Think of it this way . . . Sometimes events occur that seem difficult, painful or unfair at first, but in reflection you find that without facing and overcoming these obstacles you would never realize your potential, strength, willpower or heart. Challenges of all kinds -- illness, injury, lost love, missed rewards, ill-advised actions and sheer stupidity -- all test the limits of your soul. Without these tests life would be a smoothly paved, straight, flat road to nowhere. It would be safe and comfortable, but dull and utterly pointless.
Perhaps this seminar is meant to be one of those experiences that can help you to define your spiritual future. I don’t promise to make this easy. I do promise to challenge you. When you reflect back, I hope and pray that you will view it as having been helpful to you.
This morning there are two points to be made:
The strongest Biblical argument against cross-dressing is Deuteronomy 22:5, and it is logically unsupportable.
The legalistic approach of using a verse of Scripture to automatically judge others as sinners in need of repentance is Spiritual Abuse.
A fundamental aspect of good logic is to carefully examine the assumptions. If I accept the assumptions and sound logic is employed, I will find myself forced to agree with the conclusion. Many people gloss over their assumptions or never state them explicitly. I want mine to be clear so you can assess them. My assumptions are that…
God is my Creator
The Bible represents God's Word and helps direct my life
Scripture must be interpreted in light of the times and circumstances in which it was written
There will always be a certain amount of ambiguity in Scripture
No single religious group has the definitive word on all Scriptural meaning
I am responsible for working out my own salvation
It is my duty to obtain sufficient insight to enable me to make good decisions about my faith
My prayer is that whatever happens here today will be in harmony with God’s will -- that I will be able to set aside my ego and allow His guidance to take control.
I ask you to take a moment and, in your own way, try to set aside any other thoughts and agendas and ask Him to be in charge.
Catholic nuns in grade school administered my early religious training. The method was to memorize the questions and answers in the Baltimore Catechism or experience a ruler across the knuckles. I didn't need to think. I didn't need to study the Bible. I just had to regurgitate the answers on demand. Trouble was my brain kept thinking up new questions. Sister's response was if I even think of another question, it is a mortal sin and I am damned to Hell. So I learned the answers. I learned to keep my thoughts to myself. I learned fear and guilt.
Religious conditions didn't change much for me until I encountered the Jesuits at Marquette. "What does it say?" was replaced with, "What do you think?" Their approach was, "Look! God gave each of you a brain. He expects you to use it. I'm going to teach you how to use it, not what to think. Now, what about...?" We were expected to challenge assumptions and validate logical steps. We were taught to draw on a wide variety of material developed by people with differing yet knowledgeable views and then use our own critical thinking abilities to make informed decisions. I was starting to learn to express my thoughts. I was starting to unlearn fear. Once I started on this path, return to the old one was impossible.
We use our brains in virtually everything we do. Why wouldn’t we use them in the most fundamental area of our lives – our faith?
Dr. Gene Scott, a television evangelist often said, "You don’t have to check your brains at the door to be a Christian."
Pastor Arnold Murray of The Shepherd’s Chapel constantly encourages listeners to think for themselves and not to listen to the fear peddled by those whom he frequently refers to as "Bible-Thumpers!"
"It sounds to me like you got a good foundation through the Jesuits for thinking critically about things, particularly this issue of transgendered sexuality. I hope that you continue to keep thinking critically and carefully." Minister L.
We are responsible for our own salvation. We cannot hand it over to a minister. Don’t take my word for it either. I invite you to apply your own critical thinking and check it out!
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