Is it possible to reconcile homosexuality with faith?

Question

I'm a gay man. I used to be involved in a church in my area but after a while I fell away from it because I felt like I was living some kind of dual life. I felt a lot personal satisfaction from my faith, but it's a part of my life I just don't think about anymore because I feel like I've had to choose between faith and living my life without lying to myself.

I'm not really prepared to think of homosexuality as a sin, neither do I accept the argument that "homosexuality itself isn't a sin, but homosexual acts are". I'm just as capable of feeling love for a man in the way straight Christians (although I'm not restricting my question to Christianity here) and others feel love for each one another, so please don't reply with that one! I've heard it all before!

Are there any people out there who lead lives with real faith but who are also gay?

Answer 1

Of course you can!!

I am a Christian, I worship and pray privately, I read the Bible in my own time and follow it's ideals as I feel they should, and more importantly CAN BE applied to the modern world. I don't like organised religion. I don't like being told how I should feel about an issue before I've heard the issue, based on an ideal established 2000 years ago, such as the "moral standing on homosexuality", or sex in general, euthinasia or whatever.

People take the Bible as the word of God, it isn't, it's the word of the men who lived 2000 years ago and wrote about God, and though there are Christian values in the Bible they are still tainted by the limited knowledge of society and people, as far as morality/science and sexuality are concerned. But it's still followed word for word and incorporated to this day;- but exclusion of homosexuals from a faith is not among the words of God.

God doesn't say homosexuality is a sin, if that were the case it would probably show up as a commandmant wouldn't it. It's the authors who lived in a time of demons and unexplained phenomena that say it's wrong, because 2000 years ago we simply didn't understand the full context of our society.

The Bible and Christianity itself are supposed to be about tolerance, the exploration of new ideas, adapting your relationship with God to incorporate modern ideals.

Isn't that what jesus preached? "Let he who is without sin..." "Turn the other cheek...." "Love thy God, and love thy neighbor...". The Bible (New Testament anyway) is all about acceptence and growth amongst God's followers, Jesus challenged religious leaders bent on beuaocracy and rules and their out of date approach to faith and the people.

As a society we've come a very long way since then, the way the world works has changed, but the church's ideals remain frightfully out-of-date, much like the church and faith system Jesus sought to reform.

So of course it is feasible that a gay man can have faith, and should be welcomed into a faith and should have no reluctance in accepting that he is entitled to his faith. A man, gay or straight, is capable of great good, love and understanding. A gay man can follow the teachings of God and Jesus. A gay man is as much God's child as the next person.

SO YES, A CONCLUSIVE YES

Answer 2

I'm sure there are plenty of options open to you other than Christianity. But if you must go to a Christian Church, I have heard some nice things about the United Church of Christ: http://www.ucc.org/ .

As for me, I'd rather not be around a group of people who think that their own sins are okay or just not as bad as homosexuality (which I don't think there is anything wrong with). I long ago grew tired of people preaching about how loving they were all the while spewing some of the most hateful comments you've ever heard about people they don't even know. And I also long ago concluded that I believed most of religion is just a bunch of crap that I don't need. I simply have no use for it and am happier for it.

Personally, I think most of these so-called loving Christians would line up to throw us in the ovens and I never forget that it wouldn't be the first time they've done it if it happened.

Answer 3

I have been there done that, and if you really have to ask this question, then you lack faith that your god loves you, and you're screwed as far as christianity goes. Try Santeria(seriously--it's a very popular religion for gays)

If, you do choose to stick with the whole christian thing, here are a few good things to remember:

The bible contains 2 admonitions against homosexuals and 368 against heteros-I'm not saying He's picking sides, but he's obviously figured out whose more likely to get into trouble

acts of homosexuality are not condemned as sinful--that's an interpretation. Everything in the scriptures can be interpreted several ways, and if you buy into that interpretation, change your religion--it's easier than changing your mindset.

The bible also says to judge not lest we be judged and not question god's judgement OR think we know what his judgement even is. It decidedly IS a sin to beleive ourselves capable of thinking like God.

God supposedly created all of us--why would he create you just to judge and condemn you? The bible and scriptures were written by proxy, by prophets, then hand copied for centuries and translated into every language on the planet. The King James version was edited judiciously by King James III in order to solidify his rule over his people through their religion. Acknowledge that it might not be word-for-word what god originally intended. Acknowledge that a being capable of creating universes is also capable of changing his mind--read the book, dude, he used to do it all the time.

Most importantly, acknowledge what you feel. If you don't feel comfortable with your current religion-no matter how much you used to enjoy it-it no longer is doing for you what it's supposed to and it's time to move on--gl

Answer 4

I mean no disrespect, however, I think it rather interesting that this is a question. The fact is that homosexuality as was taught by Christ was an abomination. To try and reconcile that way I would have to say is possible but would require conforming with the teachings of Christ. Christ never taught that his teachings should be form fit to the individual but rather that the individual should mold to His teachings. I think it rather unfortunate that people expect that religion should mold to the people. I guess that is the business of Religion though.

As for faith, I think that it would be best served to find a faith that either has no fundamental teachings to the contrary of the way you choose to live or will accept it regardless. I would say be an honest open seeker of truth and pray to God to answer the prayers you have offered up openly and in your heart and he will direct you.

Several problems arise though when we take the truths and disregard them because they don't fit what we want or feel. I think when we pray we need to consider the truths we have read and been given then study it out in our hearts, come to a conclusion and then pray accordingly with the truths we have read or been taught in the forefront of our mind. Then after the prayer has been offered, wait and listen.

Good luck to you now and in the future.

Answer 5

I'm not Gay, but I am a christian. I want to ask you a question. Do you want to have faith is something, so that you can feel secure? So that one day you'll go to heaven? If those are the reasons then you are not wanting faith for the right reasons. regardless of your sexuality you are special to God. He loves you and sent His Son Jesus to die on a cross for you. If you want this then turn to Him. Its not just for straight men and women you know. Its for everybody. People have told you that your sexuality is wrong, I'm not going to do that. But what does God say? What does the Bible say? When you can answer these two questions you will know what is truth.
Homosexuality will not give you answers to life, just as heterosexuality won't give people answers.
Jesus is the only one who can do that. You are loved by Him in a way that will blow your socks off. Talk to Him today.
As a Christian I do not condemn you, because you are special.

One last thing, and I'm not mocking gay and lesbians still. But by asking them the above question, don't you think they are bound to be a little one-sided?

Answer 6

Yes, it certainly is. Find a mainline Protestant church where gay people are accepted and talk to the pastor. Episcopalian, Methodist, UCC, and of course Unitarians.

Do some reading. The best I know is L. William Countryman's "Dirt, Greed, and Sex" which is an exhaustive scholarly analysis of Biblical sexual ethics. He's an Episcopal priest. Also John Boswell's books -- "Christianity and Social Tolerance" and "Same-Sex Unions in Pre-Modern Europe." Then you can get an intellectual handle on where the anti-gay folks go wrong.

Good luck to you. You're obviously an intelligent, thoughtful, loving person, and the congregation you find your home in will be blessed to have you.

Answer 7

Yes, there are gay people who live a life of faith. It's difficult, but not impossible. Loving the Lord with your whole heart, mind, and strength is difficult for straight people too. There is always something to distract us from what God desires.

Think of the Ten Commandments as God's way of telling us that we cannot live without His influence in our lives. "All have fallen short of God's glory." The Commandments just let us know which areas we are failing in, and the Gospel tells us how to receive God's forgiveness and grace.

The issue of homosexuality in the church also carries with it the social stigma, but it's no better, nor worse than any other sin issue. That wonderful word "abomination" applies to breeches of any of the Commandments.

Try church again. And don't be afraid to seek out the men's ministries; you may find a mentor there to help you on the path.

Answer 8

Dear Wes W,
The word reconcile stands out to me. When I think of reconciliation, I think of what Christ has done for Wes W.
He has made a propitiation for YOU! You are reconciled to God because of what Christ has done. So Christ has made payment for you and you are now covered in His blood. You have been given a new name forgiven, sanctified and justified.
I say when you believe that in your heart and say it with your mouth......you are saved once and for all........is that not faith?
As far as homosexuality Im stumped.
Faith is the substance of things hoped for and evidence of things unseen.
I'm sorry I couldnt be of more help to you. Again, the main reason I answered was because of the word reconcile. The rest of your question is somewhat of a mystery to me.
I love you.
A christian sister

Answer 9

Trouble with formalised "Christian" religions is the clergy get too involved in the minutiae of protocols and rituals and lose the plot.
Basically I dont really think the church should worry about non reproductive sex.
Clearly if kids are to be created then there is a need for marriage to ensure the mother and father stick around to bring the kids up, and of course modern contraception was unknown in biblical times, so hetero sex and kiddies were inseperable. I do not agree with divorce, where children are involved. But where the line between Christian friendship and being Gay sits beats me.
On reflection would draw a line between Homosexuals in steady relationships and Promiscuous Gays, in the same way I would differentiate between hetero fok who sleep around and those in steady relationships, but then I am in a minority as my criteria is not sex per se but Children, one should not create children outside marriage, rather than one should not enjoy a bonk outside marriage .
I am not gay but know some practising homosexuals and saw someone drawn into a transgender scene which I found very disturbing. I am pretty certain if Jesus and his mates (disciples) went around the countryside today like they did in biblical times most folk would assume they were Gay!

Answer 10

I lead a life of faith, but while I'm not Gay, I am a Gay Rights Activist and I'm CATHOLIC! (Catholics are usually the worst at judging Homosexuals! I am not one of them!!!) There is more than enough proof that homosexuality is NOT a choice that I feel just in my battle for ALL people, Gay, Straight, Black, White or whatever, to have the same basic LEGAL rights, (such as same sex marriage, adoption, serving in the armed forces, ETC ETC) If a so-called unintelligent animal can be Gay and even Bi, why can't it also happen at birth in humans? I say it can and does happen!!!!! Try searching in your community for churches that are set up for Gays and pray for all of those that have forced you to feel as you do now, they have no right to judge and I know God loves you. May he bless and keep you always.