SweetT over at My Affinity wrote a post called My Battle. I have been thinking about her post and working quite diligently to give what I hope is a thoughtful and helpful response. So, here we go.
"I want to be free...." Hmmm, this phrase stood out to me. Free. What exactly does a word like 'free' mean in this time of homeland security and the patriot act? The word 'free' has almost 50 definitions. So, what do we mean when we say we want to be free? Entry #5 says, "exempt from external authority, interference, restriction, etc., as a person or one's will, thought, choice, action, etc.; independent; unrestricted." Hmmm, maybe. Entry #9 says, "exempt or released from something specified that controls, restrains, burdens, etc." Getting closer, but not quite. Entry #16 says, "acting without self-restraint or reserve." Ding, ding, ding. I think we have a winner.
When we say we want to be free, what we are saying is we want to be able to be who we are fully. We do not want to feel like we have to restrain ourselves from holding our girlfriends hand or kissing her on the cheek. We want to be able to live our lives with no reservations. We want to be able to grab like by the horns and enjoy the ride. I mean we are entitle to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, right? Yet, there is something within us that will not allow us to live. Something that holds us captive. Something that creates a cell, a box, a closet (if you will) that imprisons us and allows us to see just enough of the 'out'side world that it creates a deep longing within our hearts. It taunts and teases us. It makes us want it then reminds us that we can't have it.
So, what is that it? What is that thing that will not allow us to live and be free? For many of us, that thing is religion. It is the belief system that we have adopted and have chosen to live our lives by. For the sake of conversation, we are going to go with Christianity. Now, I have had the fortune (or misfortune, if you've ever studied it) of studying koine Greek, just a fancy way of saying biblical Greek. This has led me to study both the old and new testaments. I have read the Bible from Genesis to Revelations. Twice! I have done individual book studies, collective book studies, and author studies. So, I have a pretty good idea of what is (and isn't) in the book.
First, know that either the word 'homosexual' nor the idea of homosexuality appear in the Bible. Yes, it is true that there is nothing new under the sun but also know that the Bible is a collection of certain peoples experiences during certain times in their lives as it pertains to what God was doing in their community. Meaning, there are things that happened that do not appear in the Bible. Period. I'm not saying that homosexuality is a new thing. I'm saying that it does not appear in the text. Because it does not appear in the text, one can not then use the text as evidence of homosexuality being wrong when the text itself does not speak on it.
Now, before you tell me that your Bible actually has the word homosexual in it, I know this. But what has happened is that people have been reading and interpreting the original languages and creating user-friendly Bibles for centuries. Before 1611, there were several versions of the Bible floating around. King James decided to make one Bible that would replace all others, thus the KJV. He decided what words would be used and what ideas would be captured.
Okay, so that was a bit of a rabbit trail, my bad. Let's talk about what the text does say. First, the text says that before we are formed in our mother's womb, God knows us. That means, when God said let there be light God knew that in 2009 I would be in a same sex relationship with Shortcake. God knew that I would be writing this post. There is nothing we can do that God does not already know about. I do not think that excuses reckless behavior but God knows exactly how God created us.
To go against God's plan and purpose for our lives is a sin. God created us and not we ourselves. Everything about us has been hand crafted by God. One need not be bound by guilt. For we are living as God created us. Those who tell us we are going to hell have no heaven or hell to put us in. The Bible doesn't send us to hell. Other Christians send us to hell and those who do are usually on the way themselves. The text tells us that we are fearfully and wonderfully made in God's image. God adores us because we are God's children. If I am automatically going to hell because I am a lesbian, does that mean that all straight people are automatically going to heaven?
God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind. What has to happen so that we can truly be free, is that we have to have a renewing of our minds. We have to change the way we think. We have to learn to define ourselves for ourselves! Our freedom is in Christ. Our freedom is in knowing that we are who God made us to be and we have decided to live that fully. Our freedom is in knowing that no one can condemn us. Our freedom is in knowing that nothing can separate us from the love of God.
I hope this helps.
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