Here's something that might intrigue you:
As I was speaking to one of my most beloved gay friends, Juka, he mentioned something that I had never thought of before.
We were just speaking of the church and its current stance on homosexuality. We also discussed how the church has slowly been opening itself up to the gay world and coming out of its own closet. We spoke for about an hour of many things: food, Portugal, and our secret love affair that we both wanted to have with each other but we didn't tell each other because we were both to afraid to admit that we liked each other...
Anyway, Juka reminded me of the doctrine that the church holds of accountability. Basically, as most of us know, the church believes that the Satan has no power over little children, until they become of age, or rather, 8 years old. Okay. We have that cleared up.
Now, for those people who believe that homosexuality is a sin, and NOT God-given, but something of the Devil, how the Hell do you explain to me that I was attracted to men at the earliest, age 5? Satan, according to the LDS church does not have power over children, but how then, was I attracted to men, if being gay is of the devil?
The answer is: it's not of the devil. I am the person who God created. Which means, God created me to be attracted to other men. Wow. When I see that on writing, it seems like a punch in the face to the church. That's not what I intend. My sole purpose is just to let people know that I believe that homosexuality is not a curse, it's not a trial, it's not "the test that we have to overcome" in this life. It's part of us. It's part of our soul.
We are taught that when we die, our spirit will go the Spirit World. We will be the same person that we were on this Earth. We will be attracted to the same sex as we were on this Earth. Why would God do that? I don't think God purposefully made me attracted to men just to meet me on the other side and say, "Hey, Andy. How's it going? Oh, what? You never got married? Oh, right. You're gay. Sorry, buddy. It's off to Hell for you!"
Okay. Obviously, that's not how it would happen. But sometimes, I feel as if it could happen like that.
Anyway, I guess the purpose of this post is to let everyone know that we are still sons of God and our "unnatural attraction" is natural. It's not of the devil. It comes from our Heavenly Father. We are His children. He loves us. And He wants us to succeed, no matter what way He made us.
Totally agree. It's not a curse or a trial or something that has to be overcome, and I'm sick of those who wallow in the angst of saying it is. It's just part of how God made me and you and hundreds of millions of others throughout history. The curse or trial is dealing with the artificial opprobrium forced on so many of God's children like this by churches and prejudice.
ReplyDeleteIt started when I thought about my boyfriend, Aaron. I had been with him for nearly three years at the time. We'd lived together for two years. I was thankful for him. I loved him and I knew he loved me. It was something special.
ReplyDeleteWhenever I have those feelings of thankfulness, I want to express it in prayer. I remember praying to Heavenly Father and expressing my joy that he had Aaron and I meet and form this beautiful relationship.
It was soon after that my next feeling of thankfulness came. I was thankful I was gay. After all, I wouldn't have Aaron or any of my good friends or the wonderful experiences of my life that make me, me. I knew then that being gay was not a curse. It wasn't even a trial. It is a blessing.
PS - We celebrate four years together this August.
Thanks for the great comments! You guys are a light at the end of the tunnel and you both are so strong in your personal committment to your Heavenly Father! Love ya!
ReplyDeleteYou are so right Andy, it is a natural thing. Just like a five year old will punch his little sister because he doesn't know any better.
ReplyDelete"The natural man is an enemy to God."