Gayly Christian

There is a great controversy in proclaiming Christianity while believing it is not against God's will to marry someone of the same sex.

Nevertheless, I now stand... okay, well, I'm sitting, but let's be metaphorical here... to say that I am "Gayly Christian."

Now, I do not claim spiritual/religious knowledge but belief. My beliefs are founded upon those things which I have felt to be spiritual and are structured by the framework of logic and reason. (Much like a computer program where the foundation thereof is an idea/need and the framework to build such an idea/belief is structured by logic. Indeed, my religious leanings are quite greatly influenced by my being a geek, a student of computer logic and programming.)

Through my studies, prayers, meditations, et al. I have been and continue to be drawn spiritually toward Christianity. I also have had experiences in my life that have lead me to believe in a spiritual essence (or I could just be a little off my rocker -- note the use of the word "just." I'm fully aware that I am, indeed, a little crazy... loony if you will).

Anyway, I do believe that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior, having descended into mortality as Mercy to satisfy the demands of Justice. Indeed, I profess to be Christian.

'IMPOSSIBLE!" some may shout, "You cannot be truly Christian and accept homosexuality! Such the latter has been professed by the prophets of God to be abominable, abhorrent, evil, confusing the nature of man! How can you profess Christianity AND homosexuality!?! IMPOSSIBLE!"

Truth be told, I read (present tense) the Bible. Truth be told, I believe in prophets and prophecy. Truth be told, my favorite LDS seminary class in high school was focused on The New Testament. Truth be told, there are within The New Testament some conditionals declared by Christ, Himself, that, if used as a framework of logic and reason, have taken the words of the Bible (and those whom I believe are men of God) off of the pedestal on which they once resided within my heart.

These core conditionals of Christianity (as I see it) are as follows (according to the King James Version of the Bible):

1. Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (Matthew 22: 37-40)




2. For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. (Luke 6: 43-45)

   
   

3. But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. (Matthew 23:8-12)

I think (of all apostles), Paul sums up these conditionals quite well in 1 Corinthians 13:

8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity

Framed by these conditionals and understandings, I have structured my stance on homosexuality.

First and foremost, I asked myself, "What is the most charitable thing to do?" Decidedly, such depended on what is good and what is evil (as it benefits no man to allow evilness); therefore, I asked, "Are these families bringing to pass good works or evil works?"

I then sought to discern for myself the works of married gay couples raising families, and I have witnessed, in great abundance, good and commendable works; indeed, every work I saw brought to pass by the homosexual couple was equal to the works brought to pass by the heterosexual counterpart.

To the statement, "Nevertheless, the prophets have spoken," there is the response, "Whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For [they] know in part, and [they] prophecy in part... [they] see through a glass, darkly... the greatest [concept upon building the foundation of life] is charity."

Prophecies cannot, in my mind, usurp the conditionals of charity and judgment based on good works. Such prophecies that would try will necessarily fail.

For man is man, prone to prejudice which prejudice will only fog the glass through which we already see darkly. This is why I, as a Christian, exalt no man to the same position of Christ. Accordingly, no words of man can I exalt to words of God.

Indeed, no man is my Master, for I have only one: even Jesus Christ.