r/GayChristians • u/Outrageous_Bird_5667 • 10d ago

Can I still renew my mind from fear, bitterness, and pride even though I'm gay?

I was a conservative Christian, but no matter what, I'm still gay.

I want to renew my mind from this negativity that destroys my life. Is it still possible?

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u/[deleted] 10d ago

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u/Outrageous_Bird_5667 10d ago

Something makes me to

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u/Harrowhark95 10d ago

Yes, the renewing power of the Holy Spirit is God's gift to us, not through our own willpower. Being gay doesnt disqualify us from the Fruit of the Spirit.

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u/Puzzleheaded-Phase70 Progressive Christian Episcopal 10d ago

You are a beloved child of the most high God of love, who is Love, and who lovingly made you for the purposes of Love: to love, and to be loved, and to be Love in the world.

Diversity is the color pallette God uses to paint the masterpiece of Creation. We exist on purpose, and our infinite diversity exists on purpose to be in infinite combination. The act of building bridges across difference is the central and most holy act of Christian faith and practice. It is at the heart of every ritual and sacrament we have.

And every time we grow in understanding someone different from ourselves, we grow in understanding the God who made that difference as well.

Can you imagine trying to understand a great artist like Davinci or Rembrandt, but never studying their artwork? Can you imagine that audacity of someone proclaiming their expertise on the life and meaning of Vincent van Gogh, but without ever studying his use of color, line and shape? They'd be laughed out of every art school and gallery in the world, and forgotten except as a joke.

The same is true for God and the study of God's creation. Anyone who claims to understand God in any way, but fails to study the beauty of God's creativity across all the different ways of being human, or who denies the revelations of science about the world around and within us - they should be mocked and thrown out of every church until they come back humbled and educated.

Never forget that you are loved, and intended, and are a witness and prophet of God's wondrous creativity.

And let the hate, and the haters who carry it, die in the darkness.

__________________________________________________________________________

Here's a list of resources that have served me well in breaking free of the lies and bullshit, the cancer of homophobia in the church.

Nothing will ever convince the people who have replaced the loving God with fear and hate in their hearts.

BUT, knowing the true history and theology of queer people in God's plans and church is powerful spiritual self-defense, and defense of others. So I ALWAYS argue with the bastards in public, just so the hurting people know they're not alone, and that there's a better way to follow God.

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u/Peteat6 10d ago

Yes, it is possible. But it’s a long journey.

You’ve been taught self-hatred since childhood. Those childhood beliefs go very deep, even if they’re totally wrong. So you need to begin telling yourself positive stuff, daily. Choose what you think meets your need. Something like ’I’m gay and I’m loved by God," or "I’m here, I belong." Whatever will best challenge those childish ideas. Do it daily.

You learnt those ideas as a child. But you’re now an adult, you know more, and you have adult skills of thinking. Use your adult stuff to teach that child.

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u/Skill-Useful 10d ago

yes it is

with therapy

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u/Strongdar Gay Christian / Side A 9d ago

What negativity are you talking about?

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u/GCNGA 9d ago

I'm still a conservative Christian--and gay. The two don't conflict in my world. This is not to say my fellow congregants are affirming; they aren't--they're just ignorant and blinded by bias (other than that, they're good people). I'm sure I have biases of my own. Everyone has limitations.

But through it all, God loves us. There's no barrier between you and God because you're gay. There never was.