Comments on: More Jesus, Less Religion http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/more-jesus-less-religion/ An online community sharing our lives and faith within a place of grace Thu, 22 Dec 2011 05:29:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Sarah http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/more-jesus-less-religion/comment-page-1/#comment-11242 Sarah Thu, 17 Sep 2009 22:24:17 +0000 http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/?p=1705#comment-11242 I have a book like that by Piper. I think it will hook me fully when I am ready for the message of it. Thanks for everything that you have spoken here in this article as well as everywhere else. Its refreshing to read these ideas and let them inform my own dance :) I have a book like that by Piper. I think it will hook me fully when I am ready for the message of it. Thanks for everything that you have spoken here in this article as well as everywhere else. Its refreshing to read these ideas and let them inform my own dance :)

]]> By: anita http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/more-jesus-less-religion/comment-page-1/#comment-11174 anita Wed, 16 Sep 2009 02:02:53 +0000 http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/?p=1705#comment-11174 Sarah --> I picked the book up on several occasions but it just hooked my attention long enough for me to get past the first few pages. Sarah –> I picked the book up on several occasions but it just hooked my attention long enough for me to get past the first few pages.

]]> By: Sarah http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/more-jesus-less-religion/comment-page-1/#comment-11172 Sarah Wed, 16 Sep 2009 01:47:28 +0000 http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/?p=1705#comment-11172 Anita what did you think of this book, now that you have had a chance to read it? Anita what did you think of this book, now that you have had a chance to read it?

]]> By: Catherine http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/more-jesus-less-religion/comment-page-1/#comment-4479 Catherine Wed, 14 Jan 2009 19:52:53 +0000 http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/?p=1705#comment-4479 I love this post! What a great reminder that it's possible to love Jesus even while self-proclaimed "Christians" seem to make it so hard to love our neighbors. Thank you!! :) I love this post! What a great reminder that it’s possible to love Jesus even while self-proclaimed “Christians” seem to make it so hard to love our neighbors.
Thank you!! :)

]]> By: anita http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/more-jesus-less-religion/comment-page-1/#comment-4447 anita Sun, 11 Jan 2009 21:04:44 +0000 http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/?p=1705#comment-4447 Nancy--> The hug was gratefully received! Many of us in first coming to terms with our sexuality felt we had to "settle" for something less because that's all we deserved. It can take a long time to peel through the layers of internal homophobia and drop the baggage of unnecessary guilt we learned to carry. I hope you can put aside all the extra stuff and center yourself fully in Jesus your first love and as you do find comfort in how often it was that Jesus said the words you most need to hear...."Fear not." So glad you found this place! Nancy–> The hug was gratefully received! Many of us in first coming to terms with our sexuality felt we had to “settle” for something less because that’s all we deserved. It can take a long time to peel through the layers of internal homophobia and drop the baggage of unnecessary guilt we learned to carry. I hope you can put aside all the extra stuff and center yourself fully in Jesus your first love and as you do find comfort in how often it was that Jesus said the words you most need to hear….”Fear not.” So glad you found this place!

]]> By: Nancy http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/more-jesus-less-religion/comment-page-1/#comment-4436 Nancy Sun, 11 Jan 2009 12:45:32 +0000 http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/?p=1705#comment-4436 I read your words through blurriness because it just brought me to tears, yet I see it so clearly. My relationship with God has suffered because I feel a lonliness and isolation as a lesbian, and I have had it in my head that this is my just reward for being gay. I guess I have the same old "teachings" echoing in my mind as others do. I appreciate you sharing your new path with us. I am going to try to join you there. Jesus is my first love and I definitely want to be close to him, and maybe as I get closer I will not be so afraid. I wish it were possible to receive a hug through a computer. Thanks. I read your words through blurriness because it just brought me to tears, yet I see it so clearly. My relationship with God has suffered because I feel a lonliness and isolation as a lesbian, and I have had it in my head that this is my just reward for being gay. I guess I have the same old “teachings” echoing in my mind as others do. I appreciate you sharing your new path with us. I am going to try to join you there. Jesus is my first love and I definitely want to be close to him, and maybe as I get closer I will not be so afraid. I wish it were possible to receive a hug through a computer. Thanks.

]]> By: anita http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/more-jesus-less-religion/comment-page-1/#comment-4410 anita Sat, 10 Jan 2009 01:48:21 +0000 http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/?p=1705#comment-4410 Megan--> So many others like you and I, coming from a conservative christian tradition have struggled with that very concern. I understand your feelings, I really do. I'd only encourage you to return to the Jesus of the Gospels who isn't often the Jesus portrayed in some churches. Megan, I don't think there's any story of Jesus in the Gospels when he treated someone with the severity and judgment you fear he'll show to you. Can I suggest something? My thought is that the fear you have is confusing Jesus with the church. Yes, there are plenty of people in the church who have no problem telling you being gay is a sin and that you're going to hell unless you repent. You've heard that all your life inside the church, how homosexuality is sin, God hates sin, sinners go to hell... That's not Jesus teaching Megan. Look at the parables, read through his words. Try to put aside what others are telling you and listen to your heart as you read the stories of Jesus and his words about the love of Abba God for all. You said you believe God has told you it's okay to be a lesbian. Can you trust God's Spirit to speak to you? Can you trust yourself to hear? Megan I hope the peace that passes all understanding will free you to fall face first into the love and acceptance of God so that you can celebrate who you are in God and the gift of love given to you in Stacey. Keep coming back. We're glad to have you among us :) Megan–> So many others like you and I, coming from a conservative christian tradition have struggled with that very concern. I understand your feelings, I really do. I’d only encourage you to return to the Jesus of the Gospels who isn’t often the Jesus portrayed in some churches. Megan, I don’t think there’s any story of Jesus in the Gospels when he treated someone with the severity and judgment you fear he’ll show to you. Can I suggest something? My thought is that the fear you have is confusing Jesus with the church. Yes, there are plenty of people in the church who have no problem telling you being gay is a sin and that you’re going to hell unless you repent. You’ve heard that all your life inside the church, how homosexuality is sin, God hates sin, sinners go to hell… That’s not Jesus teaching Megan. Look at the parables, read through his words. Try to put aside what others are telling you and listen to your heart as you read the stories of Jesus and his words about the love of Abba God for all. You said you believe God has told you it’s okay to be a lesbian. Can you trust God’s Spirit to speak to you? Can you trust yourself to hear? Megan I hope the peace that passes all understanding will free you to fall face first into the love and acceptance of God so that you can celebrate who you are in God and the gift of love given to you in Stacey. Keep coming back. We’re glad to have you among us :)

]]> By: Megan http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/more-jesus-less-religion/comment-page-1/#comment-4408 Megan Sat, 10 Jan 2009 00:07:16 +0000 http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/?p=1705#comment-4408 I must admit that I am scared to actually begin a new relationship with Jesus. I left my very conservative church almost 3 years ago, and I have rarely been to church since. I still pray on occasion, and I am an out-lesbian with a fiance, and we live together. The thing I am most scared about is that Jesus is going to tell me that I am sinning and am going to Hell unless I repent (which was drilled into my head at my former church about being a lesbian). I love my fiance and I am thrilled to marry her this December, but that is my true fear, my exposed fear. (Although I have prayed and talked to God in the last three years and I felt that God told me that it's okay to be a lesbian and He made me this way and Stacey is my GIFT!...i'm still scared). Please help! I must admit that I am scared to actually begin a new relationship with Jesus. I left my very conservative church almost 3 years ago, and I have rarely been to church since. I still pray on occasion, and I am an out-lesbian with a fiance, and we live together. The thing I am most scared about is that Jesus is going to tell me that I am sinning and am going to Hell unless I repent (which was drilled into my head at my former church about being a lesbian). I love my fiance and I am thrilled to marry her this December, but that is my true fear, my exposed fear. (Although I have prayed and talked to God in the last three years and I felt that God told me that it’s okay to be a lesbian and He made me this way and Stacey is my GIFT!…i’m still scared). Please help!

]]> By: Wendy http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/more-jesus-less-religion/comment-page-1/#comment-4397 Wendy Fri, 09 Jan 2009 00:44:45 +0000 http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/?p=1705#comment-4397 YES! is my first reaction! Exactly is my second. This is what I have been hoping for and in my heart what I strive for. May it be so ever more in my life in 2009! YES! is my first reaction! Exactly is my second. This is what I have been hoping for and in my heart what I strive for. May it be so ever more in my life in 2009!

]]> By: Susan http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/more-jesus-less-religion/comment-page-1/#comment-4395 Susan Thu, 08 Jan 2009 16:18:56 +0000 http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/?p=1705#comment-4395 <i>Anything is possible, nu?</i> Ha! I love that you used "nu"! And absolutely: because, with God, nothing is IMpossible. I hope you didn't think I was suggesting that you were on your way to paganism. I just thought your post was very interesting in light of the conversation I had had earlier in the day with another person. However anyone of us pursues a relationship with this great I AM is a good thing. And I keep thinking that the God of us all is probably delighted that we care enough to be in relationship. Seems from all I have read (and am reading) that's what God's been after from the start. Anything is possible, nu?

Ha! I love that you used “nu”! And absolutely: because, with God, nothing is IMpossible. I hope you didn’t think I was suggesting that you were on your way to paganism. I just thought your post was very interesting in light of the conversation I had had earlier in the day with another person. However anyone of us pursues a relationship with this great I AM is a good thing. And I keep thinking that the God of us all is probably delighted that we care enough to be in relationship. Seems from all I have read (and am reading) that’s what God’s been after from the start.

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