Rick Warren Uncertain if Homosexual Behavior is Sinful, Says ‘Gays’ Go to Heaven

Christian News Network ^ | 11.29.12 | Heather Clark

[fish hawk]

God gave us all an “out” as He knows it is impossible for us to live without sinning. That being 1 John 1:9: If we confess (directly to him as we are believer priests) our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins AND cleanse us from all unrighteousness. That means even the sins you don’t think are sins and or forgot about.

[rusty schucklefurd]

re: “So that means on with the bacon, sausage, pork chops, shrimp, and oysters?”

Basically, Yes. The Apostle Paul spent quite of bit of time discussing this issue of following the Mosaic Law to attain “righteousness” or accepting the “righteousness of God” imparted to us by our belief in Jesus - who bore our sin on our behalf as a perfect, sinless, sacrifice.

In other words, Paul’s point is that attempting to become “righteous” enough to enter God’s Heaven by following the Law was impossible - we couldn’t do it. We all sin. The only righteousness available to us is through faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.

Paul teaches that if you are attempting to attain your own righteousness through following the Mosaic laws, then you have to do it all - not only the moral law, but the dietary laws, the medical laws, the Sabbath laws, all the festival laws, etc. And, you have to do it perfectly in your actions and in all your motives. The problem is no one can do that, and no one ever has (except for Christ) and disobeying the law produces physical and spiritual death. Faith in Christ alone produces the righteousness that comes from God. Faith in what Christ did - not what we did.

But, just because Paul says we cannot become righteous on our own by following the Law, that does not mean that he advocated that God’s moral Law is to be ignored. Paul never advocated such a thing - we are still to follow God’s moral law - not for the purpose of getting “righteous” enough to be “saved” (because we cannot do it) - no, we are to follow it as best we can out of love and respect for God.

All CAN be saved no matter what our background was - all of us are sinners. But, God does not save us to allow us to continue to live the immoral, sinful life we did before coming to Him.

From what is in the article, I am confused as to excatly what Rick Warren believes in regard to homosexuality. It sounds like he says it is sin, but then it also sounds like he might mean that it is possible to be a homosexual Christian.

A Christian, who was once a practicing homosexual or a lesbian, but repented of that, is Biblically possible.

But, a practicing homosexual, lesbian, adulterer, murderer, thief, liar, rapist, etc. who claims to be a Christian, and continues in the same sinful life - THAT is not possible.

They are NOT Christians. Not because I said so, but because the Bible teaches that “faith” or “repentance” without change in direction of one’s life is dead/fake - hypocritical. It is not real.

[jboot]

Jesus came and died to pay for our sins. ALL of our sins.

Universalism isn't Christianity.

[Trailerpark Badass]

So effin precious.

I bet you had a little grin on yo face when you hit "Post."

[jboot]

Did you sign up this fall just to defend homosexualists? As for the "substance" of your post (which is better suited for Daily KOS), I offer the pronouncement of God to the Gentile Christians, as delivered by the Council of Jerusalem, recorded in Acts chapter 15:

28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;
29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

[luckystarmom]

I do think that a person can fall back into old traps.

Look at an alcoholic as an example. I know quite a few alcoholics that are Christian, but they still stumble from time to time.

I’m glad I don’t have to be perfect. I know of my sins, and I repeatedly stumble. I covet so many things it’s ridiculous. I know it’s wrong, but I still do it.

[musicman]

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[RetiredArmy]

You are not giving me breaking news. I know we are all sinners and fall short of God. This guy has been passing around false information for years. Saying that we all worship the same God, even with Izzlumics. He is part of the Chrislam movement. You can like him if you want and follow his teachings all you like. But, not me. He is a false teacher and my Bible tells me to beware of them.

[Burkean]

Read Matthew 12:1. The disciples were stealing food, at least in our context, but the issue The Lord addressed isn’t whether it was wrong to take food that didn’t belong to you, but the argument was about doing it on the Sabbath.

[bigdaddy45]

I never said I like him. Nor did I say I follow him. I don’t. I just got a chuckle out of all the posts on this topic saying “Of course homosexuals won’t get into heaven!! They’re sinners!!!!!”

[GeronL]

we are all sinners.

The problem with Warren is that people who embrace a sinful lifestyle as a good thing are definitely not going to be in Heaven

[bigdaddy45]

I’m not defending Warren’s stance on this... but he’s got millions because he wrote books. And people bought those books. And he made money from it. Is that a travesty? Should he have NOT taken the money?

[Cvengr]

1Co 6:9-10
(9) Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
(10) Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

[bigdaddy45]

I don’t disagree. But I’m of the camp that there are some homosexuals that are just born that way. C’mon, didn’t you know a couple of kids in school who were just... different? From a pretty young age? I did. And sure enough, years later, I find out they’re queers.

I think the point is, if you are of that persuasion, but live a celibate lifestyle and actively resist it, can you be a Christian? We all have our opinion, but I’m not one to judge anothers salvation. That’s God’s call, not mine.

[RetiredArmy]

If they will only repent that sin, stop it, live a Godly, clean life, then they can get in. But, not until they repent their sins and call upon His Name!

[paladinan]

My point is that too many want to believe that one sin is worse than others.

Well... "too many people", like St. John?

"If any one sees his brother committing what is not a mortal sin, he will ask, and God will give him life for those whose sin is not mortal. There is sin which is mortal; I do not say that one is to pray for that. All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin which is not mortal." (1 John 5:16-17, RSV)

...or Jesus, Himself?

"Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin" -- for they had said, "He has an unclean spirit." (Mark 3:28-30)

I see your point, re: demonising homosexuals (which is wrong, though what they do is certainly an abomination); but let's not get so universalist that we forget all distinctions, here. Some sins are certainly worse than others... and without personal repentance/contrition and cooperation with the grace of God, the victory won by Jesus on the cross won't do diddly-squat for us, personally. Jesus doesn't save us in SPITE of ourselves, against our will; love wouldn't do that.

[showme_the_Glory]

Should do well......

[bramps]

3 days and that’s the best you could do?

Stick to insulting pastors that you have never met.