I had been born in a Methodist family and raised in a Nazarene Church under the influence of Wesleyan Holiness Theology. I have seen the and read the passage that talks about Homosexuality is a sin as well as Heterosexuality outside the bounds of marriage. I can relate to the many people who believe and practice that marriage between one man and one woman for life is God's choice and desire for us who have been created by Him for holy relationship to Him and all other Creation including humanity. I do understand fully where people who have same sex desires whether this is God-given or not. There was a time when I began questioning in my mind and heart where the church stood on this issue that began when I was a freshman in college at a Nazarene school. At this time, I discovered that a man and woman committed sex outside of marriage and they were asked to leave the school while some people committed homosexual relationships and the school did nothing about the people. As I continued to grow older I discovered there was still an interpretation of Homosexuality as a sin while the Heterosexuality outside of marriage was being ignored or hidden. Then, I came across a woman who was in a lesbian relationship for life graduating from a seminary and going to pastor. In this relationship, I discovered that their faith in the grace of God in their lives appeared to be superior to some heterosexual couples I knew in the church and even embarrassed me in my own relationship to God and others. I do not know whether I am right in my current position that same sex marriage and opposite sex marriage could be ordained by the church for the couples to be faithful to each other until death do them part. The only thing that I know is that Jesus, Himself, was silent on this issue, but in answering a question dealing with a woman who was married to seven brothers with no children by any of them and they asked Jesus whose wife would she be in the eternal life and Jesus response was simple that in the next life or eternal life there is no marriage for we in this life are focused on marriage. Just maybe our focus should be that there should me no intimate sex outside of marriage and God is calling some to be celibate singles or married to another person whether same sex or opposite sex for life in word and actions. There are other issues that need to be addressed is the full and active inclusion of people who are differently abled and their family as active members of the church as well as finding ways to assist the refugees and immigrants as they relocate to another community because of poverty or war or discrimination. Lord Jesus, Have mercy on us to be your people of love and peace as you showed in word and actions. Amen and Amen!
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