The only thing I would add is that transgender people and gay people are as God made them. The biological proof of this get stronger and stronger. Do you think God made a mistake?
We have a grandson, whom we love very dearly, that we knew from a very early age, would be “different”. He is indeed a very special individual, kind in every way. He recently graduated high school and is now attending college. His group of friends is truly amazing. They are ‘boys’ AND ‘girls’ who have found each other and feel safe within their peers. We often receive photos of group gatherings of him and his friends, attending prom, graduating and enjoying each other’s company often. It used to upset my husband, but he finally came to acceptance. It’s not a disease, it’s also not a choice. We are who we are. All of us human. All of us capable of loving and deserving love in return. God made each and every one of these humans, in HIS image and GOD makes NO mistakes. 💕🙏🏼
8 to 10 % of rams are exclusively gay, 18-22% are bisexual. No library book or drag show taught them that. It is significant how often Jesus compared humans to sheep but was silent about homosexuality. We are all sheep of the good shepherd who loves us and died for ALL of his sheep without ANY exceptions.
Anti-trans sentiment is born of a religious ideology that has boiled itself down to just two principles: Who gets to do the penetrating, and who gets penetrated. According to this belief, trans women are "demoting" themselves from their "birthright" to be "natural leaders." Trans men are "rejecting God's mandate" that they bear children. And that in turn is driven by the notion that Christians have to out-breed, thereby outnumber, everybody else.
Many in the waiting, weary multitude have decided that there is no God or Christ because of how the MAGAs hate and persecute. They've walked right by and many will never come back. Great job.
I am so very glad I found your writings. Your words are so eloquent and loving and healing. As a retired teacher who had the opportunity to be a safe place for so many teenagers and who cannot find a church home, I rely on the words, wisdom, love and teachings of Jesus from scripture, Richard Rohr, Kate Bowler, and now you. Thank you from my heart.
This expresses my own thoughts in a way that brings relief and comfort. 😌🙏 It reaffirms that I’m not crazy. I just don’t understand- why are these people so threatened? Why would the God-given color of a fellow human upset them so much? With these behaviors and hate filled attitudes these people would be ugly in any color. And why such sexual hang ups? Has their religion made them this uncomfortable with their own bodies? Sexuality is God created and gift to us. What are they so frightened of? Why are they obsessed with concerns over everyone else’s freedom to express their sexuality? I have always suggested that heterosexuals need to keep their eyes on their own “plates” and address the perversion rife in heterosexuality before ever looking at and criticizing any precious LGBTQ individual. The hypocrisy is mind boggling.
I am in tears. I know, and am related to, several transgender people. You’re right, when you say they just want to live their lives. They want to be left alone.
I saw a short YouTube video on what it feels like to be transgender, and in the wrong physical body: it’s like wearing your right shoe on your left foot, and your left shoe on your right. Every time you stand up and try to move forward, it doesn’t feel right, and can even be physically painful (this is true, not a metaphor). I extend this analogy a bit: imagine waking up one day with the physical attributes of the opposite sex. How would you feel? And how quickly would you wish to change back?
Well written. I pray this message of Jesus’s love for all and especially our vulnerable neighbors is able to penetrate the wall of fear surrounding our Evangelical neighbors.
Sadly, John, you appear to be one of the few who challenge these evangelicals. Why do we not hear a chorus of Churches, their pastors, their congregations speaking out against this abhorrent manifestation of Christianity like you do?
While I am obviously not religious but I always respected those who are. But, John, I'm having a crisis in faith that those (including friends and family) who follow the teachings of Christ are hypocrites for their silence. I can only hope the vast majority of Christians who believe the teachings of Christ, will speak up and convince their fellow Christians the error of their ways.
There is a chorus of Christian denominations who love and affirm LGBTQIA+ people and who have been challenging the Christian Nationalist "Evangelical" haters for decades. Among them are: Episcopal (Bishop Budde!), PC(USA), ELCA, UCC. As well as the Unitarians. All together, we are talking millions of people. Find an affirming church here: https://www.gaychurch.org/
One time I saw a video of a man who admitted that he had fabricated the whole anti-abortion movement to get his preacher dad's attention and praise ...and, now, regrets it. So much of religious doctrine seems "made up" to me...yet, it shows me how deeply powerful "faith" is, even if it is belief in a lie.
Yes, however this is about the paradox of intolerance. The evangelicals are intolerant of a small group of people that can do them no harm or impact their lives in any way. We can be intolerant of their intolerance and try to bring them to know Jesus' loving tolerance.
The only thing I would add is that transgender people and gay people are as God made them. The biological proof of this get stronger and stronger. Do you think God made a mistake?
Beautifully and loving said,John, and so important to communicate. Thank you!
We have a grandson, whom we love very dearly, that we knew from a very early age, would be “different”. He is indeed a very special individual, kind in every way. He recently graduated high school and is now attending college. His group of friends is truly amazing. They are ‘boys’ AND ‘girls’ who have found each other and feel safe within their peers. We often receive photos of group gatherings of him and his friends, attending prom, graduating and enjoying each other’s company often. It used to upset my husband, but he finally came to acceptance. It’s not a disease, it’s also not a choice. We are who we are. All of us human. All of us capable of loving and deserving love in return. God made each and every one of these humans, in HIS image and GOD makes NO mistakes. 💕🙏🏼
8 to 10 % of rams are exclusively gay, 18-22% are bisexual. No library book or drag show taught them that. It is significant how often Jesus compared humans to sheep but was silent about homosexuality. We are all sheep of the good shepherd who loves us and died for ALL of his sheep without ANY exceptions.
Amen!
Anti-trans sentiment is born of a religious ideology that has boiled itself down to just two principles: Who gets to do the penetrating, and who gets penetrated. According to this belief, trans women are "demoting" themselves from their "birthright" to be "natural leaders." Trans men are "rejecting God's mandate" that they bear children. And that in turn is driven by the notion that Christians have to out-breed, thereby outnumber, everybody else.
Many in the waiting, weary multitude have decided that there is no God or Christ because of how the MAGAs hate and persecute. They've walked right by and many will never come back. Great job.
I am so very glad I found your writings. Your words are so eloquent and loving and healing. As a retired teacher who had the opportunity to be a safe place for so many teenagers and who cannot find a church home, I rely on the words, wisdom, love and teachings of Jesus from scripture, Richard Rohr, Kate Bowler, and now you. Thank you from my heart.
Thank you John. Beautifully expressed.
This expresses my own thoughts in a way that brings relief and comfort. 😌🙏 It reaffirms that I’m not crazy. I just don’t understand- why are these people so threatened? Why would the God-given color of a fellow human upset them so much? With these behaviors and hate filled attitudes these people would be ugly in any color. And why such sexual hang ups? Has their religion made them this uncomfortable with their own bodies? Sexuality is God created and gift to us. What are they so frightened of? Why are they obsessed with concerns over everyone else’s freedom to express their sexuality? I have always suggested that heterosexuals need to keep their eyes on their own “plates” and address the perversion rife in heterosexuality before ever looking at and criticizing any precious LGBTQ individual. The hypocrisy is mind boggling.
I am in tears. I know, and am related to, several transgender people. You’re right, when you say they just want to live their lives. They want to be left alone.
I saw a short YouTube video on what it feels like to be transgender, and in the wrong physical body: it’s like wearing your right shoe on your left foot, and your left shoe on your right. Every time you stand up and try to move forward, it doesn’t feel right, and can even be physically painful (this is true, not a metaphor). I extend this analogy a bit: imagine waking up one day with the physical attributes of the opposite sex. How would you feel? And how quickly would you wish to change back?
Well written. I pray this message of Jesus’s love for all and especially our vulnerable neighbors is able to penetrate the wall of fear surrounding our Evangelical neighbors.
Sadly, John, you appear to be one of the few who challenge these evangelicals. Why do we not hear a chorus of Churches, their pastors, their congregations speaking out against this abhorrent manifestation of Christianity like you do?
While I am obviously not religious but I always respected those who are. But, John, I'm having a crisis in faith that those (including friends and family) who follow the teachings of Christ are hypocrites for their silence. I can only hope the vast majority of Christians who believe the teachings of Christ, will speak up and convince their fellow Christians the error of their ways.
There is a chorus of Christian denominations who love and affirm LGBTQIA+ people and who have been challenging the Christian Nationalist "Evangelical" haters for decades. Among them are: Episcopal (Bishop Budde!), PC(USA), ELCA, UCC. As well as the Unitarians. All together, we are talking millions of people. Find an affirming church here: https://www.gaychurch.org/
All I can say on this beautiful Sunday is God doesn’t make mistakes. His love is boundless.
I'm struggling with this one, Musk and Trump are on the list if God decides that a mistake list is warranted.....lol
One time I saw a video of a man who admitted that he had fabricated the whole anti-abortion movement to get his preacher dad's attention and praise ...and, now, regrets it. So much of religious doctrine seems "made up" to me...yet, it shows me how deeply powerful "faith" is, even if it is belief in a lie.
Thank you John. Yes, spoken in the true Spirit of Christ.
Are we not also called to love our angry neighbors with whom we disagree?
Yes, however this is about the paradox of intolerance. The evangelicals are intolerant of a small group of people that can do them no harm or impact their lives in any way. We can be intolerant of their intolerance and try to bring them to know Jesus' loving tolerance.