Comments on: I’m Channeling Sally “You Really Like Me” Fields

By: SusieQ

SusieQ — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 12:39:45 +0000

Thank you, Anita, for putting into words what I can’t! You have eloquently expressed just how I’ve been thinking, especially the feeling that ‘they can’t all be wrong… so it must be me’. Yes, I’ve been a people-pleaser all my life. Only now am I beginning to tackle this properly. It’s a relief to know that I’m not the only one feeling this way. Please keep sharing, Anita. You are an inspiration! xxx

By: anita

anita — Thu, 29 May 2008 16:57:08 +0000

Devo –> Thumbs up on Roger’s book. I heard him at an event last summer and he couldn’t have been a more genuine and friendly guy. LOVE the quote! Love it! The rule of love in particular because it would seem that any interpretation of Scripture would advance the love of God above all else. Thank you for that quote….I’m gonna use that piece of sweetness in the future!

By: devon

devon — Thu, 29 May 2008 16:12:07 +0000

I think you’ll enjoy it. I pulled it out again yesterday and found notes on biblical interpretation that I had stuck in the text. I smiled to read a passage from the Scots Confession that is actually quite relevant to your entry:
“The interpretation of Scripture, we confess does not belong to any private or public person . . . but pertains to the Spirit of God by whom the Scriptures were written. When controversy arises about the right understanding of any passage or sentence of Scripture, or for the reformation of any abuse within the Kirk of God, we ought not so much to ask what men have said or done before us, as what the Holy Ghost uniformly speaks within the body of Scriptures and what Christ Jesus himself did and commanded. . . . We dare not receive or admit any interpretation which is contrary to any principal point of our faith, or to any other plain text of Scripture, or to the rule of love.” (Ch XVIII 3.18)

In my previous post, I also should have mentioned Jack Rogers’ book Jesus, The Bible, and Homosexuality, which I found enlightening, substantive, and comforting.

By: anita

anita — Wed, 28 May 2008 18:28:42 +0000

Devon –> Thanks so much for mentioning the book. I haven’t heard of it before though I love just about anything written by Walter Brueggemann and you have my interest peaked on the Blount essay so I’ll be off to Amazon in a minute for a one-click stop and shop! So glad to hear this little bit of your story and of the direction you’re moving in. Powerful!

By: devon

devon — Wed, 28 May 2008 14:22:02 +0000

“They can’t all be wrong so you must be wrong.”

I almost gasped when I first read that line because I’ve said it countless times to myself in spite of all the nudges from the Spirit that I was headed in the right direction by beginning to believe that God doesn’t consider homosexuality an abomination.

It was my last barrier, the fact that so many I admired and respected were in disagreement with me. And, if I’m totally honest, I’d have to admit there are still days when I hear the tiny phrase whispered in the back of my mind, but those occurrences are becoming rarer and rarer.

One resource that helped me was the slim volume called Struggling with Scripture, with essays by Walter Brueggemann, William C. Placher, and Brian K. Blount. The Blount essay, in particular, is enlightening and freeing as he talks of the “living” word and a “living” faith.

By: deb

deb — Tue, 13 May 2008 21:08:27 +0000

I loved your comment, Jaded Jabber.
It is so refreshing to come to the place where we can allow others to be who they feel they are. While listening to others I remind myself how many times I’ve changed sides in lots of subjects. There is a real freedom in letting go of absolutes.
Thanks for keeping the conversation going, Anita.
deb

By: joni

joni — Tue, 13 May 2008 20:06:13 +0000

thank you so much for addressing the “they can’t all be wrong” lie.

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Tue, 13 May 2008 04:45:19 +0000

Unbelievable Anita.

I have been finding much confirmation through you and your post lately. The timing is incredible. The Lord is showing me a lot in regard to acceptance and the different faces it has.

At times, I put myself through this cycle of crazy thoughts that are usually triggered by timing and someone saying something very negative about me, about homosexuality. When a fellow Christian calls me a wolf dressed in sheeps clothing and I receive that personally, I’m wounded, punched in the gut, down for the count and most of the time, I don’t even realize what has just happened.

This doesn’t happen all the time, in fact it happens less and less than it did a year ago. This time I believe God showed me (again) that this is more about acceptance than anything. I’ve spent much of the day thinking again about this acceptance issue that I’ve acquired prior to coming to terms with who I am.

Then I come read this post and I could relate to so much of what you shared, again-thanks for sharing.

It seems that this acceptance issue is a big part of accepting who I am, ironically.

By: anita

anita — Tue, 13 May 2008 03:44:41 +0000

Jadedjabber–> I really appreciate your comments and couldn’t agree more with what you said. There are certainly those occasions in heated conversation about homosexuality or one of a thousand other faith issues from the frivolous to the foundational, when I find myself getting frustrated, defensive, offended or angry, but when I let go of my need for my right to be the only right I’m able to get to a place of compassion and understanding. The work for me is always about seeing the people behind the conflict. I so loved the way you expressed it all and found great inspiration in it.

By: wvhillcountry

wvhillcountry — Tue, 13 May 2008 02:21:14 +0000

I laughed, I cried, my neck is sore from nodding up and down. What a wonderful post. There are a few things I need to read again and again to figure them out, no not figure them out, but settle them in my own mind. But thank you agin for such a wonderful post.