Pros & Cons of Being Gay & Christian

I am terrible at keeping up with blogs.  Terrible.

Was listening to this today and thought it would be good to share here.

http://www.gaychristian.net/gcnradio/gcnradio2013-01-31.mp3

A well thought out and deep conversation on what it means to be gay and christian; the good, the bad and the sometimes ugly.  I know in my own experience their really does seem to be some mysterious great divide between these two different aspects of people.  You can be one or the other but not both.

I, obviously, disagree and hope to continue to live a life that reflects that belief.  The two terms are not mutually exclusive and both "sides" should recognize, respect, and even grow from that.

Mutuality of Love

First point of order--I am absolutely terrible at updating blogs.  This isn't "Daily Reconciliation" in that I'll be posting daily.  If that were my intent it would be "Maybe Weekly if You're Lucky and I'm Not Opening All This Week At Work Reconciliation".

So apologies about promising to update and then taking my own sweet time.  As recompense I'm linking a really good piece of a sermon series about what the Church's response should look more like when it comes to homosexuality.
https://www.facebook.com/notes/phil-snider/what-does-the-bible-really-say-about-homosexuality-part-ii/10150988386528074

The whole of the sermon is well thought out and beautiful and I hope you read its entirety, but this quote from a letter he includes at the end can also sum up the message the pastor is conveying.

 “Some faithful Disciples, in deep study of scripture and with much prayer, have come to the conclusion that sexual orientation is part of how each one of us is created by God. Other faithful Disciples, in deep study of scripture and with much prayer, have come to the conclusion that homosexuality is sin.  What makes us Disciples is that at the Table of the Lord, people of both points of view – and everyone in between – are welcome.”

It can be hard to remember those words and that promise that we will all be welcome at the Table of the Lord one day when it seems as if we are so entrenched in our own current ideologies and sides of this issue. But that's what it really boils down to.  God created everyone of us for love--His and for each other.  I think he's got to be shaking his head at us all the time for getting so wrapped up in the contexts and refinements and regulations of all our ways to love and be loved.

Well, short and sweet and somewhat to the point.  But seriously, I am opening all this week, so don't expect another post tomorrow.  Sorry.

A New Beginning

Why "reconciliation"?

Because it is one of the fundamental reasons why God sent his son to Earth, the foundation of Jesus' ministry, and a calling that the Church and followers today must undertake in order to fully recognize the sacrifice made on the cross.

¹³ But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. ¹⁴ For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, ¹⁵ by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, ¹⁶ and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. ¹⁷ He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. ¹⁸ For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.   -Ephesians 2:13-18

Also within the entirety of the ministry of reconciliation that is laid out for us in 2 Corinthians 5:11-20 where as "Christ's ambassadors" we are called to "be reconciled to God."

Merriam-Webster also has a say on the matter of "reconciliation":

• The act of 'reconciling'
• to restore to friendship or harmony 
• to make consistent or congruous
•  to cause to submit to or accept something unpleasant
•  to check against another for accuracy

The first two sound benign, pleasant even.  The last two appear less than satisfactory and even more like work.  But that's what reconciliation takes: work, effort, growth.

This blog is to serve as a voice for reconciliation to one of the greatest divides in many religious circles and especially the Christian Church in America right now:  Homosexuality and the Bible.There are many voices already engaged in this debate, some much louder than others.  In the end, what matters is what God has to say on the matter and how we as Christians follow through on that.  

With that in mind, you do not always have to agree with me.  I am no expert on the subject, but I am a willing student and a willing teacher and I shall continue to seek God's will to the best of my ability.I need to go to bed now, but will hopefully post something to get the ball rolling soon.  Perhaps tomorrow.  Until then, may God open all our hearts and minds to his truth.