Loki: Today I want to talk about something a little more serious than breastmilk or food. But first, I would like to mention that we had a wonderful family gathering this weekend at BTT … And it was quite fabulous! Although Choc Chip did scream about how spicy the food was and we all looked at her like she had two heads. However, we discovered that she did not have two heads after I swapped my 5th Amendment taco for her Beef Al Carbon (The 5th is the taco they invent for the day & they do not tell you what is in it.) It turns out one of our staples, the Beef Al Carbon, was actually really spicy. There must have been a jalepeno in it or something. Since Stella doesn’t like to get philosophical with me (or anyone) I will be posting alone today. I also tend to ask too many rhetorical questions, which irritates Stella as well.If you haven’t all been watching the news recently, you may not know that there has been a lot of gay teenagers committing suicide, (due to bullying and not being accepted by their communities.) There was even one young man who killed himself from Oklahoma. It is a very tragic thing happening. I was sitting in church this weekend and the sermon was all about gender confusion and how wrong homosexuality is and how wrong California was for overturning Proposition 8. (Was this topic already determined or did he teach on it because of the news headlines?) It just seemed a little insensitive to me…Or maybe it is a struggle for a lot of people in our church…I don’t know. I just feel (and maybe I am wrong…) but that living gay is a sin… But so is lying or cheating. They are all the same. How many times do I want something that I don’t have (covet thy neighbor) or gossip about someone? I feel like being gay is very judged…especially by Christians.
Did God make people gay or did they just choose it? Well, didn’t God make my hair brown? Didn’t he make me love food? Didn’t he make me with a sinful nature? I used to think that it was purely choice and that you just acted on it. I thought that gay people didn’t have to be gay- until my best friend told me she was gay. She was severely depressed about it and was hospitalized for attempting suicide… She told me that she felt guilty about it “because God made Adam and Eve…. and not Adam and Steve.” She didn’t want to be gay. And she was right. God did make marriage and designed relationships to be for a man and a woman. But this situation just made me question Him. Why allow or why give that desire to only certain people? Are they rewarded for overcoming it or not giving in to it? I am not gay, so I don’t know the struggle or how others feel… and I guess I just feel close to it because of my best friend. She did end up taking her own life, and I think it was because she did feel judged, and feeling different had a lot to do with it. I suppose this is just another question I will have to ask when I meet the Lord.
I also think that our society has made being gay so mainstream. I wonder if I have just been wrapped up in the “we are equal “ bru-ha-ha and did not realize what the Bible says. It is almost “cool” to be gay, and it is more accepted now than ever. (Which sounds like a weird statement when talking about them being bullied). Have you seen all the celebrity videos out there directed towards gay teens to “hang in there, it gets better”. I guess I get confused because I don’t want to judge…Who am I to say you can’t live this way? I want to be tolerant… But I guess a part of me wants to support them too. I don’t like how they are targeted… and how people make other people feel bad because of their struggles or weaknesses.
I guess this can be indicative of any “difference” as we are all different. I agree that things happening now will forever change us as a nation. I don’t agree with Prop 8 and it saddens me that it was overturned… But now that it is a “law” does it make it okay? Aren’t we supposed to obey the laws of the land?
Ahh confusion…. I could keep on and keep on. Thanks for listening to my rant… and questions as I typically have. :)
Loki gets irritated at anything I say on this topic. I do not have these kinds of questions/thoughts which is why I always direct her to NanaBess instead. I just have a few short things to say & the rest can be left up to the wise readers of the blog who know way more than I do. First of all, he picked that subject because the series he is doing is called “Biblical Clarity Amidst Cultural Confusion.” It is relevant to the times to study what God says so that we can be reminded of the truth, especially when it goes against everything the world teaches. The purpose was to clarify what the Bible says. That was an easy one. 2 points. You also asked why God tempts some people with being gay and not others. Well, why does he allow some people to be addicts? Why can you drink or take pain pills & not be addicted but others can’t? We all face different battles. Did you not hear him also say that, “The enemy we face are not the people who live in sin.” That was the whole point. Apparently, saying the words "that was the whole point" makes Loki mad at me, which is why I don't engage in such conversations in the first place.
ReplyDeleteIt is very sad for the rise in bullying and suicides. It is a hard line to love the person but "hate the sin." It's true that everyone sins, however homosexuality is becoming more and more public and shown all over tv. The culture is trying to show "how wide spread it is" and make it "normal." Then you have to accept it. Gossip is normal and it's accepted, yet also mentioned as a sin in the Bible. So Christians must continue to be against "accepting it." I do not watch Ellen or design shows with gay couples as I do not want to support the homosexual lifestyle. But then I watch Project Runway which is usually 50% homosexuals. So it is a confusing decision. The root of the turmmoil in the world is the fall of man. God designed a perfect world and perfect relationship, but man chose to rebel. So thus sin, sickness, perversion, death entered the world. This is why we long for heaven. Until then, try to be a light to others and how God is the only one (relationship with Jesus)who can change a person or give them strength to walk through their own personal weaknesses.
ReplyDeleteWEll said Stella and Small town. Loki, it is good to have questions and I think your confusion stems from your love for your best friend I know you still miss her too and it was a tragic thing when she took her life. I don't think that agreeing with God's word is being "against her" or not in support of her. Time heals our hurts, but you should never forget the friendship and relationship that was taken so soon from you. I am glad you still do that. :)
ReplyDeleteI have a couple of gay friends. One is actually a relative. I do not agree with their lifestyles. I have never outright said that to them, because neither has ever asked my opinion. My opinion of their being gay would not change how I care for each of them. I don't understand the feelings gays have. I can't allow my mind to go there. I just 'don't get it!' But I do believe that in todays society it is so openly accepted that more and more young people are experimenting w/ that lifestyle. I think that if it had been so openly talked about and accepted even in the '70's or '80's the results would be the same; more people 'trying' it. I cannot believe what can be seen on TV at all hours of the day/night. Not only on cable either. It is just terrible! Commercials use sex to sell products. What ever, when ever. If it feels good, do it! Sad.
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree with the cougar!!! I don't beleive people are born that way. I feel like a part of it is how they were raised. Maybe the wrong kind of female or male influence, or they lacked getting something from their mom or Dad. Also if a child was sexually abused at a very young age from someone of the opposite sex, than of course that would definetly cause issues. I do agree that is sin, just like Loki said, lying cheating, saying something unkind even and it is us who put diffenent sins in levels. I don't have issues with Gay people, but am sad at how accepted it is. That bothers me alot!
ReplyDeleteI too agree with the above and Choc Chip was also wise in her comment that many gays come from an abusive/unnatural expression of sex and that is all they know. In our SS class our teacher said it is prevalent among the teens/college age and young adults even though us 'seniors' may not be dealing with it personally. Unless like some have family members who have doubts and questions and are seeking love. That is what I think it is all about. We all need love and many go about trying to discover how to get it. Or we are more prone to 'please ourselves' which we all are guilty of: example being the younger son in Luke. Our teacher in class said the important thing was to love them but also let them know why we think it is wrong..do any know what the Bible says about it? And they "gays" think they have to stay with it because the scientists tell them they are born with that desire and can't escape it. I agree with Stella..some people have other vices like drugs or burglary or smoking (and yes, there is also sex addiction even if we don't believe it) so we all have burdens...it's our faith in Jesus that frees us though never are we perfect either due to our sin nature..we all struggle in some areas. But says our teacher, we are to love them as Jesus would yet not allow them to be in our home (easier said than done) And I also wonder how to love those who are seemingly sinning. It's hard to know when to help and when to stand strong for what you believe. That is what society is doing and wil continue to do in the next decade.Even the Episcopal church is guilty of gay priests! I don't think that was ever in the Bible! That really makes me sad as I grew up in one. I think I will work more on me and my relationship with God and wait for His wisdom to guide me in whatever circumstances comes my way. Gosh, I sometimes have trouble just "loving" Christians.
ReplyDeleteI suppose I am not clear on the teaching, "we are to love them as Jesus would yet not allow them to be in our home" Is that specifically gay/homosexuals? Or is it simply sinners? Or only sinners in rebellion? Does it apply to non-believers as well? This is where I always get confused and am unclear. The bible teaches that sin is sin. So, therefore, over eating is sinful. Becoming drunk on wine is a sin. Impure thoughts... on and on. It really is confusing to me.
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