Posted on 03/09/2011 12:10:53 PM PST by SeekAndFind
It's a conversation that has never gone away, but on Tuesday night, journalist Lisa Ling catapulted the debate on Christianity and homosexuality back into the spotlight.
"Pray the Gay Away?" was the title of the latest episode of "Our America" with Ling.
The longtime television journalist, whose new series is on OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network), sought to find answers to a question that continues to be asked today: Is it possible to be gay and Christian at the same time?
For 17 students at The Naming Project's summer camp, it is.
"Everyone in this camp has heard many times over being gay is a sin, almost as though it was a broken record," the Rev. Jay Wiesner, pastoral director at The Naming Project, told Ling. "Our hope is to be able to offer a place for kids to become at peace with you they are."
Chelsea Shamy, 19, remembered being rejected at her church and at school after coming out as a lesbian. But she is convinced that God accepts her the way she is.
"I just felt so rejected because I know that's not what God is. God is love and that's not what they were sharing at all," she said on the show.
"I don't want to force it down their throats that what they've learned is hateful, but I'm just trying to do it through example ... and showing them that I'm a good Christian girl that loves God and loves people."
Later, she was voted as the first gay prom queen her senior year.
Christine Sneeringer doesn't believe homosexuality is compatible with the Christian faith. She left homosexuality at the age of 32.
"I know there's a lot of people that say you can [be both gay and Christian]," she told Ling. "I think it's a misinterpretation of Scripture to say that the Bible would bless and affirm homosexual relationships. To me, it's just really clear.
"I've lived to try to live in accordance with my faith."
Alan Chambers, president of Exodus International, may be more well-known for leaving homosexuality. He heads what claims to be the largest worldwide ministry to those struggling with unwanted same-sex attraction.
He is married to his wife and has two children. Though he admitted that he still struggles with same-sex attraction and has to be careful with what he looks at on the Internet or at the movies, he noted that the same goes for any other married man who has to be cautious.
In his interview featured on "Our America," Chambers rejected the common accusation that he is denying who he really is.
"I'm denying the power that those things had over me," he asserted. "People say once you're gay, you're always gay; you can't break from that. That's not true."
In a blog post Tuesday, Chambers maintained that individuals can and do experience change. But eliminating attractions to a person of the same gender isn't necessary to living a Christian life.
He highlighted, "Diminishing or elimination of same-sex attraction can occur to varying degrees, but Exodus does not believe that an absence of same-sex attractions is necessary in order to live a life in harmony with biblical principles. Like I said during the interview, God wants our hearts more than he wants anything else. When He has our heart then and only then can He begin the transformation process."
"Change is possible," he added.
Though that change may not necessarily be a complete elimination of same-sex desires, for Christians, Chambers noted, "change is ultimately about embracing a new identity."
"This new identity is rooted in what God says is His best plan for individuals, humanity and sexuality."
That's the identity that Ethan Martin, an Exodus student, has assumed.
"Sexuality," he told the show, "is a part of our identity ... but it is not the core of our identity."
"My identity is now in Christ."
Martin clarified that even as a homosexual, God loved him. But, he posed, "Did I think that that (homosexuality) was God's best for me? And did I think that that was really what Christianity was about? No, I don't think so."
The answer: No. If you believe in Christ and what the Bible says about immoral homosexual acts then you believe it is a sexual sin.
All sorts of sinners are Christians. The thing is to repent of the sin and not to embrace it as some perverse form of ‘diversity’.
No. Sex outside of marriage is a sin. Marriage is between a man and a woman. Catch 22 or God’s plan. Believe it or not.
Issue is repentence, same as any other sin or inclination to sin.
Is it possible to SIN and be a Christian?
Can a person be a poodle plooker and Christian? Didn’t think so.
Yes. Just as you can be both a sinner of any stripe and a Christian. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. Homosexual activities are intrinsically disordered and should be refrained from (as we should all refrain from sin)... but you can be gay and Christian.
Can you be a gay apologist and Christian? I say no... no one can champion what is against God's Will and still claim to be for God.
A repentent sinner, yes, of course.
An unrepentent sinner, no. In fact, if you’re not repentent, you’re not a convert.
Hysterical! The Pharisees are everywhere these days.
Meanwhile 21 priests have been suspended for predation on young boys. Are they Christians?
Yes, of course it is - so long as we don't TRY to sin, so long as we recognize the harm sin does to us and our souls. We are humans, we are fallen, and as such we have a tendency towards sin. But a good Christian works their way out of it.
Repentance and reconciliation is key. This is why, as a Catholic, the confessional is so important.
Regarding gays, I believe the rule is, to be attracted to a member of the same sex is one thing - this may or may not be a voluntary emotion. However, ACTING on that attraction, and participating in gay sex IS a sin. (Not to mention, no surprise, very un-hygienic. If your personal activities are inherently un-hygienic, there's a good chance it's considered sinful...)
you can be gay, as long as you don’t do gay.
“The answer: No. If you believe in Christ and what the Bible says about immoral homosexual acts then you believe it is a sexual sin.”
The answer: Yes, just like it is possible to be a murderer, thief, adulterer, or any other type of sinner.
Exactly! I like beer, but I’m not going to marry it.
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