Category Archives: Religion

Growing Up Gay in the Church

Posted on August 14, 2012 by Ron Goetz

A little girl is born to Christian parents. She is raised in a Nazarene church, goes to Sunday school, attends VBS in July, and youth group on Friday nights. She prays to receive Christ in her heart when she’s 5 years old, … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Colleges, Church of the Nazarene, Gay Christians, Homosexuality, Point Loma Nazarene University, Religion, Simpson University, Theology | 7 Comments

How Many Gay and Lesbian Christians are there in the U.S.?

Posted on August 6, 2012 by Ron Goetz

How many gay and lesbian are there in the United States?  The 2010 census counted 308 million people living in the U.S.  At the very least, 75% of the U.S. population identifies as Christian (it’s probably closer to 80%), which comes to roughly 231 … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Gay Christians, Homosexuality, Religion, UMC | Tagged , , | 15 Comments

About Christians, Bigotry, and Homosexual Marriage: Dear Sheree

Posted on August 6, 2012 by Ron Goetz

I received a comment from a reader named Sheree on Sunday.  She discusses some important topics, and I want to give her as full a reply as possible. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christianity, Homosexuality, Propaganda, Religion | 76 Comments

Dear Professor Smith

Posted on July 28, 2012 by Ron Goetz

Some time back I was attacked on another website.  As many of you know, I’m quite used to that, but this time it felt different.  After pondering the “criticism,” and doing a little research, I’m ready to respond.  For privacy concerns, I’m using the name “Prof. Debra Smith” to … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Faith, Family, Gay Christians, Homosexuality, Religion | 14 Comments

Humility: Exodus International Repents of the “Gay Cure” Lie

Posted on July 13, 2012 by Ron Goetz

Some of the most important figures in the ex-gay movement, men and women who deeply believed in so-called reparative therapy, are realizing the futility of changing people’s sexually orientations.  Each one has been the darling of anti-homosexual Christians, each has had … Continue reading →

Posted in Antinomianism, Christianity, Faith, Gay Christians, Religion | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

“God hates your laughter, too, dearest. It’s not just me.”

Posted on December 15, 2011 by Ron Goetz

Once upon a time there was a newly wedded couple. The husband was happy with his bride and loved her very much. She was beautiful, modest, and smart. She spoke well, and–being deeply in love–she delighted in making her husband happy. There … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Homophobia, Jesus, Liberal Parables, Parables, Religion | Tagged , , | 15 Comments

Politics and Religion — Not so Different

Posted on November 17, 2011 by Ron Goetz

Since you’re reading this, you are undoubtedly a person with strong convictions about politics and religion.  Religious and political organizations are naturally quite keen on emphasizing the differences between themselves and their opponents.  In this post I emphasize the similarities between … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Religion | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

“It’s the ‘Homosexual Lifestyle’ We Hate”

Posted on November 11, 2011 by Ron Goetz

One of my FB friends objected to the title of my last post, “One Anti-Homosexual United Methodist Pastor,” saying that disagreeing with people’s lifestyle doesn’t mean you are against them personally. Politically charged headline–divisive and untrue. Because someone doesn’t agree … Continue reading →

Posted in Gay Christians, Homophobia, Homosexuality, Pastoral Ministry, Propaganda, Religion, Theology | Tagged , , , , , | 63 Comments

Heresy: My First Time

Posted on August 19, 2011 by Ron Goetz

It happened late one night in the early eighties, five, maybe six, years after I graduated from Simpson. I was sitting in the living room of our first apartment in San Diego. At that time I still had my small student library of Bibles, Bible commentaries, … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christianity, Religion, Theology | Tagged , , , | 28 Comments

Cancellation of the Law: Questions and Objections

Posted on July 26, 2011 by Ron Goetz

I promised to answer some questions people raised when I blogged on Paul’s Cancellation of the Law some weeks ago. If we’re radically freed from the Law and no longer bound by it, then why privilege Leviticus 19’s ‘one law … Continue reading →

Posted in Antinomianism, Bible, Religion, Romans, Theology | Leave a comment