Posted on 01/25/2014 7:23:17 AM PST by Gamecock
Here in Romans 1 is the gospel truth of the end of sin and sinners who refuse to acknowledge the Word of God as truth and Jesus as Saviour,
Romans 1:
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
This is a very good article. Thanks...
-Do I have to become straight to become a Christian?
WWRBS? (I should read that again.)
It’s a sick deviant self-chosen lifestyle. I couldn’t and wouldn’t support it even if it was family and I won’t change my beliefs.
My tolerance level for societies ills has peaked.
It’s not about tolerating.
It’s about saving lost souls.
I think a big problem is the word “gay” as it is understood in the community. When it is split from feelings versus activity, as the Church does in “homosexuality” versus “gay”, then the Gospel can be better understood, their questions can be better answered and understood.
We have the sinful crosses we have to carry, bear, and everyone’s are different and everyone is called to carry them joined to Christ, but understanding ours is the key.
If this community, individually, can see what Jesus and the Church is really asking of them, they can they argue the points with reason and not hurt and fear and see where the chips really stand for their true joy in life.
The hardest part will be to show the rest of us that they are struggling, like us, and so equal in dignity, like us. It’s not by passing laws but by trying hard, just like women and minorities getting their respect. Everyone respects a person who picks up his cross and drags it daily for Christ.
Jesus didn't speak about a lot of things that we know are sinful, and folks try to use that to justify their actions.
I would say it was because as far as I know, there is no evidence than any 1st century Jew living in Palestine advocated homosexuality. Nobody in that part of the world Jesus lived in during his earthly ministry probably brought up the issue and it was already prohibited.
What we do know is that Jesus advocated 1 man-1 woman marriage(Matthew 19:4-6) and condemned sexual behavior outside of that(Mark 7:21) with the word fornications( translated from the Greek word porneia) which includes but is not limited to homosexual activity.
As biblical Christians we all here believe Romans 1 and the whole bible in condemning homosexual behavior. But just as Jesus didn’t quote Exodus 20:14 and shout, shaking His fist: “THOU SHALT NOT COMMIT ADULTERY!” when He was speaking to the woman at the well, in John 4, it’s usually not the best strategy to go to passages condemning a sin when sharing the good news to people. Most all people are aware—deep down—if they are involved in an ungodly, sinful lifestyle...that it is wrong, even if they say otherwise. One can be uncompromising on sin, without being in-their-face offensive about it.
Even if someone homosexual asks you to “prove” that the bible condemns homosexual behavior—I’d go for Leviticus 18:22 before Romans 1. Why? Paul’s main topic in Romans 1 is condemning COLLECTIVELY all of pagan society—using their acceptance of sexual perversion and idolatry as proof of its total corruption.
Leviticus 18, as part of the holiness code, is where very specifically homosexual behavior, along with incest, along with bestiality, along with adultery...is all specifically forbidden for God’s people. All of Western civilization’s sexual morality—stems from that passage, and it’s purpose is to instruct people, not, like Romans 1, to prove how bad a whole society is.
Even then, you had better know how to handle the Old Testament—and have solid answers why we don’t worry about blood (sex during menstruation), or eating shellfish, or executing someone who curses his parents.... Things WAY too many Christians are clueless about.
And as the article said, we must keep Jesus central—as non-believers automatically assume ethics—that is “being good”—is the point of faith, which is why they get so offended if they think Christians (as they inevitably assume) are saying “we’re more ethical/good than you are!”
No. We must come across as one beggar to another telling him where we have found a feast. The only “good” we have that is better than them....is Jesus Himself, our infinite good.
Problem is, gay men tend to kick off earlier than most straight people which is why they maybe need to speed up their act to get right with God. I’m not particularly religious so it doesn’t really matter to me one way or the other.
Also, there are many gay “churches.” For years I had a lesbian neighbor who belonged to one in NYC. She showed me a picture of it - she was laying on top of the altar and her friends were prancing about, clowning and pointing towards the camera. She honestly thought this was somehow a religious experience. At that point I gave up trying to understand gay people.
"Jesus didn't speak about a lot of things that we know are sinful, and folks try to use that to justify their actions."
Also, Jesus was God in the flesh. The entire Bible was His word, which naturally He was not going to contradict.
We all deal with inappropriate sexual desires, the difference being the object of our attractions. We're in the same boat whether gay or straight. Without Christ in our lives we are all powerless to deal with inappropriate sexual desires. God's Word makes it clear that there is only one acceptable sexual union.
In our community recently, there were proposed city council mandates which under the guise of civil liberties promoted an aggressive homosexual agenda. In the political firestorm which ensued, some evangelism took place despite the heated debate. Some of the young men in our church made some real progress with some of the people in the gay community. People in the gay community are indoctrinated to believe that all Christians are self-righteous and uncaring. Because our young men were willing to admit that they too deal with sexual temptation (of course, of a different nature) and were willing to interact with them in a non-combative way, they did a great job of undermining the misconceptions of the gay community about Christians.
God is love and God is truth but in love and truth there is pain ..in healing and forgiveness there is pain...but the world wants no pain from their gods..the expect god to be their slave to provide for their whim and will else he has no place in “their world”
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If this community, individually, can see what Jesus and the Church is really asking of them, they can they argue the points with reason and not hurt and fear and see where the chips really stand for their true joy in life.
Would you mind elaborating? I'm having trouble reading between the lines today. (True, not sarcasm) I think what you're saying would be helpful to me. Thanks.
This is a very god article, Gamecock. Thanks for posting it.
I mean a very “good” article. But God’s in there, too!
As in Roman’s I don’t think it’s so much a choice for some as a symptom of wrong relationship with God; Homosexuality is caused by an idolatry of self (and more specifically a sexual idolatry) that causes one to replace God with themselves and their sexual nature.
Jesus naturally repairs this relationship when one receives Him in the Biblical way (born again).
This is a good article that speaks the truth.
LOL!
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