"Even if You Listen and Never Have Much to Say..."

[psalm_onethirtyone]

A thought:

Most people who read this journal regularly know that I'm deeply religious. <3 And--I just wanted to put something in about sexual orientation, as such.

Because I believe that God created all things; and I believe that God loves all things. I frequently live by that. And I believe that sexual orientation is something a person is born with, something that can't be changed, chosen, or controlled. I believe that it's something a person is born with, and I believe that God watches and knows and shapes every person before any person is born, and I believe that if both of those things are true, this must also be true: God created some people to love boys and some people to love girls and some people to love both; and God loves them all.

I see the battle. I know that this is something that will maybe always be fought over, whether it's right or wrong, but I believe that as a Christian the issue's pretty clear. They tell me during service to respect all of God's creations, and to love them as he loves me (which--I think is so much more powerful than loving my neighbour as myself; if I did that, my neighbour would be very poorly loved). Anything God has made should be loved.

It's really that--that easy (and of course that difficult). And what I'm trying to say, and saying very badly, is that I think that for us--for Christians--this shouldn't be so hard to reconcile. It's not a sin. It's a gift. It's a gift like having freckles, or a talent for math, or very small feet. It's something we born with and which we keep, and which we should love.

That's all.

Comments

[amsterdamm.livejournal.com]

That's how I've always seen it from a religious perspective, too.

Sometimes I really wonder when so many Christians decided to start ignoring Jesus' message of peace and love and all that jazz, and that a couple verses from the Old Testament overruled his teachings. (Then again, I'll probably get informed now that Jesus loves everyone but people who aren't straight, which tends to happen when you go to a church that's all about singing and hugging and drinking coffee.)

[rainbowjehan.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you. <3

I have no. idea. It makes me want to cry. It's just--hello, missed the whole foundation of our religion yes? (Oh, lord. XD Ours too.)

[jiasachan.livejournal.com]

Poke me if I'm wrong, but for Christians now, isn't it kind of supposed to be New Testament > all? Making the scary crazy stuff in the Old Testament somewhat pointless and meaning it's all about the ♥♥♥??

[dame_grise]

Thank you.

*hugs*

That's what I believe, too, and it is disheartening to see how many people who call themselves Christians teach hate as a core value.

[rainbowjehan.livejournal.com]

♥

It. I know. We have to be louder and stronger than they are, and bring people in and love them unconditionally. I really believe we can.

[la-mia-cara.livejournal.com]

I really, really, really love your icon.

[theatre-angel.livejournal.com]

The predominant Christian viewpoint on the issue of homosexuality has always bothered me. It says in the Bible that it's wrong. The Bible says a lot of things. Many of them have changed with the times as people become more aware and discover new things; what's to say that this shouldn't change, as well?

But anyway. I wish all religious people were like you. ♥

[rainbowjehan.livejournal.com]

I know. I think it's because people are afraid of this, because it doesn't seem normal--just the way people ended up being afraid of black people and sure that they needed to enslave them, because they were different--and they want something that will validate their fear, and they end up picking the Bible because it seems like such an ancient authority and because it's the foundation, for lots of Christians, for their beliefs. I also hope that, the same way we ended up acknowledging that just because slavery was in the Bible it didn't make it right or what God wanted, that we come to acknowledge that just because homosexuality is denounced in the Bible doesn't mean that's right to do, or what God intended for any of His people.

I. occasionally wish that too. ^_~

[erinpuff]

I love you. <3 Thanks for this.

I've never really understood religious objections to teh_gay, because I grew up in a liberal bubble. I didn't even realize until I was maybe twelve or so that it was an issue for a lot of people. :o

[rainbowjehan.livejournal.com]

<3333

I live in the conservative pit of PA, so I've always been exposed to it. XD

[tomecatti.livejournal.com]

I love your mind so incredibly much. It's not the only thing i love about you, but it's the relevant one. Your take on Christianity is the best. <3.

[rainbowjehan.livejournal.com]

<3 Thank you, sir.

(by the way, Zara wants to know if Kylee is okay. She's been wondering what she should send her, and Kylee never replied back to the comment, and she doesn't want to hassle her if she's not feeling up to it, but if she is she was wondering if she could answer...! too many shes.)

[prouvairesylvie.livejournal.com]

Loves your "God doesn't hate anybody" icon and cannot sleep. Hi! If God hated anybody, he wouldn't be God. Nope.

BTW, was just reading on ff.net, found an amazing story, The Picture Portrait Gallery, loved it, favorited it, and then proceeded to the writer's profile and ZOMG! IT's YOU! SO I CAN TELL YOU HOW MUCH I RILLY RILLY LOVE IT! *hugs* thank you. I've been sick fo rthe past two days, and it really made me feel better, having amazing ami fic to read.

[rainbowjehan.livejournal.com]

Thank you. ^____^ Manon made it for me. <33 And--um, pretty much. God 1.0 was into the smiting, but the updated version definitely required love.

...Um, yes. ^^ It's never going to get finished, just so you know. But thank you v. much. :D

[prouvairesylvie.livejournal.com]

Now that I can stop typing in all caps, just wanted to say, it sick that people can be so narrow-minded.

Here's a little story about what hate can do in religion:
A couple years ago, we had this BADD EVIL pastor dude who's name was Richard. He was a jerk about everything, would lie about stuff, and then tried to make our church sign some kinda anti-gay thing, but our congregation thought he was a jerk and eventually voted him out. It was not too soon and he ended up seriously splitting up our congregation. Some people were so freaked out by his ickyness that they left and haven't been back, and he took a good chunk of our members with him to a new church called New Spirit where he could preach his sermons and lead it like he wanted too, right? Well he left them after a couple of months. It felt like the only reason he had come was to cause discord and strife. He also took our youth director too. My mother-unit was particularly opposed to him, and the youth leader, Ed, was on Richard's side. It was disgusting, knowing that your parental-units have been insulted and picked at by the man who is supposed to be teaching children! And the whole thing turned very, very political, he even asked us to pray for Richard to keep his position during youth group. (And that's when I built the barricade...actually, no. I discovered Les Miz the next year) It was especially awful because I was in sixth grade, just starting out and having a heck of a time (I did not yet have Focalin or Zoloft) and I was falling apart at school and then to have such a hateful person leading our congregation made it hard to even turn to the church for support.

I think that people need to learn how to try to love unconditionally. Hate is such an awful, awful disease, which is spread even farther when the person who has the hatred is in a position of power. The world depresses me. A lot. I try to make sure I avoid saying I hate something, because I think it's untrue. Or if I do, I try to come to terms with it (be it something as frivolous as the 1998 Les Miz movie or as serious as terrorism) I disagree, I weep over, I am annoyed by, I dislike...I've tried not to hate

sorry this is so long! *hides*

[flameofdeath.livejournal.com]

As a practicing Hindu, I've always seen it that way, too.

I know I don't comment a lot, but I do read your journal, and I just thought I'd tell you that you have this certain way of saying things that make something like sound so simple and sweet--I feel as though if I gave a homophobic Christian this, they'd immediately feel abashed.

Or maybe because it is a simple truth of acceptance. Either way, hat's off to your writing skills.

[rainbowjehan.livejournal.com]

^_^ <3

Ohhh. Thank you so much. That's--I wish it were true. I would like to show people, somehow.

Thank you.

[silverdragon262.livejournal.com]

I have freckles. :D

[little-lady-d.livejournal.com]

why is doctor who with yorick?

*cough* ... so've i.

[josiana.livejournal.com]

Citizen, you are almost enough to restore my faith in humanity. I wish more people thought like you. &hearts

[rainbowjehan.livejournal.com]

♥ Thank you. What a sweet thing to say. ^_~

[la-mia-cara.livejournal.com]

I couldn't agree more. *hugs*

[rainbowjehan.livejournal.com]

*loveson*

[jiasachan.livejournal.com]

Exactly. I'm not allowed to say these things, though, because I'm a godless heathen and so the same people who say homosexuality is wrong would say my opinion doesn't count anyway. XD But -- yes. It's not "God loves you -- unless you fall into this, this, or this category because we don't want people like that." It's "God loves everyone. Period." You say these things so wonderfully, I am tempted to print them out and keep them as fliers to hand to mean people.

[rainbowjehan.livejournal.com]

Yes, well. <333 But--yes. Exactly. That's what I mean to say, that's exactly it. And gahhhh. XD I don't think you'd get many converts.

[ladybretagne.livejournal.com]

*hugs you*

[rainbowjehan.livejournal.com]

*lovesthee*

[gileonnen.livejournal.com]

^__________^ Miss, you make me so very glad, every moment. Me, I'm far too loose in what I believe or disbelieve to assign "cause" to sexual orientation ... all I know is that it can be known by no other than oneself, and that it should be celebrated rather than condemned.

[rainbowjehan.livejournal.com]

Because people should celebrate themselves and their differences and their beauties, yes. Someday people will understand.

[ladyhamilton.livejournal.com]

Right on! It's so nice to hear from other Christians who aren't scary right-wing fundamentalist types. Have you heard about the proposed anti-gay legislation in Nigeria, that the Anglican church there is backing? It's really terrible, and I'm trying to get people to write to Congress about it. There's more info in this post (http://ladyhamilton.livejournal.com/18782.html#cutid1).

[rainbowjehan.livejournal.com]

Ooo, thank you. <3 I will look.

[anima-mecanique.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much for posting this.

I don't talk about my religious beliefs very much, since they're honestly not very well-formed. Religion is not something I think about very much. I'm kind of a techno-pagan Discordian, I guess. Where there is laughter and creation and civilization and nonsense, that's where God resides the most.

Any religion should fundamentally be about joy, not hate or fear. People always forget that.

[rainbowjehan.livejournal.com]

<3

I understand. XD Before I--I guess I converted?--I was always kind of going 'afjkafadkl am I allowed to have views if I don't have firm beliefs and what if people poke me afajkfal', although I doubt that's how you feel. But still! And--yes. Yes. ♥

I know. I'm trying to bring sexy it back as much as I can.

[(Anonymous)]

I suppose...I'm in the minority here. I don't disagree with what your post said in its essence, except for one part, which I'll get to in a moment. You're the first person I've met (outside of close family and friends) who believes that God determines a person's sexual orientation, and that's the way that person is made for the rest of their lives. I couldn't agree with you more there.
And I absolutely disagree with the outlook of the two extreme viewpoints the Church holds today: first, that we are to hate homosexuals and try to "bring them down"...and second, that nothing is wrong with homosexuality, so we should accept it completely.
I don't know how I could live with myself if I accepted only part of God's word. If I only believed the New Testament, but not the Old, if I believed that God loves everyone but doesn't have the right to punish us at times. Don't get me wrong--I don't hate homosexuals at all. The Bible clearly shows how God doesn't want his children to hate anyone! However, I do hate the sin of homosexuality. So, I disagree with you on the point that God has created people...as you say, to love both men and women, as I would say, to sin. Because that seems like a contradictory thing to do. And I'm sad that most people make the mistake of hating homosexuals instead of homosexuality, because that doesn't help anything, nor does it show others God's love.
Anyways, that's just my two cents on what you said. :)

[rainbowjehan.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

I don't consider homosexuality a sin, so we disagree, but that's okay. <3 People can disagree! And I do think it makes sense to combine elements from the Old and New Testament; but out of curiosty, do you believe in the other sins listed in the OT, as well as homosexuality? I'm not trying to be aggressive, and you totally don't have to answer if you don't want to. *hearts*