"We are One"
Gay And Christian
What would Jesus say about people who assert they are both Christian and Gay? Many Christians would argue, based upon a literal interpretation of scripture passages, that it is impossible to be both Christian and Gay (and I mean “Gay” in its broadest possible vernacular to include the entire LGBTIQ, etc. community). Many might say that a claim of Gay Christianity is blasphemy!
Yet, others would say that it is possible. One Baptist pastor says so. The Reverend Percy “Happy” Watkins, pastor of Spokane Washington’s New Hope Baptist Church, as quoted in the Seattle Lesbian, Monday, October 08, 2012, is a supporter of marriage equality. “Those opposed to marriage equality have positioned the debate in a way that not only suggests, but rather claims outright that one must choose between a Christian and queer identity. They assert the same holds true for straight allies. Reverend Watkins’ disagrees. ‘Jesus never talked about lesbians and gays,’ he explains, ‘unless you are putting words in his mouth.’ ”
There are others too, such as Delman Coates of the Mount Ennon Baptist Church in the Prince George’s County town of Clinton out side of D.C., and Rev. Dennis Wiley, pastor of the Covenant Baptist Church in D.C. (As of 2009). Pastor Coates said in a Washington Post article: “I think that using private, religious beliefs, and local church practices for legislation establishes a dangerous precedent in America,” he said. “We have fought for inclusion, for freedom of religion, so that means if I want to be free to exercise my own religious beliefs, I have to extend that same courtesy and right to others, regardless of what I may think they do in private.” While not a ringing endorsement of marriage equality, the landscape has been changing rapidly over the last few years.
The Baptist Church is arguably the most evangelical, fundamental American Christian denomination, and yet, some leaders among them preach an inclusive theology. The Seattle Lesbian reports that “Still, Watkins remains firm in his convictions. ‘I’m tired of folks boxing God. They make God small. This is what I think God would say. This is what I think God would do.’ “ In the end, Watkins says to his critics, “it’s simple, ‘Here’s where the rub is: Who is my neighbor? When it boils down, the Scripture just says love your neighbor as yourself. That’s huge!’ ” Jesus’s command to love all people could not be more clear. And, Jesus never said a word about same sex relationships.
For me, “the rub is,” Christianity is supposedly based on the teachings of Jesus as recorded in the Gospels, and yet some Christians ignore the Gospel teachings in favor of the Old Testament and letters of Paul as they interpret them. So, how can we decipher what the “true” Christian response is to matters upon which the Gospels are silent, on which Jesus said not a word? To be Christian means to follow the teachings of Christ in today’s parlance. (While the word “Christian” does appear in the New Testament, some scholars suggest the term the apostles likely used was “Natsarim” (Acts 24:5) as those who followed Yahusha the “ringleader” of the Nazarene sect.)
We must look to what Jesus did say as recorded in the Gospels. As Pastor Watkins points out, Jesus suggested that we should love people – all people, and avoid judging them. Jesus preached inclusion, not exclusion. Thus, if I am Gay and follow the teachings of Jesus as described in the Gospels I may call myself Christian – as I do.
http://transmontanathebook.com/christian-and-gay/
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Comment by Brenda Kaitlin on October 8, 2012 at 11:51pm -
Roberta, good post. I grew up southern Baptist. I hated part of myself for as long as I could remember. My mind had been washed and twisted from an early age. Only when I was old enough to make my decision I walked away. I came back when I realized the philosophy of Jesus Christ was what the right ignored. I still refuse to call myself a Christian because of what the right has done. I call myself a follower of Christ.
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Comment by Roberta Zenker on October 9, 2012 at 8:56am -
Brenda - I am sorry for your pain, but happy for your perserverance. I think that spirituality is fundmentally a personal journey, don't you? We each find our own path to God, and it is inclusive and welcoming. God spurns no one who seek God. And we get to call oursleves whatever makes most sense to that journey. God bless you.
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Comment by Chelle Munroe on October 9, 2012 at 11:14am -
Enjoyable read. I'm Catholic and although the church teaches against my being transgender, I have a relationship with God not with the priests. God made me as I am and God don't make mistakes, so He must have a purpose for me. Maybe it's just to appreciate others and treat them with the same love and respect I long for in my life. And I agree that nowhere does Jesus speak out against someone being gay nor does he encourage us to judge others. Thanks for sharing.
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Comment by Brenda Kaitlin on October 9, 2012 at 11:44am
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I agree that everyone must find their own path. It took me so many years to realize God didn't fit the small narrow Baptist mold. When I came out to my bride it was a similiar situation. She asked why I waited so long to tell her. I said that I was afraid of losing her. She said her love knows no bounds. She is just awesome that way.
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Comment by Roberta Zenker on October 9, 2012 at 11:46am
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Wow Brenda - that is awesome.
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Comment by Roberta Zenker on October 9, 2012 at 11:51am
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You are welcome, Chelle. I grew up Catholic - went to mass every day my senior year in high school, and lived ina Marianist formation house in college. When I moved to Montana as a Jesuit Volunteer, the bishop actively courted me to become a diocesan preist. Now I beleive that God makes souls, and people make bodies. I was born trans because of a combination of biological and psychological factors beyond my understanding. But I know that I am a beautiful daughter of God, that God loves me and want me to be happy - just like you.
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Comment by Marsha M. Marsha on October 9, 2012 at 7:49pm -
Brenda, that is so beautiful, I am in tears.
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Comment by Brenda Kaitlin on October 9, 2012 at 8:04pm
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Ladies, I am truly blessed. I don't take her for granted. She is my soul mate
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Comment by Dal Maxwell on October 10, 2012 at 1:06pm
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I'm getting a few mixed messages here.
1 - Are we now gay? I keep reading about same-sex relationships but nowehere in any of that is a reference to transgender people relationships.
2 - I believe that Marriage Equality is a critical civil right but at the moment, unless you consider yourself in a same-sex relationship then all of this drum beating really doesn't apply to the majority of trans people; ESPECIALLY since so many, even pre-ops, consider themselves heterosexual women.
3 - My faith and my political leanings are two distinct sets of guiding principles. Although they frequently overlap, one does not dictate the course of the other. And I happen to think it is insensitive, especially in here, to ignore the multiples of beliefs and go on about Christian this and Christian that. As far as I can tell, the majority of the Christian community refutes the legitimacy of our existence anyway.
4 - I am a human being first, a Jewish person second, and a trans woman after that. I am not driven by my gender identity (these days) any more than I am driven by my religious or political philosophies. Nor do I relegate my future to any of these thinngs; my fate is predominantly in my hands, based on my own decision-making process.
You can call me a lot of things including Dal, but don't call me Mr. Tibbs or late for dinner.
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Comment by Roberta Zenker on October 10, 2012 at 1:32pm
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Dal - don't mean to be insensitive. I am sorry. A few points of clarification if you will. I use "gay" as a generic term to include all LGBTIQ, etc. people. I am a transwoman lesbian (and always have been), and suspect that other transwomen are too. The only reason that I use religion in this particular post is that much of the evangelical, Christian Church has so blurred the lines between religion and politics that it seems useful to use scripture passages to point our where they may have erred. Finally, "religion" plays only a small role in my life, and while I consider myself to be very spiritual, my path to God (however one understands God)is a personal journey dependant only upon the truths I discover in my heart, mind and soul through my expereince and that of others that makes sense to me. Thus, I respect the religious traditions and practies of all faiths, religions, denominations, etc.
Nameste!
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