Why I Didn’t Condemn A Message...
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- čas přidán 14. 06. 2024
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I'm an Anglican Priest in the Diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island (my pronouns are he/him/his) and I get to serve in the Parish of St Margaret of Scotland, in the beautiful city of Halifax, NS, that sits on the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi'kmaq people. Email me at rev.ed.onlineministry@gmail.com and I will do my best to respond.
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God bless you and keep you!
When I stand before God and receive His judgement He won’t ask me about my friend who is gay, He won’t ask me about my friend who had an abortion, He won’t ask me about my friend who is an atheist. He WILL ask me if I loved each of those people as He commanded me to do. That will be on ME.
Beverly, I love what you wrote!
I grew up in the South, with family who say they are Christian, but they have wildly different concepts of what that means.
The rich ones on my dad's side are 100% "prosperity gospel" and believe that the wealthy (white and straight) are "God's chosen". That part of the family has never liked me. Perhaps they think I'm gay. I'm not, but I am "queer". I'm asexual and choose to live without a partner because it's not fair to them. That would change if I could find another asexual person to love, but that hasn't happened.
My dad liked my Momma's faith better. Momma believed that the most important tenet of Christian faith is LOVE.
Momma grew up very poor, her mother was biracial and died when she was only eleven. She and her siblings went to an orphanage during the Depression, and all did well but never forgot where they came from. They are such sweet, kind, and generous folks.
She taught me to never judge, and that God's love surrounds ALL, not a chosen few. "When you point a finger, you've got three more pointing back at you!"
That was beautiful to share. Thank you🙏💙
AMEN😊💙🙏
Amen.
@@LazyIRanch I was blessed with wonderful parents who impressed on my sister and I to treat others with dignity and they explained the difference between spiritual discernment and judgment. Sending blessings and peace to you.✝️♥️🕊
PRAYER REQUEST: I am a ten year breast cancer survivor, I’ve recently gotten the news that I now have lung cancer. I will meet my oncology team on Tuesday.
Please don’t take offense to my handle. I started using it after the many school massacres, because all the right wing does is post thoughts and prayers. While they have the power to do something about the guns of war being used to kill our children and fellow citizens.
Prayers for you and your family.
Prayers going up now.
Praying for you, your comfort, and healing.
@@ParanormalEncyclopedia ❤️
@@SingingOwl1 ❤️
Every time someone throws out (stops believing) an interpretation of the bible that causes harm to others I rejoice.
This.
My belief on this subject has evolved significantly as I have grown & learned more about both theology and LGBTQ+ orientations...
Bottom line, living and loving as Christ should be our #1 goal !!!
The question you have to ask those who condemn homosexuality is, “who made sex pleasurable?” That’s a trap question to test their faith and force them to think on it. If their creator is not the one who made all forms of sex pleasurable, then that is not their creator. That puts a second set of hands within their creation, lessening the role of their god.
I have a rather unique view of that passage in Leviticus. “Spill not thy seed upon the earth” doesn’t mean the same as plant your seed only in fertile ground, which it would say if it did. I interpret that to mean always have sex if the opportunity is present. Adultery is sin, not sex.
Sex is pleasurable, which was one of those gifts from your creator. I would imagine god would be more offended at you not playing with your gifts.
That’s my take on it. Your mileage may vary.
P
I feel the question is why do you care about how anyone else may engage in sexual relationships, @@almitrahopkins1873 It is not as if folk need or want your permission to be human. Sure, in very specific circumstances the State can and does intervene, eg crime of rape, child sexual assault, morea and standards on public media.
@@psydd5209 LOL!!!
We fear things we don’t understand…
Learning eases the fear…
Yes learning does ease the fear. Finding love and sharing this love obviates this fear. Ed is right; it's in the relationship. Good to see you. Love.
@@howardcohen6817 it’s a simple enough thing to say, but to really live by it isn’t easy
Oh thank Christ, i needed a moral, empathetic source this morning. May whatever God(s) be out there, may they bless you and yours.
And may you and yours be blessed as well ❤
@@lindaginn7714 ditto, friend
My belief system says as long as a person isn't harming another person or themselves live and let live. Spreading hate messages on post it notes is a sin if you ask me, it's spreading a message of hate designed to harm another.
Thank you Rev Ed
I’m always amazed at the number of agnostics and atheists in the comments that find truth in your message. 👍 We are all human and the Holy Spirit is working through you.
I tried to be an atheist after I left the hate-filled Southern Baptist church I grew up with. I left over 25 years ago when they became a political, right-wing hate group.
I tried being atheist, but it didn't take. I've had too many "coincidences" in my life when the help I needed came from unexpected places. I don't follow the Bible, but I do love the Gospels and what Jesus tried to teach mankind.
I also find inspiration of how to be a better human from Buddha, and Krishna, and the Great Spirit who guided the native Americans.
The more I learn about other faiths, the more I find we have in common. I consider myself to be a "religious pluralist" these days.
Religious pluralism is the state of being where every individual in a religiously diverse society has the rights, freedoms, and safety to worship, or not, according to their conscience.
Through us all
Welcome back. I'm glad you're back and safe. Thanks for all your compassion and teachings.
Rev. Ed. Thank you for your thoughts on this. Like Beau says. It’s just a thought ❤ 😎. Love sent to all ❤
Don't forget:
_On a long enough time line ..._ 😍
Thanks, Dale. Love.
Someone I used to think was going to be my best friend forever had a huge thorn in his side: his brother, who was gay. I'd never met his brother (he was estranged from his family for most of their lives, but had emerged about 15 years ago), but when my friend talked about his brother... he had ugliness in his voice. It repulsed him to the core.
I can't tell you how many times I spoke to him about his brother, and others like him, about how it is only our calling to love these people and in doing so... maybe they will see Jesus. I explained how if they could see the ugliness we had for them - Jesus would not be seen in us.
Sadly, this brother fell down the rabbit-hole of Qanon during the pandemic and after many failed attempts at holding onto his hand and pulling him up out of that hole... I had to eventually let him go with a hope God will find him down there, when he reached the bottom, and guide him back into the light.
It's been hard seeing him, quite often, in dreams, friends like we used to be, but it reached a point where he was no longer there. Who I was holding onto, pulling with all I had in me, was fading away and this other entity was taking his place. I believe it is the closest I've come to seeing a demon at work. I'm not so sure it's an outside force, since I saw it many times in our 30 years of friendship. I believe it is that same entity, using the same voice we see with Adam... telling him the things that caused his fall.
I lost a dear friend because of his hatred of Muslims. I wouldn't couldn't hate them.
My experience isn't as deep as yours, but I've seen a few friends fall to the wayside due to anti-Obama-ism and then Trumpism. I'm sorry that you had to see a close friend get consumed this way. My condolences.
Thank you for your testimony; it is heartbreaking.
You make it sound as though Q'anon is this habit-forming drug taken to cover-up unresolved conflicts within that your friend had been suffering for 30 years or so. Love.
So glad you got on the right page Padre 💜
AMEN !!!! 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏
Everyone has a story.. that needs to be told and heart...that getting to know our neighbour
We are to love one another. Not judge one another.
You are turning out to be a Rock of strength in my life. Thank you so much for that! I simply adore you & your message! Thank you for being & showing up so Christ like in my life. I'm not a Christian, but you definitely are one of the good ones & I trust you completely. Thank you for your kind & wonderful words today, I love it when I start crying in the middle of your videos. I didn't think I could cry tears of Joy anymore, but here I am, a great big old wet faced blubbering fool crying my eyes out over your kind words & compassion! I absolutely adore you Reverend! Thank you once again for showing up so wonderfully in my feed, it must be that pesky Jesus doing his miracles thing & buttin' into my life again!😊 You allow my heart to feel full & I always leave your channel feeling loved & seen (oh God! I hope you can't see me, I'm a mess right now from all the crying!)😂 Much love & appreciation for your selfless service. It means so much to this old broken body of a gay man. Can't express my adoration of your supportive message enough! I'm sending you big smooches & big fat hugs to you!❤ Thank you so much for putting yourself out into the world, so I could find you! I walk away feeling better about things after just a few minutes of listening to you. Can't express enough what that means to me. Today's video was very special to me.❤
Thank you, too. Love.
Yes, i agree: I am no Christian and not interested in any other religion, though I have many decades of spiritual practice. What I find here is kindness, humility, and thoughtfully articulated ideas that help my own perspective be kinder. I find refreshment here.
@@sundayoliver3147 yes, I agree. This is a wonderful space we've stumbled upon. I always leave it refreshed & renewed. It gives me a perfect little boost to my day hanging with the Reverend during his videos. So many disempowering channels that espouse Christian ideals, but fail when they begin raging in hate & intolerance against good people. The Reverend always brings his compassion & kindness to every video. I'm shocked at how fortunate I am to have found him. I enjoy being in his presence as he shares his daily topics. He's a wonderful example of what it means to be a Christ-like teacher & I appreciate his efforts & mission. I'm always just a little bit nicer after spending time listening to him.
I remember being taught in Catholic school, god knows your heart at all times.
I love the verses in Matthew Six, the "preamble" to the Lord's Prayer that gives instructions of how to pray. I feel it's as important as the prayer itself:
Matthew 6: “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for *your Father knows what you need before you ask him.* 💝
Your awesomeness can not be overstated. The ability to change one's beliefs based on evidence is rare.
Having the Greek & Hebrew to reference helps tremendously. Languages evolve, KJV is no longer the "standard" for English translations for this reason...
I like Bible Hub for comparing the various available translations. KJV has been replaced by the revised KJV (which is much better than the old version.) However, I grew up with KJV. But I learned so much when I got a Strong's Concordance and looked into the origins (and changes) to the Bible that occurred with the KJV. My main version is not the KJV anymore but one that has more direct translations from the Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic of the earliest versions of the Bible that exist. (And I pull up Bible Hub to further elucidate any differences between the translations.)
I recently finished reading some of the early Christian writings (Clement, Barnabas, and several others, including the Didache.) It was interesting to see what the Christians during the times of the Roman Emperors Nero and Domitian were saying. Seeing their interpretations of what became the Christian Bible are fascinating.
Concepts evolve, too---sometimes translations into English include nuances and ideas that simply didn't exist in the original languages.
@@user-qj8uc4tb8n That's certainly true. And that's why it's such a bad idea to use a translation like KJV which were of the Latin Vulgate Bible rather than from the original languages.
It all comes back to love. It always does - love is the answer. "Love thy neighbor" is not a minor point in the Bible, it is what I would call a "cornerstone". Post it notes deriding other people for who they are is not showing love. Anger, hate and vilification are the opposite of love, and in my opinion always will be. Once again many thanks on a great message. You say it of others, but I clearly see Jesus shining through you.
But yet that person is not condemning gluttony and greed, that is what the society they live in is centered around!
"Propaganda must facilitate the displacement of aggression by specifying the targets for hatred."
Joseph Goebbels
Your Goebbels quote reminds me of this:
I've only seen a couple of episodes of The Handmaid's Tale, but I remember this scene:
At a trial held on an outdoor stage, a man, apparently innocent, was accused of rape. Those conducting the trial spoke to the red-clad women standing in the audience, those women set aside for breeding. A woman on stage described the sordid details of the alleged crime. The red-clad women in the audience got furious and tore the man apart.
I am positive that these women were furious at the system that sexually enslaved them, but it wasn't safe to get angry at their captors. Instead, directed by their captors, they turned their great fury upon this one targeted man. This is what our would-be leaders do: take our fury at the system that exploits and impoverishes us, and turn that fury against the marginalized.
What about adultery imagine if we decided to deal with adultery based on the old testament laws. They love to cherry pick the laws of the old testament as a weapon against others and to justify their judgemental attitudes. God see their hateful hearts.
@MelanieNLee
Ah, yes -- a tried & true method, for sure, but -- (fortunately), we're evolving. What we lack in organizational skills, we _enthusiastically_ make up for, with empathy. We're ushering in a new way of thinking; a new way of _being._
For those of us who have deconstructed, yet _still_ cling to Jesus *(NOT* the "Old Rugged Cross" 😇), we mainly dig his teachings. They jive more with what our hearts say (as opposed to the Power & Control *noise* we're constantly being spoon-fed).
Anywho, we're gonna be ok. More & more, we're realizing Cooperation -- not Competition -- is the way. The truth. The life we _all_ deserve.
Exactly
I feel the same as u but don’t have the history or knowledge to back it up. Someday soon I hope u can share it. Thank you for your podcasts. U give me hope.
I've always wondered what percentage of the haters and persecutors are themselves gay or not comfortable with the body they were born into.
I wonder why folk think it is any business of theirs how folk engage in sexual relationships.
With conflicting thoughts and feelings, you sought resolution through studying and reflection 🤠
It's almost like a synthesis of head and heart is a better way to resolve paradoxes than raging fearfully at them ☯️💜
Well said!
Amen beautiful morning message, Well said discussion Rev Ed...Were all Gods people, I know some LGBTQ folks and there very Godly and you do see Jesus in them They give from there heart ..The Posted note Ninja needs more compassion and understanding.. God Bless 🕊️
Yes!👏 👏👏👏👏
Once again, thank you Rev. Ed.
Once again, your empathy and guidance provide comfort and understanding.
Once again, I pray that God continues to bless and guide you.
I'm hetero male who doesn't understand why another male would make love to another man And I too felt conflicted Especially once I heard Rob Halford of a hard rocking band Judas Priest came out of the closet And we love Elton John too And well known actors like Cumberbatch and Zachary Quinto who've displayed a great deal of manliness I believe when Spiritual seekers like US in this community feel conflicted it's because the Holy Spirit wants to teach US or give Us a taste of Unconditional Love 💗
It's Awesome in My opinion that you let your logical mind meld with your Spiritual which is a daily goal of mine with Theology and Philosophy being one of my important hobbies
You do good work Better than some Rev Ed because you allow the Holy Spirit to guide you around
It's what makes the difference in My opinion of someone who just follows the guidelines and a true Spiritual leader
I'm a straight man as well, and I completely don't understand that attraction, but I've got friends who are gay. I'm wired for monogamy, and I completely don't understand (in an emotional sense) people who are wired for polyamory, but I've got a number of friends who are poly. I'm cis, and I don't get trans, but I've got trans friends. There are lots of things I don't understand, and _can't_ understand because they involve feelings that are very fundamental. As I see it, my duty as a decent human being is to _accept_ my friends' differences from me, and to support them when they're facing prejudice.
I don't experience libido or sexual attraction to anyone, male or female. I've been that way all my life, and in high school I preferred the company of LGBTQ folks because they always respected my lack of desire for physical intimacy. I _hated_ dating, and had many unpleasant experiences with boys and men who did NOT respect my boundaries.
I'm what one calls "sex-repulsed", but for most of my life I didn't know that there's a name for people like me, besides the ugly words such as "frigid".
Someone asked me years ago if I am "ace", and I had to look it up. I literally cried when I read about asexuality, and finally had the answers I wish I'd had when I was young!
Finding out that there are others like me, and we aren't "sick" or "broken" was life-changing and life-affirming.
My favorite uncle, the man I named my only child after, was also ace. I know that now.
We became very close friends during the last 15 years of his life. We're both artists, and love music and dressing in costumes for the fun of it. I sew, and I had a blast making dance costumes for him. He was a docent at two historical museums in Galveston, and he loved teaching others about Galveston's fascinating history, always dressed in character. He WAS a local character, and beloved by the community.
He was an elegant ballroom dancer, who had long-term monogamous relationships with 2 women in 40+ years. My mother explained to me that my uncle isn't gay, he loves women but chooses to not have a sexual relationship, which is nobody's business anyway. I think she explained this to me when I was a young adult, because she recognized the similarities in me.
The only people that I've shared my sexual identity with are my pastor (female leader of a UMC church that has many LGBTQIA in their congregation) and my mental health therapists... oh, and strangers in the YT comment sections!
Even some queer people don't accept ace as a "real" sexuality, but it's getting better.
@@LazyIRanch that's very brave of you to share a more unique perspective and finding comfort in who you are
Another example of God's Unconditional Love ❣️
@@LazyIRanch Love.
Could not agree more. Thanks Rev. Ed
Well said.
Again..
I "reconciled" the issue by believing we're all sinners.
I am.
I see the same all over.
.. we're all guilty.
Its not for us to sentence.
But to love...
The real revolutions within.
The "elevated" self righteous among us have much to learn
May it be in time✊✌️
It was through my studies and eagerness to learn about how Christ moved through the world my understanding of whose I am and Who He was/is was solidified. It was so “aha” to me when I realized that my curiosity for learned understanding was a blessing in disguise. I have worked in the arts for 3 quarters of my life…and through the years I have been blessed to “see Jesus” in what most would call the unlikely. God is, through Christ Jesus, a welcomed embrace; I rejoice in the presence of His love and grace I have received through the “most unlikely.” Dr. Abby ❤
Changing an opinion or view that we've held to and believed for a long time is a hard change. However, it is rewarding to seek for the answers and find them, even if it means we were originally wrong. In the end, we can be more confident in our beliefs because we did the legwork to search for the answers. We are not believing what we have been told to believe, we are believe the truth we have found. And when they are still the same beliefs, we are more confident that they are the truth.
Having relationships with people that do not believe the same as we do is good, because it challenges us with another view for us to wrestle with to figure out what is true.
Thank you
I agree completely.
My wife and I went through a similar process a few years ago. We encountered several people, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, who had interest in joining the church we attended at the time. These folks became friends of ours, just people trying to live their lives as best they could. We gathered in our home and did Bible studies together, the Gospel of John and the book of Acts. Ultimately, our church decided that our friends couldn't be allowed to fully participate in the life of that church. And so, our friends didn't find a welcoming community there, and that ended that.
Since then, we've moved 200 miles away, deep into the Missouri Ozarks. And guess what? We found a church that is what our former church should have been, at least in our eyes. And we've found new friends there, just people trying to live their lives as best they can. I wish more Christians could get past the nay-saying, and the finger-waggling, and the judgmentalism, and just see people as people. That is my prayer daily. Amen
My experience as well that arguing with Scripture won't convince most.
Thank you for sharing how your mind changed about the issue of homosexuality.
Many years ago, one of my pastors shared how he changed his mind about women in church. He had believed that women should take lesser positions and be subservient to men. To prove his point, he did a thorough biblical search while he was studying in seminary or in college. One example he found was the prophet Huldah: in the OT, some men seeking counsel from God went to Huldah, a woman, instead of some better-known male prophets of the time. This and many other Scriptural examples convinced him that women are equal before God, and that women could occupy any church role that a man could.
I suppose that through a similar study, you experienced a change of heart over a different issue.
I am being 100% sincere. I love you. And I feel/see/hear love coming from you to US. Someone I'll most likely never meet....but it's there. And isn't that what Christ was/is/always will be....is LOVE?? (More than I think I'll ever be capable of understanding tbh).
This world is hard. Putting stipulations on God/Christ's love makes everything so much more difficult and HARMFUL. And it's unnecessary. Our personal faith system is to challenge OURSELVES. Our own words/actions... not anyone else's. Our "job" is to love. To the best of our capabilities. That's it. So, thank you for being a beacon of his light. It makes the "dark" not so scary. Also...not sorry for being sappy. 🤷♀️😂🥰
Another issue where small, petty, hateful people cherry pick scriptures of the Old Testament to justify their prejudices. Once again my bumper sticker: Small petty people, have small petty gods.
I usually don't have bumper stickers, but I put one on my truck that came from my favorite spice company. It is rainbow colored, and the words of the slogan are in black and yellow.
The sticker has faded so much, that all the yellow words are gone. It used to say:
"Love People! Cook Them Tasty Food!"
"Love" and "Cook" were the words in yellow, now completely faded away, so the sticker reads,
"People! Them Tasty Food!"😂🤪
@@LazyIRanch 😂 What spices best pair with people? 😄
@@lindaginn7714 Anything that's used for seasoning pork should do. Most cannibals seem to agree that we humans have a porcine flavor!🐷🧑🏼🍳😃
@@LazyIRanch 😆 That's interesting to know. I was wondering if we taste like chicken too.😄
@@lindaginn7714 Probably, I would think we might taste like chicken thighs, but then I don't hang out with cannibals, at least none that I know of.😉
I always heard that rattlesnake is supposed to taste like chicken, but I think it's closer to seafood. The meat from a big diamondback rattler is almost identical to crabmeat... at least it fooled my husband! Oh, my now EX husband.
Feeding him garlic butter snake sauce with linguini isn't the main reason he left me, but it probably was on his long list of things he hates about me.
It really was delicious, and my son ate a second helping even though he knew it was snake, since he helped me kill it. We usually leave snakes in peace, but this one had gotten into our chicken pen and had to go!🤪
Your thought process makes total sense to me. It reminds me of a TikTok video my wife told me about the other day from a paediatrician that successfully converts anti-vaccine parents to vaccinations being a positive thing. She meets them in the middle, not shaming and haranguing them, “I understand that’s your position, and you’re entitled to hold it. It’s not mine, and if you ever want to talk about the things you’ve read or heard, and why I still hold the position I do, I’m happy to answer any questions you might have or go over any points you might want to discuss.” And because they’re not immediately put on the defensive, they don’t always ways double down, and they may even go back and look at what their sources were on their own and change their minds.
The pastor who confirmed me had my class understand that Leviticus was laws. For, well, back then. The Old testament was fulfilled when Jesus died on the cross. Romans and many new testament books are letters. Not meant to be used for church doctrine! Much like you Rev, if more folks understand the historical timeline and what was actually going on, makes quite a difference!
Jesus's final message; "Now I give you one final commandment. Love everyone as I have loved you."
Everyone. No exceptions. No excuse.
What a niiice 🌎 we could have...💙💛💕
I really like what your pastor said, that is such a sane way of looking at it, and I'm really glad your confirmation class got taught that way. And honestly, I can't help thinking that Christianity would be even better if most of the Bible were ditched -- it's so full of imprecations to kill, exclude, enslave, abandon, and rape. The Christians I admire ignore the 90% of the Bible that's like that, because they lean on the love and tolerance bits. They are IMO better than their scriptures.
Amen!
There's no reasons to cut off an ear....
…and the greatest of these is love. No qualifiers there.
Amen
Amen 👍👍👍👍👍
I believe humility is a requirement. I especially cannot justify my bad behavior due to the terrible behavior of others. If we are to imitate Christ , then we cannot succumb to the call of pride to bash others. Thank you for your witness and wisdom.
"They will know us by our love." Not our judgement.
Reverend, you're correct about the person digging their heels in if you condemn the message. I may be wrong but I think they would take it as you negatively judging them because they believe in the message. They may be more open if you criticize their method. By questioning their method, it may lead them to self examine what they believe about their message and maybe realize that their method can be hurtful thus negating any message they want to convey. Hopefully they will do what you did and engage in more study which will hopefully not just open their mind but their heart as well. Thank you for another important message.
This is why i believe in you, and not certain priests from other churches and ministries who hate, condemn and dehumanise certain groups of people because of who they love. I always think it is a sin to harm and abuse innocent people, and that they are committing the biggest sin.
It would be wonderful to give a episode on what you learned on your quest for clarification on the churches stance on Sexuality.
Over the years, I have seen fewer chances to get to know your literal neighbor. Some people just drive into their attached garage and you barely see them outside. The high fences are around many people's yards. People are being drive apart or isolated by misinformation and technology. I miss the times when one could possibly have a heated debate and actually have an exchange of information.
💖🙏💗
I've really been going through alot, especially in the past couple of years. I have been grappeling with the thought of being forsaken. It really bothers me when "christians" walk around preaching hell fore and brimstone, but never tell someone who Jesus really is all about. How about putting up post it notes that say you are loved, Jesusus loves you, you matter, etc. We don't need judges. We need love, understanding, comfort, etc. Thank you Reverend. Please continue to pray for me. I am struggling.
There are people that are born with both sets of sexual organs. They didn’t chose that and is why having issues with hormones….
Because we are not goda we are incomplete in our understanding of the things that god(s) have made. Look within, make yourself better and when you have done that rinse and repeat .
I agree, we are simple creatures and could never possibly understand the mind of a Supreme Being. We have an innate desire for human companionship, and we know that love and kindness are the traits that make us welcome in society, at least any society I want to be part of. We can't change others, but we can always work towards improving our own hearts and minds.
I explained to my son when he was little that we could never understand the mind of any God because we can't comprehend what that would be. It would be like trying to describe colors to a blind person.
I told him to try teaching his cat to read. The cat won't be able to even comprehend what "reading" is, much less actually learn it.
Thank you for sharing your point of view about the video. My first thought about people who post these damnation messages can not be reasoned with. They have a singular POV and are locked into it with a closed mind & heart.
My next thought is you do demonstrate/show your loving heart but in the world we currently live in, we need to make it clear where we stand on issues. It is going to take all our voices, clearly stating the path in love.
God is not going to ask me about anyone else's sins . Just my own.
The love everyone gate is the narrow gate. Jesus will only ask one question . It will only take one.
Did you love everybody?
That would be a terrifying question... I hope I can at least say I tried.
So blessing sin is ok and biblical. More than sad.😢😢😢
Thank you for not saying some things that are natural are sins. Appreciate.
Thank you for having an open mind and looking to find the truth.
That to me is what a god who gave you intelligence should want you to do.
And bless you for speaking out all the time against bigotry of all types and against hatred and hypocrisy.
It will not bring me back to the church but it gives me hope that intelligent people, at least, can live a good life in a religion without trying to impose it or condone imposing it.
My belief has changed as well. I believe that it’s not the fact that people are gay or whatever. People like to pick on others who are different. Whether gay or straight, or black, white or red , yellow, they pick on others to make themselves feel superior. I’ve been bullied and I see it could be that a person has a different color skin or hair. Or small or big, or less than handsome or beautiful all are reasons to not love them in the eyes of the self righteous.
I won't be at CWW on 6/15/2024.
Greetings, c-fax. Love.
Thank you Reverend Ed.
I agree with you on this issue!
Look at The Kinsey Sex Study from the 1950’s . Just like we are used to the term of being on the spectrum for mental issues. Human Sexuality exists on a spectrum but because of misinformation and misunderstanding about human sexuality the spectrum is altered away from the homosexual end of the spectrum. People are born who they are and they are children of God.
Thank you SO MUCH, Ed, for explaining how you changed your mind, and became an LGBTQ+ ally! I read neither Greek nor Hebrew, but I have read a lot about the Bible written by people who do. Almost universally, they have responded to translations condemning "homosexuality" by saying, "That's not exactly what it says, there. . ." and explaining about young boys and older men, or women attached to a Roman temple. What we think of as homosexuality wasn't seen the same way, and didn't draw the condemnation it does now.
As for the anonymous Post-It Note distributor, I don't see how scattering condemnation is going to bring anybody to repent anything. It brings out defensiveness, with nobody available to listen to an explanation. It might work off some of the poster's frustration, but it's not likely to be useful otherwise.
I attempted a discussion with a literalist “Christian,”
another one who follows the Old Testament word for word yet who has no time for Jesus.
Their talking points essentially were “ This passage is fact. You can’t change fact. I am right, you are wrong”
No changing that mind. No point in continually banging my head against those walls.
Personally, everyone arriving on the planet exactly as God intended makes way more sense to me, than that all of us are supposed to be the same, does. It’s always so sad when someone who loves God, but doesn’t fit the hetero mold, ends up hating themselves as much as some of society hates them, bc ‘ the Bible’s against that.’ I’m not a Christian, but I know that Jesus loves me, just as much. God is love, so surely that includes all of the kinds of love. I smile when I remind myself that one day, they’ll all (we’ll all) find out how wrong they were. 💚💜
The person putting out Post-Its doesn't care the outcome. They say they've done their job. As a pro editor, I can guarantee that there are two sides to communication. What the person says and what the audience receives. And my job as a pro editor is to help the writer or speaker to understand how best to craft their message to be received IN THE WAY they want it to be. The Post It Bandit doesn't care about ANY of that. In typical naval-gazing fashion, they think they have fulfilled some requirement to share the gospel. But what they don't know and don't bother to care about is the reception. It's unloving to post that paper all over the building where it's going to drop off eventually, get soiled, kicked around, become unsightly, and finally *SOMEONE ELSE* will have to pick it up to dispose of it. Congratulations, Bandit. You have now guaranteed in your short-sightedness that another person has formed a negative perception of your "faith." But that's not what you were looking for - a positive perception. You just know you did your job. "Lord, Lord, didn't we do these things in your name" is your mantra.
Hi, Rev. Ed! Thank you for sharing again. Now I have another question. It has to do with the difference between "punching up" and "punching down", terms from stand-up comedy referring to the target of one's jokes. I guess it has to do with a method of protest.
I imagine that the person who put up those post-it notes was using Scripture to take a potshot at the LGBTQ+ community, a marginalized community. We could assume s/he was "punching down" at those below him/her on the social spectrum.
In 1940s Germany, Sophie Scholl, her brother Hans, and their friends weren't "spreading the Gospel" per se, but they shared and scattered anonymous leaflets against Hitler and his policies. It would've been dangerous to do this in the open. In fact, they were caught, and they were executed. You could say they were "punching up" at people actually in power.
I don't know if civil rights leaders used any anonymous leaflets to tackle Jim Crow or the KKK. Martin Luther King, Jr and other leaders had their churches as a base, and the Gospel and Scripture had much to do with their fight against segregation. Their methods were to "invade" and sit-in at Whites Only spaces, to march, rally, and protest in the streets, and to meet with Black folks to get them to vote . These methods were "punching up" and reaching across.
I don't know of any movement to get Mafia hitmen or murderous gangs to repent. (Well, there was that preacher in NYC in the mid-20th century.) Actually, such thuggish organizations were birthed from people on the margins of society.
If the "Christofascists" take over the USA, curb freedom of speech and freedom of religion, and assault, jail, and kill their dissenters with impunity, what then would be the most effective way to spread the gospel within a society that twists the gospel? I suppose Martin Luther had one answer to that in 1517 Germany. I could imagine spreading anonymous notes, flyers, and pamphlets reminding people to love their neighbors as themselves. That would be "punching up". However, I suppose that forming and maintaining relationships within which to speak the gospel would still be the better method, modeling what one believes. That would be reaching across.
I'm like many Christians who have struggled with the question of LGBTQ and how so many are clearly Spirit filled Christians. God said there are many mysteries that have not been revealed to us, that will not be revealed until we reach heaven. I think that's because God wants us to live by faith. If He revealed all mysteries to us we would be like God...clearly we're not and fall far short of ever being so. God's directive for us is to love one another as Christ loves us....and He will take care of the rest.
Last night I read Romans 1 and 2 again. What struck me was Paul wasn't singling out any one particular sin. He was talking about the human condition as a whole. He's talking about the depravity of sin, when people give themselves over (formerly knowing what was right) to sinful acts to serve their own lusts and greed. He's not talking about what is natural. So if a person is born LGBTQ how can we say that is not natural? And they should not be judged in the same manner as those who to deliberately choose to partake in unnatural acts to satisfy their own lusts, or personal gain by immoral purposes. Paul's message to the Romans was to stay strong in faith and separate themselves from doing evil deeds, while at the same time, not judging those who do (because we all sin) but to bring them Christ through their outpouring of love.
How do you think God feels about people who believe God hears only some voices?
Who are ANY of us to judge...?
Re. "pride"... yes, in this case, it's a difficult needle to thread. On the one hand, people deserve to feel good about who they are. A Gay Pride Parade certainly does that. It's a bit like blacks affirming who they are with "black is beautiful." [I like the line in: To Wong Foo... "too much style for just one gender."]
On the other hand, people also need to be humble. Were heterosexuality not in our face so much, (by implication, excluding other lifestyles), being something else wouldn't be as much of a problem.
The shaming that goes with being different, is a clear indication that the person doing the shaming is also taking "pride" in their own lifestyle, (as though being something else challenges their choice in the matter). [Something about a splinter in your neighbor's eye comes to mind.]
Pride does go before a fall, we get that. As such, Gay *Pride* does sound like there could be a problem there. "Happily Gay" might be better...
But then, sex drives everybody just a bit nuts.
LGBTQ folks, as well as many who are sensitive or who stand on deeply held principles, makes a person an easy target for scapegoating. That has always seemed to me an Old Testament restriction, long, long ago settled, about not sacrificing others, but it was the essence of the Crucification and it still goes on today. People come for you if you make them think about uncomfortable ideas. For many people, the entire point of religion to to do away with all uncomfortable ideas, to have settled, comforting notions of right and wrong to make those bleak moments in the dark of night more easy to bear. Any ideas or people who cause someone to rethink their values or to upset the comforting aspects of religion are evil by the lights of such thinking. And these are adults responding this way, without the neural plasticity to rethink or reevaluate their faith, except that the process will literally hurt like torture.
The main issue will always be that modern society and globalism requires more effort and aplumb than what 30-40% of people are capable of producing, day in, day out, routinely. And being pushed that hard will always make them lash out in defense. And bad actors can harness that defensiveness, label and package it in ways that allay fears and comfort minds, harnessing the discomforted people to their own agenda.
Funny thing is, it's impossible to ask this question with any sincerity about wanting the answer, to research it with the intent to accept the truth you find, without the whole doctrine falling apart. God does not hate lgbtq+ people. They don't hate 'the lifestyle'. We are all loved and God desires to be family with all of us.
Nathan Monk has some things to say about this.
Jesus told everyone that the law regarding divorce was never supposed to be that way but because men's hearts were hard God allowed it. Makes me wonder how many other laws were based on men's hearts being hard.
I think Jesus didn't ever ask us to do His "sorting/herding sheep" job for Him. I think he commanded us specifically *not* to do that. When he asks for help, he says, Feed My Sheep. He says Love One Another. 🙏🏼
I understood your reasoning on calling out the method. But as a member of the LGBTQ community, and a former seminarian and a lifelong Episcopalian, I feel the need to point out that our culture is in a real moment of neighbors being overtly cruel and dangerous to neighbors. It’s my Christian belief that Jesus would condemn the hate that’s being inflicted on my community, and that he would also understand how truly dangerous for us it is. People who would post these notes all over an apartment complex often resort to violence when they know us and know who we are. They aren’t looking for Jesus. They already don’t see Jesus. Your personal journey is admirable but unusual, and certainly not typical in our current climate of intolerance. At this juncture, the most Christian and loving thing to do is to openly resist the message as well as method of those who are espousing violent ideas and deliberately spreading these ideas. Believe me, these notes are violent and create terror)-how safe do think anyone who is LGBTQ feels now, just living in their home? How many souls have turned from the Church because they feel scared by these ideas? It’s far more than feeling unwelcome. It’s difficult for those who aren’t currently under threat of violence to understand how life is becoming for some of us, but I believe, as Christians, we must try. Their heels are dug in. Let’s work on delivering Christ’s message of love, not avoid condemnation of hate. How refreshing it would be to hear you describe your exegesis of Leviticus, Romans, Corinthians, etc. and the historicity and translation study you made. Because that’s what so many need to hear.
It all depends upon to whom one suspects one is speaking. I didn't get the feeling that Ed was speaking directly (enough) with the person who had posted the notes, but rather to us and how we might encounter and engage with such people.
I've often found that after a mass-shooting that something very self-explanatory was missing from the presidents' addresses: "My fellow Americans, let me tell you that it's wrong to feel this hateful way about others. If you ever feel so inclined, stop yourself, don't do it - you would be hurting all of us and everything that is good." But if you're only speaking with the victims' families, you leave out that which is obvious to all those present.
One of the mainstays of that which I tried to teach my children was that if they needed help, they could go to anyone, any house or apartment, business or cop and ask for help and they would be lovingly helped. This was proven more naive than I can describe, here.
Today, I was thanked twice at the grocery-store for spreading good cheer. (bragging-rights)
At the coffee-shop I spent some time with the man across the way who was feeling dizzy. He (over 80) explained his situation and his feelings and was thankful to have found an attentive ear. I knew not to proselytize - just to listen and to kindly show being helpful.
There are many ways to "resist" a message. Encouraging love, engagement and contact is, in the long range of things, the only effective way to a joyful appreciation of one another and to an eventual peace. Yes Ed must always say - and he often does - that all are welcome in his church and are loved and are safe from hateful vitriol. But read the comments, here. I hope you find them to be as encouraging as do I.
I'm sorry about others who are engaged in spreading hateful messages to you and to others, which messages are threatening and ugly. This is wrong and hateful to do. We can do better. Love.
I've done several videos on those scriptures that are often used to beat people up. Thanks for sharing and God bless you.
There is Science behind this. Our bodies are made up differently. Some people are made with different hormones. Just cause your different doesn't make you wrong
I'd been wondering about that. It does seem to me that while you wanted to focus on the method of delivering the message, it would have been good if you'd at least mentioned in passing that the message itself was wrong.
The method was cowardly, and would have been wrong even if the message was: "Kicking puppies is wrong."
We all are sinners and deserve condemnation but Jesus will forgive us. The lgbtq can be good people but they say either you believe our way or you are a bad person. Most of them have some problems.
Hi Ed, I also have tried to understand Gay and Trans. in Scripture for over 40 years. Me being straight and Saved, I have known many Gay people. I started long ago to ask them how they became Gay. I always received the same answer, I was BORN this way. As I searched Scripture, I then realized the Bible has not, and has never spoke of Homosexuals in any way. God is talking to the straight people who have left their NATURAL desires thru lust, drink or drugs as in Sodom, to commit unnatural desires with their same kind. That being an abomination unto God. God created Gays and Trans people to be who they are naturally. Also, as to be allowed to be Saved as the rest of the world, thru the redemptive works of Jesus. It is a Sin for them also, to have sexual relations or marriage with straight people. God created people for HIS reasons. A persons natural desires should first be to have the knowledge of the Truth and accept that Truth. Not to condemn others they do not understand. We must accept that all people have just as much a right to receive the Holy Spirit , even as ourselves. Jesus died for the WHOLE world, not just straight white people. Ron
the more the holy texts are translated, the further twisted the meanings become. if we think about it, this is not surprising. have you heard a joke translated? how about poetry? and those are not as complex as spiritual teachings. the only real understanding of the holy books require study in the original language. i learned many ancient languages just to study the holy books and ministrations are not rare. through the years, religious authorities manipulate the holy books to skew their message to their own philosophy. we are seeing this in action today, for example, in usa and israel although to be fair these have been going on for a while.
It’s NOT the fact of being gay or trans or whatever that’s a sin but what they do with it. Sexual orientation in itself is not a sin because it’s not a thing people choose to have. Most kids who realize they’re different would give anything to be like everyone else, and many of them take their own life.
i'm pretty sure if jesus had anything against gay, he would have said so...
I use that fact often with hateful people. I tell them that I agree 100% with everything Jesus said and taught about homosexuality. Sometimes I ask them to recite their favorite quote from the Gospels where Jesus condemned love between people of the same gender. So far, no one has come back with a quote.
@@LazyIRanch as there is none!
Hardly the point: there are quite a few things attributed to Jesus that we ignore if not reject.
It is not an excuse to say only following orders; even if the orders of God.
I don't think it's much of a leap to assume that the only reason for that kind of methodology is to judge and condemn other people. They need to come to terms with the idea that God judges, not them and that they are not God. As Paul summarized it in Galatians 5:14, "For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."" Judging and condemning other people is not very loving, in fact it's hateful, malignant and gossipy.
To take this out to an extreme, having an URGE to molest a child is NOT sinful in and of itself. ACTING on the urge is where sin comes in. I would argue that the person who confronts such an urge -- Heaven forbid -- and does NOT allow it to become an action is a righteous person. FAR more righteous than the person who does not have such an urge to begin with.
I know gay people I love and who are beautiful. But where we wander into the realm of intimate sexual relations is not something I have any relationship with whatsoever. The Creator made a woman, not another human with a penis. HE said/commanded "Be fruitful and multiply." The spirituality of true intimacy and relations is a part of this. I can't blame anyone who reads the Bible and comes away with this understanding.
This is a world that largely cannot tolerate any kind of doctrine where gonads are not given the highest priority.
Dear Rev Ed, apparently a person that chooses to support trump has found your channel. He writes messages to others and is simply trolling. I don't understand why he and some others do this. I pray that the hate they have for others will heal. That they will know the love of Jesus and stop. I believe they are some how broken and want to spread their anger and pain rather than trying to find peace. Do you recommend trying to talk to them and finding some common ground or to just keep praying for them?
My attitude is I will talk to anyone who is willing to converse. If they just want to yell at me, I don't bother trying to share
@@revedtrevors4961 Thank you. I am so greatful you replied to me. May the Lord bless and keep you safe. ❤️ 💙 💜
What a great question. How would you like to engage with this person? Love.
I am told that God abhors suicide. How do you think God feels about people who use reason only when its' convenient. How do you think God feels about indifferent tolerance of suicide?
Tolerance of suicide? I'm afraid I'm not clear about what you mean
Rev. Ed, Quakers believe that there is that of God in everyone. The Bible says we are created in the image of God. That’s enough for me. We don’t get to judge people.
Read matthew 19. Then focus on verses 11-12!
It seems yo me that who ever wrote these Pride messages is confusing Hubris and simple pride. Are these people or this person not proud they are Christians or Americans or Canadians?
Yes, we should love all people and pray for them, but you can't pat them on the back and tell them God loves you, so keep on sinning. To do so would be aiding them in their sin. And God will judge you both!
What if you just said I love you and God loves you and stopped talking with that?
Think about 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12
Hi there, Rev. Ed!
Can you please cover all the research you did regarding homosexuality and/or trans not being a sin? This has been bugging me, and I don’t want to error on this in either direction. One is like (if it is a sin but we believe it isn’t ), not giving out life jackets while the titanic is sinking. The other is like (if it isn’t a sin), forcing life jackets on people in the desert!
Do you have all your proof organized and typed up?
I just want to be on the correct side of history. I voted for T… twice. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. January 6 was my last straw. I watched the committee for Jan 6 almost religiously. I was floored by everything the committee uncovered!
I am in awe of Liz Cheney. She obliterated her political career to stand up for the truth.
I've done a few videos in the past that spoke to some of the things I read and discovered.
No, I don't have it all tied up nicely. God bless you on your search. If I can help, feel free to email me. Can't do much through comments.
I agree with you and Liz Cheney and I'm grateful
Oh yeah, i'll bet Jesus had his fair share of sexual proclivities, particularly in his relationships with all those apostles. You ought to do a podcast on the psychosexual implications of the Bible and its thumpers.
Why feel the need to insist people repent at all. Being a judgemental condescending passive-aggressive ah isn't going to help your cause, whatever that is.
Repentance leads to growth. Turning away from one understanding and exploring another...
The most zealous evangelist is the convert. I will never be as animated as you on this because I didn’t convert from another belief.
Condemnation is a sin, Rev. That’s why you didn’t condemn it. You’re stepping on God’s toes when you condemn anyone or anything.
That’s the unwritten message of the adulteress. It’s hidden deep in the story, but you have to think about it to get there. “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone” is catchier than “condemnation is sin”. “Judge not, lest ye be judged” is catchier than “there is only one judge and you ain’t it.” The teachings of Jesus have been edited by some of the best poets in history, so they require some interpretation. The devotion it takes to puzzle out the meaning is faith.
Like you Ed, I believed homosexuality was sin. Some 15 years ago, I listened to a CBC radio documentary on homosexuality. It pointed out that homosexuality is not a learned behavior. I came to the conclusion that God made us and said it was good. That there has to be something wrong with the scriptures that speak against homosexuality.
Some people believe that these scriptures don't speak against consensual sex between two same-sex adults, but exploitative sex that a grown man may do against a teenage boy, or that a male slaveowner may do against a male slave.
When I was younger, I reasoned that God forbade homosexuality back then because he wanted ancient Israel to populate and grow larger in number, which would happen more quickly if only men and women paired together.