Posted on 03/13/2013 2:53:28 AM PDT by SoFloFreeper
In Kentucky, a Bible Belt state where voters have passed a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, the movement to promote gay rights has two factions.
One seeks to overturn discrimination through a legislative path, admitting it faces long odds. The other wants to break down barriers to gay marriage with demonstrations and civil disobedience.
(Excerpt) Read more at mobile.reuters.com ...
I believe that there is a fundamental misunderstanding about Grace via Christ. There is clearly an expectation by God of growth and work on our part.
http://bible.cc/matthew/5-48.htm
Note that the Greek for “perfect” is complete
http://biblos.com/matthew/5-48.htm is all the Greek.
Here’s the actual word: http://biblesuite.com/greek/5046.htm
It is consistent with growth, maturity and improvement to a state of godliness.
Homosexuality or same sex attraction is potentially one or a combination of the following:
1. a mental illness
2. a genetic trait
3. an epigenetic trait
That’s it. So as a sin its treatment would appear to be in line with other mental or physical ailments. The sin occurs in succumbing, not in being.
Christian compassion calls for understanding, but not acceptance of the sin. Charity not hatred. That isn’t and hasn’t been effectively stated. The media is interested in creating Christian bogeymen who only want to hurt and condemn homosexuals.
That’s an insulting charicature of Christ’s Gospel. I believe God is stricter than we realize and more loving than we can comprehend.
Sorry, but I don’t agree “that’s it.”
Epigenetics is a new science. The people behind the agenda have been running themselves ragged trying to find a physiological reason for homosexuality; if they can’t find a genetic link, they’ll try this. I would expect this theory to be disproven, given time, like all the “gay gene” theories.
I believe homosexuality is a sin which is introduced to the individual by his or her particular environment, such as abnormal parental relationships, sexual abuse as a child or sexual experience as a young person with an older homosexual. I used to work in an industry which had plenty of gay male employees, and they all loved to talk about their private lives. Almost all of them had absent, weak fathers, domineering mothers, had been abused as a child, or had been initiated by an older homosexual, or some combination of those factors.
I don’t accept that it’s something they’re born with. Too many people decide late in life that they’re gay. And the majority of lesbians and homosexuals are attracted to the opposite sex, as well.
I agree with you-—God is so much more loving than we can imagine. But we know He is absolutely holy, as well. Romans 1 says that God gives people over to their depravity when they practice homosexuality. We should never hate the individual, but we should have no tolerance for this sin God calls an abomination.
Heterosexual nonmonogamy isn’t unusual. Polygyny is at some points allowed by and encouraged by God for His own reasons. Sexual relations outside of marriage are always condemned by God.
Monogamy isn’t a genetic, epigenetic or psychological illness, but a social response to civilization or a religious response to God’s commandments.
Anything other than monogamy or God-authorized polygyny is a sign of mental illness. Poor self-esteem in both males and females leads to avoiding marriage.
Then it must be psychological. I actually suspect a combination of all three.
Law that establishes homosexual “marriage” is law designed to persecute those that refuse to support and service homosexual behavior.
But isn’t covetousness a sin of thought and envy a sin? Don’t the following say that even the thoughts are sins?
Proverbs 24:9 (KJV)
The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.
John 3:15 (KJV)
Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
I don’t disagree that we must strive to not sin - but I do believe that only God is without sin.
Christ said in Matthew 19:17: “Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God”
However, knowing that we are incapable he offered us salvation through his sacrifice to cleanse us that we who come to him may be saved.
I’m not a theologian by any means, but I seem to recall that there was something in Romans or Acts that said when we come to Christ we still have sin, but it is no longer a part of us though it dwells within us or some such.
It’s a weighty topic and I don’t want to bother you with a running dialogue. I know many in the homosexual community want Christians to say it isn’t a sin so they can stop feeling guilty. But it is. I just think as Christians we should say - yes you sin, we all do, but you can still be saved by accepting Christ and working not to sin again. You will still fall, but in the long run having received Christ and clinging to God will save your soul. The same as we do for the liar, envier, murderer who asks for forgiveness and believes.
Faith that despite our failures our belief in the Lord and Christ’s sacrifice will save us. Fear the Lord and repent, but be humble enough to know that we can never be free of sin.
Agreed so far.
No matter the sin if they believe in Christ and repent when they fall then they can be saved.
And here's the rub. If someone is identifying themselves as "gay" they have not repented. They are claiming that their sin is the way they are and not what they choose to do.
There are no "gay" Christians. There may be Christians that struggle with same sex temptations. But they are not "gay" if they label themselves "gay" that is saying that they have totally given into their temptations. Definitely not Christian
Just wanted to clear that up. Following the holy spirit and resisting temptation of evil is possible despite one’s predisposition, if you may.
Exactly correct. Having temptation or mental illness that causes perverse desires is not sinful.
Homosexuality is a disease only known by it's behavior.
Although Romans 1 seems to state that this is impossible. In fact I have never met any practicing homosexual who did not know the behavior was somehow wrong. It's written on our hearts even before we are saved.
Yes we should tell them they can be saved. In fact we must. But we cannot tell them they cannot be free of that sin. God has delivered tens of thousands out of homosexuality. HE expects them to live clean.
While it is true that we will never be without sin. We should not be committing teh same sins over and over and over again. We should be growing closer to Christ (and freer from sin) each day.
I disagree. If we call it genetic, or an illness, we take away responsibility. I don’t understand why some are set on trying to find an explanation for it when Scripture is plain: it’s depravity.
A merciful God wouldn’t give them over to their practices if they were merely sick. Would he have destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah if the people in those cities had been guilty of nothing but having emotional problems? Repentance and turning to God is what sodomites need, not therapy.
I recently made the decision to stop using the word “gay” to refer to homosexuals due to the deception and inaccuracy involved. “Sodomite” is a less pleasant term, but it’s more accurate. There will always be those who are offended by its use, but I think they would be far more offended by a description of sodomite practices. And that’s what’s necessary.....homosexuals need truth as a starting point if they are ever going to realize their sins. THAT is compassion.
I can agree with that I suppose
There are religions out there that sanction it. Some even allow for openly gay ministers. I also know for a fact that some Catholic priests go against the churches teachings and do not require pennance for homosexual relations and go as far as justifying it even in the reconciliation room (and I am Catholic). This has to be the case because there are several in my very own church that are “devout” in that they are openly gay couples, very involved, and go to reconciliation on a regular basis. This would be impossible if the priest recognized the lifestyle as sinful.
I agree with you. It is a satanic temptation. There may be some that are predisposed to it, just as there are some that are predisposed to greed, anger, heterosexual philandering etc, but there is no proof it is genetic or a mental illness. It is a perversion.
if it is Reuters it is Wrong.
Yes, well said; thank you.
But none of those "religions" is Christian as the bible BLATANTLY forbids homosexual behavior and plainly states that NO homosexual will inherit the kingdom of God (Go to heaven).
If a church accepts homosexual behavior that church has rejected Christ and all His teachings
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