I'm Gay, but I'm Not Switching to a Church That Supports Gay Marriage

The Atlantic ^ | May 30, 2013 | Eve Tushnet

[Mrs. Don-o]

When I became Catholic in 1998, as a college sophomore, I didn't know any other gay Christians. I'd been raised in a kind of pointillist Reform Judaism...

This sheltered upbringing may help explain my sunny undergraduate confidence that even though I knew of literally nobody else who had ever tried to be both unashamedly gay and obediently Catholic, I was totally going to do it. No problem, guys, I got this.

[snip]

[M]any Christian churches are beginning to integrate gay marriage into their theology... With so many more options for gay Christians, why [not] just de-pope myself?

It's that I fell in love with the Catholic Church....I didn't switch from atheistic post-Judaism to "belief in God," but to Catholicism: the Incarnation and the Crucifixion...her insistence that seemingly irreconcilable needs could both be met in God's overwhelming love: justice and mercy, reason and mystery, a savior who is fully God and also fully human. I didn't expect to understand every element of the faith. It is a lot bigger than I am.

[snip]

At the time of my baptism...I figured, everybody has to sacrifice something. God doesn't promise that He'll only ask you for the sacrifices you agree with and understand.

[snip]

Right now, the Biblical witness seems pretty clear. Both opposite-sex and same-sex love are used, in the Bible, as images of God's love. The opposite-sex love is found in marriage—sexually exclusive marriage, an image which recurs not only in the Song of Songs but in the prophets and in the New Testament—and the same-sex love is friendship. Both of these forms of love are considered real and beautiful; neither is better than the other. But they're not interchangeable.

Moreover, Genesis names sexual difference as the only difference which was present in Eden...

(Much more at link)

[ravenwolf]

Someone’s bound to come along and go Full Retard on you.

---

I did not mean to make you mad, I was just saying that it is natural for a man to be attracted to other women as I think I am quite normal in that respect.

I might even go farther than you in that most of my life I have wanted a variety but at the same time know that it is wrong.

But Jesus can not have my kind of man as a member of his secular Church, as I can not give my life to it nor am I inclined to want to.

I have never been a member of any Church although many of Churches I have attended would take the devil himself if he would join and I believe he gladly would and already has.

My only point is that you do not have to be a member to know Christ and most people have no business being members except spiritually.

[piusv]

OK, thanks .... at least I know I’m not blind. :-)

[Mrs. Don-o]

Ravenwolf, it might be a good idea to re-read what GOP said, in the light of an honest review of the human heart. There is hardly a man on earth --- at least one past puberty, and hormonally normal --- who has not felt the unbidden tug of attraction to some female not his wife. The fact that men notice women--- that the eye darts to the curves almost on its own --- is the reason why the put women's curves in beer ads, travel brochures and TV commercials.

The "unbidden tug," the unwilled attraction, the abrupt appetite, is partly a gift of God (it helps us get interested in marriage) and too often something nagging and inordinate, which disturbs our serenity and tempts us to sin.

Jesus was tempted. He was tempted in every way we are, but without sinning.

(That's the difference between Him and us.)

So don't be jumping all over GOP for just noting that he feels the attraction. It is not the same as saying he plays a continuous porno video loop in his brain and willfully cooperates in getting off on lustful fantasy.

He's saying he's a male that ain't dead yet.

Get a grip. Temptation is not the same as sin.

[CynicalBear]

What a great thought provoking article. As I read down through the comments I’m amazed at how often you have had to explain what the article says. It’s obvious the comments come before reading the article. From total preconceived assumptions to haughty “I’ve never been tempted by anything” attitudes. It’s sad to watch comments that clearly are not based on having read the article.

The writer has obviously understood the “go sin no more” command and made a conscious decision to stop the sinful act.

[Mrs. Don-o]

I think you're in the right. Keep telling it like it is --- we need people who are a bit honest about their humanity --- and don't be put off who people who don't even want to comprehend.

I appreciate your thoughts.

[CynicalBear]

ROFL I chuckled when I read you post knowing it was going to bring out the knee jerk crowd. I full understood what you meant but some people are so pure they have no temptations anymore you know.

[Amendment10]

"Did you get that she's single, haste, and abstinent, for Christ's sake? "

As a consequence of possible ignorance of the Holy Bible, by talking about so-called gay "Christians," she is arguably helping to spread pro-gay propaganda.

Also, reading her article, although she converted to Catholocism relatively recently, she reminded me of Nancy Pelosi.

[NorthMountain]

Congratulations.

You absolutely and completely misrepresented the author’s comment.

Thou shalt not bear false witness.

Here is the comment in full, posted in the excerpt, which one cannot possibly have missed if one had read it in good faith:

“Right now, the Biblical witness seems pretty clear. Both opposite-sex and same-sex love are used, in the Bible, as images of God’s love. The opposite-sex love is found in marriage—sexually exclusive marriage, an image which recurs not only in the Song of Songs but in the prophets and in the New Testament—and the same-sex love is friendship. Both of these forms of love are considered real and beautiful; neither is better than the other. But they’re not interchangeable. “

[Mrs. Don-o]

Thank you for noticing I said "for Christ's sake" literally: she is doing this For. The. Sake. Of. Christ.

'Preciate'ja, as we say in Tennessee.

[Amendment10]

"... Not a problem. Thank you for that Bible reference."

It was a BC (before coffee) post.

[editor-surveyor]

There has to be a tornado of confusion spinning in her head.
.

[Cletus.D.Yokel]

You know what...I’m out. Don’t reply to this, I’ll not continue.

Y’all have really weird American-modernist concept of God, His Word (AKA: Jesus) and God’s will.
Repentance is a VERB.
I hope your non-XPian friends like you; Really, really like you (Sally Field reference).

[Mrs. Don-o]

Thank you and a happy fist-bump to you, CynicalBear.

I get a little scowly about the widespread lack of reading comprehension and/or a lack of decent respect for the honest struggles of a human heart.

But people like you who can truly understand and respond: I thank God for you.

[SoFloFreeper]

Both opposite-sex and same-sex love are used, in the Bible, as images of God's love. The opposite-sex love is found in marriage—sexually exclusive marriage, an image which recurs not only in the Song of Songs but in the prophets and in the New Testament—and the same-sex love is friendship. Both of these forms of love are considered real and beautiful; neither is better than the other.

Errr...not really. Marriage is better. Adam and Eve, Abraham and Sarah, etc. were better off than Jonathan and David. Both are important, yes.

I am glad you posted this, and was surprised at this young lady's commitment. I do think she is a bit off base, and hopefully she will realize that her inner heart--her sexuality--must be dealt with...but she is definitely on the right path if she is abstaining from bad behavior. Of course, Christ wants to change our hearts not just our hands....and other body parts. :)

God bless.

[Sergio]

bkmk

[Mrs. Don-o]

Where do you get that, for goodness' sake? How can Eve Tushnet remind you of Nancy Pelosi when Eve's against the whole gay-pride, gay-is-good, gay marriage agenda?

Doesn't that make her more of an opposite?

[Mrs. Don-o]

In what sense?

[Boogieman]

No, not unless you think that Christians are supposed to be perfect. There are Christian drunks, Christian adulterers, Christian liars, and as we know all too well, even Christian pedophiles. They are just obviously not being the best Christians that they can be, if they continue to indulge in their sinful lusts.

[Boogieman]

Doesn’t seem like you actually read the article.

[editor-surveyor]

>> “It’s like being “a Christian and a dry alcoholic.” You still have an appetite. You don’t indulge in it anymore.” <<

.

Are there a lot of Bibles without 1John 1:9 in them?

If she has plunged into the Mikva of confession and repentance, the Holy Spirit should have cleansed her of that unrighteousness. That is the promise, that is what “baptism” is. The same can be said for alcoholics, and any other destructive ‘attraction.’
.