Gay Marriage

[Christ4Ever]

Thanks Chad. I agree with your "you cannot love the world and God together" quote, as well as the implications of all the scriptures you quoted. But, this stuff doesn't answer the question of the concept that "there is no such thing as a gay Christian".....any more than it does "there is no such thing as an envious Christian", etc.

We all sin. When we do, are we not a Christian?

When Paul wrestled with his "thorn in the flesh" --- or when John the baptist doubted (Matthew 11:2-3) --- or when Peter denied Christ 3x --- or when laziness/complacency causes the 12 to fall to sleep in the Garden as Christ sweat blood --- were thy "not Christian"?


I'm just wondering if the Church is doing the scarlet-letter routine with the GLBT crowd in the way that is so convenient and reassuring to those pointing the finger. Again: log-in-the-eye syndrome. It's not my story...so, feels good to condemn it. Especially when it is a more "clear" sin than those sins we can't see, that take place in the heart.

After all: who are we to throw ANYONE out of Church, or play judge/jury with our fellow man? The Church should be more of a hospital. We are all sick. We all sin. We are all guilty and condemned to death short of Christ. I'm not sure what place the Church has in deciding who is Christian or who isn't Christian. That's more of a "who cares" in my mind. Not my business. That's Christ's business. Alone.

I think the Church is dealing in fear in this way. And that is the opposite of Love.

@Chad - sorry brother for getting in the middle of this, but I felt compelled to reply his post.
@s.i.e.
Still around "Christian" :boy_hug:

Came across some other postings when the subject was brought up. It seems your position has not changed.

If by Christian you mean believer, it sounds good, but is most difficult in application in one's life. Being a Christian who is born again, really means a change, a rebirth. The old things are cast aside, left behind.

I'm not naive to lack the understanding or compassion that the old things being left behind, do get carried with some of us for a ways. That is where knowledge of scripture comes into play. To the Christian the occurrence preceding the act is better known as temptation and not sin. Our Lord was tempted, and we're no exception. Each in their own way must come to grips with the fact that temptation will always be a factor in our lives while we live in this world. How we handle this makes the difference between an active sinner (willing participant) and a repentant one. Jesus Christ did not sin and it is Christ who lives in us. He has provided in the Holy Spirit, His Word, Prayer, fellowship with other believers, even TJ, as resources to battle the temptation before it flowers into sin. Not easy, no not at all. After reading scripture, you really didn't expect it to be easy, did you?

Now....What you've noticed here in these postings that support this "life style". Rather than fight the temptation, their arms are being spread very wide to accept it, thereby flowering into the sin that specifically in this posting discussion happens to be centered around homosexuality/lesbianism. These posting pretty much equate to loving someone and accepting sinful behavior as unchangeable and thereby it must be acceptable. Sadly, this is being done by some who even profess to be Christians.

To the unbeliever, If sin is the question? The type is irrelevant, since eternal life is lost unless they come through Christ Jesus.

To the believer, if sin is the question? Then sin itself has less relevancy then how we handle temptation that leads to it.

Regardless of the sin in our lives, we repent, with the heartfelt desire to change. We do not accept as a matter of fact the inevitability and victory of sin over us, but boast in the ultimate defeat of it through Christ Jesus. For if we do accept defeat, we limit the very change that is happening in us as a Christian who is born again and the relationship that we are building on. So rather than being free, we have placed ourselves back into the slavery that is sin and by this example, shown the unbeliever that you don't have to repent, because sin is irrelevant once you mouth a few words.

As far as the church is concerned. We are the church, as the body of Christ. We are the light to a dark, dark world. If by our actions you can't tell the difference between a Christian and a citizen of the world, who are you really? If we fail to set a standard, raise the banner, shout from the roof tops, that Jesus Christ is Lord, and the day of judgment comes. Who will?

Praying that change continues to work in you and all those that call Christ Jesus, Lord, Savior, King of King, Most Glorious God!
C4E

(Now concerning Paul.........Paul had that "thorn in the flesh"; but did he want it to continue to be there? And why did God leave it there? )

P.S. No there are no Gay Christians. Same goes for Lying Christians, Murderer Christians, Thieving Christians etc. They're just plain old unrepentant sinners at a cross roads of life and death.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 

[james1523]

After all: who are we to throw ANYONE out of Church, or play judge/jury with our fellow man? The Church should be more of a hospital. We are all sick. We all sin. We are all guilty and condemned to death short of Christ. I'm not sure what place the Church has in deciding who is Christian or who isn't Christian. That's more of a "who cares" in my mind. Not my business. That's Christ's business. Alone.

Actually brother, the church according to the bible is not a hospital nor for the sick, the church is the saved (it is the saved people, not the building or organization) and is the body of Christ on Earth, and we should put out of fellowship idolaters and fornicators and homosexual because a little leaven rises the whole lump:

1 Cor 5:2 And you are proud! Shouldn't you rather have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this?

And if we read the book of Revelation, all the things said to the churches, Jesus was calling them to repent and purify themselves.

Jesus does not allow homosexual or anyone living in gross sin to receive communion nor to participate in the fellowship if one of his disciples started acting like that Jesus would have sent him away.

Regarding "love", speaking for myself I would consider allowing homosexuals in church and around my children is less loving than putting the homosexual out of fellowship so that he can come to his senses and repent and so that my children are protected from being corrupted. Putting someone out of the church may not seem very loving but that is really a selfish attitude only thinking about the needs of the individual sinner and not the whole church.. we must consider the whole church and what impact that person has in the quality of the fellowship.

We don't go to church because we are sick we go to church because we are saved.. so if anyone is not saved they really have no reason to participate.

 

[CuddleBunny282]

No one can tell you, but like the rest of the world you'll have to give your answer to GOD on judgment day. That's not optional. You came here to the site specifically a Christian forum just to defend your opinions. You obviously know deep in your heart it's wrong otherwise you would not have come here to argue with a Christian community that our belief is wrong.

No, see you're assuming I know deep in my heart it is not wrong. I didn't come here to become a Christian, I came here to get to know people who are Christians. And you know what? Some people on here are okay, others, well, lets just say that they shouldn't try to force their opinions on other people, and shouldn't tell me that the way I think is dangerous, or whatever.

Also I'm going to state this. If I offend anyone, I don't mean to, but I'm just trying to point something out. We don't know for sure if God exists or not. God could be real or not. We don't know what happens when we die.

Anyways, have a goodnight Chad, and please, do not respond to me again about this subject, because I don't feel like continuing this argument, and it just seems to be going nowhere to me.