"The first time you’re born, you identify the people in the room as your family. The second time you’re born, you identify the whole world as your family. Christianity is not about joining a particular club, it’s about waking up to the fact that we are all in the same club. Every last one of us. So avoid discussions about who’s in and who’s out at all costs… If working out your faith is not beautiful and hard, find a new one to work out. And if spiritual teachers are encouraging you to fear anyone, watch them closely, honey. Raise your eyebrow and then your hand. Because the phrase repeated most often in that Bible they are quoting is Do Not Be Afraid."
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The thing about being a person who studies the Bible is that there are some parts of it that are so contradictory and there are some parts that are consistent throughout. And some Christians have different ideas about which parts go in which catagory.
Even though I spend a lot of time writing about the topic - I am not extremely concerned with making my opinions about people who identify as gay (or lesbian, or bi, or trans, or queer) known to the internet world. I am concerned with the complexities of humanizing people. I am concerned with taking people very seriously. I am concerned with God in our contextualized world. Even though I desperately want to have answers, I know that my specific role is not to have answers but to facilitate hard conversations that elevate above hurtfully quoting scripture at one another like it’s a weapon of proof to protect someone who does not need protection - God.
I know my role is not to say “here is the answer,” but to say, “here are some better questions, and some faces to put with those questions.” Maybe some of you have answers. I envy you.
Anyway - this article aligns with the beliefs in which I have found freedom and direction. I couldn’t have explained it better if I tried. And I do try.
I hope that even if you do not come to the same conclusions that I do about religion or gender or sexuality that you will still commit to think hard, look hard, and carefully evaluate fear and knowledge.
Also, thanks for reading my blog.
“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:18-19
