A simple man believes anything, but a prudent man gives thought to his steps. Proverbs 14:15

I remember the first time I did not agree with something a Pastor said from the pulpit; I was thrown into confusion and guilt at the mere thought of disagreeing with an actual Pastor. I always thought that other Christians had a better line to God than I had. Everything they said HAD to be God's Word because a Christian said it. If they were a Christian, they could not be wrong. If they were a Pastor, if I did not agree or understand, there was something wrong with ME, not them. At some point, I began to be overwhelmed by what all the different Christians were saying; some were even diametrically opposed to each other. I have learned slowly and surely that listening to other Christians and accepting their beliefs is not the same as finding God for myself. My faith at one point was simply a patchwork of pieces of the faiths of others. It was in coming to terms with my gayness that I also learned that I needed to listen to God for myself; certainly, I wasn't finding an answer in Christiandom regarding homosexuality. People were either for it, or against it vehemently. It was then I began to understand that it was O.K to seek God for myself. It was O.K to disagree with a Pastor. It was O.K not to see eye to eye with another family member in Christ. Seeking out true answers from God was not only wise, but prudent. God really DOES have all the answers, and they are Right every time. I don't have to believe everything anyone says, I just have to believe Him.

You've touched on something Blyth that I think is one of the many blessings of being gay. That being that I had to learn to study the Bible and learn about God for myself. In addition I learned to trust in my own relationship I had built with the Lord. God and I had been through so much by the time that I came out being gay that I knew God was very real, loved me beyond any bounds and had already made a tremendous impact on my life. I guess what I'm trying to say is that while being gay wasn't exactly easy. Nor was it easy reconciling my faith with my sexual orientation. The 'payback' was that my relationship with God and my faith in His Word is something very, very strong and is not built on any other person, idea or doctrine. That has been a huge blessing over the years and keeps my faith together even during some very difficult times. I am not moved by every 'wind of doctrine' that comes along.

1 Cor 13:13 (NLT)
"and the greatest of these is love."