To make this long story short...my question is: How do I deal with the unsettling feeling that continually returns regarding not lining up 100% with the spiritual leaders in my church?  The topic:  homosexuality and same-sex marriage. 

Over the last year I've been in several discussions with my two pastors regarding this topic.  In a nutshell, Pastor #1 says, 'It may be a sin for you, but not for someone else" and that I am being judgmental by stating that my belief is that the act of homosexual sexual behavior is a sin and therefore, should not be done.  Pastor #2 says that she would willingly bless same-sex marriages if the bishop would allow it.  As he would not approve, and she would be "in trouble" for blessing such marraiges, she refrains.  However, she is becoming more vocal in small groups about her support of such relationships. 

I have read several books, watched documentaries, studied the Bible and prayed that the Lord would show me HIS TRUTH regarding this topic.   I continue to come up with the same answer.  When I shared this with Pastor #1, he said that perhaps I was not hearing God's voice, but my own.  I am starting to think that I cannot "come over" to their way of thinking.  Everything I read and reflect on, continues to point to homosexual sex as a sin.  After all, if everyone jumped on that bandwagon, our species would no longer thrive---granted, there are other ways to procreate, but look back at Creation before the Fall.  What was God's intention?  My opinion...one man, one woman.  Our "plumbing" is created the way it is for a purpose. 

My family and I joined this ELCA congregation two years ago.  My husband is on church council, participates in the contemporary choir, and has started a youth band.  I volunteer at Sunday school and helped start a women's Bible study.  We love our congregation, but both stand firmly in the belief that homosexuality is a sin.  We both believe that everyone should be welcomed at church---how else will they get to know the Lord and realize the wonderful gift of salvation if they aren't welcomed into God's family.   Since I've come to an understanding that my beliefs do not line up with my pastors, I've struggled with the notion of "Truth".  Shouldn't we be applying God's Truth from His Word to our lives, and not making God's Word say what we want it to say according to how we live our lives?

So....I'm hoping this will not turn into a debate on the topic of homosexuality.  I am seeking advice on how to handle the unsettled feeling I get regarding not being in agreement about what God's Truth is.  I love the people within my church and my pastors.  They are all wonderful people.  Of the handful of church friends that I've discussed this issue with, several are on the same page as I am, several are on the opposite page (ie, would fully support same-sex marriage and gay/lesbian pastors) and many (sadly) don't have an opinion.  They just go with the flow. 

I have attempted to focus on the people and to serve the Lord in Sunday school and the women's group.  However,  I continue to get that unsettling feeling whenever a point from our discussions comes up in a sermon message (i.e., in our discussions, Pastor #1 used the example of the woman at the well, stating that Jesus told the woman, "I love you, go and sin no more".  I then shared my understanding of that---in applying it to my life---to something along the lines of Jesus telling me to "Go and eat Twinkies no more...and then Jesus hands me a box of Twinkies".  That's the way I understand Pastor #1's logic in applying this to homosexuality.  Jesus tells the homosexual that He loves them and then the homosexual can go about living their lifestyle--not according to God's Word.  After my Twinkie comment, the Pastor said, "It's about standing WITH those who are ostracized in our society."  I said, "Yes, but do we let them think whatever they want regarding what God's Word says?  Do we justify their behavior just to make them feel loved?"  I don't think that is loving them.  That is enabling them.  Jesus wants us to live pure lives through Him.  It is through His power that we can overcome temptations in this life.   My pastors have not taken a stand in front of the whole congregation (i.e., during a sermon, they don't make bold statements specifically on this topic).  I believe that would cause major problems and the pastors (perhaps wisely?) are not doing that.  (Note:  our community has a very small gay/lesbian population).   

I look forward to your insights...and pray that the Lord will use one of you to bring clarity for me regarding this reoccuring issue.

Please pray for my younger sister Jana. Her estranged husband has been acting "crazy".  He brought their three little girls to her new job along with flowers, balloons, and a card and he got their oldest (6 years old) to plead with her for Daddy to move back in.  He's been playing mind games with her for months--saying he's moving out and then acting like he never said that---and so she and the girls finally moved out.  He took an overdose of anti-depressants and is currently in "lockdown" at a local hospital. 

Please pray for the safety of Jana, their little girls (ages 6, 4, and 2) and that Steve can remain sane as they proceed with the divorce!

Thank you!

I had one of the Christian television networks on while I made lunch for my little boys today.  When the program I was watching finished, a man was speaking (at a conference type set-up) and he was talking about "giants"...had a visual aid of a huge skull to show how much bigger Goliath would have been to David. 

Anyway...I wasn't listening too closely because I was dealing with my little boys, but he made a comment about "the Place of the Skull" being the spot where Adam was buried....which is also where Christ was crucified.  Is this accurate?  I grabbed my Bible to read Matthew 27:33 as that was a verse the speaker quoted...but it simply names the "place of the skull".

Help?  Thanks.

Sylvester Graham, the inventor of the graham cracker, came from a long line of clergymen-physicians.  Does anyone know if the evangelist Billy Graham is related to him?

I'm looking for stories, advice, Bible verses, books, websites, etc. to include in a handout at our next women's meeting.  We're doing a "reaching out to one another" outreach and "healing from broken relationships" is one of the topics that was suggested.  I truly appreciate your time and openness to sharing to help other women.  So if you have a stories or advice, etc. you'd like to share, please respond to my topic. 

Thanks!

 

Hello to everyone from northern Wisconsin.  I belong to a Christian women's group called Women on the Wings of Faith and our group traveled to St. Paul, MN for the Women of Faith conference.  IT WAS AMAZING!!  If you ever get a chance to attend this conference, which is held throughout the USA, PLEASE GO!  You will love it!  Many of our women feel that God has opened their hearts to deal with issues in their lives, and they feel closer to Him after hearing the speakers' personal accounts of God's wonderful influence in their lives.  Not to mention the awesome music we heard there.  Have any of you ever attended the Women of Faith conference?  What did you think?