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Man Discovers Self, Leaves Bigoted
Congregation
I would like to share with you my experience with the UPCI. I began
going to the local congregation in my small Southern hometown after my
algebra teacher in high school "witnessed" to me. I found her
explanation of the oneness of God intriguing and exciting. I went, but
was scared senseless the first night! However, the people seemed
sincere, so I figured it was okay and chalked it up to their way of
worshiping. I became more and more interested, almost desperate to
receive the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues. After
months of tarrying, I finally spoke in tongues. Whatever experience that
was, still seems very real to me. I'm not a Biblical scholar, and I
don't know if speaking in tongues is right or wrong. I just know that I
did it. After the initial infilling of the Holy Ghost, I spoke in
tongues almost every day for 8 years. Nevertheless, I still knew I was
attracted to men. I could not reconcile in my mind how I, a gay man,
could speak in tongues to the Lord since speaking in tongues was the
truest form of talking to the Lord. It seemed that the pastor there
railed against homosexuals at least once a month. He actually said if he
saw a homosexual enter "his church" that he would physically throw him
out. There I was sitting in the 3rd row, front and center scared for my
life.
I stayed a few more months only to hear the pastor do a Bible study that
took the position of being against inter-racial dating! This was taught
in a racially mixed congregation with a myriad of "Amens" from the older
crowd, while some of us younger members were rolling our eyes. I decided
to leave the church, my Sunday school class, my singing position on the
platform, and my parents after that over-the-top episode. Needless to
say, the congregation was flabbergasted, according to my mother, when I
never showed up again. I never told them why I left, but it wouldn't
have mattered to them because a back-slider always goes to Hell. I'm
okay with them thinking that of me. I no longer need their approval or
their strict moral code to make myself feel better. Thank you for
letting me vent.
Michael
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