Break it Down.

It's high time to tackle some important topics.
The first being sexual orientation, as a lack of knowledge and shoddy research has caused a lot of pain, strife, and misunderstanding.

Most research and scientific evidence points to the simple fact that sexual orientation is innate and inborn. Genetics may play a role (although there is no singular "gay gene"), but the most important factor seems to be prenatal hormones, and the effect they have on brain formation in the womb.

Unfortunately, some people have used scripture to wrongly promote the idea that your sexual orientation is something that can be changed; that it is a "choice." They've promoted the notion that it is unlike the color of your eyes, your height, or your skin color.

One passage commonly used to support that supposition would be Romans 12:2.
It reads, "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

We must go line by line.
Precept by precept.

I always keep my "Strong's Exhaustive Concordance" (2010 edition) close by.
The definition of "is" is not even taken at face value, as you may gloss over something extremely noteworthy and edifying.
 
The word "anakainosis" in Greek is synonymous with "a renewal," and it means "the adjustment of the moral and spiritual vision and thinking to the mind of God, which is designed to have a transforming effect upon the life."

It has nothing to do with your being, but your thinking.
It doesn't mean that you are not a "real" Christian or that you have not been praying hard enough if your sexual orientation happens to be anything but heterosexual.

In other words, when you are born again, you gain a new perspective, and see things through the proper spiritual lens. As God wants you to see it.

Another commonly cited scripture would be 1 Corinthians 6:9-11.
It reads, "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." Some have used this phrase to claim that these people who "have not prayed hard enough" will not ever receive salvation, and are doomed to an afterlife separated from the presence of God."Effeminate" here is representative of the Greek word "malakos."
In this instance, it conveys the message signifying "not simply of a male who practices forms of lewdness, but persons in general, who are guilty of addiction to sins of the flesh."

It is referring to the actions that one chooses to partake in, and nothing to do with ones masculinity or femininity. The passage has been mangled and misused to bash people, which is unfortunate. Only with the assistance of the Holy Spirit can one withstand temptation, and live a life that is pleasing to God. This is not to imply that you will never "mess up," or be perfect (I am certainly not implying that). But I am driving the point home that God loves us all, and to make people feel any worse off or "less than" compared to you and the things that you struggle with is not of God, and it is not Christlike. To single people out and have people jumping off of bridges because of your bigotry is unacceptable.

In reference to Romans 1:25-27, the word "change" in verse 26 is properly and more fully translated into Greek as "metallasso" It continues in the concordance, "This word means totally to surrender one thing for another, and exchange meaning a supposedly equivalent swap."

What does this definition outline?
The concept of Bisexuality.
It's not a new concept.

Furthermore,be encouraged with Romans 8:1, which reads, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."

Speaking of the Holy Spirit, I must make an important note that many people don't seem to be aware of.
That note would be the fact that the Holy Spirit is of the feminine gender.

Surprised?
What happened?

Research seems to point to the notion that it was the Greek Orthodox church that was responsible for obfuscating this fact in translation. The reason seems to be the fact that Gnostics of that time period were known to have large numbers of women in the ministry, which the Orthodox church did not approve of. Studying old manuscripts, it becomes obvious that Christ himself referred to the Holy Spirit as a "she," of feminine gender.

This makes sense, as creativity is considered a feminine trait, and the Spirit was directly involved in the creation of all that we see and know.

In the book of Genesis, it is conveyed that "the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." Genesis 1:26-27 reads, " And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them."

God created man in the "image," or likeness, of God.
In other words, having both masculine and feminine traits.
This is clear and obvious even when we look at ourselves from a biochemical standpoint.
A man's hormonal makeup is not just comprised of testosterone, but also estrogen.
A woman's biological makeup consists of not only feminine hormones, but also male hormones.

Why is this?
Imagine trying to function with only the qualities of one gender.

If all I could do is grunt and smash rocks, I could never be self-sufficient for any period of time.I simply couldn't last.
 
The feminine gender of the Holy Spirit brings together the complete picture of a family.

Father, Son, and Mother.
It just makes sense.

Stop the Madness.

Deuteronomy 14:22-28

I'm just going to start off with one single, salient point that I believe is important to know: I grew up in a very “legalistic” church from the days of my youth. In other words, if you had a beer, you were “backsliding,” and someone was off to get the anointing oil to pray for you. The whole “I don't drink, smoke, or chew, and I don't hang with those who do” type thing (Do be mindful of the company you keep, but that is beside the point here. Also, tobacco is horrible.).

Here's another good point to know.
I questioned this “legalistic” thinking pretty much from the get-go.

“If Jesus turned water into wine, you mean to tell me that I can't have a drink? How does that make any sense?”

It just didn't seem right.
And my instincts were backed up when I finally sat under a sermon concerning the Feast of Tabernacles (which is referenced in verses 22-27).

In addition to the first tenth (tithe) which went to the Levites (the priestly tribe), another tithe of your increase was to be set aside for special fellowship with God's people at given places at given times during the year. During these holy times, people came from all over, some bringing fruit, vegetables, oxen, and sheep amongst other things. Yes, “other things” sometimes included wine and liquor.

Why did/do people do these things?
The text already tells us.

“That thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always.”
To remind us that God isn't a total killjoy.
He kind of got that rep for some reason.

I feel my spider sense tingling.
Someone out there is about to throw out 1 John 2:15-17.

“Man, those passages seem to contradict each other.”

No, they do not.
Pay attention.

First off, the Feast of Tabernacles, as stated, is a holy act of worship.
This is not the same situation mentioned or described in 1 John.
Not by a long shot.

Second of all, the “love” used in 1 John means “in a social or moral sense.”
As you would a living being, like God.

In their proper places, as responsible adults, there is nothing wrong with these substances.
You can like or enjoy a good Merlot but love God.
Got it?

I wanted to bring it back to verse 26 in Deuteronomy 14 KJV and the key word “whatsoever” (“whatever,” ESV)

Just for clarification.

Using such strong language in the literal sense would indeed conflict with other passages in the Bible, so I looked into the root of this word's presence in the text.

There is no corresponding word in Hebrew, so the translators decided to pick the word up and use it.

In keeping with the spirit (not the letter, obviously) of the text, with wine and liquor in the background (in addition to other things I know and have been told), is it a stretch to say that it'd be strange or outlandish to see an adult show up smelling like he just hunted, trapped, and bagged a skunk at one of these events?

Absolutely not.

Although the type of legalism I described above is a commandment taught of men, and is as filthy rags unto God, it may be this type of contortion, gaps in reasoning or logic, or (unintentional) dishonesty that sends many adolescents away from common sense and off the deep end when they do hit the age when they are able to make most of their decisions on their own.


Recreationally, I believe that marijuana should be treated like alcohol.
It also wreaks less havoc on the body.

Medicinally?

Don't even get me started on the DEA and its bold-faced lie of putting it in the same category as Heroin. It's an outright lie, and everyone knows it.

Let's ignore the evidence and case study after case study of it alleviating symptoms of nausea, MS, migraines, Alzheimer's, etc.

No medicinal benefit?

For chronic pain management, I guess we'd rather shove opiates down patients' throats.
Right?