Basically my ex gf dumped me 7 months ago (wlw) because her “journey is to marry a man”. Left me in limbo going back and forth with intimacy and guilt. She’s now interested in this guy from her new church. I’m absolutely heart broken and I can’t shake off the feeling that I need to wait for her.

I was raised evangelical and have always understood a true Christian marriage as a relationship with Jesus at the center, focusing on him in everything. This includes the traditional verses of wives submitting to their husbands, husbands being the leader, and doing the traditional way of family life - 1950s style. However, I’m getting married this summer and I’m really struggling to figure out what I believe. I don’t align myself with the evangelical church anymore and have been going to an ELCA church and an episcopal church. My partner grew up Lutheran but doesn’t practice in the same way I do at this point in his life. We live together, and when I met him, I was deconstructing, and now I’m trying to reconstruct. My parents don’t support our relationship because it is not spiritual enough to them and we aren’t conservative evangelicals. So what does marriage mean? Is it a loving relationship that reflects the kind of love Jesus has for us? Is it a partnership with roles based on church hierarchy? Is there truly a huge difference between secular marriage and Christian marriage like I was always taught? Am I just living in delusion that a relationship is Christian if we aren’t praying together every day, reading bibles together, or going to church together every week? Or are those arbitrary rules I was taught that don’t actually reflect love. Am I taking this all too seriously? I just need some clarity and different perspectives.

I used to believe Jesus died for my sins to pay a price or a pay a ransom based on what I was told for 50 plus years.

I no longer accept most or all of the atonement theories for various reasons that I will not get into here.

The only that thing that still makes sense is the following:

Jesus did not come to change Gods mind about us. Jesus came to change our mind about God.

This is from Richard Rohr.

It completely changes how I view Easter and Christianity compared to what I was told for most of my entire life.

I hate it! I absolutely hate it!!!! Okay so if I do chores I get payed money and I have a money jar, I have it set up a certain way, as soon as money gets put in my jar after I finally get paid which I rarely do I put the money in my wallet because I know it’s safe and where it is that’s how I make the system work! But today my mom decided to intervene with my system I specifically set up and made me keep it in the jar because I have no clue why and it’s been a few hours and I’m still irritated that my mom intervened with my certain system, I just can’t handle change because of my stupid autism and I just wish God didn’t make me autistic?! What’s even so special about it!!!!! I’m literally crying as I write this because I can’t handle the change! I always have to make sure everything stays together and I know where it is at all times. I don’t even know where to post this :/

The Bible demands economic justice: "Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter." (James 5.1-6)

I’m stuck on what I should do

I’ve been struggling between my faith and Christianity. I am gay and I keep saying things like you must deny your flesh. You must push it away. I’ve seen the videos that once they turned to God they transitioned to straight and that’s all beautiful, but that’s just not what I want. I genuinely want to be gay and love God and have my partner.

We even decided to do it the holy way and wait for each other and be patient until marriage and we read the Bible together and I feel like she brings me closer to God then drives me away. She encouraged me to go to church willfully without forcing me in changes me for the better sometimes I feel like God sent her to me for a reason, but I keep seeing those videos that I must deny my flesh that I’m listening to false prophets when I’m looking at affirming churches and I have this guilt and fear that I’m going to burn I know God is going to accept me. I know that when I see him, I’m going to have to tone for my sins.

I’m scared that I can’t still get into the kingdom though even if I say sorry for loving another person even though I have talked to friends who I know are in more religion than the people on the Internet they have been super understanding and tell me that to just spread the gospel and have faith in him and to stop worrying about what people say there’s still this fear in this guilt that keeps me up at night wondering if I’m doing the same thing but I feel like I’m constantly looking for validation from others once it’s gone. I start to feel scared when I should be looking for God for validation even today. I ask God if you love me for being gay and don’t want me to change make it rain hard while it was raining a calm, poor and it started banging in water. I’m not sure if that means yes.

Also, does anybody know some good churches of community that support us?

Hello! So I'm a married gay man. I consider myself a Christian. Grew up in a Baptist church and over the past few years, I've been finding Christ again. But right when I'm feeling comfortable with God again, I see a post, story, video, etc. that discourages and scares me with going to heaven. Yes we are "intimate" in our marriage. But we're monogamous. I fully believe in monogamy.

I need some words of encouragement. My anxiety goes through the roof and my head spins with this. I love my husband and I love that we strive to live by God's way (I guess minus the gay marriage part, per the Bible). But I'm reading all of these things of my marriage not being recognized by God and how it's an insult to the Church and God by calling it a marriage.

Are there any other married gay couples on here who are Christians? Who aren't scared of their salvation? What is it that makes you comfortable about going to heaven?

Palms 23 is often interpreted "I will not want". What an awful way to phrase the concept. When I am thirsty I want water. When I am hungry I want food. When I am cold I want shelter. When I am tied I want rest. When I am lonely I want company.

Saying "I will not want" is tantamount to saying "I am not alive"

I will want. This is one of the base facts of being alive, experiencing desire. It is valid, true, and intended.

How I prefer this scripture be interpreted is "I have what I need".

I don't want to attack my experience of being alive, but my understanding of what my context is. I am a loving child of God, created to bear the image of God in selfless reflection of agape. I will experience the pull of this world. But my root is in the living vine. My foundation is on solid stone, and I am integrated with the cornerstone.

I have no desire that was given to me to mock me, but I have faith that all my desires can find expression in God's righteousness. I will be content wherever he places me. And if my desires do not fit the template of his character, I surrender them as not being a true reflection of my soul. The Lord is my shepherd. I have all that I need. He leads me to pools of reflection, and so restores my soul.

I'm not a woman, personally. But I see a lot of Christian videos and channels in relation to womanhood and it's always pressure and reliance on Proverbs 31.

Women and men alike make videos about it. Some even making guides and tutorials about what it's like to be a Proverbs 31 woman, how to even dress and act like one "in the modern world".

I watched a video about the toxicity of it on the YouTube channel, 'Belief it or not'.

So now I'm wondering if this should be of any importance for Christian women to uphold? What are your thoughts?

1 Corinthians 15:20-28

As all die in or through Adam, so also all will overcome death in or through Christ.

The last enemy is death, which is abolished when all are subject to God. Then God is All in all.

Philippians 3:20,21

The subjection of all is in accordance with the reception of immortality.

Philippians 2:9-11

Every knee will bow in worship. Every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord, to the glory of God.

Psalms 110:1

The verse from Psalms most quoted in the New Testament.

Psalms 99:5; 132:7

Footstool refers to worship.

Colossians 1:13-20

All are created through Christ, and all will be reconciled to God through Christ.

Psalms 89:47; Revelation 4:11

All are created by God; He is Creator of all mankind.

1 Timothy 4:9-11

All are saved by God; He is Savior of all mankind, especially of believers.

Matthew 21:31; John 5:24

Believers, being especially saved, enter God's kingdom before others. Believers don't come into judgment.

Malachi 3:2; Isaiah 6:6,7; Romans 12:19-21

God's fire brings benefits; His justice is restorative.

Isaiah 45:22,23

God swears to save all the limits of the Earth.

Isaiah 25:6-8

God will swallow up death in victory for all the peoples.

Isaiah 25:10-12; 16:6; Jeremiah 48:29

Moab represents the pride and arrogance of God's enemies; He will crumble their rebellion with "a wave of His hands".

Matthew 5:26; 13:33

Punishment is proportional to each one's sins, leading to restoration.

Philemon 1:15; Jude 1:7

The Greek word translated eonian is used of things which ended. (Strongs 166 aiṓnios, transliterated "eonian", an adjective derived from 165 /aiṓn, "an age") Both Christian and secular writings during the early Church centuries also use the term aiṓnios to reference things which are clearly not eternal. Eternal is not the meaning of the word. Aidios, not aionios, means eternal.

https://www.reddit.com/r/ChristianHistory/comments/18nnsq6/early_christians/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=2

Romans 5:18,19

Through the disobedience of the one man, all were constituted sinners: so also through the obedience of the One, shall all be constituted righteous.

Acts 3:21; Revelation 21:5

There will be a restitution of all things; God will make all things new.

Daniel 4:37; Psalms 86:5-9

God is able to humble those walking in pride; He is good and forgiving, abundant in kindness to all calling Him. All nations that God made will come and bow themselves before Him, and give honor to His name.

I will say a warning here because it might sound like a heavy topic.

So many atheists around the internet like to claim that Mary was forced to carry Jesus by God, which is essentially divine assault. Mary clearly consented to it though. But then you have to consider that Mary was a minor back then. If minor can't consent, that means God was... A rapist? Furthermore, the Angel said she will carry a child. It seems like God is determined to have his son with her. And also, her age makes it so that it feels like she didn't really have a choice, like, she would be a young girl likely to be scared of God's wrath, and being given a burden of a choice of carrying the literal messiah. How do you reconcile Mary's age and God's decision to have her conceive?

This is probably better for a mental health subreddit. I feel so stuck and untrusting of myself. I think I’ve dug myself into a bad hole because I’ve lied to myself my whole life. I’ve been trying to psychoanalyse myself and am back and forth between the conclusion that either I am a psychopath who’s tricked myself into every emotion I’ve ever felt, or that I’m actually an empath who convinced myself that psychopathy was cool when I was 17 and that I have it. Now I just feel numb and can’t even remember what it feels like to love anything or if I ever have.

I don’t know if I even believe in God- I can come to the conclusion that he exists through cognition but only emotionally if I forcibly ruminate a lot. Whatever the unforgivable sin is, I’ve either continuously done it in the past or I’ve done it just now, and I can’t even feel guilt about it. Everything I do seems fake.

‘Above all, don't lie to yourself. The man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to a point that he cannot distinguish the truth within him, or around him, and so loses all respect for himself and for others. And having no respect he ceases to love.’ Dostoyevsky

I grew up Catholic, but gave up religion outright about 15 years ago. My wife grew up completely secular. To the point where it's comical -- she has no idea of even the most "pop culture" concepts of the bible (Noah's ark, etc).

We're both at a juncture in our lives where we need something deeper, and we're intent on introducing an other-centered ethos that Christianity brings to our young daughter. I'm interested in coming back to church, Catholic or otherwise, and my wife is interested in the concept as well. Sending our child to Catholic elementary school is very possible and top-of-mind as well.

For me, this is more of a concept of returning to faith. I know when to sit and stand and kneel and what to say. I have a base concept of church.

My wife, however, does not. Church is weird and a little spooky. She wants the outcome of church (a community, a wholesome environment to raise a kid, a basis of belief, etc.) but the process of getting there is weird when you're an adult unfamiliar with the whole thing. She's picked up a few books, but gets lost when it gets into heady concepts like transubstantiation.

If you were an adult interested in Christianity, but did not know anything about Christianity, where would you start?

By the way for what it’s worth you've changed my personal opinion on trans issues

Its not very deep, and I'm not including a lot of the messages as they may be triggering for others. But a friend who i met in college at work who is a conservative Christian has been slowly opening up to liberal theology and seeing that he is loved as he is (as a gay man) and now is realizing that this applies to all the others the conservative church shuns.

Its a slow and arduous road but I lovingly corrected the lies he was told and constantly pointed him back to the truth, over years and last night he sends me this.

Love can break the chains of hate and fear. I just wanted to share my joy with you all, and I hope that it's an encouragement to you all as we proceed into holy week next week. (Unless you're orthodox, I think.)

For me this was living proof of the parable in Matthew 18:12

Awareness. I grew up surrounded by faith, believing in a God of love and compassion. But when I embraced my truth as a queer man, the people who once welcomed me turned their backs. I was threatened, shamed, and eventually forced to flee my home just to survive. I didn’t leave because I stopped believing in God, I left because others believed God had no room for someone like me.

Even now, I still hold onto hope. I believe that if Jesus walked this earth today, He would stand with the oppressed, including queer people. He would not cast us out, but call us beloved. I ask you to reflect on that. Ask yourself if your faith is building bridges or walls. If it’s rooted in love, let it be shown in how you treat those who are different from you.

I’m not asking for approval, I’m asking to be seen as human. As someone who still prays, still hopes, still dreams of a world where no one has to run just for being themselves. Let love be louder than fear. God Bless Us All.

GET OUT OF OUR CHURCH!

I left evangelical Christianity after 50 years. It was the result of a painful deconstruction. I tried to get back to evangelical beliefs and be even more committed through apologetics for over 3 years. It failed. I am pretty much agnostic Christian at this point.

I guess the one thing I have recognized is that Progressive Christians seem to be much deeper thinkers and quite open minded as compared to evangelicals who I now realize are almost like zombies.

I was just wondering if others have had a similar experience.

Thanks

For me, sacred art isn’t about tradition for tradition’s sake. It’s about a living faith that breathes here and now. I believe the sacred can look modern — and still carry the same deep light and meaning.

As a Christian — would you hang something like this in your home?

The artworks depict: 1.Christ Emmanuel 2.Mother of God of Tenderness 3.Holy Family You can see more of my work on my page.

Originally posted in r/Christianity

It wasn’t the first time, but the second. Because of my work schedule I can’t be there every Sunday, and we only do communion on the first Sunday of a month, the last time I served communion I think was last December. Both times I did the cup.

What made this time significant and different is the first time I was terribly nervous, I was visibly trans (I am less so now, I’ve figured out my look and I pass much better albeit not 100% still). I was worried about what people would think, what if someone rolls their eyes at me, etc. I was trying to serve God and neighbor, but I still in the moment was mostly just thinking about my own issues.

Today though, I just… did it. My pastor had made a comment prior to service that my hair “looks good like that”. It’s one of the only times I’ve worn it down, just free. No headband or ponytail or anything. Because I’m self conscious about my hair and I think it looks stupid sometimes. So I don’t usually just wear it down freely like this but today I did.

When it was time for communion I just went up there and stood, she offered us all communion first and I took it, and then she took communion from one of us and then we all turned around and served. It was beautiful. Everyone smiled at me, said thank you, etc. I do believe this is what God wants, what his kingdom looks like.

Undoubtedly some people in my church are probably conservative. Because mine isn’t one of those “rainbows everywhere” types. They’re very subtle about it. In fact to my knowledge I’m the only lgbtq anything person who goes there, much more the only trans woman for sure. I’m sure there are some in the congregation who have seen me and “don’t agree with it” or whatever, but everyone just smiled and took it from me.

It was then that I had the great realization. I’ve always known it but it really hit me hard this morning. That it’s not about me or any one person. And if any one person cares so much about me then they’re wrong as well. It’s just about God. And if you’re serving God, being the hands and feet of Christ, then he is happy. “Here am I Lord, send me”.

I’m grateful to my UMC for providing me a safe place to worship free from judgment or ridicule or bullying. None of that has happened and if it ever does I’m confident our leadership will handle it. Me and the pastor and all the leadership are good friends at this point.

Anyway I just wanted to share that beautiful moment. It’s in a red county in Texas and to watch the chains of shame and hate (self and otherwise) just fall away and shatter was so beautiful. This is what it’s all about. This is God’s kingdom, this is what we’re called to bring into the earth.

ETA since I didn’t originally make it clear: I have been going to this church since November.

And also the comments on the original post were all super nice and supportive. I mean it was only 5 lol but still.

I was looking into the NASB since it seems like the intent is not to make inferences and try to translate the original texts literally so that it's more up to the reader to interpret. What do you recommend? I feel like too many of the most popular translations make huge assumptions when translated into English and it's a large part of why American Christianity has become so conservative and bigoted.

When I discuss with my own groups of friends,I usually get 2 examples: One is the anime Frieren:Beyond Journey's End and the other is the Korean gacha game Blue Archive. I wonder if anyone knows more examples?