LGBT+ and the Church

Epilogue

With these previous chapters and questions answered in the future, I hope it at least builds a bridge of understanding between non-Christians and Christians. Same in helping newer or less informed Christians know the foundation upon which we understand its sinfulness. This is not intended to be malicious or an attack, but to address it and reasons for it for the sake of more earnest and honest dialogue.

There are many Christians who are gay and would like to understand also. I've experienced at one period in my life same-sex attractions even to the point of desiring relations with them — I crushed on my friend from middle school throughout high school, had fantasised of dating her, and this was prior to how normalised the sexuality had become. While no longer, I'd learned, such as in the example of Fr. Seraphim Rose, to cultivate a more pious life to handle such struggles. So, with the remainder of this chapter, I would like to explain my own processing of this.

I noticed it first when I was an atheist. I'd been one the majority of my life, and this topic actually had hindered my conversion. I couldn't wrap my head around it and so I investigated. This work is actually a byproduct of that work and effort. Once I had been able to understand it, I began to detach myself from it. I no longer expressed that I was a part of the LGBT+ community, especially as there is a tendency for the crowd to speak on behalf of others, and I did not want to affiliate myself with the promotion of what I then accepted as a sin.

My identity is in Christ and centred around being a child of God, a daughter of a king. This recognition became crucial, especially in cultivating humility. "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." (Gal. 2:20)

I attempted to increase more in prayer. I prayed the Orthodox rosary, incorporated more arrow prayers ("O Lord, deliver me from my temptations") and began to read more of the Sacred Scripture. I had been misled for many years by atheist websites and sources and focused more on learning what the Sacred Scripture said holistically. It prompted me to make this work as well as my other apologetic books. Reading became very important in this process. I included the works of the holy Fathers, like those that knew the apostles themselves and their successors, as well as the pastoral writings of the Church.

In addition to this, I divided myself more from what would tempt me. Bad environments and company ruin good morals, so I adopted Christian communities as my primary space of socialisation. This did not mean ostracising but placing value in truly religious communities.

Be diligent in growing and enlivening your faith; don't add disease to it. If you'd like to private message me to have a conversation, I am available at any time. Ask questions below as well.