Walking In A Spiritual Calling

TheFreeDictionary.com defines the verb to minister as, "To attend to the wants and needs of others." In the simplest form of the word, all clerics, regardless of religious or spiritual affiliation, attend to the spiritual and/or holistic needs and wants of others.

My response may be more anecdotal than factual, but if it was not for women and gay men, many Christian denominations and organizations (e.g., COGIC) would not have flourished. Many men and women throughout history were homo universalise (e.g., polymaths) and greatly contributed to religion, medicine, philosophy, astronomy, math, liberal arts. Whether people are gay (open or not), straight, or even a-sexual, their sexual orientation did not hinder them from benefiting humankind.

To possibly accept a belief that gay people should not walk in a spiritual calling to minister to humankind also implies that every other human being (as long as they are non-gay) are entitled to minister. Even in the Bible, none of Jesus' disciples were perfect. Peter, even after being baptized with the Holy Ghost (as recorded in the Book of Acts), struggled with racism and bigotry until God showed him that no one under Creation (Jew or non-Jew) was "unclean" (e.g., inferior or superior to anyone).

Also, Paul prayed to God three times to remove a "thorn in the flesh." The Bible is not clear what that thorn was, but whatever it was, God did not remove it. Paul eventually connected with a bigger picture about his thorn: that God's grace is sufficient, in other words, God's supernatural ability is sufficient to help you deal with any life situation, any obscurity, any struggle. Whatever Paul perceived as a possible spiritual hindrance did not stop him from founding churches, mentoring to church leaders, addressing church-related drama, being a conduit for miracles and other supernatural acts, and writing three-quarters of the New Testament. What is the implication here? No matter who you are, no matter what your life journey entails, no matter what you see as a life challenge, or no matter your sexual orientation, God's grace is sufficient. People's opinions don't matter. People's judgments don't matter. Yes, people's words can hurt (especially the words of the self-righteous—oftentimes the hypocritical—who murder people with their tongues) ... but even Hester Prynne (The Scarlet Letter) would rise above her struggles and see the sanctimonious facades of her tormentors implode.

In my opinion, the need to be right (and someone else wrong) is a need to be superior (better than someone else). This need has nothing to do with righteousness but self-righteousness. Self-righteousness is deeply rooted in the Christian-Judeo concept of Lucifer more so than describing attributes of GOD.

No human being has a monopoly on truth; we individually hold pieces of the truth. The individual you deny or judge may hold a piece of truth you require.

Character and integrity has no sexual preference. I know heterosexuals who have an appearance of godliness but deny God's power and love. I know homosexuals who understand and embrace unconditional love, honesty, and very much live divine-influenced lives.

I know everyone is not religious or even spiritual, but the bigger picture (to me) is this: Never allow anyone to hinder you from following your own conviction, the truth within your own heart, or investing in ways you know you can benefit humankind.

Someone asked me at work the other day.... "who are we as man to question the will of God. I feel that God will call who he deems fit to be able to carry the spiritual load and responsible. And we as man should not question that. God has prove he will over and over again. If God can make a donkey talk who's to say that he can not call a gay man for a spiritual calling."

My response to that was:To my understanding of the Holy Bible (the Judeo-Christian canonized text), GOD had no problem calling the "undesirable," the socially un-accepted, those with personal issues, or the underdog to be His voice or conduit to the masses. GOD had no issue with using Gideon who dealt with a self-image problem. GOD had no issue using Deborah as a Judge amid a male-dominated culture and society. GOD had no problem using Esther, who despite the status quo becomes a Jewish queen of Persia (that helps thwart genocide). None of Jesus' disciples were perfect, yet He saw fit to delegate them "fishers of men." Even after being empowered by the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, the Apostle Peter struggled with arrogance and bigotry (for 10 years) until the Spirit revealed to him that no one is unclean (inferior) that is created by GOD. The Apostle Paul, the apostle to the apostles wrote three-quarters of the NT, was a conduit of signs and wonders, and yet was responsible for the murders of many followers of Jesus before his personal, spiritual awakening and conversion.

It would be arrogant of me to believe that GOD could only use one type of person. This is my belief and it does not sear my conscience: If one is a creation of GOD, then one is open to the opportunity to be used by GOD. It really doesn't matter if someone (another creation) disapproves. There are examples in the Holy Bible where people disapproved of who GOD called, but their disapproval did not affect the effectiveness or even successes of those who were called. Some (among the religious community in biblical times) even disapproved of Jesus; why would we expect less?

Fellow Blog Readers Please give me your thoughts and opinions regarding this...