Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Elliott Jason Ridgway on June 8, 2012 at 4:32pm

Very interesting article... Thanks for posting this JB...

Club Unicorn... sounds like a good name for a Christian Gay Bar   :)

Here are my thoughts from a Worldly perspective:

This article by the Weeds offers an important and often overlooked factor regarding the definition of what it means to be "gay", and practical application for living the "gay lifestyle"... Often amongst cultural traditionalists and folks in the GLBTQ community, there are assumptions about other people's personal experiences that cause folks to draw a line in the sand and play the "No True Scotsman" card when pointing the finger at others in how they decide to define their sexuality or their lifestyle... this article mentions the major objections and projections raised by both camps, and how this family has chosen to walk the razors edge in a way to be true to themselves, despite their religious traditions or cultural stereotypes... I think both camps of ideological extremists would be wise to challenge their own premises and conclusions by hearing the testimony of the Weeds... 

A few things to mention: ... not everyone who identifies as gay are "born that way"... many choose to be gay at some point in their lives, either during puberty, or as a young adult... some folks feel attraction to both genders, and feel compelled by their peer group (gay or straight) to decide one way or another... for many folks, their "sexuality" was foisted on them either by early childhood trauma or gender role confusion in their formative years, or were groomed as a teenager or young adult by a peer or older partner... in this generation, many have been indoctrinated by media and school curricula to accept "homosexuality" as normative...

From a Biblical perspective:

However, many insist that they were "born gay"... even though scientists haven't found a "gay gene" to explain their theory, there is a Biblical explanation, called "Generational Blessings and Curses"... this has to do with the mental and behavioral sins or virtues of men and women are passed on to their offspring to the third and fourth generation... so that one inherits the genetic sequencing of their parents and great-grandparents that will cause a predisposition to certain attitudes or behaviors, whether they are healthy or not... This has been supported by studies on physical diseases as well as personality traits, so it is no stretch to apply it to "sexual orientation"... the sexual behavior that being said, just because one feels an urge to do something, doesn't mean that one should follow through on it...

This can be illustrated in the quote from Ween in their song "Roses are Free" :   

♫ ...Resist all the urges that make you wanna go out and kill...   ♫

Now, just to be clear, I am not equating sexual attraction with homicide... I believe humans are wired with the survival instincts for procreation and for self-defense... yet these base instincts to fuck, fight, or flee can be restrained with our capacity to override those desires if they manifest in unhealthy ways for the individual as well as for the greater society...

This article, as well as the cultural phenomenon of "gay" christians, is an excellent example of letting one's personal preferences and contemporary culture to interpret the Word of God, instead of allowing Scripture to interpret oneself or one's culture... This boils down to a matter of Trusting God and Obeying His Commands... and recognizing and accepting what the New Testament states regarding sodomy as an abomination... that sodomites, homosexuals and effeminate men will not inherit the Kingdom of God... This is one of the many things I wish with my heart that wasn't in the Bible...

Jeremiah 17:9 (KJV)

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? 

Folks who choose to change the context of Word of God in order to modernize the language so as to not offend the sensibilities of folks who live in our post-modern culture are creating confusion, and clearly ignoring the warning in Revelation regarding the fate of those who add to or take away any words from Scripture... they are flattening the hills and valleys of distinction that the Bible makes clear between those who Trust & Obey, and those who are unwittingly willing to believe a lie... 

Unfortunately, most Christian denominations are embracing the New Tolerance in order to remain "culturally relevant", and they are turning away from the Authority of Scripture in order to embrace the new Tradition... often using the Pagan cultures of antiquity as justification for their newfound embrace of the homosexual life... As our Western culture continues to slide off of the Biblical moorings that established 1500 years of stability within the family unit and society in general, there will continue to be a polarization between the Remnant who base their beliefs on the Bible, and the majority who base their Bible on their beliefs... just one more Bible Prophecy coming true that will differentiate the True Saints in these "Latter Days"...

Permalink Reply by Tanner on October 27, 2012 at 2:10pm

Well said.

Permalink Reply by Elliott Jason Ridgway on October 3, 2012 at 11:38pm

exactly... homosexual lifestyle is a choice... then again, so is mormonism

Permalink Reply by Tanner on October 27, 2012 at 2:13pm

Amazing story Josh. Pure gospel to take everything before Jesus and let Him change you. You can't clean up first. Spectacular. 

Permalink Reply by Andrew Airmet on October 4, 2012 at 9:16am

I'm not sure if I quite qualify for 'Club Unicorn'.  I am attracted to men, but I've chosen not to act out sexually on it.

I am Mormon myself, so I really honor this guys bravery at being open about his attraction.

Permalink Reply by Ian Wilson on October 26, 2012 at 4:23pm

i just finished reading "Torn" by Justin Lee
http://amzn.com/1455514314

and one of the key points that Justin Lee makes is that we should separate the conflated issues.  one is the nature of attraction (choice or not) and the second is behavior (do or not do).

Josh Weed implies a similar distinction.   and this needs to be discussed more because the current war of gays v Christians is creating alot of collateral damage.  when you separate those two issues, many worn arguments fall apart... and then that leaves room for grace to walk thru.

i also like how Josh Weed pulls the rug out from under "gay lifestyle".  Justin Lee takes that further by flat-out dismissing it as it is pejorative, hurtful, and marginalizing.  not all gay men go clubbing every night, wear leather pants, do drugs, and obsess about their eyebrows.

i also respect Josh Weed's boldness and openness, and that he starts to crack the door open on the sheer complexity that saturates human sexuality.  we (Christians) need to be having more of these conversations, lest our battles and debates scare more away from our churches.

Permalink Reply by Elliott Jason Ridgway on October 27, 2012 at 3:11pm

+1

Permalink Reply by Maximilian Hermann Reese on October 27, 2012 at 4:27pm

I am not Gay but I think it's the same with watching pornography. It's your decision wheter you life your desire or not. As a reverend I know once said: You can't avert that birds (thoughts) fly over your roof, but you can keep them from building a nest. (Hope thats a good translation, cause he said it in German)