The open and affirming door!

When youre a sexual minority you get used to all kinds of doors slamming in your face.

Doors you thought would always be open, warm and welcoming often become closed tight, and locked.

Those who have assumed the role as gatekeeper often keep the keys to those doors well out of reach.

Former friends and family either out right reject us, or tolerate us with such icy disdain, that it soon becomes
apparent that we've actually been on the outside looking in.

For LGBT Christians the isolation is compounded when our non-affirming brothers and sisters in Christ take it
upon themselves not only to shut the doors of fellowship but to shut heaven's door as well.

An often used latch to lock LGBT folk out of the kingdom is 1 Corinthians 6.9, in a nutshell most modern
translations indicate that, according to this passage, Homosexuals will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Much scholarly debate has raged around this verse and the Greek word: Arsenokotai, which was probably
coined by the Apostle Paul himself.

Problem is...no explanation of the word was provided in the list it was presented in.

The Greek word in question is a combination of the word Male and Bed, later lists utilizing this word, seem to
lump it with those who exploit others sexually, possibly for financial gain.

It certainly wasn't a common word used for the same-sex erotic behavior seen in the Apostle's day.

Later, during a political environment that had grown increasingly unfavorable towards homosexuality in the
late 1940's, the choice was made to translate this word as homosexual.

Effectively barring five percent of humanity from any hope of heaven. This decision had more to do with the
prevailing social prejudice of the day than divine revelation.

Many preachers and teachers today use this verse and it's dubious English translation to summarily teach that
heaven's promise is not available for Gay, Lesbian Bisexual and transgender people.

Christ in his mercy though has spoken up and tells his beloved a different story.

The tiny frontier church of Philadelphia, had faced similar problems. It seems the Judaizers of the day were
telling the saints in Asia Minor that because they weren't keeping the Mosaic Law a certain way, they were
excluded from God's Kingdom.

Jesus took great exception to this and sent the believers in Philadelphia this message,
Revelation 3:7-8 King (KJV)
7
And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that
is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no
man openeth;
8
I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou
hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

Jesus reminds those that love him, that he holds the key...when he opens a door no one can shut it. Not
religious leaders, not bible translators, not sidewalk preachers.
No one!

The Savior who inspired the words

.... Whosoever believeth in him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

Is the same one that has opened a door wide for his people, including those of us who are LGBT.

I know a Southern Belle who describes her coming out experience as, "Being cast into outer darkness"....I sure
spent my fair share of time in the cold and dark.

Maybe you have too, thinking heaven's door was shut because of your orientation...did someone tell you it was
closed?

They should've checked with Jesus first...according to him its wide open....come on in!