LGBTQ, in LC and Beyond.

[Sons to Glory!]

Originally Posted by Ohio

I am disappointed with awareness's posts. Instead of moderating or mediating beneficial discussion, he at times sowed controversy by throwing gasoline into many of his posts.

My observation too. I found myself hoping SerenityLives (et. al. in LGBTQ+ community) would comment on things instead of awareness, because his gasoline was creating fires that maybe didn't even need to be there in the first place . . .

So an OP can request a thread be deleted, and it will be, as a matter of forum policy?

[SerenityLives]

Originally Posted by Sons to Glory!

My observation too. I found myself hoping SerenityLives (et. al. in LGBTQ+ community) would comment on things instead of awareness, because his gasoline was creating fires that maybe didn't even need to be there in the first place . . .

So an OP can request a thread be deleted, and it will be, as a matter of forum policy?

Hello everyone, I hope you guys would stop fighting. It is not my intention for this thread to be deleted, just closed. I have reached out to many of our ex LC lgbtq brothers and sisters and some of them take a look at this thread and told me personally that they feel too stressed to post. As to the few that did, I applaud them for their bravery and commitment. I also applaud all of your commitment to this thread. I believe awareness did not intend to throw any bombshells if it seems that way, he contributed a lot of ideas that were pro-lgbtq that moved the thread forward. At this point, I just feel the thread should be closed for the benefit of everyone. If anyone has anything else to say, nows the time to do so and then afterwards, UntoHim can close the thread. Personally, this thread was a lot more civil than the other, even though I did get angry sometimes at some of the conversations that came up, it wasnt nearly as bad as the other one with awareness taking more of a role stepping in and moderating.
I hope you guys all find peace. I am amazed at the amount of time you guys put in despite not being lgbtq. Thank you, thats all I’ve got to say ❤️

I would like to also add that I believe not only that the Bible is from expressed through human writers and there are hints of human biases throughout the Bible. Just look at heinous tragedy of “spilling seed” in the case of Judah and his sons and Tamar. At the time, society was for propagating. And also take a look at the story of the adulterous woman the Pharisees brought to Jesus to have her stoned. If there was an adulterous woman, there must have had sexual relations with men, implicating them also in adultery. But where are these men? Were they punished as well or was only the woman punished (kind of like the witch trials in Salem)? Why is the Bible mute about thee men. Was the woman commiting adultery by herself? The interpretation that makes most sense is that the Bible including the New Testament was written mostly be men with biased patriarchical views based on the time period that they lived in, so to talk about stoning the men along with the woman must’ve prob been covered up. This shows that the Buble is a human book made by humans (with some divine inspiration but surely not completely). Then we have to wonder about the circumstances regarding the passages regarding clobber passages used by some Christians to condemn homosexuality as a sin.

In short, live and let live. Everyone will have a chance in front of God at the judgement seat, according to most Christians. Only God is sovereign to decide. We shouldnt be casting any stones at this point. If he allows His agape love to accept love between two consenting adults who love God, I dont see the problem. But that is my view. And I hope from this thread that any church kids who are deep in the closet and are struggling with their sexuality feelings to know that it’s okay. God loves you all the same and don’t be scared to reach out to me or any of the sisters who shared about their experiences regarding this issue.

[UntoHim]

Originally Posted by SerenityLives

In short, live and let live. Everyone will have a chance in front of God at the judgement seat, according to most Christians. Only God is sovereign to decide. We shouldn't be casting any stones at this point. If he allows His agape love to accept love between two consenting adults who love God, I don't see the problem. But that is my view. And I hope from this thread that any church kids who are deep in the closet and are struggling with their sexuality feelings to know that it’s okay. God loves you all the same and don’t be scared to reach out to me or any of the sisters who shared about their experiences regarding this issue.

Ok, it sounds like this thread has more or less accomplished the purpose for which you started it. Let's keep it open for now. Those who want to contribute to the dialogue can do so at their leisure.
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[SerenityLives]

Originally Posted by UntoHim

Ok, it sounds like this thread has more or less accomplished the purpose for which you started it. Let's keep it open for now. Those who want to contribute to the dialogue can do so at their leisure.
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I want this thread closed since I was the one who started it. Nothing else can be accomplished with anymore bickering, as none of the lgbtq people will post anymore on this thread. I originally intended for this thread to be a space where ex LC church kids can share but it has become more polarity from both sides. Sons of Glory can start a new thread if wanted. Thanks

[Sons to Glory!]

Originally Posted by SerenityLives

I want this thread closed since I was the one who started it. Nothing else can be accomplished with anymore bickering, as none of the lgbtq people will post anymore on this thread. I originally intended for this thread to be a space where ex LC church kids can share but it has become more polarity from both sides. Sons of Glory can start a new thread if wanted. Thanks

I think I might start that new thread. And I have appreciated the discussion - sorry that you view the conversation as "bickering." I didn't see it that way and thought it was rather more mature than the previous one. Also sorry if any LGBTQ+ Christian on here felt like they couldn't respond any further - I do wonder what that is about . . .

Personally, I welcome fellowship from any who name Jesus Christ as their Savior, and that includes anyone with issues, because we all have issues because we're all swimming in the cesspool and we all have the flesh. God did not call perfect people into the ekklesia, just regenerated ones.

[TLFisher]

My question to heterosexual parents (with the LC view in mind), if your child comes out as gay, lesbian, or trans, does anything change?
If so, what?

[awareness]

Originally Posted by Terry

My question to heterosexual parents (with the LC view in mind), if your child comes out as gay, lesbian, or trans, does anything change?
If so, what?

Good point Terry. Finally, a voice of reason.

[SerenityLives]

Originally Posted by Terry

My question to heterosexual parents (with the LC view in mind), if your child comes out as gay, lesbian, or trans, does anything change?
If so, what?

Okay since this thread is still open, I will speak for my parents who are Chinese and who grew up in LC (my mother attended the FTTT and my father is an elder in one of the local churches).

The first year they found out I was dating a girl, my mom constantly prayed for my “gayness” to go away and had a lot of questions, some of them too intimate and embarrassing to put on here. My dad cried (more like sobbed for an entire night) and asked me why I “chose such a hard life” as if it was my fault.

Four years later, my mother asked my gf (who became my spouse) if she would love her daughter (me) forever. She told my dad that it wasnt such a bad idea if we (my spouse and I) took care of each other until we grew old. But there was some grief knowing they might not have grandkids from me, but I have two younger sisters, so thats all good b/c they are in the LC and will most likely marrying brothers. Now every time we come visit, my mom showers my spouse with home cooked meals, her garden plants, random groceries, tea and gifts and say that my spouse is like her “fourth daughter”. My dad says hi to her as well. They know we are living together.

My spouse’s family is Catholic. Her mom, a few months before she passed away, told one of my spouse’s aunts that she was proud that my spouse had found me. She claimed that I was a better person and that my spouse was in good hands, more than my spouse’s sister, who married a man twenty years older than her. Her dad on the other hand, knows we’re married and has been friendly to me on the few ocassions we met.

I’ve heard other church kids stories that are different. My parents took about ten years to grieve over the loss of me not being what they expected. Its like the stages for bereavement (denial, anger, bargaining, and acceptance) before they finally finally knew things werent going to change and they met my spouse for the person she is and treat us as any other loved one.