Reconciling Sexual Identity and Christian Faith: A Journey from Self-Dismissal to Affirmative Acceptance (with Marisa)

ℹ️ Introduction

On this episode of Lesbi-Honest, our guest Marisa shares her personal journey of grappling with her sexuality and faith. Raised in a mixed religious household, Marisa had a strong foundation in faith but began experiencing a sense of difference from an early age. She struggled with her identity and the conflict between her faith and being gay, initially dismissing Christians. However, through reading books and connecting with a supportive church community, Marisa began questioning and reevaluating her beliefs.

Marisa emphasizes the importance of finding peers who share similar experiences and understanding. She found a sense of belonging and acceptance in a church that embraced her as a gay individual. Her faith and church community have become anchors in her life and have helped her navigate the challenges of her sexuality.

Throughout the episode, Marisa also discusses her current relationship with her partner, which is long-distance but strong. Despite the challenges, they make time for each other through regular visits, FaceTime, and Bible study together. They are committed to making the relationship work and have even discussed the possibility of one of them moving to Dallas.

Marisa shares her admiration for Kathy Baldock's book, "Walking the Bridges Canyon," which explores the acceptance of diversity in terms of gender identity and sexuality. She questions why anyone would refute the arguments presented in the book after reading it and uses the diversity in nature as an analogy to advocate for acceptance in humans.

Join host Sarah St John and guest Marisa as they dive deep into Marisa's personal journey, the importance of community, and the intersection of faith and sexuality. This thought-provoking episode will inspire listeners to embrace their own identities and seek understanding and acceptance.

❇️ Key topics and bullets

- The podcast opens with a discussion about the creation of Eve and her role as a companion for Adam. It focuses on the fact that Eve is another human, emphasizing her similarities and sameness rather than her visual differences. The bond between Adam and Eve is described as a kinship bond similar to that of family or friends.

- Marisa shares her personal experience with online dating and the struggles of finding a genuine connection. She discusses the frustration of dealing with fake profiles and scammers. She then shares how she met her current partner and how their relationship feels divinely ordained. She talks about their shared values and interests and the positive reactions from her church community and parents towards their partner.

- Marisa talks about her upbringing in a mixed religious household and her strong faith foundation. She shares her struggles with depression, self-identity, and reconciling her faith with her sexuality. She discusses the importance of finding supportive peers and a church community that embraces her as a gay individual. She emphasizes the role of community and the importance of holding onto hope and staying true to one's self.

- Marisa mentions books she has read related to the topic, particularly ones that explore the compatibility of being gay and Christian. Marissa and Sarah discuss the clobber passages, explaining that they don't refer to committed same-sex relationships but to ancient times involving domination and violence. They praise the availability of new books that provide more depth and understanding on the topic.

- Marisa opens up about a negative confrontation with her family over a relationship with a woman in high school and shares her personal experience of being in an abusive relationship. She discusses her conflicting thoughts and feelings about her sexual orientation. She expresses gratitude for the supportive relationship she now has with her parents and her current partner being accepted into the family.

- Marisa and her partner are in a long-distance relationship. She talks about their commitment to making it work and the various ways they stay connected, including visits, FaceTime, phone calls, texting, and Bible study together. She expresses gratitude for her partner's ability to work remotely and discuss the possibility of one of her moving to Dallas for more opportunities and a larger community.

- Marisa mentions Kathy Baldock, a straight ally who has written a book called Walking the Bridges Canyon, praising her extensive research and wealth of information on the topic. She compares the diversity in nature to argue for acceptance of diversity in gender identity and sexuality in humans. She questions why human diversity would be limited when other aspects of the world embrace it, suggesting that humans should be given more credit and acceptance for their own diversity.

🧞‍♂️ Discussion questions

1. How has the Marisa's experience with online dating shaped their perspective on relationships? Has it made them more skeptical or more hopeful?

2. What role did the Marisa's faith play in her journey of self-discovery and acceptance of her sexuality?

3. How important is it for LGBTQ+ individuals to find a supportive community, whether that be through their faith or otherwise? Why?

4. How can books and blogs play a role in educating and guiding individuals who are struggling with their sexual orientation and faith?

5. How did Marisa and Sarah's understanding of the "clobber passages" in the Bible change after reading books on the topic? Have their views on these passages shifted?

6. How has the long-distance nature of Marisa's relationship impacted their commitment to each other? What strategies do they use to maintain a strong connection despite the distance?

7. What are some of the reasons Marisa believes it would be beneficial for her partner to move to Dallas? Do you think these reasons are convincing? Why or why not?

8. How does the Marisa's comparison of diversity in nature to human diversity challenge traditional views on gender identity and sexuality? Do you agree with her argument? Why or why not?

9. Reflect on Marisa's belief that her story gives hope to others in similar situations with their parents. How important is it for queer individuals to see positive examples of acceptance within their own families?