christian church i went to

[WaterRaven]

i went to church with my cousins and while there the serman was on gays. the minister was saying that gays choose to be gay and that being gay is wrong and it is a sin because it is in their bible. i just needed to get that off my chest and tell someone cause that was very wrong especially after saying all this that he is not a gay basher! anyway...wanted to post this. your opinions?

[Myst]

That's why I don't go to churches except for ones I know well. *shrugs*

[Chibi-Fallon]

Yeah, I had to listen to a sermon about how "different and unusual" Christians are and how they're such a minority. I was dragged there by a buddy. On one hand it's sweet because he thinks he's helping (why do I feel like I'm talking about a 3 year old, well, most guys are just tall 3 year olds anyway). On the other hand I want to hit him over the head with a chair. I think he's gonna get beaned with a chair. ^^

[Sita]

i dont get churches either...

[talamh]

i like the little statement that says gay sex is mentioned 63 times in the Bible and heterosexual sex is mentioned 245 times and it's not that God loves heterosexual more.. it's just that they need more advice and direction. :) bb talamh

[Old Witch]

Thats why I only go to church for weddings and funerals.

[UnSolon]

Not all churches are that bad. But I know the feeling.

The church I grew up in, part of the "United Church of Canada" is, essentially, one of the most liberal, and dare I say open-minded churces in the country (and also the most popular [with Roman Catholisism a close second]). This church, supports social change, humanitarianism, and ordains gays and lesbians (to ordain means to make them a minister/priest/Reverend, whatever you wish to call them). So I grew up never hearing that gays were "wrong" in this church.

However I do know alot about other more fundimentalist 'sects' of the christian faith. In my town there has been a rather large fundimentalist Baptist revival. With the result of hundreds of people, with a frighteningly high amount of youth, becoming more fundimentalist, and spewing the glory of god at every turn. While this is not nessicarily bad, they do also however take every word as holy truth without interpretation needed.

Can I tell you a story... please. A few years ago, I was going out with my (now ex) high school sweet-heart. She has never gone to church, and was brought up in a fairly agnostic household... she is also energetic and dares to ask questions. So during conversations with some of the 'babtist' youth at our old high-school (I call them 'babtist' youth, because there was even a christian group started at that school by them, I went to the first two meetings, watched them insult, tear down, and humiliate one of the most wonderful ladies at our school (a councillor, and a pagan, following the more Native american paganism)).

Well anyways, back to the story... the youth took her questions to mean "she was looking for god" and wanted to join the church. She really wasnt, just asking questions. So one night, her and 3 others were leaving school late. She got a ride home with them. They dropped on girl off first, than the other two guys, parked the car in a dark spot, turned around on her, and starte lecturing her for an hour, and welcomed her to christ, gave her volumes of books, cassett tapes, etc all about christianity. They told her that that day was her "new birthday" (thats a quote), and then drove her home. She called me up later that night, in complete shock, wondering what the hell had just happened.

The next days a school, various people would simply come up to her, give her a hug, and say 'congratulations'. She was at a loss. When one of the first people asked if she had listened to the tapes, she said no because she did not have a tape player (she didnt, only a cd player), so one of the guys, who is quite rich (at 16 he lived in his own house, his parents lived in another city, drove a brand new SUV or a mercades) went and bought her a new walkman. Random gifts like this came several times... she was still at a loss.

They kept asking her to come to church, and finally the perfect opportunity arrived, the first service at a brand new church!!! Her, and her best friend had been invited, and she asked me to come with them, to give support. The day arrived. The church, in a converted movie theatre, was filled with the faithful. Singing songs, dancing, people doing cartwheels and handsprings on the stage. They welcomed everyone and finally the sermon. He talked on an on. Condeming gays, lesbians, and calling apon god to help save their souls. At the end of the service, a man came and sat beside me, he said he had noticed me during the service, and asked if I 'had found god'. I forget what I said, but started questioning the sermon and this church... eventually he said something to the like of 'well thats one way to look at it' and walked off.

The story goes on... but I wont bore you with the details... but I must say for my girlfriend this was a very tramatic experience, and she is no stranger to hardship.

Well peace...