What if You Put LGBTQ & Cis-Het Christians in a Room for 3 Days?

[@Robert-and-Karl]

Absolutely love your show. Made me think about my journey.

[@travismitchell6604]

I love this! Being radically welcoming without trying to change people. This is the type of dialogue that Christians and queer people should have always!

[@eugeneodhiambo8637]

Dear Alana had definitely change my life too. I am so tired of feeling like a prisoner in my own body. I’ve wrestled for long enough. I think I am ready to be myself and love God no matter what. Cause I still feel like it’s crazy but I feel so much love from God and that there is so much change I want to see in the world. I am ready to be the change I want to see.❤

[@FrancesBedoya89]

looooved this episode! i'd love to be a part of one of her groups. ☺

[@RCanadian]

It all comes down to love of God and love of neighbour, and seeing the God-image in each person.

[@amypooley1799]

Man, I’m listening to this episode to give it a chance and I hate it. I hate the non-answers just-love-everyone approach to this topic. It keeps gay people in an unhealthy psychological and spiritual limbo that we don’t ask other people to live with. I also really hate Side B theology for this reason. I found the first season of this podcast so helpful but I cannot with this episode. It triggers something for me. I don’t know, maybe it’s because I’m a parent. Maybe this all felt more abstract for me before we were talking about my actual family.

[@amypooley1799]

I’m very tired of this kind of “dialogue.” It’s fine to be gay, people, and you don’t have to be friends with people who don’t think so. It doesn’t make you closed-minded, it means you have an appropriate level of self-protection.

[@laratho62]

I feel the same... not sure how much good all this truly accomplishes 🤷😮‍💨 Homophobia is still homophobia no matter how "kindly" or "sweetly" they try to package it... and boy is it unhealthy to be the gay person in that situation

[@amypooley1799]

@@laratho62 glad to know it’s not just me. After 20+ years of being an out gay person I try to protect my energy and spirit. I don’t want to be in relationship with people who think my psychological make-up, self-understanding, marriage, and children are sins or mistakes. I’m polite to everyone but those people don’t get my time.

[@laratho62]

@@amypooley1799 yep, we have no obligation to coddle anyone's feelings about their harmful beliefs

[@ITriedToBeStraight]

I get what you're saying. I wouldn't recommend every gay person to go to these dialogues, and I don't feel like it's our duty to educate people either. I will say, for those of us who have many family members still coming from the other perspective that have a vested interest in wanting to open peoples eyes, there is some value here. But it's cause it's something we want to do, not feel obligated to do. That said, what you're saying is very valid, and I think it's still something I'm journeying through personally and I don't know what my full feelings will be in a few years from now.

[@ITriedToBeStraight]

I also think there's a real chance for Christian's in the greater evangelical spaces to start opening up their minds to what the LGBTQ experience is like. And I've seen how little they've actually known about it. Ideally this wouldn't be needed, and again I don't think everyone should be diving into this space. I'm not living or dying by weather evangelical Christian's think I should exist or not. But I'm down to be in the middle of conversations as we open this all up and build empathy for each other. Maybe it's blindly optimistic to think this will make a real impact. But I do want to help build bridges of empathy, so in the future no one in any church gets treated the way LGBTQ people currently get treated. I may not be doing that all perfectly, but that is my heart, and I do think people like Kristyn have that as their goal as well. Again this is all very delicate stuff that I am no expert on, but to me this feels like doing my part in helping educate a community that is often very closed about this issue. It's not right that they're this closed about this issue, but at the moment it is the way it is, and I'm ok for myself personally to stand in the tension as we hopefully forge a better path.

[@tommatchett4684]

Title says gays are not Christian??? Most gay folks I know consider themselves faith based.

[@laratho62]

I don't think that's what they meant to convey, but you're right the title should really be worded differently. It's quite clickbaity

[@tommatchett4684]

@@laratho62 agree, thanks.

[@WithMyOwnEars]

I was thinking the same

[@ITriedToBeStraight]

Fixed! Good call.

[@charlesallen5]

You folks are using a very narrow definition of "Christian." You're talking about evangelicals. What about mainline churches who have lots of gay clergy?

[@laratho62]

Totally agree.

[@ItsCoreyLynxxYall]

If all gay people get blamed and attacked for the actions of the few in our community then it's only fair for christians to be treated the same, right?

[@notinterested7911]

@charlesallen5 Those people at mostly in the closet aren’t they, not really representing the queer community

[@laratho62]

@@notinterested7911 actually there are a number of Christian denominations and traditions that fully affirm and include openly gay people in both their clergy and congregations

[@charlesallen5]

@@notinterested7911 which people? You mean LGBT clergy in the mainline churches? Keep up with events. We are definitely not closeted. These churches are full of OPENLY LGBT clergy.

[@ddrse]

Yes

[@CrossAndWindMinistries]

God loves all the world and this is why He sent Jesus into the world so we will repent of our sins and be saved.

[@CrossAndWindMinistries]

@@willchristie2650 it’s the best news ever. LGBT identified people, like other sinners, can repent and be saved.

[@CrossAndWindMinistries]

If you love the Father, you must obey His Word.

[@Dalekzilla]

That is a beautiful thought....however I must ask you, do you take this message to professing Christians who demonize and malign migrants? There are a LOT of Christians who do this in the U.S., and when they do this they are going directly against scripture....over TWENTY scriptures to be precise that tell us to love the stranger in our land, and treat them with love and kindness ONLY. Also, do you take this message to professing Christians who ignore the poor, the sick, the marginalized, the homeless? Because THIS sin is one Christ says will send you to your "eternal punishment" (Matthew 25:32-46), and it was, in fact, the actual sin that God destroyed Sodom for (Ezekiel 16:49). Again, there are a HUGE number of Christians in this country that ignore Christ's Least of These, or support politicians who consistently vote against bills that would benefit them. Also, do you take this message to the rich? Because not only does Christ instruct us NOT to "store up treasures on Earth" (hoard wealth), He also on more than one occasion says that, while not impossible, it is extremely unlikely that the rich will go to Heaven (Luke 6:24 and Matthew 19:24). And finally, do you take this message to professing Christians who support (and sometimes idolize) politicians who are adulterers, racists, rapists, pathological liars, idolators, Human Rights abusers, and bigots? Because I really don't believe Christ is pleased when they do that. God bless.

[@lynnehood2198]

Repent means..."turn away from sin." You know that right? LiIterally it means "TURN your back to it- not over look it.

[@notinterested7911]

@CrossAndWindMinistries The lord wants me to be gay