LGBTQ+ and Christianity

Baptism, Marriage, and the Way Back: Rereading the Sacraments in Light of Relationship Why the Church Must Distinguish Between "Not Permitting" and "Not Acknowledging" --- Introduction You have brought our discussion to a very practical and important conclusion—an answer for those who struggle with questions about baptism, marriage, divorce, and the way back to God: "Baptism is 'knowing (yada = marriage)' with God. Baptism = becoming the congregation of God. The congregation of God = the church = the bride of Christ. Therefore apostasy = adultery = idolatry." "This may be the reason the church 'does not permit' divorce. But not permitting and not acknowledging are two very different things. Because God Himself 'acknowledges divorce' in Israel." "For God, adultery is not without opportunity for repentance. Because the purpose of 'marriage' is to return to God, there should be no obstacle for those who wish to r...

Stripping Down Marriage: Rereading Gender, Relationship, and the Purpose of Marriage in Light of Scripture Why the Church Is Often Unjust: Between Marriage Without Feelings and Marriage Without Physicality A Critique of the Church's Legalistic Practices --- Introduction You have brought our discussion to a very sensitive yet important territory—a question rarely asked honestly in churches: "Gender in the biblical concept is not about 'marriage,' but about duty. Gender is about how a person positions themselves toward the 'duty' of relationship given by God." "Marriage that does not involve the whole and complete existence of the human being is actually defective. And 'forced' marriage, which only involves the human physicality, is the same as marriage that only involves human feelings." "The church often validates marriages without one or lacking one of those three basic conditions. Even though all three are important, especially the...

Same-Sex Marriage — When Rejecting God's Love When Relationships Cannot Be Chosen: Understanding Duty and Responsibility in Light of the Old Testament Why Rejection of the Providence of God's Love Is Original Sin, and Why We Are Still Called to Be Responsible --- Introduction We would brought our discussion to a very deep and practical understanding—an affirmation that relationships cannot always be chosen, but responsibility for those relationships must still be carried out: "And if marriage is only for God, then same-sex marriage is wrong from the beginning, because no good will come from rejecting the providence of God's love (see original sin)." "We can not accept the physical existence (e.g., LGBTQ+), but not reject the 'duty' of relationship symbolized by that physicality. If we do reject it, then we must seek its fulfillment only in God." "The analogy is when a soldier no longer wants to fight, a teacher no longer wants to teach, a fa...