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Great Answer! We are all sinners of some kind, none of us is righteous or better than anyone else. We all need the blood of Jesus to cover our sin.
Yes, Awesome answer - both of you (FL_TN_Nana too)!
citigirl "I would never go to a church that accepts gay as normal and not a sin. Churches accept all sinners in hopes they are looking to God to rid themselves of their wicked and sinful ways."
Big difference between.... accepting with love, but speaking the truth to point to Christ - Versus - accepting with love and speaking what they (any sinner) wants to hear in order to gain numbers and tithes.
Location: In an illegal immigrant free part of the country.
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"Big difference between.... accepting with love, but speaking the truth to point to Christ - Versus - accepting with love and speaking what they (any sinner) wants to hear in order to gain numbers and tithes."
...and that's what it's all about! A friend took me to a rather large new church that everyone was talking about. Most were dressed very casual, things like shorts and halter tops. The teens were slouched in their seats and hanging all over each other, some kissing. The whole atmosphere reeked of disorder and disrespect. I did not leave there remembering anything said of God but the band played some good music, the pews were full and the money was rollin’ in!
Beats me if churches actually ban gays. I'm just assuming they do from current events and the like. I was curious b'c I've read many posts by Christians that are very anti-gay remarks. It's hard to be gay, IMO. They are constantly judged by the Christian faith, even though many are Christians themselves. Who would "choose" that kind of lifestyle?! Yet so many Christians think it is a choice. That's why I posted this. Whatever your belief may be - if being gay is a choice or not - what would you do if your church was OK with letting gays attend? I liked KewGee's remark - it's between you and God.
I have to take exception to your sentence that gays are constantly judged by christians even though many gays are christians themselves. To be a christian actually means to be "Christ-like". Granted, many people bash gays, but they also bash Baptists, Methodists, Catholics etc. Most of the posts I have read here are not bashing the gays, it is the sinfulness that is being targeted. I think we can take the scriptures and probably come up with something that will "justify" just about anything we want it to. But when it comes down to facing God at the judgement, can we be honest with ourselves.In the quietness of the night, when no one is present, and I don't have to worry about what anyone else thinks, can I be honest with myself, and say that what I am doing (if I were gay) is ok before God? Of course, the other sinful acts will come into account as well, but for most sinners, when they receive Christ as Lord, turn from their sin, but what I am hearing from some gays is that they can accept Christ and keep on living in the muck? It just isn't scriptural.
I have to take exception to your sentence that gays are constantly judged by christians even though many gays are christians themselves. To be a christian actually means to be "Christ-like". Granted, many people bash gays, but they also bash Baptists, Methodists, Catholics etc. Most of the posts I have read here are not bashing the gays, it is the sinfulness that is being targeted. I think we can take the scriptures and probably come up with something that will "justify" just about anything we want it to. But when it comes down to facing God at the judgement, can we be honest with ourselves.In the quietness of the night, when no one is present, and I don't have to worry about what anyone else thinks, can I be honest with myself, and say that what I am doing (if I were gay) is ok before God? Of course, the other sinful acts will come into account as well, but for most sinners, when they receive Christ as Lord, turn from their sin, but what I am hearing from some gays is that they can accept Christ and keep on living in the muck? It just isn't scriptural.
Okay, whatever. Now you're just getting into sematics. "Love the sinner, not the sin" - I gotcha and everybody else who has posted that. You're ok with gays going to your church but you're not OK with them being gay. They are somehow expected to "un-gay" themselves.
I'm sorry, I'm not gearing anything specifically toward you but time and time again that is exactly what I hear "Of course we love gays. They just have a lot of soul searching to do and some day not be gay anymore." I will never understand that notion. I will never agree with anybody that says being gay is a choice.
Okay, whatever. Now you're just getting into sematics. "Love the sinner, not the sin" - I gotcha and everybody else who has posted that. You're ok with gays going to your church but you're not OK with them being gay. They are somehow expected to "un-gay" themselves.
I'm sorry, I'm not gearing anything specifically toward you but time and time again that is exactly what I hear "Of course we love gays. They just have a lot of soul searching to do and some day not be gay anymore." I will never understand that notion. I will never agree with anybody that says being gay is a choice.
We have several gay couples with kids at my son's school (Catholic school)...and they do attend the church as well. No one to my knowledge has ever made them feel less welcome. So come on over here and I'll introduce you around after mass.
I will never agree with anybody that says being gay is a choice.
Why? What is so interesting to me is the people who have never been in the gay lifestyle and are so adamant about it not being a choice. If you've never had to deal with those feelings you cannot truly say whether it's a choice or not. You most definitely can have your opinions based upon what you read, hear and discuss with friends...but until you've walked in my shoes, you have no idea what it is like.
I will never agree with anyone sho says it isn't a choice. I'm living proof that it is a choice. I choose to be who I am in Christ. I am not in this forum to bash gay people; I am not in this forum to hurt anyone, but to learn. While my viewpoint may not be popular with many I know that I am not alone in this view. I have met many men and women who have been in the gay lifestyle and chosen to leave...and live heterosexual lives, both as Christians and of other faiths.
Why? What is so interesting to me is the people who have never been in the gay lifestyle and are so adamant about it not being a choice. If you've never had to deal with those feelings you cannot truly say whether it's a choice or not. You most definitely can have your opinions based upon what you read, hear and discuss with friends...but until you've walked in my shoes, you have no idea what it is like.
I will never agree with anyone sho says it isn't a choice. I'm living proof that it is a choice. I choose to be who I am in Christ. I am not in this forum to bash gay people; I am not in this forum to hurt anyone, but to learn. While my viewpoint may not be popular with many I know that I am not alone in this view. I have met many men and women who have been in the gay lifestyle and chosen to leave...and live heterosexual lives, both as Christians and of other faiths.
Point taken! Those who can 'decide' I think are the bisexuals, so yes, IMO, those are the type of people that can "make a choice". You're right, unless I walked in your shoes, I could never say with undeniable evidence that being gay is/isn't a choice. Perhaps I'm contradicting myself by saying this but I guess I just disagree that someone else thinks they can make that decision for gays. If someone who's gay says, "Okay, I think I made a mistake and I want to be straight again," then by all means, more power to you. I'm okay with that.
On the other hand, if someone continually struggles between choosing God and being gay b'c people around him are constantly saying "being gay is a sin, you're going to hell unless you turn straight and repent," I have a problem with that. It's like they have to choose between who they really are and if his church will accept him. I've had gay friends who have gone through this dilemma - they just want to be who they are and be able to go to church and feel welcomed, not have eyes staring down at them. It totally breaks my heart b'c they are good people.
Why? What is so interesting to me is the people who have never been in the gay lifestyle and are so adamant about it not being a choice. If you've never had to deal with those feelings you cannot truly say whether it's a choice or not. You most definitely can have your opinions based upon what you read, hear and discuss with friends...but until you've walked in my shoes, you have no idea what it is like.
I will never agree with anyone sho says it isn't a choice. I'm living proof that it is a choice. I choose to be who I am in Christ. I am not in this forum to bash gay people; I am not in this forum to hurt anyone, but to learn. While my viewpoint may not be popular with many I know that I am not alone in this view. I have met many men and women who have been in the gay lifestyle and chosen to leave...and live heterosexual lives, both as Christians and of other faiths.
Well, I've had to deal with those feelings, including attempting to reconcile religion and sexual orientation. I have plenty of idea what it's like, and I'm here to tell you that for me, it wasn't a choice.
Besides, I don't see why straight people can't argue for our side as well, seeing as how for them heterosexuality wasn't a choice, either.
I agree that I'm not here to hurt anyone either - unless you get me on the wrong day - but I just couldn't let this go by. I alienated half my family, lost my girlfriend of 3 years and the best set of inlaws you could ever imagine. I would have given anything not to be gay.
I belong to the Episcopal church, and we are very welcoming of gay people. But I have a bit of a dilemma.
I am the ex wife of a gay man. He is in the closet. He denies that he is gay, but I know he is. (married 15 years, took a while, I figured it out, and the type of pornography clinched it).
How should a Christian church respond to me? Tell me to get over it and deal with "Gods inclusive love" or tell me to "pray away the gay" or just pat me on the head and say there there dear, how sad for you, and hope I shut up.
Really, people do not want to deal with this, and think that if I am angry with my ex I must hate gay people, which I don;t.
Should churches minister to people like me and families like mine, and how should they do it?
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- but I just couldn't let this go by. I alienated half my family, lost my girlfriend of 3 years and the best set of inlaws you could ever imagine. I would have given anything not to be gay.