and that He has chosen to challenge me to make something better of myself than what the world tells me I'll become.

I've been afraid, recently, that I'll find out I'm a sociopath. That my symptoms will match clearly... I go back and forth on what I truly am.

But no matter what my condition is, I have no excuse before God. Genetic, predisposed, whatever, I am who I am.

I'm not saying that your desires are like my rage. I am saying that just because you were born 'like that' doesn't mean it's okay. It just means that YOU are okay. Which is a pretty nice thing to know, I guess. :)

As far as arguments for the irrelevancy of particular verses in the Bible... that's really up to you to decide. Just be careful.

Thank you, Rev. Pendergraft, for illustrating my p...

2009-12-31T08:41:49.832-08:00

Thank you, Rev. Pendergraft, for illustrating my point. That was PERFECT!

Leviticus 20:13 King James Bible If a man also li...

2009-12-31T00:16:50.478-08:00

Leviticus 20:13

King James Bible
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.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (NIV): "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters, nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God."

Leviticus 18:22 (KJV): "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind it is abomination."

Romans 1:24-32:

24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
26 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:
27 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.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

http://bible.com/bibleanswers_result.php?id=246

Rev.Mark Alan Pendergraft

Thank you so much for your article! It reminds me...

2009-05-27T02:30:13.789-07:00

Thank you so much for your article! It reminds me that I'm not the only one who has gone through similar experiences.

Being sent to a heaven filled with self-righteous bigots would be eternal punishment for me!

p.s. there are several great sources on the internet showing what the original context and meaning were in Aramaic/Greek!

I have been in a relationship for the past 4 years...

2009-05-21T13:53:06.289-07:00

I have been in a relationship for the past 4 years. I am a firm believer in my religion, but I'm not all gung-ho about it. My partner recently decided that she no longer wanted to be sexually active because of our religion. Our intimate moments together made it all seem more special. I feel like there's an emptiness inside me and nothing feels the same. Could someone give me some feedback? Sorry to babble!

Thanks

I often wonder if any of our gay peeps frequent ch...

2009-02-16T09:46:00.000-08:00

I often wonder if any of our gay peeps frequent church websites to leave comments. It seems there are so many so called, "straight" folks that frequent gay sites in the name of religion & leave anonymous comments. Intersting isn't it?

The word also says to hate the sin but love the si...

2009-02-14T08:41:00.000-08:00

The word also says to hate the sin but love the sinner. What your doing is still a sin, and yes God still loves you. But God cannot live with sin. He will love you but he can't call you his own if you don't change your ways.

I'm sorry that you had such a difficult time with ...

2008-10-17T14:46:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry that you had such a difficult time with your Christian community. It must have been heart breaking. Some Christians need a reminded not to "cast the first stone". Jn 8:7

I have the same book by Daniel A. Helminiak. It's the best book that I have read on the subject. It is simple, straight forward, but covers the main points.

I dunno...
I sorta turned my back on Christiani...

2008-10-16T06:46:00.000-07:00

I dunno...
I sorta turned my back on Christianity--not because of my sexuality, but just because of the Bible in general.
But that's me.
I'm glad you've found a way to be you as well as Christian. :)

This is a good topic that you have brought up. I t...

2008-10-14T23:11:00.000-07:00

This is a good topic that you have brought up. I to was raised evanjelical Christian, and have had a hard time dealing with being a lesbian. I am one of the churches worst nightmares, I read and question and study everything they try and a put out there. I have been asked not to come back to a few churches because of that. I am looking forward to reading these articals.

I am so excited to see this! I am a devote Christi...

2008-10-14T15:43:00.000-07:00

I am so excited to see this! I am a devote Christian and the dealing with being gay is hard at times. I think if this all goes well I will reccomend that my Christian friends read this book when I start coming out to them more and more.

Cool. I'm looking forward to reading the whole ser...

2008-10-14T11:36:00.000-07:00

Cool. I'm looking forward to reading the whole series.

Wouldn't it be nice if the series were picked up by a mainstream publication and it could become a public dialogue?

This is an important discussion and I appreciate its being addressed.

- Dasein9

This is exactly why I think everyone should just k...

2008-10-14T11:13:00.000-07:00

This is exactly why I think everyone should just keep their religion to themselves. There are too many people in this world that will do this because they feel the NEED to or HAVE to, when in fact they really don't.

Thanks for bringing the religious double-standard to your blog. I'm looking forward to a good church bashing, since that is really what they need. A good spanking.

A seminal GBLTQ theologian is John J. McNeill, who...

2008-10-14T10:41:00.000-07:00

A seminal GBLTQ theologian is John J. McNeill, who literally 'wrote the book' on Queer Theology. He has a number of books out. He is a former Jesuit Priest, and a Doctor of Philosophy and a Doctor of Psychology. His most recent writings are quite phenomenal and not only claim that folks who do not fit into binary sexualities are not just children of God, but chosen to spread God's word of love and inclusion. Check him out, you will be amazed at this prophet's insights.

I read that book back in the late 90s when I first...

2008-10-14T10:38:00.000-07:00

I read that book back in the late 90s when I first came out. What a great little book!

I'm not a Christian, but was raised in the church and once feared that I was damned to hades for being gay. I no longer have any religious beliefs or affiliations, but recommend this book to any LGBT Christians out there who need some reassurance.

This is an excellent article and I completely agre...

2008-10-14T09:38:00.000-07:00

This is an excellent article and I completely agree with you on all points made. There is an incredible documentary called "For the Bible Tells Me So" which explores that ways that conservative Christians have continuously misinterpreted and misused the Bible against Homosexuality to support their own justifications that it is wrong.

I very much look forward to your articles and I think they will be a welcomed addition to the site. Anything that can broadens people's outlook on spirituality, in any aspect, is always a step in the right direction.

Don't forget, when you address Romans 1:26 where P...

2008-10-14T06:20:00.000-07:00

Don't forget, when you address Romans 1:26 where Paul calls lesbianism unnatural, that he goes on to call long hair for men unnatural also, which is funny given the traditional image of Christ as a long-haired dude.

My Christian background caused me to stay closeted...

2008-10-14T05:41:00.000-07:00

My Christian background caused me to stay closeted & struggle internally year after year. I'm so glad you're educating everyone on this. I know it made me feel better to hear the way the word has been twisted.

Smart chicks are so hot...especially mine. ;)

~Sweet Melissa

Can't wait to walk with your for awhile on this jo...

2008-10-14T05:00:00.000-07:00

Can't wait to walk with your for awhile on this journey. You are just the tops in my book and I love you the way God made you.