Christanity and figuring out sexuality

Personally, I would leave and not be affiliated with them in any way. But I am not religious and would never have joined in the first place. I don't think it's at all healthy psychologically to be condemned for who you are, that's a toxic environment I would remove myself from it.

 

The Bible is pretty clear on sexual immorality and homosexuality. Whether you believe in it or not, the Bible is an extremely important text in the lives of hundreds of million of people worldwide and what it says will never change, no matter what language you read it in.

Personally, I believe homosexuality is wrong, but I am not homophobic. I do not hate or condemn gay people simply because they are gay. I too was raised with conservative, Christian values, and they basically teach you to be homophobic in church from the inside out by telling you to never be gay, never associate yourself with gay people, stay from gay people and gay things.

I believe what the Bible says, and the Bible will never change, but I don’t believe what some so-called judgmental Christians say. I have gay friends, I have gay family members, my pastor would tell me it’s my duty to tell them that they’re wrong and I need to bring them to church so they can be converted. That is ridiculous.

I’m straight, but the Bible says that crossdressing is wrong, and therefore I am an abomination in the eyes of the Lord (Deuteronomy 22:5). Ironic, I know. “The Bible says that crossdressing is wrong, and I believe everything the Bible says so in conclusion, crossdressing is wrong.”, he said while tugging on his skirt so his panties aren’t exposed and tucking his blonde wig hair behind his ears. No one knows that about me. No one but God.

I do not judge homosexual people because it is simply not my job to judge anyone, gay or straight. I’m not gonna sit here in a website for LGBT forums and preach to you and try to “convert” you or judge you. If you believe in God, that is His job. Not mine, not yours, not your pastors, not your ministers, no one but God’s.

At the end of the day, God has the final say. No human being can take the place of God, therefore it is not up to us to judge. It is up to us to follow Him, but it is also up to us to NOT follow Him. He will always love us because again, that’s what the Bible says. I’ve never met you, but I’m sure you’re an amazing human being. You don’t have to subject yourself to being judged, and you’ll never find judgment from me or (hopefully) from anyone else here. I truly hope I didn’t offend you or anyone else.

 

I am honestly curious then why if you are homophobic you are on this site then? Because we will have to agree to disagree that thinking being gay is wrong does not equal homophobia. It does. Thinking something is wrong that isn't and hurts no one IS homophobia. I don't know how else to convey this. It also begs the question why you are on here and identify as "straight", if you didn't maybe have some doubts or were at least open minded enough to consider the idea that being gay is a reality and not a bad thing.

 

Awkward. You kind of missed my entire point, the one I tried to make by stating that I’m not homophobic even though I know what it says in the Bible. It’s not what I say, it’s not what the pastors and faith leaders say, it’s what the Bible says. It’s been written that way for centuries and to call me homophobic after everything I said makes you just as closed minded as you allege me to be.

I do disagree with the people who try to shove homophobia down the throats of believers, which ironically are the ones who supposedly follow the Bible the closest. Look back at my entire post and see that not once did I say or even hint at any sort of judgment against you or any other LGBT person, and that I am accepting and open minded to people in the LGBT community in spite of my Christian upbringing.

Am I not allowed to be on this site because I’m straight? I have questions and uncertainties about myself too that I may find help or answers to here since I’m not ready to talk about it with people that I know personally.

You were looking for insight, and this went in a totally opposite direction from where I thought it was heading. You should know as well as I do that Christianity is either black or white and there is no gray area, which is why being a believer in this community can be confusing and borderline impossible. I just wanted to try to clear some stuff up for the both of us about Christianity and being a part of this community, whether you’re sure about it or not. If it came across to you as homophobic then I’m sorry you see it that way and I’m sorry for wasting your time.

 

Straight people are welcomed here. Especially if they have questions or need advice about themselves or an LGBT friend/relative.

 

That’s exactly what I’m here for. I’m a man attracted to women, period. I don’t have problems with men attracted to men or women attracted to women, and I’m not a priest or a preacher, and I’m especially not a judgmental or homophobic person.

OP is asking for Christian insight, I have pretty much a lifelong experience with Christianity and I’m happy to clear up any misconceptions that people in the LGBT community have about Christianity from a non-biased viewpoint. I don’t believe in praying the gay away. Does it actually work? I wouldn’t know, maybe try asking someone who actually does practice it because I don’t, and I’m not interested in trying.

 

I'm not really sure how you can not think saying something is wrong is a judgment against it. (I'm Christian too).

This is incredibly not true. There are entire websites dedicated to listing the literally thousands of gray areas and inconsistencies in the Bible.

You're welcome here as a straight guy, no one minds that.

 

I myself am a bisexual Catholic. Kinda seems contradicting, but It's the faith I was raised in and have no interest in changing it. I can also offer a Christian viewpoint, from the LGBT perspective

I completely agree. Plus Jesus himself never spoke on it, so we can't know his thoughts until we die.

 

I don't have any problem with you being here because you are straight. YOU missed my point entirely. Where there is a disconnect for me is that you identify as straight, say you don't believe that being gay is okay, and yet you're questioning? I think you are having a disconnect with yourself if you continue to feel this way in spite of your own feelings pointing away from being at the very least 100% hetero. I certainly didn't mean to make you feel unwelcome so I apologize if that was how it sounded.Your orientation and how you choose to identify is not the issue, your sense of saying you don't judge people, while simultaneously judging them by disapproving of us by saying that you think what we do is wrong, is what I take issue with.

 

Thank you Destin. This is what I meant. Straight? No problem at all. Heck I thought I was straight for years myself. Homophobic? Not something I'm okay with, and I imagine a lot of other people on here as well.

 

The problem with religion and sexuality comes a long way, huh? I don't care for God so i guess my opinion is unbiased. I was raised as a christian but it was just not my thing (God's existence/nonexistence does not interest me at all).

Honestly, I think you should look up for your own needs. There should be a way for you to keep up with your religion and living your romantic/sexual life as you wish. I'm pretty sure I've heard of churches that are LGTB friendly, try that maybe?

Ultimately, is your life man. Do what you need to do to feel comfortable with your own skin. Others or your believes should never bring you down

 

I also am concerned for you that you feel ashamed about cross dressing. There is nothing wrong with liking to do that. I worry that your upbringing has caused you to reject this about yourself and that you're dealing with some internalized shame. I'm sorry I seemed harsh before, but I wanted you to know that a lot of homophobia stems from a personal sense of shame. I for one don't think you have anything to be ashamed about.

 

I don't envy your position. But it seems to me that this group (I've never heard of them, so I can't comment on that much) is not healthy for you. Being a Christian does not mean that you must be hostile toward homosexuality, as these people are. You know that from the many Christian members here. If you're looking for a more accepting denomination or church group, there are options. If you're looking to change the minds of the people you're already involved with, that's probably not going to happen. whyiamhere outlays a good explanation of why.

 

I agree.

 

Sure. What's troubling you?

 

Hi, first off I would like to apologize that your thread turned into a theological debate, especially when you were just looking for advice. I hope it did not cause you too much anxiety. I was raised Catholic so I have heard many talks on this subject as well. To prevent you from having to read my religious schpeal I'll give you my advice first. If this environment makes you feel uncomfortable, unsafe, or is harmful to your mental health, please leave. Since religion is important to you I am glad you have found a community you believe will accept you. XA seems to have a detrimental attitude. In addition, this may seem harsh but are these people the ones you want to have in your life? Do you think that if you came out to them that they would support you? In the end, you will make more friends and I promise you there is a Christian LGBT+ community, in fact, there is a member sitting across the table from me now.

Now here is my little bit about Catholicism. In the Catholic faith, there seems to be a large divide on opinions about the LGBT+ community. To oversimplify the situation you have the people who just believe being gay is wrong, you also have the people who are accepting and will go more in-depth on the matter. The reasoning here is that marriage is sacred and serves two purposes, one of which is to have children. So, because in a cis homosexual relationship you will not be able to have children, a gay couple cannot get married. In addition because of the views on sodomy and premarital sex, it means you cannot be gay and have sexy fun time.

 

To those who know Christianity well, I'd like to know why anything that's not heterosexual and not for reproduction doesn't cut it with them. This ought to be discussed. When you discuss this with simpler thinking people, the answer is that "it's not God's way." That doesn't work for me. All it does is bring up more questions, such as "Why this?" and "Why that?"

I was raised in a Christian faith. I identify as a practitioner of that faith but hardly practice. I've had my skirmishes with them over the years so I'm not exactly fond of those in power at the churches and higher up in the organization. Something appears to constantly being swept under the rug, and it's not just sex. At the community level, they can be quite judgmental and I have a problem with that.

But, go ahead. Tell me why it's not God's way if people were created with those strong desires and proclivities. How do they plan to shut down something where its basis is so organic and real?