If we study Christ, his life and his teachings, we learn his sacrifice fulfilled a law that was no longer appropriate for his time, that is, the Law of Moses. Jesus Christ is the “end of the Law” (Rom. 10:4). With this, there were many ordinances that were abandoned by Early Christians, as they had become nonsensical even in those times. For example, how many of you think twice about eating pork, blood sausage, or anything from the water that doesn’t have fins or scales? Do you eat oysters, shrimp, clams, lobster, turtle, or catfish?

Yes, we disregard these ordinances because they are no longer compatible to current standards. In doing so, we have used reason to make sense out of something that no longer does; even if the Bible says differently. So my question, why not apply the same logic to other decrees within the same text? I explore this answer a little later. Let’s go back to the question of rules.

When it came to the things that matter and were universal, we weren’t left directionless. In Matthew 22:36, you find the two simple commandments Christ left us: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. Two simple directives yet open to so many interpretations. Let’s look closely at the first one.

The greatest commandment is divided in three parts, to love God with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our mind. I want to highlight this last part. What does loving God with all our mind mean? The dictionary tells us that mind is intellect or understanding, as distinguished from the faculties of feeling and willing; intelligence.

Growing up Mormon, I was exposed to a tradition of people sharing their testimonies on a regular basis about how they “know” the truth because they feel it. They justify the existence of God indicating that God is like air, you don’t see it but you feel it. Although I can see the poetic beauty of this premise, we have to realize that justifying something solely on emotion is not prudent. We don’t do it in our daily lives but when it comes to faith, we readily shortchange our intellect. We also refuse to subject our hard-earned faith to scholarly research and wisdom. The justification is that these are human constructs. Yet, we do use this logic to completely disregard sacred texts of other cultures if it is to our benefit.

To analyze our faith, and to diligently work to find out why we believe what we do, is a commandment. Any person or religion that does not encourage this behavior is sinning against God. I understand it is not easy. Our lives are too busy with day-to-day responsibilities. Attending church on Sundays and listening to a pastor, bishop, or priest preach is often the most convenient solution to our spiritual needs. It’s an easy and comfortable arrangement that allows us to feel good about ourselves. We put our complete trust in the directives given from the pulpit. We don’t scrutinize them because, after all, these organizations know what they are saying for they have existed for centuries.

So why am I writing this? Part of it, I confess, is selfish. I desire a world in which we can discuss faith in an open, enlightened manner. I, as a gay man, inhabit a marginal place among Christians; moreover, I’m a gay man who believes that my sexual orientation is part of the Divine. I don’t try to impose this belief on you but it is my hope that you can respect it, not for the sake of freedom of speech, but because it comes from careful and dedicated investigation of text and historical context. I share it because I want you to ask how I came to this conclusion when the dominant discourse in our culture affirms the opposite.

In some situations I realize the Bible is fallible or, at least not relevant. Examples such as eating shrimp and oysters, or even rabbit, no longer apply. The Bible is composed of a series of epistles and admonitions that served a purpose in the time they were given. Others no longer make sense. However, when carefully studied, this book can guide us in our journey of discovery. The most important thing is to listen to those voices that compel us to comply with the two commandments that Christ left us, anything that leads you down any other path is working in direct opposition to His plan.

I have written a novel that highlights the relationship between Christ and the male Beloved. This may make you uncomfortable. If so, it may be the repercussion of the conditioning that taught you that love between men is the unspeakable sin. This discomfort is understandable. It emanates from the homophobic culture in which we live. What you do with it, is part of your own journey. As a child of God, I am following my own road to that unseen fabric of greater universality, using my heart, my soul, and especially my mind. As a gay man, I have found in the original Christ the acceptance and the celebration of my humanity. As an artist, I invite you to read The Marién Revelation using your heart, soul, and mind.