WHAT IF???

What does this photograph represent to you? Take a few moments and think about it.

Does this photo represent success and a strong family unit? Does it represent what you think the traditional American dream should consist of?

We are living in a culture where keeping up with the Jones' & the Trump families and being successful in the eyes of society is very crucial to our image and self worth. What about how you look in the eyes of God?

What if this guy was living a double life as a loving husband and father; at the same time surfed the internet and combed the alleys and city streets for male companionship and or for male prostitutes.
What if this guy's wife already had a sense of her husband's affection for the same gender before they were married and made a conscience decision to never talk about it. Please don't disturb our groove of vanity and crack the facade that everyone is enjoying.
What about their children?

Why would they live such complicated lives? Perhaps this is why:

I recently communicated with a pastor who insinuated that HIV and AIDS was a judgement from God against homosexuality. I lifted the following information from a website when I "Googled" HIV in the African American community:
As reported by the Center for Disease Control, the greatest factors affecting HIV/AIDS transmission in the African American community are male-to-male sexual contact in males and male to female contacts in females. Other risk factors and prevention barriers include substance abuse, denial about sexuality, and socioeconomic situations.

In 2003, the rate of new AIDS cases for black women was 20 times that of white women and five times greater than the infection rate for Latinas, according to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Black and Hispanic women accounted for 77 percent of all new AIDS infections in 1994. Nine years later, the rate was 85 percent, according to the agency.

In Washington D.C. black women represent 90 percent of women living with AIDS while making up only 62 percent of all women in the city, according to a report last year by the District's Health Department.

OK, let us just pretend for a few moments:
What if the Traditional Religious Community approved of homosexuality and same gender dating relationships and marriage. It's church leaders and their congregants accepted homosexuality and agreed that homosexuals and lesbians could be and are Christians without all of the preconceived, generational, misinterpreted scriptural rhetoric on this subject matter?

What if the same Christian principles were taught in regards to relationships and marriage as they instructed heterosexual couples: Put God first and foremost, pray together, love and value yourself, love and value your mate. Harming one another mentally, physically and sexually is not tolerated nor accepted. If those same principles were preached instead of judgment and rebuke; one would feel loved by God and the community and not forsaken by God as the traditionalist preach. There would be less sexual promiscuity and more spiritual responsibility. There would be much less disease (STDs and HIV/AIDS) There would be more LOVE.

I really feel that the religious community is obsessed and overly concerned about what 2 men or 2 women can do in bed. Here is an example (A very good friend of mine in Memphis shared how she went to Sunday School last week and as she entered the class the pastor was speaking and made a statement that he would rather see two women together sexually and that 2 men would be just disgusting) she said to herself "What the Hell!" If you are against homosexuality why would you not mind seeing 2 women together sexually?

Personally, I don't believe that HIV and AIDS is a judgment from God against homosexuality; if it is then why the harsh judgment on women of color and poor people? I really believe that this whole ( HIV and AIDS) matter in the African American community is simply about throwing caution to the wind and choosing to have unprotected sex and NOT facing real truth and brutal honesty about one's sexuality which stems from the generational, traditional religious (homophobic) rhetoric that is preached in our places of worship that promotes homosexuality as sin and that perpetuates living a lie.

You can live a life of hell, bitterness and promiscuity as a heterosexual (straight) person or a homosexual person OR you can live a Christ centered life as a heterosexual or homosexual person. I sincerely strive to live my life as an ambassador for Jesus Christ. My daily walk is to bear the Fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith 23 meekness, temperance: against such there is no law) among my friends, co-workers and family and they will all tell you that I'm not always successful, but I know where my help comes from.

Here is a little Food for Thought:

1 Samuel 18:1 And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.
4And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.
1 Samuel 20:4 Then said Jonathan unto David, Whatsoever thy soul desireth, I will even do it for thee.
17And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul.
41And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place toward the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times: and they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded
1 Samuel 23:17 And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth.
2 Samuel 1:26 I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.
OK :) Just read the entire book of 1st Samuel and the 1st Chapter in 2nd Samuel in the bible in order to fully understand the love that Jonathan and David had for each other.

I strongly encourage you to please scroll down and read the postings entitled: Is There Really Scriptural Validity in Calling Homosexuality Sin Part 2 and Soulforce.

Samuel

I would love to hear your thoughts. If you have an experience that you would like to share and you would like to have it posted/featured on this site, email son_of_a_bishop3000@yahoo.com This should be healing and a lot of fun. Feel free to click on comment just below this line.