Posted on 08/05/2014 7:44:42 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Semantics.
Use whatever word you want for having a weakness for the particular sin of committing sodomy.
I certainly don’t have that weakness, and never have.
And, for the record, I wouldn’t be a liar, a thief, or a covetous adulterer.
(But I would have killed more than a few.)
Celibacy is anathema to the homosexual “community.” Their lives revolve around sexual anarchy, and celibacy is a reproach to this world view.
I cannot imagine any person not having an inclination to sin in one way or another. I cannot imagine that there is anyone who does not think about, and being tempted by, sin from time to time. I see BEING gay as just like that.
I am in BIG trouble if it is sin to WANT to have physical contact with attractive women, even if I resist. I don’t believe it is sin.
Extremely well said.
The key isn’t turning from homosexuality to heterosexuality, it’s turning from homosexuality to holiness. Same-sex attraction is a temptation; acting upon it is sinful and an abomination to God. I applaud those dealing with this who’ve chosen to live a life following Christ-—as long as they don’t speak out of both sides of their mouth. It’s one thing to remain celibate, it’s quite another to remain celibate yet express pro-homosexual propaganda.
Actually, it does. Romans 1:26.
RE: Same-sex attraction is a temptation; acting upon it is sinful and an abomination to God.
Well, so can opposite-sex attraction leading to sex outside the bounds of marriage... just saying.
But that seems to be OK with lots of people.
Their behavior is exactly correct.
But that is not all that is involved. We know that the life of the mind also comes into play. To flirt with private lusts, even though not acted out, is just as wicked.
Additionally, affirming others who do choose to act out their homosexual proclivities is equally as damnable.
Thank God for such a Saviour to wash away our sins - so that we are no longer walking in sin.
This young lady is to be commended. As other posters noted, she acknowledges her propensity for a certain type of sin - but she knows it is offensive (and abominable) to God, and I'm sure through prayer and the work of the Holy Spirit - she is able to overcome, and to no longer walk in sin (1John 3:6a Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not ...).
"Courage," the Catholic spiritual support group for people with same-sex attraction, has always focused on discipleship and celibacy, with a big emphasis on spiritual friendship. I don't believe they ever took a stand for or against "reparative therapy," it just that therapy wasn't their focus, discipleship was (and is).
The idea is that a SSA person can't annihilate his unwilled sexual feelings, anymore than a person tempted to adultery can annihilate his unwilled (opposite-sex) feelings.
The first thing is: "Seek first the Kingdom of God and is righteousness"--- and all the rest will fall into place through God's providence, And the second thing is, don't let this same-sex temptation (or any temptation) drive you into sinful thoughts, words and deeds; lead a good --- even an intensely good --- Catholic life as a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ, and (a big emphasis for Courage) cultivate godly friendship with fellow disciples of Our Lord.
I think this is very sound, and I would like to shout it from the rooftops.
Everyone is tempted towards sexual sin. Even married people.
We have to decide if we are going to act on our temptations or live on the side of our better angel.
These celibate individuals have decided on the better angel. God bless them.
It’s not necessary. In fact, I have never in my life asked anybody what they do, or want to do, with their genitals.
It's anathema to the heterosexual "community" too, for the most part. And not only the "gotta have it" secular worldlings. There are a fair number of Christian FReepers who are deeply shocked and distressed at the concept of accepting a calling to lifelong celibacy.
And we should never forget Romans 2:1, and Romans 3:23-24.
No doubt. But they all spring from the same root of the anti-God "sexual revolution" of the 60's. So this isn't surprising.
There are a fair number of Christian FReepers who are deeply shocked and distressed at the concept of accepting a calling to lifelong celibacy.
Then it needs to be seriously evaluated whether these self-describe "Christians" really are.
PROVERBS 18:21: The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
JAMES 3:6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
“But that is not all that is involved. We know that the life of the mind also comes into play. To flirt with private lusts, even though not acted out, is just as wicked.”
So, where, exactly does she say say sins-of-the-mind are OK?
“Additionally, affirming others who do choose to act out their homosexual proclivities is equally as damnable.”
Given that she teaches that sodomy is against the God’s law, how, exactly, is she is “affirming others who do choose to act out their homosexual proclivities.”
+++++
Seriously, I swear Freepers would have stone the heck out of that harlot, punched Jesus in the face for having long hair and being a Jew.
It’s “go and sin no more.”
It’s not “never have sinned, ever.”
I wish I was as perfect as most Freepers.
Then I wouldn’t need Christ.
As it is, I am an imperfect sinner, who does his best with Christ’s help and am slowly getting better.
“Actually, I don’t think the Bible says anything about women sleeping together. “
Actually, yes it does.
Romans 1:26 (NIV)
26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones.
That is very true: neither a person who actively engages lustful fantasies, nor one who affirms sodomitic behavior, can be called chaste, for these too are intentional cooperation with sin.
But a distinction mus be made between unwilled, spontaneous lustful thoughts (temptations) and willful fantasies (interior sins.) The first must be resisted, because otherwise you're surrendering to sin; the second is simply sin in itself: dwelling on sinful thoughts is sinful.
A wise old priest once told me, "Sinful thoughts are like birds. If one perches on your shoulder, shoo it off instantly but don't freak out about it. Above all, don't let it make a nest in your hair."
Also a distinction must be made between affirming persons who may be sinners (and all of us are sinners), versus affirming SINS. To affirm SIN is to be a collaborator in the Enemy's work.
Loving sinners is cooperating in GOD'S work, since He came to save sinners.
“There are a fair number of Christian FReepers who are deeply shocked and distressed at the concept of accepting a calling to lifelong celibacy.”
If you really want to see heads explode, find the articles that argue (with marginal persuasiveness*) that Paul was celibate because he had unnatural desires (his “thorn”) and celibacy was God’s method for dealing with his sin and weakness — a weakness he turned into strength by putting his full focus on the Gospel.
* Note, I think such articles are reaching and not particularly persuasive.
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