“I’m coming out.” Few phrases strike dread into the heart of conservative Christian parents and pastors as that one. It’s probably even worse than “I’m not sure I believe in God anymore.” Well, today is October 11th 2022, and since 1998, this day has been celebrated by the LGBTQ community as “National Coming Out Day.”

And I’m coming out.

Not as gay or queer, myself, but as explicitly an ally, as one who is affirming of the acceptability to the Lord and to myself of others’ LGBTQ identity and/or lifestyle.

This is part 3 of a series. In this episode we discuss homosexual identity versus behavior, transgender identity, cultural expectations, and pronouns.

The following links are mentioned in this episode:

https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/21/us/group-that-promoted-curing-gays-ceases-operations.html

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/10/the-man-who-dismantled-the-ex-gay-ministry/408970/

https://www.thetaskforce.org/national-religious-leadership-roundtable-responds-to-closing-of-exodus-international/

https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/press/lgb-suicide-ct-press-release/

https://whatweknow.inequality.cornell.edu/topics/lgbt-equality/what-does-the-scholarly-research-say-about-whether-conversion-therapy-can-alter-sexual-orientation-without-causing-harm/

https://www.insider.com/more-lgbt-young-people-identify-nonbinary-2021-7

https://www.them.us/story/gen-z-millennials-queerest-generation-gallup-poll

https://www.newsweek.com/nearly-40-percent-us-gen-zs-30-percent-christians-identify-lgbtq-poll-shows-1641085

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_of_Theseus

There will be at least one more episode on this topic. Consider subscribing to the podcast to be notified of the next episodes. You can also read the paper itself here: https://crucibleofthought.com/coming-out-on-national-coming-out-day/

Self-appointed gatekeepers over our religious and moral systems are destroying the people's ability to connect with the Lord's Kingdom. What is our response supposed to be?

You can also read this episode at https://crucibleofthought.com/self-appointed-gatekeepers/

“I’m coming out.” Few phrases strike dread into the heart of  conservative Christian parents and pastors as that one. It’s probably  even worse than “I’m not sure I believe in God anymore.” Well, today is  October 11th 2022, and since 1998, this day has been celebrated by the  LGBTQ community as “National Coming Out Day.”

And I’m coming out.

Not as gay or queer, myself, but as explicitly an ally, as one who is  affirming of the acceptability to the Lord and to myself of others’  LGBTQ identity and/or lifestyle.

This is part 2 of a series. In this episode we discuss my hermeneutics, why this topic matters today, about taking the easy way out, and about the fact that certainly not everything happening in LGBTQ acceptance these days is good and righteous.

There will probably be two more episodes on this topic. Consider subscribing to the podcast to be notified of the next episodes.  You can also read the paper itself here: https://crucibleofthought.com/coming-out-on-national-coming-out-day/

“I’m coming out.” Few phrases strike dread into the heart of conservative Christian parents and pastors as that one. It’s probably even worse than “I’m not sure I believe in God anymore.” Well, today is October 11th 2022, and since 1998, this day has been celebrated by the LGBTQ community as “National Coming Out Day.”

And I’m coming out.

Not as gay or queer, myself, but as explicitly an ally, as one who is affirming of the acceptability to the Lord and to myself of others’ LGBTQ identity and/or lifestyle.

The books mentioned in this episode include: 

You can also read the paper itself here: https://crucibleofthought.com/coming-out-on-national-coming-out-day/

The 4th commandment, "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain." uses the Hebrew words nasah, shem, and shav, and might equally be translated "Your life shall not demonstrate an inaccurate representation of the reputation and renown and fame of the Lord your God."

You can also read this episode at https://crucibleofthought.com/hanging-on-for-dear-life/

As with so many of my long-held evangelical beliefs, I’ve been carefully thinking about the doctrine of hell and eternal punishment. I grew up understanding it as an absolute certainty, and something that orthodox Christians had believed since Jesus apparently taught the doctrine in the Gospels.

But, I’m not so convinced any more.

Come along for a story that helped me reframe my beliefs.

Some useful links:

http://www.brazenchurch.com/hell-in-the-bible/

You can also read this episode at https://crucibleofthought.com/for-two-billion-years/

Peter's dream of unclean food challenged his world view about who was acceptable to God. I find that God is repeating that in my life, challenging me to reconsider who the Lord accepts today.

You can also read this episode at https://crucibleofthought.com/peters-vision-an-inclusive-gospel/

Top Secret classified documents are held under incredibly strict control. Every page of every copy is logged. It's laughable to assert that the FBI didn't know exactly what they were looking for.

You can also read this episode at https://crucibleofthought.com/the-best-kept-secrets-in-the-world/

On this occasion of my 30th anniversary, I am finding that the most famous pair of Bible verses about marriage means far more to me than I ever thought possible, and it's not just about marriage. I am called to leave many things, not just my father and mother, as I pursue the Lord and His calling on my life.

You can also read this episode at https://crucibleofthought.com/a-man-shall-leave-his-father-and-mother/

Political power... at what cost? A dark and dying world needs to see a tangible representation of a holy and righteous and just God. That's the role given to the Body of Christ. But it seems as if the goal of too many Christians these days is grabbing political power by any means necessary. Is it worth it?

You can also read this episode at https://crucibleofthought.com/is-it-worth-it/