Posted on 01/11/2013 11:03:06 AM PST by ReformationFan
We were having lunch together, and I was praying like mad. My friend had been in a committed same-sex relationship for about 15 years. He was interested in Jesus; attracted to his teaching and message. But he wanted to know how becoming a Christian would affect his gay lifestyle.
I had explained, as carefully and graciously as I could, that Jesus upheld and expanded the wider biblical stance on sexuality, that the only context for sexual activity is heterosexual marriage. Following Jesus would mean seeking to live under his word, in this area as in any other.
He had been quiet for a moment, and then looked me in the eye and asked the billion-dollar question: 'What could possibly be worth giving up my partner for?'
I held his gaze for a moment while my brain raced for the answer. There was eternity, of course. There was heaven and hell. But I was conscious that these realities would seem other-worldly and intangible to him. In any case, surely following Jesus is worth it even for this life. He was asking about life here-and-now, so I prayed for God to lead me to a here-and-now Bible verse. I wanted my friend to know that following Jesus really is worth it---worth it in the life to come, but also worth it in this life now, no less so for those who have homosexual feelings. Yes, there would be a host of hardships and difficulties: unfulfilled longings, the distress of unwanted temptation, and the struggles of long-term singleness.
But I wanted him to know that following Jesus is more than worth it, even with all it entails for gay people. And I also wanted to tell him that I had come to know this not just from studying the Bible and listening to others, but from my own experience.
More Grace, Not Less
Homosexuality is an issue I have grappled with my entire Christian life. It took a long time to admit to myself, longer to admit to others, and even longer to see something of God's good purposes through it all. There have been all sorts of ups and downs. But this battle is not devoid of blessings, as Paul discovered with his own unyielding thorn in the flesh. Struggling with sexuality has been an opportunity to experience more of God's grace, rather than less.
Only in recent months have I felt compelled to be more open on this issue. For many years I had no intention of being public about it. I am conscious that raising it here may lead to any number of responses---some welcome, some perhaps less so. But over the last couple of years I have felt increasingly concerned that, when it comes to our gay friends and family members, many of us Bible-believing Christians are losing confidence in the gospel. We are not always convinced it really is good news for gay people. We are not always sure we can really expect them to live by what the Bible says.
As my mind raced that lunchtime God gave me a verse to share with my friend. It demonstrates precisely why following Jesus is worth it, in this lifetime, and even when we have to give up things we could never imagine living without:
Peter said to Jesus, "We have left everything to follow you!"
"I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no-one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much as in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields---and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life." (Mark 10:28-30)
Following Jesus involves leaving things behind and giving things up. For gay people, it involves leaving behind a gay lifestyle.
God's Clear Word
The Bible is consistent in prohibiting homosexual practice. Jesus himself condemns "sexual immorality" (Mark 7:21, for example). Though Jesus does not directly mention homosexual activity, he does include it. The Greek word we translate as "sexual immorality" (porneia, from which we get the word pornography) is a catch-all term for any sexual activity outside heterosexual marriage.
Paul is more specific, directly referring to homosexual practice in three passages. In Romans 1:24-27 both homosexual and also lesbian activity are given as examples of the "unnatural" behavior that results from turning away from God. In 1 Cor. 6:9-10 "homosexual offenders" are listed among those whose behavior will result in their exclusion from God's kingdom. The word Paul uses literally translates as "men who lie with men" and comes again in 1 Timothy 1:10 (where the NIV 1984 unhelpfully translates it "perverts").
It is simply not possible to argue for gay relationships from the Bible. Attempts by some church leaders to do so inevitably involve twisting some texts and ignoring others. God's Word is, in fact, clear. The Bible consistently prohibits any sexual activity outside of marriage.
As someone who experiences homosexual feelings this is not always an easy word to hear. It has sometimes been very painful to come to terms with what the Bible says. There have been times of acute temptation and longing---times when I have been "in love." And yet Scripture shows that these longings distort what God has created me for.
Extraordinary Returns
However much we have to leave behind we are never left out of pocket. Whatever we give up Jesus replaces, in godly kind and greater measure. No one who leaves will fail to receive, and the returns are extraordinary---a hundredfold. What we give up for Jesus does not compare to what he gives back. If the costs are great, the rewards are even greater, even in this life. For me these include a wonderful depth of friendship God has given me with many brothers and sisters; the opportunities of singleness; the privilege of a wide-ranging ministry; and the community of a wonderful church family. But greater than any of these things is the opportunity that any complex and difficult situation presents us with: to learn the all-sufficiency of Christ---learning that fullness of life and joy is in him and his service, and nowhere else.
There is a huge amount to say on this issue, but the main point is this: the moment you think following Jesus will be a poor deal for someone, you call Jesus a liar. Discipleship is not always easy. Leaving anything cherished behind is profoundly hard. But Jesus is always worth it.
I once knew an arsonist who had the same problem.
and a serial killer on death row. It meant having to give up the thing they really enjoyed.
The Bible consistently prohibits any sexual activity outside of marriage.
This is one reason the homosexual lobby is so hell-bent on getting homosexual marriage legitimized.
Homosexuality is one of the few sins that people are seriously arguing is “ok” and should be accepted as normal. After all, we don’t have “adulterer’s pride” parades or “liars” parades.
My take is that many are called but few are chosen. Fact is, not everyone is going to accept his free gift. And I approach the whole thing from an Ecclesiastes perspective (without the grace of Christ’s blood, man’s lot is to eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of his labor and then die, as do other animals). And I see the death of a non-believer as described here:
http://www.jeremyandchristine.com/articles/eternal.php
Our job is to present the gospel - with all of its ramifications. Their job is to accept or reject it.
Interesting conundrum for the Christian-centered community of Freepers who happen to be in same-sex relationships and who are otherwise conservative in their political views. Do we drive them away being fellow patriot gun owner/operators, conservative voters; and fellow Texans, or do we ignore and do no harm? There are many of us that worship Jesus Christ and yet ignore the rest of y’all that seem to want to send our gay s to the gas chamber. Get over it. The world isn’t as tidy as you had hoped. Concentrate on defeating the real enemies of freedom. BHO for starters.
Yes. It’s not someone’s fault if they have lesbian or homosexual inclinations. But putting them into practice is always sinful, and then it becomes their choice and their fault.
Sometimes God gives us great difficulties, of one kind or another, but with His grace we are always given the chance to overcome them or turn them to our greater good, and thus to grow stronger. If this preacher can use his own weakness of homosexual inclinations as he does here, then they are in practice transformed by grace from a flaw into a kind of gift—making him, as here, a more convincing apostle to the LGBT community. And also, a reminder of the distinction of the vast difference between homosexual inclinations and homosexual practices.
Yah'shua is all of the WORD of YHvH. He is Not just the "new" Testament The author seems to have a superficial view of the Holy WORD of G-d. Throughout the Holy WORD of G-d, marriage is a metaphor A clear reading of Romans 1 in context beginning at Sam Allberry has a problem accepting
shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach
Yah'shua as the WORD of YHvH.
but is also the Tanach.
for the relationship of YHvH and his "called" people.
In the Tanach, YHvH is the Bridegroom and Israel is His Wife.
Later "called" gentiles are referred to a Bride.
verse 16 shows that those who should know YHvH and his creation
but reject Him are given over to a perverse relationship in direct
opposition to the metaphor of marriage.
All I need to know about how Jesus would deal with homosexuals is in John 8:11.
There are many answers to the question of why a man might want to give up his gay partner.
Being able to live life without a sore bottom all the time might be one of them.
I explain to gays that its the same for heterosexuals who are addicted to porn or have a wondering eye. Even though they might be married, if they lusted after another person in their mind, they’ve sinned.
See comment 10. Sorry I did not copy you in the original.
Good Shabbos, FRiend.
Agreed...but its the last 3 words that cause such consternation....
The same way it can be good news to liars, adulterers, thieves, and everyone else; as long as they stop sinning, turn towards Jesus, and repent.
No one on this thread has suggested sending anyone to the gas chambers. The conundrum is not between gay and straight Freepers but between gays and the gospel. It is a profound conundrum, hence this discussion. If all you have to contribute is to tell us to shut up there are better uses for your time.
Shabbat Shalom !
shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach
Huh? Christians, conservatives, and confidently, sexually active homosexuals, all in one package, and we have an entire "community" of those at free republic?
Is it possible to have even one of those?
Leaving anything cherished behind is profoundly hard. But Jesus is always worth it.
That delusion or deceipt is what will have to be healed for people who have fallen for it. There is tons of medical and social evidence that the gay lifestyle produces terrible consequences - not something worthy of cherishing.
Temptation and sinfulness is woven into everyone’s experience but sane (Christian or not) people don’t relate to it as something “cherished.” That is a terrible lie intended to protect and nuture self destruction.
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