Existential Punk

'i Don't Get It'

A brutally honest comment from Lynn over at nakedpastor really resonated with me and her words are things i have expressed inside my mind and out loud before. In light of my recent posts where i have been wrestling with existential issues of the existence of G-D, i asked her permission to post her comment here as a reflection.

'The relationship with God that I attempted never felt very real. He never talked to me. I talked to him, but he was always silent. I had to just trust that he was really there and really listening.

I found what he said in the Bible very confusing and contradictory. It made me crazy trying to figure out which verses applied to which situations. Other people never seemed to have a problem with that. God never helped me to understand.

I finally gave up and decided this whole relationship was an imaginary thing inside my own head.

Aren’t there bare minimum standards for something to be considered a “relationship?”
What are those standards?

I also heard that in Islam, they are not trying to have a relationship with Allah. They revere him and submit, have certain duties, etc., but it’s not a warm and fuzzy thing like in Christianity. Hopefully I’m not misrepresenting anything here. I’m sure you see what I’m trying to get at.

Oh yeah, and would you want to have a relationship with someone you fear? Like they might throw you in hell if you’re not of the elect?

And God TELLS us to love him. Can you love someone just because they tell you to?

I don’t get it.'

What do you think? Have you wondered these same things but maybe you never expressed them aloud? Or, maybe you did ask them outside your own head? Do raw and honest expressions resonate with you or scare the shit out of you? If it scares you, why? - Existential Punk

Comment Of The Week

Ok, here is the comment of the week that came to Queermergent that i deleted. At first it sounds like it is a nice comment but then it turns south. These kinds of comments are just plain sickening. i just do not understand how Christians like this think they are extending the love and grace of G-D to people. It is one thing to disagree but it is defintely another thing to write something perverse like this. i am not one to judge whether they are a Christian or not as that is up to G-D, but comments like this would definitely not make me want to know G-D if i were not already a Christ-follower. What are your thoughts?

'Thank you so much for your inspirational story about how love indeed wins. I'm much like you. My relationship with my mother has been increasingly one of deep longing. She fostered that love for years, and we know that our love is of God---no matter what others say. You were brave to come out, and I hope one day I can come out in the same way. (I'm just not there yet.) You are a true inspiration to all of us LGBTQI.  Praise God and thank you. Jesus loves you.'

Comment Of The Week

i am going to start showcasing a comment a week or so, whenever i get mean-spirited, Un-Christ-like comments over at Queermergent. Today's comment:

'OK, so you have turned away from the path of Christianity; that’s fine.

Your belief that, “That homosexual actions are not sin in the context of a monogamous relationship.” is in direct opposition to the tenets of Christianity; you can’t believe as you do and truly be a Christian.

On the other hand, I believe that those who call themselves Christians who denounce homosexuals instead of denouncing homosexuality have also fallen from the path of the religion, since, “hate the sin, but love the sinner,” is a core tenet of their religion as well.'

Where do these people get off speaking to me this way? At least the commenter left a real web address. Again, i delete these comments, as they are not fruitful for safe and honest conversation for the LGBTQ community. i just learned the other day that the phrase, which i only ever hear in regards to homosexuality, 'Love the sinner, hate the sin', is not in the Bible, but was said by Gandhi. Who is this freaking person to judge whether i am a Christian or not. He is NOT G-D! Why don't these people mind their own P's & Q's, talk amongst themselves, and leave us queers alone? i don't come to their sites and tell them how un-Christ-like they are in their beliefs. Do these people think that their words and actions would propel people who do not know G-D to want to know G-D? It is so unloving and hurtful.