My Christian Century Post: Bisexual in the Church
Coming out as bi was a moment of clarity for me. Everything I had known about myself suddenly came together, like a hundred puzzle pieces finally settling into place. These moments are not always easy. We lay bare our souls to the world and it can put tension on relationships – with family and loved ones, or in my case, with the church. My meditation on the subject was recently published by The Christian Century.
Below is an except from the piece:
It was a disruptive moment for me. It laid bare the chasm between how they saw LGBT people in the church and how I do. They thought I was revealing my sexual practice. In fact, for me coming out was about sharing a newly discovered and important facet of my identity as a child of God. Many in the LGBT community view coming out as a spiritual act. It’s an effort to integrate our spirituality and our sexuality, leading to wholeness.
Head over to The Cristian Century to read the piece in full. Where have you encountered “disruptive moments” in your own life? What has been your moment of clarity?
6 Responses
Hi Janet,
Well-articulated and nicely written article!
Donna
These kinds of stories always leave me with the same question: why does a one stay with a church that hates them. You are no different from a battered woman staying with her attacker in the hope he’ll change. The Presbyterians certainly do not have the lock on Heaven. Maybe this is god’s way of telling you to start your own church. I would never go to a Pres church, but I would go to yours.
Dear Faintly Spiritual,
Thanks for sharing your question with us. It is not the first time such a possibility has come to mind.
Here is my answer. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is my home. It is the room in the mansion of God where I came to know and follow Christ. It is not my church family that err;s it is some within it I am charged to love. I work at it everyday.
I do not feel like a battered person or if I do, I take a deep breath and tell a different story, Sooner or later I feel better and am ready to go forth again.
May you see Christ in all you meet. Peace, Janet
Hi Janet – I really loved your article in the CC. Thanks for writing it!
Dear Heidi,
You are very welcome, Heidi, and thanks for sharing your appreciation of it with me.
Peace , Janet
Hello Faintly Spiritual,
As a Bible believing Christian I would offer this. Is it more loving to lie to you and tell you want you want to hear, or is it more loving to tell you the truth, and hurt your feelings? The outcome is eternal salvation or damnation. ( The “truth” being Gods word ). Just something to ponder………