Here’s how I always think of it. God encourages us to love one another. Provided the reality of God’s commandment abides by the commands of centuries past. When I was a child, I read the Bible more than once. It’s pages were full of messages from Jesus Christ about the Almighty Father’s love for his people and how He wanted all mankind to love another. He does not tell us to mold our own identity to fit ancient societal standards; instead, he preaches that until the end of time we must treat each other with empathy, kindness, and respect. Today, it is a common practice to suggest that homosexuality is a sin and that being LGBT+ in any way is straying from the path. But, in my opinion, the path is not that rigid. If it was intended to fit all people with love, how can it be so narrow as to exclude masses of people simply for a life of loving themselves and others as they are? So, some Christians feel that all of us were created in God’s image and that certain acts taint that image. This idea makes sense to me. What I don’t understand is the idea that “forbidding” homosexuality is the solution to this issue. Even if it was a choice that can be outlawed like abortion can be banned, is that what God wants? So the image is tainted and mankind is imperfect (apparently the real downfall is not how we treat others, but who we are attracted to)- is this so bad that God would prefer we spread hatred? Rather than condone forms love that do not look exactly the same as traditionally acceptable ones, God wants us to act upon a homophobic agenda. I cannot reconcile the Christianity I know with one whose practitioners do precisely Jesus told his followers to never do and call it God’s work. When the Bible tells us to love with our whole hearts… homosexuals are to repress their desire to love other people; they need to be saved and redeemed should they choose to perform an act of love. However, acts of hatred towards same-sex love are supposedly quite alright in God’s eyes. This is the belief that some people build their attitudes towards God and people. I don’t think that belief is reflective of what God’s love is truly about. I think He wants us to do better than that.
