Bridging the Gap - Conversations on Befriending our Gay Neighbours

[MrFiddler1959]

...and no, I am not looking to be merely "tolerated." what I want is the unconditional love and acceptance Christians are so good at talking about and so wretchedly abysmal at practicing, especially when it comes to us LGBT.

[MrFiddler1959]

Instead of continuing to repeat the mistake of alienating your gay neighbor, servant714 you might want to take a listen to BTG video with Brian Pengelly about LISTENING, and take his words to heart. Your pronouncements here make it very clear to me that you aren't LISTENING.

[MrFiddler1959]

What makes you think, servant714, that I haven't already been beaten up with that "logic" a thousand times before? Who are YOU to judge me and threaten me with hell? It is plain to ME that you are exactly the kind of Christian I prefer to avoid. This is NOT how you "befriend" your gay neighbor.

[MrFiddler1959]

There are people of my acquaintance, some of whom I like very much, that I remain on my guard around because they are Christian. Sooner or later that other shoe is bound to drop... having been through it so many times before I'm just not willing to keep having my heart trampled on... which is exactly what both the "non-affirmation" and the Christian insistence on evangelism does. I am made to feel less than, judged, inferior to, devalued, trivialized. And I say, "Enough."

[MrFiddler1959]

After decades of having Jesus-talk used against me as a means to be kept at arms-length, of being informed in manners both subtle and stark that my worth as s human being is less valuable than an individual's belief in a mistranslation of antique literature taken out of historical context, I can no longer extend the energy required to hear much of anything critical, non-supportive or non-affirming that comes out of a Christian mouth.

[servant714]

@MrFiddler1959

Ephesians 4:18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.

[MrFiddler1959]

I have yet to hear the Christian voice that isn't somehow infected with that sort of spiritual arrogance, with the possible exception of John Shelby Spong. Or the ONE Christian woman who said to me "wherever your path takes you, I honor that." Sadly, she is the exception, not the rule in my experience.

[servant714]

@MrFiddler1959 It is very plain to me that you are looking for a god that fits your criteria, to you tolerance is of utmost worth, to God it is holiness. No sexually immoral person will enter His kingdom. Anyone who comes along and tickles your ears is lying to you and ensnaring you so that you will not escape hell.

[MrFiddler1959]

My experience with Christianity is a long and negative one. As an ex-born-again I no longer trust Christians. Even the "gay-friendly" - supposing we set aside the LGBT issues there still remain the doctrines of heaven/hell duality and salvation, concepts which I utterly reject as the ultimate in spiritual bullying. "Believe this, and exactly this, and in the same way my church preaches it, or go to hell." Or some permutation thereof. I have yet to hear the Christian voice that isn't someh

[TraumaConcept]

Fiddler, I'm sorry you feel that way. You seen to be clumping ALL Christians into one group, which is not something I would do myself. I've been friends with men and women my whole life who happened to be gay...and the majority of my life was as an atheist. Now Ive been a Christian for 2 years (since turning 26) and I am still friends with them. So am I lumped into your group?

[MrFiddler1959]

"Befriend?" Too little, too late, and too condescending. Nothing short of support for MY family as I define it - SAME AS YOURS - is acceptable. And where is the respect for other spiritual paths than yours? None. Evangelism, no matter its form, remains the greatest sin committed by Christianity as it is practiced in this country. In my humble opinion.

Bitter? Yes. Yes I am.

[nicklansley]

Let's remember that Jesus said nothing about homosexuality being 'sinful' or 'wrong' in any way.

That's why I like the attitude of this this Christian group - it's good to see a group accepting people for whom they are and acknowledging - perhaps even rejoicing at the diversity of life.

All I hope is that no member is tempted to try and say that same sex attraction is wrong and try to persuade the gay person (however subtley) to turn away from their core sexual being.

Great start though!

[zoecarnate]

This looks great!