#thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself

[yutasbellybuttonpiercing]

- canine, but mine (pt. 1: acquaintances)

pairing: huang renjun x reader

au/genre: hybrid!au, fox hybrid!renjun, human!reader, virgin!renjun, smut, fluff, angst (?), the au is kinda unserious

don't like it, don't read it, okay... *sighs*

also, don't publicly shame me for any inaccuracies. i admittedly do not ready many (read: any) hybrid fics...

word count: 2860 words

warnings: HYBRIDS!, bullying, comforting, petting (not the sexual kind), semi-public diddling, mentions of virginity, cumming untouched, the base of renjun's tail is very sensitive......., sub!renjun ig

a/n: happy renjun day! 🦊

taglist: @jaeminnanaaa17 @i6renj

Ever since Renjun remembers, life has not been kind to him. Born not out of love between two people, but created in a laboratory for scientific research purposes, born not to be a part of society, but as an experiment for a potential weapon; part animal, part human, but not really part of either of those worlds.

Only after hybrid-rights-protests forced the government to take action against hybrid experiments, he was freed; free, but not really free, because that he'll never be. Instead, unloved by his creators that he could never bring himself to call parents, he continued growing up in a foster home, surrounded by kids that were nothing like him, kids that looked different than him, and kids that did not believe in the concept of "thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself". The days he was not kicked by them, he was at least laughed at, mocked, or judged.

Renjun, objectively, knows that it's not his fault that he looks different, that he is different. He was just born, or rather: brought to life, with a set of orange fox-like ears on top of his fluffy, brown hair, a soft, bushy tail, tiny little fangs, and claws that he always keeps neatly trimmed to not accidentally hurt anyone.

The bullying did not stop when he started going to school, nor did it lessen the older he got. Kids are mean, Renjun knows that by heart, and he's never even had a friend. When he was 14, the girls in his class dared each other who would be brave enough to "kiss the freak", when he was 16, people started inviting him on dates only to laugh at him with their friends when he showed up all excited, and when he finally finished school and started going to university, he thought it would all be different. To be fair, he was no longer pushed into lockers, he was no longer spat at and people stopped pulling at his tail for fun, but the mocking did not stop. And even when he met another hybrid, a popular, big white tiger hybrid, he didn't receive any sympathy. God how he wishes to at least be a cool, strong hybrid, like a lion or a bear... or even a wolf! Why did they have to make him a stupid fox...

Ever since that day, he's told himself one thing: you're going to work hard, get through university and get a good job in the big city... where there are lots of hybrids and lots of supporters.

At this point, Renjun is fairly used to the bullying. With his goal in mind, he doesn't fight it, he just lowers his head, his ears laying flat against his fluffy hair as he waits for it to be over. He guesses that people are just not ready for hybrids yet.

One can only imagine his upmost shock when on the first day of the new semester, someone willingly sat down next to him. Admittedly, you were 5 minutes late and there were no other seats available, but you didn't beg anyone to please scoot over just so you didn't have to sit next to the weird guy with the tail. Renjun vividly remembers this day in philosophy class, as the professor went on and on about Henri Bergson and how the sand wasp instinctively knows where to sting the caterpillar to paralyze it, while Renjun was just smitten by the girl sitting next to him without gagging.

Unable to talk to you, he was just sitting there, smiling shyly to himself at this small act that seemed so big to him. He remembers almost falling off his chair in shock as you "psst!"-ed at him and awkwardly asked for a pen since you forgot yours. He remembers having to pinch himself as you smiled and thanked him, and told him you thought his shirt was cute. He remembers looking around in case you weren't really talking to him as you said, "see you next week!"

And when in the following weeks, you kept sitting down next to him even though there were other seats available, he was almost sure this had to be a dream. But it wasn't, and when during the third lesson, you softly asked for his name, he was this close to bursting into tears.

A few weeks into the semester, Renjun is currently sitting at the library, trying to memorize the different forms of utilitarianism. As always, he's sitting in a separate study room that he booked just for himself – a precautious attempt to not get made fun of as he's trying to concentrate. He crosses out his second attempt of trying to spell deontology correctly as he notices someone passing by the glass door to his study room. A moment later, the person backs up and looks inside, and he realizes it's you.

His heart stops for a moment as you begin smiling and waving at him, and he slowly lifts his hand to mimic the action hesitantly. Of course, you take that as an invitation to come in.

You close the door after slipping inside, still talking in a low tone as not to disturb anyone outside.

"Hey~" you say and sit down across from Renjun. He smiles and bites his lip nervously, "hey."

"You here all alone?" You ask softly, "is it okay if I sit with you?"

Renjun blushes. He knows you didn't think anything of it, but mentioning his lack of acquaintances is a bit of a sore spot for him.

"Sure... if you want," he says shyly, still not completely trusting that you're not going to turn this all around and make fun of him.

"Only if it doesn't bother you," you smile, "I'll be super quiet, promise!"

His smile is getting more genuine as you talk so casually to him. He just starts feeling a bit more comfortable, when sudden movements in front of the glass door make his head lift up.

A group of guys is standing there, pressing their faces against the door, clearly mocking his fox ears with their hands behind their heads. His heart sinks, he should've known this was going to happen today, it always happens when he's out in public.

"What-" you ask, noticing the pained look on his face and the way his ears are pointing down as he feels a wave of shame overcome him. You turn around, taking in the group of guys who're still silently making fun of the fox hybrid. "What the fuck..."

Renjun's ears twitch in surprise as you stand up, and he waits anxiously for what's about to happen. You rip open the glass door, lifting your finger into their face before speaking to them, hushed but still loud enough for a few people to lift their heads. "What the fuck is wrong with you? Did your mom not teach you manners? You should be ashamed of yourselves, you're university students, cut the crap with your preschool bullying, you fucking assholes," you tell them, and Renjun's eyes widen comically. You... you're standing up for him? For him?!

"If I see you doing this one more time, I'll get you kicked off campus... Now go back to being worthless idiots somewhere else. Leave him alone, I swear to God..." you say before closing the door, flipping them off, pulling down the blinds, and heading back to Renjun. To Renjun's upmost surprise, the guys actually left, and looking embarrassed at that, possibly because you just made one hell of a scene – and it's probably the sexiest thing Renjun's ever witnessed.

You sit down again, this time next to him. "You okay?"

Renjun breathes out shakily, ears twitching, tail swaying back and forth nervously. He's not sure what to make of this, someone standing up for him, it has never happened to him before. And before he can stop himself, he blurts out the question he's been asking himself since the moment your ass cheeks touched the surface of the chair next to him in that first philosophy lesson. "Why are you so nice to me?"

You halt, furrowing your brows. "Why wouldn't I be?"

He seems even more confused by that answer. "Um... You know, I'm a hybrid? Maybe you find that weird?"

You blink at him, "why is that weird?"

"Don't you... think I'm weird?" He asks. "Odd? Repelling? Freaky? Off-putting?? Anything???" He keeps listing adjectives as you keep shaking your head no. "Why... would you stand up for me?"

"I just don't like bullies," you state nonchalantly, "plus you're really cute."

Renjun's eyes bulge out of their sockets, tail curling up so suddenly that he feels like he's almost broken something in there. Maybe you're an animal friend, maybe that's all he is to you? "Cute? Like the fox parts or...?"

"Everything about you is cute. The fox parts are cute, but you'd still be cute without them."

Renjun just stares at you. This can't be real. He pinches the palm of his hand several times without you noticing, but he's just not waking up. If this is a dream, which he's almost certain it has to be, he could do anything he wants right now... like making your head explode- just to be sure! He concentrates greatly on it, but your head stays intact. He gives up. "You're not disgusted?"

"What?!" You look utterly confused, then your features soften into a look of concern. "Are people... usually disgusted by you?"

He nods without hesitation. "Usually, they just point and laugh, sometimes it even gets worse than that..." Renjun can't even bring himself to cringe as you put on a brave expression and tell him you're going to protect him from now on, because this is honestly the best thing that's ever happened to him. His heart melts at your words and it's hard to believe he's actually being comforted. There are no jokes being thrown around, no mockery, not even any pity. For once, Renjun feels like there's someone who wants to protect him. His lower lip quivers slightly as he holds back tears, and without thinking, he leans forward and places his head on your shoulder.

He hears you coo quietly, lifting your hand to his back and pulling him closer. "Is... is it okay if I stroke your hair?"

Renjun closes his eyes and nods. The warmth of the hug is comforting, the touch of your hands is gentle and soothing. His tension quickly dies down as he melts against you as he realizes that he has never felt like this before. And as you begin gently scratching and massaging his scalp, his ears begin twitching and relaxing at the feeling of your nimble fingers. He tries to hide the innocent pleasure that's shooting though his body, not sure if you would think it's odd, but his heartbeat is increasing rapidly. Your fingers feel like magic as they brush against his ears and scratch the base of his scalp. Suddenly a little too unhinged for his liking, he begins purring and nuzzling your neck, enjoying every single bit of your touch.

"God, you're adorable..." you say softly, making sure to pet him behind his ears and Renjun's entire body fizzles with pleasure at the feeling. As if it has a mind of its own, his tail curls around your legs. "Is this okay? Have you ever been pet like this?"

Renjun hums in delight, "I've always dreamed about getting pet like this..." Your fingers begin gently playing with his ears. At first, they twitch nervously, but soon, he relaxes into the touch. He notes that his ears are very sensitive when being touched by someone else that isn't himself, and he loves the sensation.

"They're so soft... I could pet you like this all day," you say softly, making Renjun smile.

"Do you...," he hesitates for a bit, "want to touch my tail too? It's even softer..."

"Do you want me to?"

Renjun nods shyly, lifting his tail a bit for easy access. The moment your fingers begin brushing over his fur, he shivers, whimpering slightly. Every other time, whenever someone's touched his tail before, it was rough and mean, but the way you oh so gently run your fingers through his fur makes him almost lightheaded.

"Your fur is so soft...," you whisper and he hums in response, eyes already closed as he gets lost in the feeling. His tail makes small circles behind your leg when you brush over the fur, he whimpers softly as your fingers move further up towards the base of his tail.

Your fingers feel so good, unlike anything he's ever felt before. He keeps questioning if this is love, or if this is what it feels like when someone really cares, but all he knows is that he craves more and more of this all consuming feeling, when suddenly, he lets out a short, loud moan. The tips of your fingers have unknowingly reached the base of his tail, causing a jolt of pure, white, hot pleasure to shoot through his body.

Shamefully, he buries himself into your shoulder, his tail curling around your leg. He's mortified as your movements pause for a second, he's sure he's messed up now, but then your scratching picks up again and he breathes out shakily, body twitching at the feeling.

You keep going and going, and he begins moaning softly.

"Is this still okay for you?" The softness of your voice makes his heart melt.

"Mhm..." is all he is able to bring out at the overwhelming sensation of being touched there for the first time.

"Have you been touched here before?"

"N-never..." Renjun whines softly. He's feeling himself harden in his pants, cock straining against the fabric of his jeans and he's sure you noticed.

"Are you a virgin, Renjun?"

The question catches him off guard, but honestly, he's too far gone now to feel shy about it. It seems that you have picked up on how sensitive he is, and he can't really blame you for your assumption. You seem so open and accepting of him that he doesn't even hesitate before slightly nodding his head, "yeah..."

"And you're sure that you want to experience... this with me?"

The feeling of your fingers on his tail intensifies with every second, Renjun feels dizzy, there's barely any blood left in his brain at this point, all of it damming up in his cock and every other sensible part of his body. "yes.. yes...!"

It seems like this is all you needed to hear to speed up your movement, fingertips scratching and petting him in the most arousing way possible, forcing whimpers and moans from his mouth. "Aahh... Ah..." He tries to hold back, but the sensation is too much for him. Your touch is too nice and it's making him lose control as he bites his lip to keep himself from letting out a vocal response, but it's not enough. He's starting to tremble, breath getting heavier as he begins panting harshly. This sensation surely feels very close to how he feels when he's about to cum.

And just the attentive person you are, you speak up about it. "Are you gonna...?"

"I... Aahh... I think so..." He says, his voice shaking as he speaks. "It feels so nice..."

Experimentally, you move your fingers to the underside of his tail, and Renjun's body jolts in pleasure, his whole body jerks as he moans out, mouth slightly open while keeping his voice down as much as possible given your current location. He reaches up and grabs your wrist to make you keep touching him there. "Please..." He says in a thoroughly pleading voice. "Don't stop.."

As he forces his eyes to open, he notices your eyes on him, your face so close to his, and his eyes inevitably dart down to your lips as he gasps for more.

Of course, you take it as an invitation to kiss him, and as soon as your soft lips merge with his, Renjun knows that he's going to cum. He feels like he's actually going to faint as the pleasure reaches new heights, your kiss building the tension up and up, his head spins as he feels himself tighten up.

Your movements quickly send him over the edge. The intensity of the sensation is making his body shudder as he pulls you closer toward him and he lets himself go, muscles tightening even further as he releases into his pants with a high-pitched moan.

Your hands carefully stroke over his tail again, your unoccupied hand coming back up to his hair to help him calm down. He's breathing heavily, body feeling fuzzy inside at the attention and from his intense release. "O-oh, God..."

"That was so hot...," you whisper, gently kissing the top of his head. He lets out a soft giggle. You successfully have made him blush once again. But just as he's really, fully calming down, he inevitably notices the sticky feeling between his thighs and cringes.

You chuckle softly as you notice the look on his face. "Maybe we should get you to a restroom..."

© 2024 YUTASBELLYBUTTONPIERCING all rights reserved — please DO NOT translate, take, nor repost any of my works.

[the-mercy-workers]

Charity is one of the fundamental virtues of the Catholic religion. The moral doctrine preached by Christ is comprised in the words: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and with thy whole mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. And the second is like to this. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments depends the whole law and the prophets" (St. Matthew 22:37-40).

As in everything else, the Holy Helpers are our models also in charity. Charity consists in wishing well for our fellow men, rejoicing with the glad and sympathizing with the sad. It includes also doing good to all, being friendly, lenient, meek, and helpful toward them. We are loving our neighbor when we assist the poor and distressed, when we harbor no envy for those better off than ourselves, when we esteem the just for their virtue, and hate not the sinner but their sin.

We love our neighbor by not just having these sentiments in our heart, but by showing them in our actions.

Day six meditation from "Novena to all of the Fourteen Holy Helpers"

[nerdygaymormon]

Mark 12:30-31 - Love God & Love People

30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

Love God & Love People, there’s no greater commandment. And yet, LGBTQ people often don't feel love from Christians and churches. Anti-queerness seems to have become a large part of modern Christian identity. Some believers think that the best way to show love to queer people is by preaching that they need to deny this important part of who they are.

I think any believer should be asking, "How can I love queer people?" and "Do they recognize what I am doing as love?"

For LGBTQ people, it is a challenge to reconcile the message about a loving God with rejecting messages preached at church. It feels like many Christians put an asterisk on the commandment to love their neighbor *unless they are queer.

Christ says to love, so don't let other things get in the way of that.

For a person to feel loved, they need to feel respected. If I identify as gay, don't say that I struggle with same-sex attraction, that feels like you are reject my understanding of myself. If someone shares their pronouns with you and you instead use the pronouns you're more comfortable with, it shows you're unwilling to make even this small effort show respect and we should be on guard around you.

Your love shouldn't be conditional. People get to choose how to live their own life. Self-determination is an important of being an adult, and teenagers need a growing amount of agency as they mature. Even if you don't agree with our choices, don't stop loving us.

If you love someone, you show an interest in them. Ask questions. If there's something important to me, ask me about that. If I'm dating, ask how it's going.

Speak up if people say negative things about us, even if we aren't in the room. If you love us you will stand with us when someone says something offensive, even if it possibly costs you social standing in your religious community. Similarly, speak positively about me and the other queer people you know. Speaking about LGBTQ people and topics will help others become more comfortable with our existence.

Support policies which allow us to be treated with fairness and equality. It's hard to believe you love me if you vote for my oppression.

For queer people, let me remind you that the commandment is to love others as yourself. This presupposes that you love yourself. I know it's easy to replay those negative messages in your head, to believe the worst things said about queer people, that is not self-love. Sometimes we turn our fear and anger inward against ourselves, that is not love. We need to accept ourselves and recognize the goodness in us, then learn to love the different parts of who we are and develop the talents we have and appreciate the things which interest us.

[apenitentialprayer]

My mistress had taught me the precepts of God's Word: "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." [Matt 22:39b] "Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye even so unto them." [Matt 7:12a] But I was her slave, and I supposed she did not recognize me as her neighbor.

Harriet Jacobs (from Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Chapter I)

[officialyourdailyinspiration]

The 10 Commandments

1 And Moshe called kol Yisroel, and said unto them, Shema, Yisroel, to the chukkim and mishpatim which I speak in your ears today, that ye may learn them, and be shomer to do them.

2 Hashem Eloheinu made a Brit with us in Chorev.

3 Hashem made not this Brit with Avoteinu, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive today.

4 Hashem talked with you panim b’panim in the har out of the midst of the eish,

5 (I stood between Hashem and you at that time, to show you the Devar Hashem; for ye were afraid by reason of the eish, and went not up into the har) saying:

6 I am Hashem Eloheicha, Which brought thee out of Eretz Mitzrayim, from the bais avadim.

7 Thou shalt have no elohim acharim before Me.

8 Thou shalt not make thee any pesel, or any temunah of anything that is in Shomayim above, or that is in Ha’Aretz beneath, or that is in the mayim beneath ha’aretz;

9 Lo tishtachaveh (thou shalt not bow down thyself) unto them, nor serve them; for I Hashem Eloheicha am an El Kannah, visiting the iniquity of the avot upon the banim unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me,

10 And showing chesed unto thousands of them that love Me and are shomer over My mitzvot.

11 Thou shalt not take the Shem of Hashem Eloheicha in vain; for Hashem will not hold him guiltless that taketh Shmo in vain.

12 Keep shomer Shabbos to set Shabbos apart as kodesh as Hashem Eloheicha commanded thee.

13 Sheshet yamim thou shalt labor, and do all thy work:

14 But the Yom HaShevi’i is the Shabbos of Hashem Eloheicha: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy ben, nor thy bat, nor thy eved, nor thy maidservant, nor thine ox, nor thine donkey, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy ger that is within thy she’arim; that thy eved and thy amah may rest as well as thou.

15 And remember that thou wast an eved in Eretz Mitzrayim, and that Hashem Eloheicha brought thee out thence through a yad chazakah and by an outstretched zero’a; therefore Hashem Eloheicha commanded thee to be shomer Shabbos on Yom HaShabbat.

16 Honor thy av and thy em, as Hashem Eloheicha hath commanded thee; that thy yamim may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in ha’adamah which Hashem Eloheicha giveth thee.

17 Lo tirtzah (thou shalt not murder).

18 V’lo tinaf (neither shalt thou commit adultery).

19 V’lo tignov (neither shalt thou steal).

20 V’lo ta’aneh v’reacha ed shav (neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbor).

21 V’lo tachmod (neither shalt thou covet, desiring) thy neighbor’s wife, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbor’s bais, his sadeh, or his eved, or his amah, his ox, or his donkey, or any thing that is thy neighbor’s. — Deuteronomy 5:1-21 | Orthodox Jewish Bible (OJB) Orthodox Jewish Bible Copyright © 2002, 2003, 2008, 2010, 2011 by Artists for Israel International and the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Cross References: Genesis 15:13; Exodus 18:20; Exodus 19:18; Exodus 20:2-3 and 4; Exodus 20:17; Exodus 34:7; Leviticus 19:11; Numbers 14:18; Deuteronomy 29:1; Psalm 81:9; Matthew 5:21; Matthew 5:27; Matthew 5:33; Matthew 15:4; Matthew 19:18; Mark 2:27; Luke 13:14; Luke 23:56; Romans 7:7; Galatians 3:19; Hebrews 8:9

[hamliet]

I know this is a very sensitive subject but I still need to know ; please tell me do you think that God is against homosexuality ?

No. I think being homophobic is a sin, actually.

I can't speak for all religions, but I do know that there are plenty of, say, Jewish and Muslim scholars who are pro-LGBT and would happily discuss. I can only speak for my religion, which is Christianity.

I'm gonna talk a bit more... upfront about my personal beliefs under the cut. Which are very Christian, so if you aren't comfortable with that, feel free not to read.

I was raised to think it was, to be sure. But I was never fully comfortable with this idea, and have studied theology a bit in college to examine what I believed and why.

I love the Bible, actually. I think it's inspired by God, but that doesn't mean a flat literal interpretation. I mean, it's actually a fundamental misunderstanding to think so--we must ask ourselves why God chose literature as a medium to speak to us. That doesn't mean everything that's in the Bible is a narrative allegory and never historical, btw. It just means that, like all works of literature, we gain understanding when we approach it through different lens: lens that take in the culture it was written in, biases of authors, our own bias, the culture we live in now, and the fact that as Christians, we believe the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and that flesh is Jesus Himself. Jesus is the fulfillment of God on earth, both human and divine.

Hence, however you interpret Scripture, if you're Christian, I would argue it should be through the lens of Jesus.

A lot of the "sins" outlined in the Christian Old Testament are no longer considered sins in the New Testament. I've seen people debate back and forth what is and what isn't, and I believe Jesus did leave us a way to tell.

Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

All the commandments, including sexual morality ones, can be summed up through loving God and loving our neighbor. Loving God is shown directly through loving our neighbor.

Romans 13:10 is pretty explicit about this:

The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

I don't see harm coming from love between people of any gender. I see a lot of harm coming from homophobia, though. I see raised suicide rates. I see so many "ex gay" ministries folding in on themselves. And this does matter; in fact, it's Biblical. Matthew 7:15-20:

Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

The fruit of this homophobia is apparent for everyone to see. It's rotten. It results in dead kids, in (straight) marriages that are based on lies that harm women who marry men who admit to not ever being attracted to them, in people dying from AIDS.

Besides, the Old Testament is itself a chronicle of God's revelation that ends in the ultimate form of the person of Christ. That doesn't mean it can be cast aside, but instead seen as a progressive revelation, as a compassionate God makes allowances for people in an ancient Near Eastern culture to maintain some ancient Near Eastern cultural practices, which may well have been not exactly positive towards any sexuality outside of men and their wives, who were also their property. I mean, it's complicated--for example, David and Jonathan saying the love they share is "better than that of women" might be two bros being bros but also very well might not be because that is... deeply intense--but also, Jesus directly counters some of the "Law" in his testimony and says precisely that God does make allowances for cultures.

Plus, let's look at history. There are more in-depth theological examinations of the phrasing used that is often translated "homosexuality" in the New Testament (which only began to be translated as such in 1946). The historical context of these words almost certainly refer to p*dophilia (which was frankly common back then; ancient Greek culture encouraged men to sleep with young boys to "mentor them) and to religious prostitution, which are very, very different things than how we understand LGBT relationships. There still might well be a bias in Paul's letters, but Paul is not Christ, and culturally it's not surprising. We are all limited by our cultures, even today.

Gay relationships have positively impacted Christianity. You know the King James Bible, the first English translation? It was authorized because King James himself was in a gay relationship with another man and wanted to get the church leaders off his back. In fact, King James then literally stated:

I, James, am neither a god nor an angel, but a man like any other. Therefore I act like a man and confess to loving those dear to me more than other men. You may be sure that I love the Earl of Buckingham more than anyone else, and more than you who are here, assembled. I wish to speak in my own behalf and not to have it thought to be a defect, for Jesus Christ did the same, and therefore I cannot be blamed. Christ had John, and I have George."

(I mean, I think you're wrong there King James--John was certainly a teenager, as were most of the disciples--no this wasn't weird this was normal for that day in age--but I do not think Jesus was sleeping with a teen.) But thanks to King James, despite his iffy thoughts on specific hermeneutics, lots more people had access to the Scriptures.

There's also science. We can't ever discover anything God doesn't already know, so. Statistics and science do tell us that intersex conditions are not nearly so rare and gender is not as clear-cut as we'd like to think (please research Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome). It is very possible there are conditions we don't know about, biological ones, that change how we label someone's gender. If gender is itself far more complex than male or female, if it's somewhat of a spectrum, then it follows that God is aware of this and whom we're attracted to itself cannot be so clearly labeled.

[always-just-me]

A young boy, the child of migrant workers, at home in Edinburg, Texas, 1939. Such incredible details. The little scrap of paper hanging side at the top left is a handwritten note that reads, "Thou shalt love thy neighbors as thyself." There is also a copy of the 10 commandments. He' d be 90 years old or so but this boy could still be alive today. I hope he went on to live a happy life.

Photo by Russell Lee.

[kookies2000]

It's the day!!! Happy Pride Month to everyone who follows me (for some reason, including those hot Tumblr girl bots), my friends and mutuals, to every stranger on here, LGBT+ people and allys, and to everyone in or out of the closet. 🏳️‍🌈

And to anyone who is against this celebration, eh. I was the same in my childhood. Until I joined theater at age 15, that was filled with gay people. And learned that they aren't the blood sucking, child stealing, God hating, shape shifting demons I was taught they were. They're pretty chill people. In other words.......

John 8:7 KJV - So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself" (22:37-39)

No one is without sin, including the homophobic people, and no one should put any of our brothers and sisters down for being born the way they were. Jesus loves all of us, and that's what he wants us to do, to love each other. 🌈

[coolksaposts]

NASB 1977 If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law, according to the Scripture, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF,” you are doing well. James 2:8

Geneva Study Bible{4} If ye fulfil the {f} royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:

(4) The conclusion: charity which God prescribes cannot agree with the respecting of people, seeing that we must walk in the king's highway.

(f) The law is said to be royal and like the king's highway, in that it is simple and without changes, and that the law calls everyone our neighbour without respect, whom we may help by any kind of duty.

[junkyardromeo]

okay I'm back, and as promised here's the highlights:

"stained glass windows depict my sin//the punishment is carved with gold"

"shalt love thou neighbor as thyself//but only if they're a norm"

"love thy neighbor//except for the transgender youth"

"a face stained from tears, gore, and blood"

"mary has no mercy for me//I'm nothing but dirt on her floor"

"with god as my witness I will never be queer again"

I tried to write from the experience of growing up queer in a very christian city, but it's also about religious trauma and commentary on hateful christians

girl* what the fuck that’s some good shit i love religious trauma <333

[catenaaurea]

The Baltimore Catechism

Part Two: The Commandments

Lesson Fifteen: The Two Great Commandments

188. Besides believing what God has revealed, what else must we do to be saved?

Besides believing what God has revealed, we must keep His law. (John 14:15)

189. Which are the two great commandments that contain the whole law of God?

The two great commandments that contain the whole law of God are:

Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and with thy whole mind, and with thy whole strength;

Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

(Matthew 22:35-40)

190. What must we do to love God, our neighbor, and ourselves?

To love God, our neighbor, and ourselves we must keep the commandments of God and of the Church, and perform the spiritual and corporal works of mercy. (I John 3:18)

191. Which are the chief corporal works of mercy?

The chief corporal works of mercy are seven:

To feed the hungry.

To give drink to the thirsty.

To clothe the naked.

To visit the imprisoned.

To shelter the homeless.

To visit the sick.

To bury the dead.

192. Which are the chief spiritual works of mercy?

The chief spiritual works of mercy are seven:

To admonish the sinner.

To instruct the ignorant.

To counsel the doubtful.

To comfort the sorrowful.

To bear wrongs patiently.

To forgive all injuries.

To pray for the living and the dead.

193. Is everyone obliged to perform the works of mercy?

Everyone is obliged to perform the works of mercy, according to his own ability and the need of his neighbor. (Matthew 25:35-36)

194. Are all the ordinary deeds done every day to relieve the corporal or spiritual needs of others true works of mercy?

All the ordinary deeds done every day to relieve the corporal or spiritual needs of others are true works of mercy, if done in the name of Christ. (Mark 9:40)

195. Which are the commandments of God?

The commandments of God are these ten:

I am the Lord thy God; thou shalt not have strange gods before Me.

Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.

Remember thou keep holy the Lord's day.

Honor thy father and thy mother.

Thou shalt not kill.

Thou shalt not commit adultery.

Thou shalt not steal.

Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife.

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's goods.

196. Should we be satisfied merely to keep the commandments God?

We should not be satisfied merely to keep the commandments of God, but should always be ready to do good deeds, even when they are not commanded. (Matthew 19:21)

197. What does Our Savior especially recommend that is not strictly commanded by the law of God?

Our Savior especially recommends the observance of the Evangelical Counsels – voluntary poverty, perpetual chastity, and perfect obedience. (Matthew 5:48)

[biblereadingsblog]

A common misconception about Christianity that people have is that all we have to do to be saved is do good works. While it is important to do good works, we cannot be saved by ourselves or on works alone. Ephesians 2:8-9. We need God and His Son to be saved, and we need to have a relationship with Him. To have the best relationship with our Lord after fully submitting to Him, we must abide by these commandments: “30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. 31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31. After accepting Jesus as our Savior, the two most important commandments to follow is to love God with everything we are and to love people. We can learn to love God by separating ourselves from the world daily and spending time with Him in prayer and reading His Word. Doing this will help us to realize just how good the Lord is and how much He loves us, which will cause us to love Him. 1 John 4:19. Then, we are told so many times to love our neighbor (not just the person who lives next door. Everyone is considered our neighbor!). If we are to be like Jesus as much as possible, then loving others is crucial because He loved everyone so much that He died for us! We must have brotherly love for everyone around us, and not just in our words, but in our deeds. 1 John 3:18, Romans 12:10. So if we were to do anything today, let us love God and love people. It is one of the best things we can do to bring glory to God!

[just-me-1967]

T I M E

It’s a date on a calendar – a number on a clock – a day – a minute – a second – a memory (remember the time….)

We never have enough, do we? Sometimes we want to rush through life – “oh, if this day would just be over, or I’m ready for this week to be done.”

We think, we have all the time in the world to do what we want – and yet we know that life has an end – but it never really seems real, does it?

We’re not built for goodbyes or true endings – but at times, we do feel that life is too difficult, and it would just be easier – better – to be over – but, when it is all said and done – we really don’t want to leave or be left.

And that’s because God designed in us a desire to live forever – that is what was intended. But as you all probably know the story – due to curious human nature and the devil’s influence to go against God – here we are today with such minimal time to live this one precious life on Earth.

I believe for many of us, it is hard to think of life as precious – for there is so much sickness, anger, negativity, violence, and intolerance in this world and within us.

But we must not forget our times of good health, happiness, positivity, patience, love, and forgiveness within ourselves and for others – for these make life worthwhile.

As family, or as friends – we have all felt disappointment in our own lives or in one another and have chosen to step back – close the door – protect ourselves – but then, too much time has passed and there in front of you is the one you love – old and at the end of life.

So, please – none of us are guaranteed tomorrow – we must all live in the present – as they say – it is a gift.

We all choose the roads we travel, the paths we take, the ones we love and the ones we choose not to love or forgive and walk away from …… One life is given, it’s short, and it can be filled with joy – and that is by choosing to love over all other things.

Remember – God’s greatest commandments, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind” and “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”

Author - Just Me 1967

[officialyourdailyinspiration]

“Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” Now you love yourself suitably when you love God better than yourself. What, then, you aim at in yourself you must aim at in your neighbor, namely, that he may love God with a perfect affection. For you do not love him as yourself, unless you try to draw him to that good which you are yourself pursuing. For this is the one good which has room for all to pursue it along with thee. From this precept proceed the duties of human society.” – Augustine

[thewomanofrevelation]

THAT THOU SHALT LOVE (7) THY NEIGHBOR (3) AS THYSELF (1).

[vincewillard-1971]

The First And Great Commandment

Matthew 22:34-46

34. But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together.

35. Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,

36. Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

37. Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

38. This is the first and great commandment.

39. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

40. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

41. While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,

42. Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David.

43. He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying.

44. The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?

45. If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?

46. And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him anymore questions.