Wednesday, October 12, 2011
A rant..about the church.
I'm not sure how I feel about the Church anymore. Which is interesting seeing as I am writing this in the LDS.org journal and listening to hymns on iTunes. Do you know what *would* be funny? If the Church had a bunch of team members who were flagged each time there was something "inappropriate" in an entry? Like, saying that I am GAY? Well...if I get a call from the Honor Code Office or from my Bishop, I'll know that the Church is like Big Brother, reading everything I write, listening to everything that I do, scrutinizing every action, condemning me, hating me, expelling me, excommunicating me. The Church...is hateful. Stop. No. Let me re-phrase that. The Church doesn't understand what is going on with gay members. They don't know how God feels about it. They know, I think--for the most part--that gay members are good people; people who strive to do what is right, be kind to others, provide opportunities for service and outreach. In fact, I'd venture to say that some gay members--if not most, are better people that straight members!
If God really speaks to the apostles and the prophets, then why the HECK is He silent now? Especially about this topic. The Church...seeing as God is not speaking to them...is facing a frustrating dilemma. Membership is on the decline, missionaries are on the decline, more and more of the younger generation is falling away. Why? Because God doesn't speak to the church anymore. They are too afraid to change the way certain things are handled. They are too scared to change. Well, my friends, CHANGE is the only way something can survive. It's not the survival of the fittest that guarantees survival; it's who is most adaptive to change.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will *FALL* if they are not willing to change their stance on many issues. Namely. at least., gay marriage and gays in the church.
I mean...seriously. If the Church would just allow active gay men and women to stay members of the Church, then...there would hardly be any more issues or problems. They would gain so much respect in the world and in the political arena--even though they pretend to not care; they do.
But...it won't happen for another 10 years. The old geezers just gotta kick the bucket and then our generation will take over. Unless God decides to open His mouth. He's just...so...quiet.
And it's driving me crazy.
(Copied from my online church journal)
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Andy, if you are a BYU student I would be careful what I said on the blog... (If you want to stay there anyway.) They DO look at blogs.
ReplyDeleteAll of your reasons to be upset about the treatment or percieved treatment of LGBTQ members is all the more reason I continue to attend Church. Membership and leadership will not change until they see LGBTQ members in good standing as actice and productive counter parts.
ReplyDeleteThe Gospel is true although I lack faith in The Church at times. The membership is simple not ready to fellowship openly with LGBTQ persons. It is coming. Keep your head up and do what is best for you.
The Church/Gospel obviously mean something to you or you wouldn't spend the time to write about it. It took me a few years to get through all the negetive emotions but if you want to find peace in the Gospel you will find it in time.
I often feel this way, too. It' nice to rant.
ReplyDeleteMaybe watching this hilarious musical parody by the Gay Christian Network will cheer you up, *Straight to Heaven*: http://www.gaychristian.net/video/musical.php
The plot centers around a young Christian (easy to just change terms and get the same environment of a Mormon) trying to come to grips with his sexual orientation and, basically, the competition between an ex-gay ministry (also analogous in a lot of ways to contemporary Church views) and a "lifestyle gay" (stereotypical, yes--it's parody) to win the young man's loyalty.
The musical is just silly (and very clever), but I think parts of it are quite poignant. Your line about God being "... quiet" actually reminded me of one of my favorite lines from this (and what brought it to my mind) when God answers the prayer of the main character, in an interesting way (which I won't give away). It's silly, but I often feel my own prayers are answered the same way: I don't get what he's saying, but I can't deny hearing God's voice in my life.
All of us commenced an awesome and vital journey when we left the spirit world and entered this often challenging stage called mortality. We brought with us that great gift from God—our agency. Said the prophet Wilford Woodruff: “God has given unto all of His children … individual agency. … [We] possessed it in the heaven of heavens before the world was, and the Lord maintained and defended it there against the aggression of Lucifer. … By virtue of this agency you and I and all mankind are made responsible beings, responsible for the course we pursue, the lives we live, the deeds we do.” Thomas S. Monson
ReplyDeleteBrigham Young said, “All must use [this agency] in order to gain exaltation in [God’s] kingdom; inasmuch as [we] have the power of choice [we] must exercise that power.”
Articles of faith # 9.
We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God
The scriptures tell us that we are free to act for ourselves, “to choose the way of everlasting death or the way of eternal life.”
"Any man may believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and be happy in that belief, and yet not obey his commandments, and at last be cut down for disobedience to the Lord's righteous requirements" Joseph Smith Jr
To get where we want in this life and in the next, it is not a matter of doing some things, but everything which God has commanded. If we know it is against what God wants then we need to find away to change it so it is acceptable to him. No one is perfect and everyone has there own problems but it seems our problems are always the biggest. You say "why is God silent now" but as you know he has never been so active in these last days.
Truth never changes opinions do. So find for me anywhere, in any revelation or in any scripture where truth has changed because of the popular beliefs of the world.
Gays are wonderful people. Kind, loving, charitable, but the "truth" is “Prophets of God have repeatedly taught through the ages that practices of homosexual relations, fornication, and adultery are grievous sins. Sexual relations outside the bonds of marriage are forbidden by the Lord. We affirm those teachings.” (Gorden B Hinckley)
“We want to help these people, to strengthen them, to assist them with their problems and to help them with their difficulties. But we cannot stand idle if they indulge in immoral activity, if they try to uphold and defend and live in a so-called same-sex marriage situation. To permit such would be to make light of the very serious and sacred foundation of God-sanctioned marriage and its very purpose, the rearing of families.”
If you do not believe these are truths from the very God you believe in and his Prophets then go back to the time when things where not so confusing and remember what you felt to be true that was witnessed to you by the spirit. If your feelings where of "truth" then and so they are of "truth" now.
Andy your doing good but don't ever leave what you know to be true. Don't let confusion and doubt get in your way.