Coming out as a gay Christian pastor was one of the most difficult and challenging things I’ve done. It was scary to consider and I didn’t know where to start my research. I had some big questions that I thought I already knew the answers to, I’m so glad I looked into it. Some of those questions were: Does the Bible condemn homosexuality? What does God say about gay people? What does the Bible say about gay people? Is being gay a sin? Can you stop being a homosexual? Can I change my sexuality? What does the bible say about homosexuality? Is it okay to be gay? Can you be a Christian and gay? Are there gay Christians in the world? Will I be deceived? I spent most of my life saying that I was “same-sex attracted” or that I “struggled with my sexuality.” I grew up in the Evangelical church, started out Baptist, became non-denominational, and eventually landed in the charismatic movement. I wasn’t committed to any of these forms of Christianity, they merely served as context for me to wrestle through the supernatural encounters I was experiencing with the Holy Spirit. I’ve always been a very spiritual person, sensitive to spiritual influences and atmospheres. I discovered knowing the Bible and living a spirit-led life were two very different things. I was told at a young age that gay people were going to hell. I didn’t realize there was a whole world of Queer theology out there. It takes a lot to go against your religious tradition. It was the voice of God that inspired me to challenge what I was told the “Word of God” said. There are a lot of hurting people in our world who have questions about their gender, sexual orientation, their natural desires, and if they can belong in the family of God. As a spirit-filled follower of Jesus, I have come to definitively understand that God loves and accepts gay people exactly the way they are, with no caveats or conditions. He was the first affirming voice in my life who accepted me. So I’ve chosen to share my story to advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and speak against the toxic theology the church uses to harm our queer family. I hope my story encourages, challenges, and inspires you to honestly consider what love actually is in the world and liberates you from suffocating theology that harms human life and violates the nature of God. Here are the links mentioned in the video: Resource page: https://www.mikemaeshiro.com/lgbtq-resources Email: contact@mikemaeshiro.com Numa+: numaplus.com