by Tinashe Wakapila

Part One: 25 years of democracy as Christian LGBTI+ persons in South Africa, the Genesis “God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve or madam and Eve” snort comment.

‘May 1996, South Africa became the first jurisdiction in the world to provide constitutional protection to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex + (LGBTI+) people, via section 9(3) of the South African Constitution, which disallows discrimination on race, gender, sexual orientation and other grounds.’ Taking this aspect in a Christian religious community an unfathomable door was opened to new interpretation and revelations of the new meaning of the word of God the bible. Oh yes! Just as the bible mentions in Matthew 18:18 “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be lost in heaven” with regards to that, as the legislature had open arms, a shift in many set apart communities was moved, for example churches and houses of worshipping. This article is not subject to any wide range community research but just a small scale informed archive (Myself) from experiences and information I retained in mingling with the locals.

Of up to 8 Queer led churches, namely

Victory Ministry Church International (VMCI): Founded by Apostle Z.M Zungu and late wife N.L Zungu on the base of Isaiah 61 vs 1-3. With 8 + branches in the entire country.

Parable of hope (unsure of the founder)

God’s presence Ministries led by Bishop Mnteshane

Fountain of Life Ministries (unsure of the founders)

Ark of Joy (unsure of the founder)

Joy Divine by Joshua Mosuoe

House of worship led by Apostle Dladla

Deo Gloria led by Apostle Deoborah Bell and Prophetess Marietjie Geldenhyus (Just to mention a few).

South Africa has broken the barriers no mankind in Africa has sort to. The Christian community strongly believed, (from a narrative or revelation passed down from generation to generation of tamed context from misinformed lineage of mankind) that Heterosexuality is the only sexuality in the genetics of mankind. Which I do not condemn because the hiding of the (LGBT+) community caused by fear of being erased from existence through brutal killings of them gave them a silent voice.

‘God created Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve or madam and Eve’ this for centuries and decades was interpreted in a way that stipulated God’s ability of being a stiff one minded creator to make 1 man for every 1 woman. Which is impossible, Demographics of South Africa alone state that 15–64 years 65.8% (male 16,275,424/female 15,984,181), 65 and over 5.4% (male 1,075,117/female 1,562,860) (2010 est.) . {Hold the thought} God does not make mistakes also comes as a supporting statement to the reason behind why people have to not be Homosexual because God created Adam and Eve. With mind and statement in thought it raises questionable doubt the issue of mankind creation must be used to condemn Homosexuality.

Not that statistics says be homosexual, but this is pure evidence that the Adam and Eve theory has been a wrong tool to use to say NO to homosexuality. Abused by self-righteous hypocritical Christians to put in dismay queer beings proves it is but just an insane and untrue judgement.

Most biblical abusive offenses to ridicule lgbti+ community in pursuit to detach us from the Christian community and demonize us is useless and personalized. In the 25 yrs of democracy I best believe a spiritual realm of open minded teachings of the context rose. The examples of them being useless has been proven because we have Queer led churches in South Africa that are successfully leading queer people to Christ, Victory Ministry Church International being proof, in particular I am a part of it. Having that church describes to me as an individual how democracy evolved in a blanket of acceptance for all.

Coming back to interpretation of the 25 years of democracy to the lgbti+ community arising to a better glory. I will tackle this article in the Christian/Spiritual religion aspect of this 25 years of democracy for the {LGBTIQ+} persons. The ground breaking of the whole ideology behind heterosexuality not being the only sexuality has been not really welcomed in the Christian Community. It has been a bumpy journey, accumulated lgbtiq+ identifying persons into the realm and challenges starting with because of a long time of rejection and condemnation queer people resorted to next best belief they could reach out to eg. Traditional Religion too.

“When you are spiritually connected, you are not looking for occasions to be offended, and you are not judging and labelling others. You are is a state of grace in which you know you are connected to God and thus free from the effects of anyone or anything external to yourself.” Wayne Dyer

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For the judgment you pronounce you will be judged unto, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your own eye, when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye” Matthew 7:1-5

“If someone isn’t what others want them to be, the others become angry. Everyone seems to have a clear idea of how other people should lead their lives, but none about his or her own” Paulo Coelho, The alchemist.

Related Posts:

https://inkanyiso.org/2019/03/13/2019-march-11-spending-my-day-at-vmci-in-sebokeng/

https://inkanyiso.org/2019/07/05/2019-june-30-a-journey-to-a-queer-priesthood/

https://inkanyiso.org/2019/02/06/legendary-pastor-moema-shares-his-journey-with-inkanyiso-org/