How Can the Gospel Be Good News to Gays?

The Gospel Coalition ^ | 1-10-13 | Sam Allberry

[ReformationFan]

Definitely needed to be heard, especially after the recent Giglio incident.

[Mr Ramsbotham]

I once knew an arsonist who had the same problem.

[BipolarBob]

and a serial killer on death row. It meant having to give up the thing they really enjoyed.

[cuban leaf]

The Bible consistently prohibits any sexual activity outside of marriage.

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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.

[jobim]

I appreciate the honesty in this essay. What I might add is that it is crucially important to look carefully at the 4 Last Things: Death, Judgement, Hell, Heaven. By studying what Christ has told us about these 4 things, we get a clear
picture of what our purpose here is, which is applicable
to one with homosexual inclinations as it is to one with
fornicating/adulterous inclinations. When we see what hell truly
is, we will live so as to avoid it. We will long for a death that
finds us united to Christ, so that His judgement will be one wherein
He recognizes us as one of His own. And when we contemplate eternity
and heaven, it will make our tribulations here mere bumps on the road.

[TexGuy]

While I believe that a full realization of the consequences of sin is necessary for one to remain true the the Gospel of Christ during the promised difficult times awaiting the repentant Christian, often a “Turn-or-Burn” response to the seeker can be detrimental to their initial inquiries. The scripture presented and the manner in which it was offered seems to be loving and on target. I would caution however that using the “Hundred-fold return” phrase is easily (and often) misapplied by Faux-Christian hucksters seeking to monetarily create a “Pay-to-Play” or “Give-to-Receive” version of the Gospel.

[CARTOUCHE]

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.

[Cicero]

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.

[Uri’el-2012]

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.

Sam Allberry has a problem accepting
Yah'shua as the WORD of YHvH.

Yah'shua is all of the WORD of YHvH.

He is Not just the "new" Testament
but is also the Tanach.

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
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.

A clear reading of Romans 1 in context beginning at
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.

shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach

[henkster]

All I need to know about how Jesus would deal with homosexuals is in John 8:11.

[lurk]

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.

[dragonblustar]

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.

[henkster]

See comment 10. Sorry I did not copy you in the original.

[JimRed]

Good Shabbos, FRiend.

[Adder]

Agreed...but its the last 3 words that cause such consternation....

[ro_dreaming]

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.

[jboot]

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.

[Uri’el-2012]

Good Shabbos, FRiend.

Shabbat Shalom !

shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach

[ansel12]

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.

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?

[SaraJohnson]

Leaving anything cherished behind is profoundly hard. But Jesus is always worth it.

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How come sexual temptation and sin has come to be named a “cherished” lifestyle?

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.