“If churches can’t take a firm stand on this, that really sends a message to the younger generation.”
Well said sir. I was among the lost myself and a good friend of mine took the time to teach me about Jesus Christ. I may not like the gay folks, but I owe it to them to give them the same chance that I received.
We all do, and that starts with preaching the truth - that sin is sin.
I think one of the dangers that our churches get caught up in is that we like to target one particular sin - make one much bigger than the other...I remember when I was a kid, divorce was the big one, followed by drinking, etc, etc...Homosexuality was such an unknown back then - it was out of people’s minds.
Sure, each sin has its own consequences - some a lot worse than others...But each one, no matter how small or big, has separated us from an eternal relationship with God. Through His grace, through the Salvation through Christ, we can be re-united with Him.
The church lost a significant battle in the 80’s when the AIDS epidemic came into play...You saw church’s, Christian Schools, our ministers/congregations on the air repudiating this epidemic...Rather than take the approach of using this opportunity to reach the gay community, we blew it....Perhaps a lot of the anger that the community has against organized religion is related to this behavior.
But to set the record straight, we like to focus our righteous indignation towards the gay community, when within the churchs ourselves, we are sick. We become intolerant towards them, while qe tolerate that many other sins that we continue to pursue.
Hypocrisy is a damaging tool...Yet it’s clear the gospels say to the sinner that hypocrisy is not a reason you reject Christ...each individual needs to make the choice to choose Him...
Many in the world will use the hypocrisy of the Christian to reject Christ...though not justifiable for his/her Salvation standpoint, it is extremely effective for the Enemy.
We as Christians need to learn how to accept the sinner, not the sin. Bring them into our doors, no matter their condition...Let God handle their soul...
Agreed. However, in telling people who are in that lifestyle about Jesus, how are we doing it?
The way I see it (and this is just personal opinion), if a homosexual is confronted by a sour-faced angry person who points a crooked finger at them and yells “You evil fag-boy! Why don’t you just...get...SAAAAAVED?!?”, how do you think they’re going to react?
Don’t laugh. I’ve seen this.
We need to tell them the truth, that their livestyle IS evil and wrong and sick and harmful...but we need to do it in a spirit of love and humility. We need to let them know we’re not telling them this because we hate them and WANT them to go to Hell. We want them to know that we have a Savior who died so they didn’t have to live this way.
Unfortunately, I have met many who call themselves ‘Christian’ who really and truly DO hate anyone in the homosexual liferstyle. They wish them ill in private, scream at them in public, and actually rejoice if they die in their sin to an everlasting punishment.
I pray none here...myself included...would ever be that way.
Thanks kindly - and for your sound thinking. Good for you that you rose to the opportunity and took advantage of such a chance.
Cheers.