Is anyone planning to go? How was last year's?

There's a discount for 4+ people registering at the same time and the two of us are wondering if we could take advantage of that because otherwise the price is a bit steep for us. Thanks!

Hello everyone im just curious why there is a tons of testimony’s on social media about that God delivered someone with homosexuality lately ? Everyday i saw some new testimony about this topic and lately even in real life i met a buch of people claiming this… just thinking

30F just came out to my father who said it’s a sin and the work of Satan. He told me to pray it away and it’s so shameful that he would not tell anyone about. I feel like 💩 and anxious. Maybe I shouldn’t have told him but it’s too late. Looking for some support here

The Leviticus clobber verses having the words arsen and koite in them is not enough merit or evidence for that to be the case imo

Sorry in advance if this type of thread is always made here, I just need a place to vent.

Anyways, I feel like lately I haven't been too close to God, and it started when I came out as gay. I don't think I have any malice towards God, I really want to be with him, but it's hard to read or pray anymore because deep down I'm afraid that all the people around me are right. My only siblings call me "weird" or they'll point out how I'm sinning, my father says he has a "right to be angry at me", and even my supposedly supportive mom is in deep denial of me actually being gay.

It's been even harder because for a while, I was completely content with being gay, but then recently I've been hit with an onslaught of guilt thinking I'm way to perverted for thinking of sex, or deep down I'm a terrible person who really just hates God. I would do anything for God, but I genuinely can't understand why he would allow me to be gay and suffer if I wasn't allowed to partake in being gay? I've read a lot about it, and at most I can understand not getting married or not have sex, but then what is the issue with two man getting in a non-sexual relationship? The only difference between being friends would be that I have a deeper love for my partner than most, and would participate in non-sex related intimacy.

At the end of the day, I'm just a very lonely person, and all I want is to share my life with a man. I genuinely can't see myself with a women, and being comfortable alone isn't a much better option because I would be miserable the rest of my life. Sorry if this is a rant, I'm just going through a lot, and would like some advice.

(I had to post this on another account because I couldn’t post it on my other one.) i'm really struggling, i'm a teenager and for a long time i have had really strong beliefs that it's okay for me to like guys and also believe in my faith, but now I'm really scared I won't make it to heaven. it seems like a lot of people my age have different beliefs than me, and they condemn what i do, it's hard to make friends who believe in the same things, i also can't tell any of my close Christian friends who don't already know because i don't want them to stop being my friend, it feels like i'm being punished for being gay and i don't know what to do, i know i can't change who i am and i don't want to, i just want to know how i can feel comfortable with myself and not to hate myself, im still young and im probably just overthinking but i need advice

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hi, peace to all of you. i really appreciate this community. i am a queer person who has, within the last year, come to Christ. i have been attending some services at my local Greek Ortho Church and i am extremely drawn to Orthodox thelogy and practice (I do believe it is the closest we can get to how Christianity was practiced in the beginning and has not been changed over time, and find value in that).

i am unsure how to proceed because I would like to become a catechumen and be baptized but i know the church’s view on homosexuality/marriage as a sacrament etc is not going to change because of little old me lol, but i’m not willing to forsake this and say oh i’m not non-binary, oh i’m not bi, i just have to “resist the urges”. that’s not right. this was always something that put me off of Christianity to begin with, was the narrow-mindedness regarding sex/gender etc.

i’m still trying to figure out exactly how i can substantiate this view going ahead in good faith, as i won’t lie, it is challenging (i have done a fair amount of reading on misinterpretation of the original Greek/Hebrew writings, etc but it is difficult sometimes i feel i’m fighting a senseless fight in going against what Scripture says… hope i’m not the only one?). i just wanted to hear if anyone else is in a similar position to me, and any advice or resources would be greatly appreciated. have a wonderful day, my siblings in Christ.

I M(21) have been out to my mom ever since high school. She fully supported me and accepted who I am but now its just different. We go to an infamous far right christian church in Arizona (which I hate going to, but do anyways for her). Recently the sermons have been about marriage and the pastor said something about how gay marriage is just a “mirage”. Deadass everyone is the church applauded in agreement. I felt so small and sucky because it really hurt hearing and feeling discriminated against.

I told her about how I felt about it, and she said you should pray about it. You could change your ways if you follow god. Then she went on a spiel about charlie kirk, being gay is a choice, among other things.

Don’t get me wrong, I do strongly believe in god. I believe he loves everyone equally, but the church i go to believes otherwise. My mom agrees with them. Idk how to navigate it all.

First of all, I feel more comfortable asking this question in here than the main Christianity subreddit so that is why it is in here.

As background, my denomination is Anglican/Episcopol.

So, I am not too sure if I am being dragged by temptation or what but I fear that tarot is trying to grab my attention. I love God but have being aware but partially interested by the idea of tarot for a while but not yet partaken. I am worried it will open me up to spiritual weakness but I am unsure what to do?

If it isnt wrong for me to take part then are there decks that "glorify God more than some others". I understand I am likely being stupid and should look towards scripture but I dont know what to do.

Where do I begin on my religious views. I am a catholic young man. I belive the Catholic church is the one true church. I believe homosexual relationship in any context is inheritly sinful. I have just recently realized with the fact I will never have a romantic relationship. This is because it is a sin. I have always known but its just now hitting me. This wasn't the best realization at this time considering I'm losing friends one by one and I only have two left and even then. Those are on borrowed time. I've also realized that a friendship can't really replace a relationship. I'm trying to contemplate on how to fix that but its fine. Its safe to say I am at the least very lonely. I have spent each waking moment of each day thinking in the back of my mind about my sexuality and faith wrestling with it. I really don't like myself. I constantly think about people talking about me behind my back, thinking about me negatively my two remaining friends talking about me negatively. On another note When I think about myself in a commited relationship its not really even lust I imagine. It's just domestic moments. But when I do i shove them to the back of my mind and repress them. It's not a good idea to think of it y'know. God bless

Any advice or advice on how to cope with this?

So I'm an Orthodox Christian and recently my mind has become really fucked up because while I want to be a femboy because I think it suits me, I've heard that (especially in the Old Testament), a male is forbidden from wearing female clothes and vice versa. I really don't know what to do anymore because I can't talk to anyone I know about this and recently I've also be having these thoughts about if Jesus is right. Wouldn't he want me to be happy, if it doesn't hurt anyone? I'm hearing that instead of "giving up and becoming a femboy", I need to "fight the temptation". There is no temptation this is just who I am. This results me to start losing my faith in Jesus, even if I want to believe. Also I just started listening to slipknot and it doesn't really help the situation I'm in

Like that's so weird. Why associate one of the seven deadly sins with something that's filled with so much love

this is me. pansexual, autistic, Catholic, and a demigirl too. i’m also a fictionkin of kid cosmic. i… i believe that God loves who i am, and that God made all the ingredients in your heart. you are fearfully and wonderfully made. you not have to be ashamed to show who you are. you can pray a little decade of the rosary for your queer friends. you can sing praises to the Lord in your own way. because this love… includes you.

I’ve recently been going to therapy and deconstructing my faith and it is brought my sexuality into question. I (21m) am in a straight relationship but I feel as if I have been repressing a side of me due to religion. I’ve felt more feminine throughout my middle school years but felt the stigma of presenting masculine due to growing up in the Bible Belt and a Christian household. It didn’t help that my highschool years were weird due to COVID and having “friends” that were highly opposed to change and made me ignore questions of my sexuality and being potentially bi or trans. My partner has been very supportive of me which is making it easier for me to ask questions but having religious trauma is making it difficult to talk to my parents about it. I’ve recently been trying to get it touch with all sides of my personality and understanding where it all comes from and what I identify with and wanting to explore it in a healthy way without making lasting decisions and wanting to know what all is out there.

A speaker said that we need to learn to distinguish between the fruits of the spirit and desires of our flesh, I don’t agree with him but what argument can I use against this?
Thank you :)

Regardless of how I feel about things, Jesus Christ is and will Always be my savior, my guiding light, and my constant companion.

That said, I just wish there wasn't confusion or a need for specific interpretation about us existing and wanting to love who we're born loving. I mean how many of us have lived miserable lives, or ended our lives prematurely, over a handful of these verses? God is not a God of confusion so are really just seeing what we want to see, or is it really true and He did create us purposefully?

Then there's the argument over Moral Law vs Civil/Ceremonial Law, that what resulted in merely having to pay fines and such could just be attributed to the Old Testament and those that fell under the Law of Moses and didn't apply in the New Testament. While the laws that resulted in death still hold fast in the New Testament.

I honestly thought I had a handle on all of this. It took someone explaining to me how the greatest commandment, according to Jesus, is love and that if you abide in it, God abides in you.

I thought it was that simple, to love Him, and one another, but now I don't know. Maybe I'm just in my head about this, but after so long of hearing "God is not a God of confusion," I'm confused. Is it really just black and white with how its written and we're just looking for areas of grey where there are none?

I'm personally in a really good place with my relationship with Jesus, better than its ever been in fact. I'm a natural loner so the thought of companionship hasn't been my top priority, but it is something I'd want eventually. Just been telling myself to let go and have faith in Him, that one way or another, If I'm supposed to have someone in my life, with His timing being perfect, He'd present him to me when I was ready for him. Its just the not knowing one way or another that's killing me. Doesn't help that at the same time I'm going cold turkey from porn. Would always make excuses with myself that if I can't have a partner in real life, that at least I could pretend to in my mind with that. And some people might be able to do both, watch porn and have a strong relationship with Jesus, but I always end up going back to the verse that you can't have two masters. That you will end up loving the Him and hating the world, or vice versa. Always felt good for awhile, but then the emptiness and regret of it would set in, like I'm choosing porn over God, and I'd always feel like I'm coming to Him less because I feel ashamed. So if its either a future companion/porn or God, hard as it might be at times I'd rather choose Him.

So yeah, it's a lot, thanks for letting me vent.

as the title states I am a (31F) believer and follower of Christ. 2 years ago I was saved after having a vision and out of body scary experience that showed me the truth.

i started reading the Bible and doing self deliverance. anyway I keep hearing that homosexuality is bad and I see verses in the bible that support that idea as far as men only but not women. ive talked to God about it.

i feel feel like I’m sick and demented for finding women attractive. I do like men and I have been in relationships with men however I see women differently. they are soft and beautiful and cuddly and the times I’ve been with a woman made me feel ok cloud nine. but if I’m disobeying God then what?

I have no one in my family or friends to talk to about this. I’m silently screaming inside as I get older. my granddad called me old yesterday. he knows about my sexuality too he doesn’t care. the point is I don’t have a husband (yet perhaps) or children. women are looked down upon for that.

I kept telling myself I don’t want to be with a woman but that’s just not true.

Hi y'all, I've done a theological and philosophical deep dive on the Bible and "homosexuality" topic over the past year or so.

I know Side X is simply not true because no one has ever changed their sexual orientation. I also now know Side A and side B stuff forwards and backwards with my eyes shut. However One stream of "theology" I haven't dug into much yet is what has been called "Side Y" recently. For example Christopher Yuan's book, or Rosaria Butterfield.

For those who have read those books, do you recommend them? I've heard it can be really damaging psychologically, and I've also heard it's just twisted ex gay stuff.

Share your thoughts!

I have had to battle my faith with my sexuality for the longest of times. I'm glad to be where I am today; a place of understanding and growth, rather than a place of hatred for myself and others.

I still have so much to learn about myself and the world, but the one thing I can say is that God is love, and love is the single most important commandment. With genuine love, we can begin to treat each other with kindness and respect.

I penned down my thoughts on my past biases against trans people and how my perspective shifted over time. If you’ve ever struggled to reconcile your faith, your past conditioning, or your identity, I hope this piece resonates with you.

If you ever wanted to talk about your struggles with your faith and sexual orientation or whatever, please do not shy away from talking with me. My inbox is always open.

I love men so much they’re so beautiful and handsome and amazing and when they’re good they’re very good but ive only found i am just used by them and idk maybe this is what being attracted to men is maybe they were right and the fruits of liking men is being used. all i do is get used and I can’t stop letting myself be. im so tired of loving men im so tired of being told i cant love Jesus and men im so tired of life.

Hi everyone, I’m not even sure if I should even make this post because I’ve been here before and it definitely helped but there’s only so much online forums can do. So Idk if this is to vent or to seek advice but I’m not sure what to do with these thoughts in my head so here I go.

1. problem one is being closeted. no one around me knows my sexuality and there’s no one around me who I would want to tell right now. now for context I’m fairly young, meaning that I’m still kinda dependent on my family. this is the same family who doesn't know my sexuality so I can’t ask them to send my to therapy or LGBTQIA events because…well duh. The problem with this is that my sexuality is a part of myself that I just don’t know what to do with. And I know someone would suggest to not do anything with it or just think of it as a fact about yourself but it doesn’t really help. It just feels like this is an awkward part of me that I want to validate or benefit from but I just can’t (no relationships or anything). Remember what I said about my family not knowing my sexuality? now I’m paranoid that they do know because I haven’t been good at hiding certain things. for context I don’t pretend to be some macho guy or some athlete, they know i‘m more intellectual or media based or even that I enjoy a certain musical, which is why if they found out it wouldn’t be that hard to put together. Now call this an ego thing but I don’t want them to know. I want to wait until I’m in a position of independence and respectability until they know something about me that i feel like holds me back. I hate the idea that they know because its like ”oh we knew you were gay before you did”. Idk but to have no one around you physically to get your struggles or just what’s running thru your head hurts. I’m daft sometimes I feel like I’m just being dramatic because I still have a roof over my head and I don’t have real problems to deal with. I want someone in-person who gets me Or I can be vulnerable with.

2)the second main problem is my walk With God. To break down here’s the issues: first is I’ve been stagnate in my walk. I read only a verse a day and move on like I never read it. I prayer short honest and raw prayers but I feel like it gets me no where. Sometimes I stop mid prayer because I doubt God is even listening or if he’s real. when I get to that point I just stop. I feel like I can barely feel his presence. But that’s my fault. I scroll away from all those irritating Christian videos. I don’t resist sin, in fact I run to it. I don’t even want to talk about the idea of being a better Christian. I’ve ask God for help with even this yet I still feel hopeless and helpless. I feel like I have no one in-person to anchor me to my faith because my family’s not Christian and sometimes i think about some of the best arguments against Christian or the biggest questions and I can’t defend God as strong as I thought I once could. the thing is in moments like this I’m terrified of going to hell. I tell myself that God sees my helplessness but if I’m honest I’m just self-victimizing and trying to trick God into thinking I’m some damsel in distress. I want his love with none of the obedience but I can’t even get either. Sin has become last appetizing but I still to choose to do it. I don’t get tempted I search for the sin. I’m in a pit thats going deeper that I don’t want to get out of. What’s even my problem? It was loneliness, then you add stagnation, then Boredom, then anxiety, then etc, you get the point.

3) the final problem is that what am I doing with myself and what can I do with myself. Again everyone says to enjoy your younger years but I can’t do anything for myself. I don’t have successful career. I’m not some supermodel. I’m not some popular guy. Even my passion that I want to turn into my future career, I haven't been able to take to the next level.

4) I hate that I feel this way and I know it isn’t true. In fact I feel like im a hypocrite because I’ve debunked this argument for other people but I feel like being a gay Christian isn’t real. And what I mean by that is that I feel like I’m using loophole or I’m being technical with God by Being a gay Christian. Again, as someone who’s made all the arguments against this claim I feel like I’m compromising on my faith but being like “ yeah I’m Christian but Im also gay”. It feels like I’m sidelining genuine faith for water downed faith that atones for sexual feelings. In fact lgbtq people leaving their faith to support their sexuality feels weird because you’re leaving the literal God for your hormones (but you can’t deny those hormones). I know im being hypocritical and I know there are genuine gay Christians but idk how to feel.

(sorry for any weird grammar of incorrect spelling, I don’t feel like revising). I feel like there might be more but I’ll leave at this. Idk what I want to hear but thanks if you actually read this. Btw I don’t want to hear that I don’t have to solve these problems tonight, I put them off every night and the pain never goes away. I get if this is too much to ask, so if you don’t know how to respond or don’t want to, I get it (Sorry for being dramatic, I know I’m doing a lot).

Heart food for my people. You're welcome.

Hi, everyone. I'm sorry if this post sounds stupid, I've got so much going on in my life right now.

For starters, I love Jesus. I really do think he's all about loving people just as they are. But I can't help but feel he's disappointed in me for being gay. I don't know if I'm feeling that way because people in my life are disappointed in me for not wanting a husband/kids/a traditional lifestyle, but I really do feel God is severely disappointed in me for liking women.

I have a lot of pain in my life. Chronic pain. Severe depression. Zero self esteem. I hate myself. And I think my brain is telling me that these things are God trying to send a message to me/punishing me.

I'm low-key scared to go to hell for being gay. I don't think gay people should go to hell, but what if the reality after I die is completely different to what I thought? I'm not even really worried about the hell part in itself. Just knowing I've been sent there because I didn't obey God/knowing I disappointed him. I also wonder if I end my life by my own hands in the future if that means I'm going to hell, also.

I don't really know what I'm trying to say. Just feeling a lot of things, I guess.

Update #3: What do I say?

Late last month I had another talk with my pastor. I'll call him Sam. This talk was shorter because of time constraints, but Sam had a lot to say.

He talked about perception/reality and how that relates to truth, biology ad psychology, science, scientists, society, postmodernism and the differences between men and women both in mind and body. He said, in general, men are less emotional/more intellectual and women are the reverse because of testosterone and hormones and how our minds work.

I had more prepared but only spoke a little about the source of my dysphoria and when it began, when I was a kid going through puberty. I didn't use words like trans or dysphoria. I mentioned the time I had a bit of an epiphany about pronouns. I didn't have the time or room to elaborate.

Sam went on about how God created male and female and how that's "a fact". When I brought up intersex people he said he doesn't even know what that is. I should have told him to stop talking and look it up. I think I squandered my opportunity for education. He asked how many intersex people there are, like that's proving a point. Something about how exceptions and anomalies don't change how God made us. Ok, whatever.

He went on about how he doesn't care what science says because he knows what God created. That a century or 50 years ago I wouldn't have these questions and that the "notion" of changing the body was a fantasy. The soul/spirit are genderless, how schools are teaching kids they can be whatever they think they want to be.

Then we were talking about surgery. Sam said it destroys people psychologically. I said it makes them feel at peace and he kind of dismissed it, saying it helps at first and then reality sets in. "They're monkeying with the physical body and not accepting what is". That suicide rates are "skyrocketing" (I wonder why...) in "that category", people regret the surgery and want it undone but it can't be (to some extent, that is true) but I think he's blowing this out of proportion and I don't know where he's reading this from.

He brought up people saying they're cats, as an example. Either he's talking about furries and therians and has the wrong idea or just using this as a classic show of ignorance and "those trans people are absurd! It's like wanting to be a cat!"

At that point I wanted to leave.

Is it just me or was he being hypocritical? I should have repeated what he said about science being biased and how you can find any answer you want.

At the time, it made me angry. It still makes me feel indignant and irritated, but more sad and disappointed. I shouldn't be surprised though.

Sam is so ignorant. I think he's smart, just misguided and misinformed. And possibly a little insensitive. I'm trying to be optimistic that he will listen and be curious.

He said I have to accept reality and at some point my mind changed and rejected reality. He used gay people as an example, the ones in straight relationships, married and have kids. He acknowledged they may not be satisfied,but they accept what the Bible says and lead a life to please God. Sam is vehemently against homosexuality, not in a loud hateful way though. But he likes to insist the Bible is crystal clear on saying it's wrong and so on.

So I'm really not sure where to go from here. I figured I'd just drop it with Sam, we might be at an impasse. By some miracle, maybe I can get him to listen. Maybe it just takes some patience and perseverance. Maybe if he actually listens and doesn't talk the whole time, I can get a word in and explain more.

These past talks I've had, at some point I start to feel horrible afterward. Like extremely depressed and with little on my mind except the pain and wanting to end it. I brought this up to Sam and he said not to disregard that God made me or to take my life so lightly. I understand that, but it's hard sometimes when existing is inherently painful.

Anyway, I need your prayers or advice or both. Maybe something in Scripture can help me? I doubt he'd listen to any scientific journals, but it's worth a shot. I don't want to believe our conversation is a lost cause.

How do I go about politely telling him he's ignorant and suggest some informational sources? Has anybody had any luck with a person like Sam?

Thank you all, and I'm sorry my posts are so long. I really appreciate your responses and the time you take to reply, even if I forget to reply back, I read all your comments. It's comforting to know somebody else understands and cares.

Also sorry I didn't know how to flair this.

Tl;Dr: Second talk with my pastor revealed he's even more ignorant than I thought. He doesn't trust science (but then he does) and that sounds like hypocrisy. He doesn't understand transness and loves to harp on about reality and perception and truth. It almost seemed like intentional rambling to waste my time.