First time poster here, but I wanted to share this after my experience this morning.

Between the insanity and down right ignorance of this country and our government with their attacks on anyone not a cis white male billionaire, it’s easy to feel like God has forgotten about you (myself included). But God sometimes doesn’t make his presence known in thunderous terms. This morning I got coffee from a coffee shop I don’t normally go to but it was close by to where I was going. Stopped in, got my drink, tipped and left. Once I got settled at home and finished my drink, I noticed the barista drew a smiley face and “keep going”. I sobbed because I doubt that barista knew it or not, but I needed that. That reassurance that things are hard, your faith is being tested, but keep going. I am with you and I will never leave you.

So next time you’re out and about, and you feel a subtle breeze and calm or a bird chirps near you, or even a kind gesture from a stranger, know that God is using that scenario to let you know, “I am with you. I am not going anywhere”. Thank you everyone and have a fantastic Friday 🫶🏾

Bare with me here please.

I used to be very lustful, I still have issues with lust, but less so than I used to. There is this one NBA player who I really liked and considered one of my favorite players mostly because I thought he was attractive. I wasn't a fan of the NBA team he played for or the team he played for in college, my fandom was mostly because I was attracted to him.

However, even after attempting to lust less, I still like this player for non-lustful reasons. I still think he's attractive and that a factor for me liking him as a player, but I also genuinely think he's a good player and I want to see him do well. I also am now a fan of the college team he played for, for reasons mostly unrelated to the player, and I tend to like players that played for my favorite college teams.

So my questions are:

Can I still be a fan of this player if my initial interest was sparked by lust?

Can I still think this player is attractive in a non-sinful way and how so?

I know things look bleak and scary right now, in a lot of different ways. There is a lot of hate in the world right now and it seems like it’s winning. The only way hate wins is if we lose our hope and love. It didn’t win almost a century ago, it doesn’t have to win now. Remember 1 Corinthians 13:13 “And now faith, hope, and love remain, these three, and the greatest of these is love.”

It’s okay to feel hurt and afraid, I am too. Just don’t let the fear turn into hate, because then the other side wins a battle, don’t give them that pleasure. Surround yourself with loving people and keep your light burning in this dark hour.

Hi! I’m beginning conversations with a friend (Theo major) on homosexuality, hearing why he thinks the Bible condemns it, while I’m sharing why I believe it doesn’t. I thought I’d start a series on it and share any questions I walk with from it with you guys!

Tonight, we discussed the Sodom passage in Genesis. My friend highlighted its significance as a narrative, emphasizing that it “shows” rather than directly “tells” what it is getting at. My point was that when Lot calls the men’s wanting to have sex with the men (the angels) “wicked”, we should ask why, and examine the rest of the narrative to see the nature of the men of Sodom. They know they commit harm, and they are desperate to have sex with these men to the point of tiring themselves at the door. They are rabid. This characterizes their wanting to have sex with the men as being from a place of lust. In other words, when we discussed men having sex with men here, it deals with a lustful act.

He told me that I was reading meaning into the text. We should stop where Lot characterizes what was “wicked”, which was immediately preceding his statement: the men wanting to have sex with these men. This is what the narrative “shows”. So Lot calls their wanting to have homosexual sex sin. We should stop there: this is a blanket condemnation. Reasoning does not matter, because he is explicitly condemning the act without regard to “motive”.

So, my question is this: Why should we care about motive? Is it valid in the context of a narrative? Why should we look anywhere else to see the content of this passage? Why is this not a simple blanket condemnation on men having sex with men?

Hi everyone,

I'm curious to hear from any gay Orthodox Christians who are in a same-sex relationship. Given that the Orthodox Church generally holds a traditional stance against same-sex relationships, how do you personally navigate your faith while being in one?

Do you find ways to reconcile your identity and relationship with your spirituality, or is it something that remains a struggle? Have you found a community (either in-person or online) that supports you, or do you feel isolated in your faith journey?
Do you have an open communicative relationship with your spiritual father on this matter, with him knowing you to be in a monogamous same sex relationship? Or is it something you hide and avoid letting him being aware of to avoid potentially being barred from the sacraments.

I know this can be a deeply personal and complex topic, and I appreciate anyone willing to share their perspective. My goal is to learn from others' experiences and understand how different people approach this intersection of faith and identity.
I am also aware some may suggest me not to look into Orthodoxy if this is the case I'm wondering about, but I am just looking for people's stories and their situation.

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts. Thank you!

Title nearly says it all - it’s been something I’ve been wondering about as I’ve run situations through my head of me coming out to my parents. I love Jesus and don’t ever plan to leave my faith behind in the slightest. I’m always open to it evolving over time but Christ is my rock.

At the same time though I’m having a hard time imagining me coming out to my family as going well. I’ve heard the statement “Well I/we aren’t called to judge them because they’re not Christian, we should be leading them to Christ” or similar a lot and it kinda scares me about how this will all play out with me… The inverse of that above statement is “we are called to judge/call out the sin in other Christians, the unrepentant sinners should be confronted”

Hello everyone! I wanted to share our ministry with you. I know many of us struggle to find a safe place when it comes to finding a church but I want everyone to know that Safe Haven Church is a safe place for our community. Our ministry is based on the fact that the church should be a safe place for everyone, no matter where you are in your faith I have the honor of serving at this ministry. I am gay and married to my wife and we host the Bible study every Thursday at 7:30 PM central time and host a Sunday service every Sunday at 11 AM central time. If you are in need of a church that accepts you sees you and walks with you, we invite you to check out our page or send us a direct message so we can send you the link to our Bible Study and services. Video participation is not required. We invite you to listen in or share if you feel led to. I know a lot of things have been said about God against us, but I am living proof at who people say God is a certain way, He is not! I won’t tell you that our walk is easy, but I will tell you it is worth it! Whether you have questions or just want to know more about our Father in Heaven, we are here to walk with you and support you, however we can! Please feel free to reach out. I think more now than ever, it’s time for us to unite in our faith. You are safe here you are loved here and we hope you see God‘s true character in nature in this ministry! I will also list our testimony page that will help you see who we are individually and understand our journey! We want you to know that you matter to Him and to us!

Testimony page

https://youtube.com/@ifyouonlyknew.gabyreyes1926?si=MTy-yoMKE_I-wlC8

Church page

https://www.safehavenchurch.us/

I know I shouldn't be doomscrolling for my own good, but every peice of US news I see lately is so bleak. It's been about a week since the inauguration and they're already going after gay and trans rights. Has it even been a week? Like even LGBTQ+ rights aside, the shit I keep seeing just gets worse and worse. ICE raids and birthright citizenship law changes, federal funding frozen, reproductive care on the road to being inaccessible altogether. Elon literally throwing out a nazi salute, like really? Really truly? I don't have the money right now to leave this country and even if I did, I'd feel like a coward leaving everyone else behind instead of trying to do something. Maybe I still will save and try, but even so then, the things that happen here are bound to have global impact.

Adding insult to injury in the personal sense I've just been broken up with, and maybe this is a bit self centered, but I feel like life is kicking me in the head. Things could be far worse in my life but they could be far better too. Lost my first love, I feel like I've wasted years of my life believing in lies from the church and now I have religious trauma I don't know how to deal with, family is incredibly homo/trans-phobic, country and economy is circling the drain, and we're barreling into an era where in all honesty I dont think it's unreasonable to wonder if I may not even be able to openly have a partner at all.

I don't know what's going to happen and I'm scared and depressed. Maybe I have been online too much, I don't know. I'm trying to have hope in God and rely on Him for the strength to do good but fuck I just feel so weighed down. I don't even want to go into a church, I don't think I can because every time I do I just feel this sense of 'they think people like me don't belong here.' I love God, but every time I try to participate in religion I feel repulsed more and more, which in turn makes me feel guilt, etc. I don't know.

It's all so much. I'm only 21. I wanted to be able to look forward to the future, you know? I can't help but feel I don't get to.

I’m held up on how gay marriage could model Christ and the church in light of Ephesians 5. There seem to be dedicated roles in submission and respect, whereas in gay marriage, those might not be present. The best I have is that they play those roles out in a sort of flip-state, where they take turns modeling each aspect.

I've been struggling a lot lately, with setback after setback and I feel myself slipping into the mindset of 'What if I'm being punished?'. I know it's probably just the weight of everything getting to me, but it FEELS like it'll never stop. I really wish I could pull myself up and just...be ok again.

Hi folks! First and foremost, I want to say thank you for everyone in this subreddit that has proven to what I have known in my heart, that being gay is NOT a sin. Thank you. I don’t know why, but I am still struggling with this, mainly because I can’t stop thinking about Christians who do not agree with me. I can’t stop thinking about family members, friends, church members, etc that wouldn’t agree with me even if they are “accepting” of gay people. “I don’t hate you for being gay, I just worry for your heart and soul” kinda deal…. I don’t know why I put so much weight on others opinions when I know deep down from meditating and praying to God for the truth, that it’s not a sin. Does anyone else struggle with this? I’m not worried or scared that my moms are going to Hell or ANYTHING like that. I just can’t stop thinking about how ALOT of Christians would strongly disagree with me and how upset that makes me. Idk if it’s because that means they think my moms are going to Hell or what, but it truly keeps me up at night, angry at the world. This subreddit has helped a lot seeing logical, loving Christians, so maybe as I see more of this my mindset will change. Please pray for me and any help is much much appreciate. God bless you all.

I (F26) just came out to the last person (F55) in my life. She’s Christian and has told me in the past that she has not gone to gay weddings because well it’s a GAY wedding. She is also one of the reasons I kept questioning myself, stayed in the closet, all of that. Because what she was saying sounded so good. And I certainly didn’t want to be a sinner. I’ve told everybody in my life except this one friend. My therapist helped me figure out a plan to best share the news with her… I was so scared for so long. I dropped a letter off in her mailbox over the weekend and this was her response in text. And I can’t find the desire to respond. Something is not sitting right with me. What do you guys think?

my freinds keep telling me thatI can't go to heaven becuase in the bible it says gay people can't be going to heaven and the fact that I am gay a femboy and a furry won't allow me to go to heaven is this true becuse another one of my freinds is saying the bible was changed to say this and this is really starting to hurt my faith

Sent this final message to my non-affirming loved one. I hope it encourages you.

Hii!!! I'm new to this sub and for an introduction I just wanted to say I have confused beliefs on whether or not being gay is a sin or not, I mean for the most part I hope it's not but I always kept the idea that attraction was fine but sexual attraction wasn't, the thing is... I'm a Catholic teen who's struggling with lust when it comes to men but I only feel normal romantic attraction to girls, it's been years since I've liked a girl and I thought I'm fully straight from that time, but when I was (still am) inlove with this guy, I made friends with his ex talking stage (I hate using this term but yeah they didn't have a label) and our little joke was flirting but I'm so fast in catching feelings while we're doing those, I'm always been attracted to guys and barely women and I thought I was just attracted to this girl and it wasn't that serious but when she mentions being straight and her being with her friends (EVEN GIRLS) I get jealous and I get this bad feeling, I keep reading articles about being gay but I couldn't really find a suiting one for me because as I said, I can be sexually attracted to guys but I can never imagine having sex with a woman, kissing? Yeah maybe I could do that, dating? Yupp, so basically I'm attracted to two people rn that have different sexes, I still love the guy more but as I'm writing this the attraction is still to the girl, is it because I barely talk to the guy I'm inlove with and I flirt with the girl more? I'm confused with what I'm feeling right now, I was perfectly ok with being attracted to this girl but as I remember God I feel bad for even talking to her now, she's from a stricter denomination so she's really locked in with following everything the church says, she loves God and she's a really sweet girl, her faith is something I'd like to have but being attracted to her feels like I'd ruin everything if she likes me back because her church would kick anyone who disobeys out. And if ever we're in a relationship she'd just be a rebound because I still love the guy more but then again she's what I think about most of the time so I don't know what I'm feeling pleasee help mee

Hello all!! I’ve recently come to an awakening of the detrimental effects religion has made on how I view God. I know he’s loving, and has shown me love many times. But when I read the bible and listen to some people who call themselves prophets speak, I sort of view God as this harsh dictator who wants every ounce of credit and praise, “don’t walk away from me or else” kind of being, and I dont like that.

I know the bible is a man-made piece of literature, so therefore i often find myself questioning the amount of errors that could come with it, but the backlash that comes from external sources (i.e priests, prophets) about doubting the word of God is…harsh to say the very least. but i also believe heavily in it’s truths that have helped me along my journey. There’s no denying the spiritual uplifting that comes with understanding it not just in your mind but especially your heart. I often just cant wrap my head around all it’s contradictions, the way it addresses what we know today are marginalized groups, condoning things such as slavery, i could go on. I feel bad picking and choosing what to believe in, but truthfully, not all of it resonates with me and often distorts my image of God. I know many people will talk about the context of the verses, and while I do understand (and agree) with that argument, i just dont know how i am supposed to surpass all of the confusion, especially as a gay girl. It seems everyone has a reason/context as to why slavery was condoned, but when it comes to the whole LGBT debate everyone has a counter-argument, and a counter argument to that one, it seems to never end.

Some say it’s outdated, but i’d never use that argument for various reasons. I also have trouble with the idea that people who dont believe in Jesus will not go to heaven. I have many muslim friends who are deep in their faith (rightfully so), and i know there are many people who have embarked on a happy spiritual journey, believe in God, but may not believe in Jesus, as Jesus is associated with religion and they do not practice that. How is it fair to say that all of these people will not go to heaven? Even i understand that religion is a human-made thing. God existed outside of religion and always will. I just dont know how I’m supposed to re-learn God outside of the confinement of religion.

If you need any clarification on what I said, please dont be afraid to ask. Im just a person who’s come a long way, is confused, and wants to know God as lovely, charming, compassionate, and nothing less.

I know of Ben Cremer and David Haywood (The Naked Pastor), are there any others you would recommend (specifically I'm looking for ones that write articles/blogs/newsletters etc), thanks

Hey guys, I’m struggling with these verses. It’s seems like Jesus is saying marriage is between a man and a women. I have heard that it is the case that he was answering a specific question, asked by the religion people of the time, if this is the case, why is the first part (regarding man and women) disregarded but not his teaching in divorce?

Thank you all for you help, I’m really trying to understand it a bit better.

As I read, something just welled up in me that I need to share. Words I speak to myself I share with you. Yes, I have a bouncy brain. Sorry I wasn't able to link all the scriptures. --+++++++---- What if we actually heard this scripture? Actually - deep in our soul. If today, you would listen to His voice, harden not your hearts (Hebrews 3:15-17, Psalm 95:1-8).... To the original audience, it was an audacious statement to include Gentiles with Jews, slaves with the free - drinking from the same Spirit? Are you kidding me?

To me I heard, cishet or gay, lesbian, bi or trans, enby or aro, ace, queer, questioning or two spirited.... "God looked upon all that He had made, and indeed, it was very good (Gen 1:31). What God has created, what God has blessed - who God has made in all that created and creating goodness. What God has declared good, who is to deny and reject? Does the ear say to the eye - I am not an eye, so I do not belong to the body? Ears do not see. Eyes do not hear. Both feel and experience uniquely - enriching and informing the whole body.

That same Spirit poured out - a gift to each, poured out to us in our baptism. No longer ourselves, alone. Slaves do not know their Master's purpose. No, I call you friends, because you know my purpose (John 15:15) - Love one another AS I have love you (John 13:34-35)! Simple, yet challenging. And if it is so 'easy", why do I struggle so?

Why do I struggle so? I, me, my - oh the unholy trinity. What about we, us? We struggle. I, we, each fail, only to rise, face turned again rightly (repenting) to be forgiven, so that we try anew. And love our neighbour as ourself? Did you see our neighbour? The response of Ananias (Acts 9:1-10) to the Lord's vision - you know who Saul is, don't you? Yes, that one.

What about the we? We have entered a new age, where love thy enemy, and pray from them, has taken on new meaning and challenge. I say - That one? Yes, that one. Justice, kindness, walk humbly with our God (Micah 6:8).... with so much lack of each, the need for our work increases.

How? Bishop Budde gave an example. And the response? Yes, that one...

Overwhelming? Yes, the barrage is meant to shock and awe, to demoralize, to foster a yearning to yield, and resign. And THAT is not the source of our hope.

I heard a great sermon entitled "Hope requires a plan" - but I can't do it justice to paraphrase. But we can use the gifts we have to create a method, a plan, a Way. Looking to the Creator and Sustainer to feed us, to feed others. The grace of God poured out on more and more so that the resulting thanksgiving increases the Glory of God (2 Cor 4:15). God's work returning after it has watered the earth and made things grow (Isaiah 55:8-11).

And back to the amazing diversity. .. the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable (1 Cor 12:22)...

The mouth does not speak alone, but coordinated with mind and heart, projected and directed by the head, carried and supported by the rest of the body. Alone, it would be at risk of being quickly sqaushed underfoot. En mass, it stands face to face.

Resistence and threat is not new, nor novel. Even our Lord. Goes home - yes home (Luke 4:14-30). Speaks his truth, the good news about who he is - and they want to throw him off a cliff. Welcome home - not. It grieves me that such an experience rings true still for too many. Yes, we have a Saviour that has felt our pain. "I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth (Job 19:25). And hope does not disappoint (Romans 5:5).

Amid serious and focused attempts to severe, nullify, silence and dismember - we, yes we, are called to wholeness. Bold wholeness requiring the unique skills of each to foster the whole.

The bold pronouncement - stand firm. (1 Cor 16:13) - "Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love."

Let us stand firm together, as one body, speaking truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). ETA -Sorry , my brain betrays me today sorry for all unintended omissions ETA questioning, bi

Hey y'all, you already know what verses I'm talking about. But I will say that not only did this help me with the anti-gay verses, it also helped me with the anti-woman, pro-slavery, and other controversial ones too. Besides the obvious that it was mistranslated, It was one quote that started everything:

"The Bible was written for us, but it was not written to us. "

What does that mean? It means yes, the bible is for us to read, learn, and to develop our relationship with God. But it was not written directly to us. It was written to the Israelites from 2000 years ago. Context plays such a key role to everything you read in the bible. All of these rules and laws had their contexts and reasons within the time they were all living that mean nothing to us now. Mainly being that God wanted his chosen people to be set apart from the other nations around them, he needed them to resist the urge to be like the others. Plus you know, Jesus happened and literally flipped the tables on everything and made it so we don't have to live by 100's of rules to be saved.

The issue with people believing in these opressive rules today and wanting to implement them is due to their lack of understanding the context and the stories behind these rules. Learning your history is so important!

Did you guys have to deal with crap, bullying, or being unsupported from your parents growing up because of your sexuality (if you came out to them). I’m talking about like if you were born into a Christian family and came out as gay/trans whatever. Do you know what I mean?

My anxiety about being bi has begun to stabilize, thank God. I might have an opportunity to move out and go to a new state for a job, which would give me freedom to find an IRL bi community and maybe even start dating.

There’s part of me that wants to undergo the “hoe phase” and just lose my virginity quick and go about experimenting as much as possible. But if I’m honest, I’d prefer a real romantic companion far far more. I know for some people sex is just sex, but it’s always seemed like something special.

However, all I’m seeing online, not just here but on pretty much every socials platform, and even hearing from lgbt friends, is that dating absolutely sucks. That guys are emotionally manipulative horn dogs (come on, that’s most straight guys too), and women get a gag reflex at a guy who’s slept with guys.

For those of y’all actively in the dating scene or in same-sex or bi relationships, how hard is it to actually find someone? Why does it seem so hard? Are the relationships themselves really rocky and always on edge? What are things I need to look out for as red flags when it comes to trying to date another man or a bi person in general? I have never been in a relationship, so I’ve got even less prior knowledge and experience potentially heading into a new season like this.

[Brownie points question, I have no idea how I’d go about a sleeping around phase if I were to begin. I know nothing about medication for men (never paid attention to the commercials), hard do’s or hard don’ts. If there are dating or hoe phase senseis, I can offer digital Oreos as payment.]

My chats are always open if you don’t want to comment 🫡

My name is Shae Norris II. I grew up Baptist and I struggled coming to terms with my bisexuality for years. However, I finally came to grips with sexuality at 23 and I'm proud of myself for that. I just wanted to give a quick introduction.