Christian 'Glee' Star: Acceptance of Homosexuality Not a Contradiction to Faith

Christian Post ^ | 09/09/2011 | Gina E. Ryder

[SeekAndFind]

Actress Kristin Chenoweth is a self-identifying Christian who has sparked controversy by speaking out about her support of the gay community in an interview with lesbian and gay publication The Advocate.

The LBGT publication asked the TV and theater star: "What would you ask people who cite Christianity as their justification for passing laws that discriminate against people?"

Chenoweth replied, "I would ask, 'What would Jesus do?' It sounds so cliché and Pollyanna-ish, but I have a feeling if he were on the earth today, he wouldn't be walking around saying, 'You’re going to hell' and 'You're wrong, you're wrong, you're wrong.' I think he'd be accepting and loving."

Chenoweth is best known for her theater and television roles such as Glinda in "Wicked" and April Rhodes on "Glee." The actress is also releasing her fourth studio album Some Lessons Learned on Sept. 13.

Chenoweth is not new to controversy over her conflicting beliefs. In 2005, she was fired from a "Woman in Faith" concert for her support of gay rights.

Analysts for Focus on the Family refer to pro-gay Christians as a part of a larger movement called "Pro-Gay Revisionist Theology." Leaders of this movement claim Christians' prejudice against homosexuals leads them to misread biblical texts about homosexuality.

Christian Research Institute's Joseph P. Gudel says, "I realize that it is not 'politically correct' to speak critically concerning any person or group. Nonetheless, true Christian love does not ignore immorality and the lives ruined by it, but speaks out in the hope of helping those individuals."

Contradictions are not Chenoweth's concern, however. "I don't judge you for your opinions, so please don't judge me for mine," the actress said in response to critics.

"I read my Bible and I pray and all of that – I really do," Chenoweth told The Advocate. "But at the same time, I don't think being gay is a sin. Period."

[Reddy]

“You think people engaging in some of the most vile sinful behavior should not be told to “sin no more”? “

I don’t think God told me to go and tell people that, no. He told me to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, take care of the widow, comfort those in prison, and heal the sick.

[little jeremiah]

Don’t all religions condemn alcoholism? Overeating? Cheating? Shoplifting?

Last I looked, there were no huge international agendas promoting those behaviors as good or worthy of celebration or forcing everyone else to "accept" or tolerate them. And overeating, while certainly gluttony when engaged in regularly, is wrong, it is not equivalent to homosexuality. It's weird when people drag in all kinds of wrongs and say "but telling a little white lie is wrong, just like homosexuality is!". Everything is not equivalent. Murder is much worse than slapping someone in the face, for instance.

Have I used the word sodomite on this thread? No? Then why are you trotting it out? And why do you not want people calling same sex acts sinful? What do you want it called, baskets of rose petals?

[KDD]

Isn’t what he said to the mob preparing to stone the woman caught in adultery to death really the moral of that story though.

“Let he among you who is without sin cast the first stone.”

[little jeremiah]

No one knows what causes homosexuality, but I have learned through simple observation that some children have homosexual tendencies at a young age. Maybe they were abused? Maybe there was a chemical imbalance in the womb? At this point, no one knows for sure what the underlying cause is, but the point is that no matter what the cause we are to love the person.

---

Why do you think that condemning behavior or attitudes means not loving the person? Do you think when a parent disciplines a child for hurting his brother the parent doesn’t love the child? Or any other wrong behavior? In your view then Jesus didn’t love many people since he condemned plenty of behavior and attitudes. Suppose someone’s slitting their wrists, it’s not loving to tell them it’s wrong and try to stop them? Love means always telling people that it’s fine to kill themselves and others? Or walk off cliffs? Or engage in egregiously sinful behavior?

People do know what causes homosexuality. You may not, but experts do. If you want to know, you can read this thread with links:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2730140/posts

Not born this way: The facts, plus help available
Save California ^ | Various authors

Posted on Sunday, June 05, 2011 7:48:09 AM by scripter

Without any reputable evidence, the entertainment culture, uneducated media, and sexual activists have seduced today’s teenagers, in particular, to believe that people are born homosexual.

However, science has found no biological basis for homosexuality, bisexuality, or transsexuality.

Study after study has found the “LGBT” lifestyle to be unhealthy, with the highest rate of sexually-transmitted diseases, and higher cancer rates and earlier deaths.

While all people are worthy and valuable, the fact is people are not “born this way,” as a popular song insists.

On this page you will find:

1. The facts on homosexuality
2. Resources to overcome homosexual behavior and gender identity disorder
3. An important video message titled “Does God Love Gay People?”
4. Some personal stories from people who used to live a homosexual lifestyle

Homosexuality is not innate; no biological origin

(Links and much info follows)

[little jeremiah]

Every scripture and religion in the world tells us to not tolerate, celebrate or accept disgusting, unnatural, unhealthy and sinful behavior.

It’s really quite simple.

[Reddy]

I did not say you said, “sodomite”; other posters have used that phrase on this thread.

I did not say homosexual sex is not a sin, in fact I said it was- check the original thread. But it is not my place to walk up to someone and point out their sin.

And yes, there are other huge international agendas to promote other disorders- the UN promotes greed, Hollywood promotes adultery, the white house promotes racism. The article in this thread was discussing a Christian’s response to homosexuality, and that is what I addressed.

[little jeremiah]

So you like that part, and ignore the part where he told her to “sin no more”.

So we are not supposed to stone people to death for adultery, but Jesus never said that we should call disgusting sinful behavior what it is.

No one is advocating picking up stones and killing others. But what the homosexual agenda is pushing is killing people and destroying lives.

[Reddy]

I did not say homosexuals were “born this way”. I said that no one knows.

“Do you think when a parent disciplines a child for hurting his brother the parent doesn’t love the child? Or any other wrong behavior?”

How do you propose disciplining homosexuals?

[Reddy]

“Every scripture and religion in the world tells us to not tolerate, celebrate or accept disgusting, unnatural, unhealthy and sinful behavior.”

Please describe what that means in everyday life. What does that look like? Walking up to homosexuals and telling them that they are disgusting, unnatural and unhealthy?

Every Scripture and religion in the world tells us to love our brothers, not just the ones who don’t sin (because there aren’t any people who don’t sin!)

[little jeremiah]

So you are condemning Christians for condmemning homosexuality.

You’re not showing love, then.

Plus you never addressed any of my other points.

Homosexual behavior involves some of the most disgusting “sex” acts ever thought up by mentally ill people. Ever heard of fisting? Rimming? Scatting? Golden showers? If you haven’t, do a search. Homosexuals are much more prone to molesting children than the general population. In fact, the original “Gay Rights” list of demands included the REMOVAL of ALL AGE OF CONSENT LAWS. As well as the number and sex of people allowed to be married.

Vile homosexual acts are taught in schools. Homosexuals are allowed to foster and adopt children, and studies are clear that children raised by homosexuals have emotional, behavioral and sexual problems at a very high rate.

You have no idea what love is. Love cannot be separated from truth. Is it love to give a heroin addict heroin? Or is it love to help them get free from the slavery of addiction?

If you want to learn what causes homosexuality, read the link I provided. Real love means helping homosexuals who want to change leave the “gay” life. Real love means telling the truth that they can change. Real love means protecting children and society from the onslaught of the “gay” agenda.

[little jeremiah]

Every Scripture and religion in the world tells us to love our brothers, not just the ones who don’t sin (because there aren’t any people who don’t sin!)

You are purposely evading my questions. Real love cannot be separated from truth. You are vociferously supporting the homosexual agenda because you are slamming anyone who says it isn't nice, normal, healthy and should be condemned. You are evading every single point or question I am asking. You apparently think churches or other houses of worship should never say that homosexual behavior is wrong. You say we should love our brothers as though I am saying we should not.

Tell me this, should we love murderers? I say yes. Should we continue to teach that killing is wrong, and tell murderers that they have done wrong, and should stop? Obviously yes. You want homosexuals never to have to hear that their behavior is wrong. If you don't like hearing it, then get off this thread, because I'm not going to shut up.

I am sick and tired of people assisting the descent into the abyss of sexual anarchy and that is exactly what you are doing.

[little jeremiah]

“Do you think when a parent disciplines a child for hurting his brother the parent doesn’t love the child? Or any other wrong behavior?”

You didn't answer my question. Now I'm asking it again. Don't evade it.

[little jeremiah]

So you think it’s terrible and unloving to say that homosexuality is wrong.

And yet you think it’s perfectly loving to tell me and others that we are wrong.

So, according to you, it’s not loving to tell homosexuals that they are wrong, but it’s good to tell me and others that we are wrong. So, the real sinful act is not homosexual acts, the real sinful act is condemning it.

Okay, just so it’s clear.

[PieterCasparzen]

there is very little possibility that even Church discipline will reach the level to what God has called it

Church discipline is not about pursuing infallibility - the two have nothing to do with each other.

Of course, all fall short of the glory of God. If Church discipline is being confused with infallibility we should be studying a lot more doctrine to gain knowledge of the various doctrines of Scripture.

Church discipline is only called for in cases of grave, open sin from which there has been no repentence; it's not for personality differences, disputes, etc.

I was in a Church where a couple got divorced and the husband was allowed to remain on the worship team, even though he treated his wife horribly.

I don't want to know the details, but "treated horribly" is vague. Divorce is Biblically sanctioned only in a few cases. Of course, congregation members should seek pastoral guidance with the actual problems they are experiencing prior to getting a divorce. Many congregations today are more like clubs than the Church. Pastoral guidance is what should handle 99% of the difficulties congregation members have and both pastors and members should very much keep in close touch and avail themselves of the benefits of such guidance.

Proper Church discipline is not simply taking sides in a divorce. Notwithstanding the particulars of that case, today people have completely distorted views of Christian household roles and responsibilities and discontent is the chief reason for divorce, which is not Biblical, of course. In cases of marital discontent, the real source of the problem must be identified, since Biblically a wife must submit to her husband's authority, and he must cherish his wife. If one or the other or both is walking contrary to Scripture while married - that's the sin that requires pastoral correction and as a last resort, Church discipline. There are many things that some wives today consider harsh which are not: constraining spending, skipping a vacation, refraining from gossip, refraining from provoking or controlling a husband, etc. There are many things that some husbands today consider harsh that are not: honoring the Lord's day, acting mature, leading daily family prayer, wisely choosing friends, etc. That's why a Biblically-based courtship and marriage are such a blessing and should be encouraged as much as possible.

How Church discipline is handled by a congregation really depends on whether it's members mostly have seriously studied the Bible and live it in their daily lives or they mostly look to simply feel good by going to Church and that somehow they are "doing the right thing", but come Monday morning one could not distinguish them from non-Christians in the way they live their lives. There always is a chance that the Elders are in error, but properly performed, the Church discipline process involves a detailed and documented process that quite specifically gets to the heart of the matter with the person or persons accused. And if at the end the result is excommunication, the person is actually committed to the care of the Lord; if they are truly saved, they will most assuredly find a congregation (some allow return) after seeing the error of their ways and truly repenting.

Blessings.

[KDD]

It’s a psychiatric and or a psychological problem imo.

I believe it can be treated medically.

There are some aberrations in nature which defy natural precepts. I am not the arbiter of creation though...and it seems to me that the rain falls on the Just and the Unjust equally. I hesitate to condemn what may be Gods will.

[Sola Veritas]

“Chenoweth replied, “I would ask, ‘What would Jesus do?’ It sounds so cliché and Pollyanna-ish, but I have a feeling if he were on the earth today, he wouldn’t be walking around saying, ‘You’re going to hell’ and ‘You’re wrong, you’re wrong, you’re wrong.’ I think he’d be accepting and loving.”

Ma’am you need to read the Bible before you aks what would Jesus do? Jesus was ONLY accepting of those that were repentant (turned from sin). To the woman caught in adultury...he didn’t say...I’m Ok your are OK....HE said “Go and SIN NO MORE.” Jesus (God) is always ready to forgive, but it is conditioned upon turnig from sin. That go for ALL of us...whatever our sin(s) may be. Can a person with homosexual inclinations be a Christian. Yes, if they actively seek to forsake and shun those “inclinations” and the sin. The same as most hetereosexuals must shun and forsake sexual impluses outside the proper confines of marraige.....just as GOD (Jesus) prescribed.

Does Jesus love sinners? Yes, he does and is ready to welcome them as his sheep when they acknowledge their sin and sinful nature and turn to Him in faith as the payment for that sin. Repentance/Faith/followed by obedience. Will a Christian never sin? NO, we require constant repentance and clesning. IF a person with homosexual tendencies or the adulterer (keep the list going) will turn to Jesus and forsake the lifestyle of sin....he is faithful to forgive and save.

In Apostle John’s first letter (episcle) he wrote in Chapter 1 verst 9. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from unrighteousness.” In the Greek the word for “confess” is Homologeo....which literally means to “say the same thing.” The implication is that IF whe AGREE (say the same thing) with God/Jesus about what he thins about a sin (any sin), then He will forgive us. But that “confession” is not just a mental agreement, it is a deep seated belief that God/Jesus is right and I am wrong, and I see it His way.

For a homosexual, adulturer, liar, thief, etc. turn from their ways as a lifestyle...see that sin the same way God/Jesus see it...with abhorence....they will be forgiven.

But remember, the Lord Jesus said the “neither to I condemn you, go and sin no more.”

So, Jesus will forgive...where there is a forsaking of sin...but not before.

[Sola Veritas]

“Jesus doesn’t want any of us to be telling others that they’re going to hell, because that is not our job nor is it something we know.”

You are somewhat wrong. Jesus would have us “warn” others of the consequences of their sin. However, He would also explain that forsaking and turning to Him/God in faith and repentance WILL bring forgiveness.

[little jeremiah]

The causes of homosexuality are known. If you want to read about the causes, here is a link with information and many links with more information. It is never God’s will that anyone be a homosexual, a pedophile, a liar, a murderer, an adulterer, a thief, etc. Everyone has their own particular temptations to sin, due to many factors. But homosexuality is due to environment, which very often includes being molested at a young age by an older homosexual.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2730140/posts

Not born this way: The facts, plus help available
Save California ^ | Various authors

Posted on Sunday, June 05, 2011 7:48:09 AM by scripter

Without any reputable evidence, the entertainment culture, uneducated media, and sexual activists have seduced today’s teenagers, in particular, to believe that people are born homosexual.

However, science has found no biological basis for homosexuality, bisexuality, or transsexuality.

Study after study has found the “LGBT” lifestyle to be unhealthy, with the highest rate of sexually-transmitted diseases, and higher cancer rates and earlier deaths.

While all people are worthy and valuable, the fact is people are not “born this way,” as a popular song insists.

On this page you will find:

1. The facts on homosexuality
2. Resources to overcome homosexual behavior and gender identity disorder
3. An important video message titled “Does God Love Gay People?”
4. Some personal stories from people who used to live a homosexual lifestyle

Homosexuality is not innate; no biological origin