Messy Thoughts"We Grew Up Gay in the Church. Here's What Happened." - Messy Thoughts 49
MESSY THOUGHTS 49. Can you be gay AND Christian? What happens when the church you grew up in tells you that who you are is wrong? And do you really need religion to be a good person? 👀⛪🏳️🌈 In Episode 49 of Messy Thoughts, BJ and LeBron are getting into one of their most personal and controversial conversations yet: RELIGION. Both grew up deeply involved in Christianity, from Southern Baptist churches and gospel choirs to youth retreats, Sunday services, and all the church drama in between. But growing up gay in a religious environment came with some complicated experiences. LeBron shares the story of receiving an email from his youth pastor condemning his sexuality after he came out—and how he responded. BJ reflects on his own relationship with Christianity, why he no longer practices, and what it means to find your own beliefs outside organized religion. And of course, this wouldn't be Messy Thoughts without a little chaos, laughter, and some very questionable church memories. 😂 In this episode, we're talking about: - Growing up gay in the Christian church - Black church culture, gospel music, and childhood memories - Homophobia, coming out, and religious rejection - Whether the Bible is used to justify discrimination - Spirituality vs. organized religion - Heaven, hell, God, and what happens after death - Church tithing, money, and religious hypocrisy - Christianity's complicated history in the Black community - Whether we'd raise our own children religious - Why respecting other people's beliefs matters Whether you're Christian, spiritual, atheist, questioning your faith, or just here for the mess, there's something in this conversation for you. 💬 WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU: If you had children, would you raise them in a specific religion, let them explore different beliefs, or raise them without religion entirely? Drop your thoughts in the comments. We know y'all have opinions! 🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO MESSY THOUGHTS Join BJ and LeBron for unfiltered conversations, unpopular opinions, hilarious stories, and the kind of discussions that usually happen behind closed doors. 👍 Like this video if you enjoyed the conversation. 💬 Comment and join the discussion. 🔔 Subscribe so you don't miss the next episode! Follow Messy Thoughts on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube for more clips, conversations, and chaos. Messy Thoughts — because some conversations are better when they get a little messy. #MessyThoughts #GayAndChristian #LGBTQPodcast #ReligiousTrauma #BlackChurch
