Approaching Homosexuality?

[- DRA -]

I've been turning this issue over in my mind, and I thought the best thing to do is to take council with other Christians on this one. I researched into it somewhat - into if homosexuality was truly labeled as a sin or not (there seems to be some controversy on this one) and I have concluded that given cultural context the bible does label the act of homosexual sexual intercourse as a sin... some other Christians I know would say this isn't true, so for this question's sake let's say it is, if you hold this opinion. This being said...

I've noticed alot of other Christians boycotting and protesting things (Disney and Wal*Mart come to mind) - and in this comes my question:

Is this truly the most effective way at tackling the problem? Yes, we're suppose to be the salt of the earth and stand out against any sin and darkness, but how to tackle a problem like this? Is it surely effective enough to just wave signs and voice our opinion, or should we take it from another angle? What would you suggest?

2 Timothy 4:1-4 (NKJV) ...
1 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:
2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;
4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.

Romans 3:23 ...
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Titus 2:11-15 ...
11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,
12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,
13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
15 Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.

 

[VCViking]

As Ray Comfort put it:

"If you want to bring a homosexual to Christ, don’t get into an argument with him over his perversion; he’s ready for you with his boxing gloves on. No, no. Give him the ten commandments. The law was made for homosexuals. Show him that he is damned despite his perversion."
.

 

[ANM29]

I've been turning this issue over in my mind, and I thought the best thing to do is to take council with other Christians on this one. I researched into it somewhat - into if homosexuality was truly labeled as a sin or not (there seems to be some controversy on this one) and I have concluded that given cultural context the bible does label the act of homosexual sexual intercourse as a sin... some other Christians I know would say this isn't true, so for this question's sake let's say it is, if you hold this opinion. This being said...

I've noticed alot of other Christians boycotting and protesting things (Disney and Wal*Mart come to mind) - and in this comes my question:

Is this truly the most effective way at tackling the problem? Yes, we're suppose to be the salt of the earth and stand out against any sin and darkness, but how to tackle a problem like this? Is it surely effective enough to just wave signs and voice our opinion, or should we take it from another angle? What would you suggest?

I don't agree with boycotting and protesting when it comes to this at all. It is totally not the right approach.

To me this is nothing more than another form of 'bashing' the gay community and that is not what Jesus would have done.

I don't know who told Christians that they are responsible for regulating the behavior of the world..we are not? That is left up to God.

We did not create sin, nor can we get rid of it. There are some things on earth that we don't have any control over, and this is one of them. As a matter of fact, we are not in control of too much of anything.

Do we have marches to protest against heterosexual fornicators, liars, thieves, prostitutes, and all other sinners?

The problem with this is that it actually is very hard to approach anyone living this lifestyle without at least praying about it first. We have to remember as Christians that they have been blinded by Satan, most are really not aware that what they are doing is even wrong.

I normally try not to approach any unless I know for sure I am prepared and I have the right words to say. There are times I will say what you are doing is wrong to some of them and I will get literally cursed out..But, we are not guaranteed to to be taken in with love every single time. (I have on some occasions believe it or not, but not all. )

I don't believe that gay marriage would in any way destroy the sanctity of straight marriage, even though I don't agree with homosexuals getting married. I do believe that it is just not what God intended, and for that reason only will I have to not agree with it. Marriage in the Christian community has much more divorce than the world, so what is up with that? Can't blame that on the homosexual can we?

One thing I do know is that God has called me to minister to many gay individuals, I don't believe everyone can do it. Most have no idea how to talk to them without throwing the bible at them, when most gays don't even realize they are wrong. It takes the Holy Spirit to lead you in this area.

The Church in my eyes has failed to be the Jesus the world needs to see. I am not saying we are to condone this behavior, or even for the sake of friendship make it any less of a sin than anything else, but I do believe we must realize that we can't do the work of the "Holy Spirit", we can only be a light...how can we be lights when we are throwing our lamps at them most of the time...

In some cases we are not going to be accepted, so we can expect that..but that should not stop us from treating them with love and kindness..they like us are in need of the Grace of God and will only come to know it through someone who carries the light that they so desperately need..

I suggest going into prayer about how to reach out and minister to them instead of how to beat and bash them.. God did not give Christians the keys to hell to put anyone in, most of us are on our way if we don't get our own selves in order and learn how to walk in Love.....

 

[NewChildofGod]

Amen! I feel that a sin is a sin is a sin is a sin! Some Christians get so bent out of shape about this topic that they begin to become hateful! Even on CF, I have seen people become so angry and hateful...it is sad.
But I think the sometimes the ones that do become angry with this issue is because they are struggling with homosexuality themsevles.

I believe that protesting and the like does nothing but alienate the homosexual community (don't you just love the term?). Now, just a point of clarification. I do not believe that having homosexual urges is a sin any more than having heterosexual urges. The sin comes from acting on those urges in both cases. I also believe that sin is sin and therefore if Christian people are going to demonstrate and protest against one they should be treating the other the same way. We don't see that.

Sexual sin is sexual sin. It doesn't matter to God what it is.

Now, is alienating a large part of the community the proper goal for Christians to work toward? I think the answer is obvious - NO! Christians need to find a way to deal with homosexuals individually with love without coming across as tolerating their sin. We do this with heterosexual couples, why not homosexual couples?

Our church has young (and old) people publicly confess sexual sin (in a general way, not giving specifics) when the need arises. People who live together without the benefit of marriage are confronted about their sin, as they should be. People dealing with homosexual sin should be treated the same way, with firmness and compassion. The compassion cannot compromise the firmness with which the sin is dealt. People who will not address the sin in a constructive way are not allowed to continue to be a part of the body because they're simply refusing to grow. That is a detriment to the body.

God Bless
Bob
Spearfish, SD

 

[mannequinsmile]

As Ray Comfort put it:

" Show him that he is damned despite his perversion."
.

 

[Cris413]

As Ray Comfort put it:

"If you want to bring a homosexual to Christ, don’t get into an argument with him over his perversion; he’s ready for you with his boxing gloves on. No, no. Give him the ten commandments. The law was made for homosexuals. Show him that he is damned despite his perversion."
.

Ray Comfort

I agree the need for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ it's not about a specific sin.

Rom 3:23
for all havesinned and fall short of the glory of God, ​

The difference being...the sin of homosexuality is far more evident and scary than the sin of the nice family down the street that does not know Jesus Christ. However, they are just as lost and in just as much need of the Savior.

The unsaved devoted Soccer Mom, her hardworking husband and their honor student children are much more socially acceptable sinners.

I consider this family may even be more deeply lost because their sin and need for the Savior is not so evident.

Does God love them more than He loves the homosexual?

2Pe 3:9
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.​

Witness to and pray for the homosexual as you would witness to and pray for anyone in need of Jesus Christ.

Here is the link to Ray Comfort's video:

http://www.livingwaters.com/listenwatch/stream_hbks_broadband.asx


God bless

 

[Nadiine]

Amen! I feel that a sin is a sin is a sin is a sin! Some Christians get so bent out of shape about this topic that they begin to become hateful! Even on CF, I have seen people become so angry and hateful...it is sad.
But I think the sometimes the ones that do become angry with this issue is because they are struggling with homosexuality themsevles.

I disagree entirely. This goes to the chronic MISUSE of "homophobic". Anytime Christians stand up against something, it must mean they have a private issue w/ it or they're phobic about it. (i.e. unbalanced/fearful).

The truth is, this particular sin threatens to harm our nation more than most other sins as it tears away at the very fabric of the family unit to redefine it. (pervert it).

Outside of that, Christians SHOULD have anger & outrage against the immoralities being forced upon us today - imho, the worse attitude is APATHY!. We're all but completely apathetic to abortion now that it's been legal for so many years... we're apathetic to TOO MANY things we shouldn't be becuz we're letting the world conform us rather than conforming to God.
We don't so much care about all the harmful things permeating society. Jesus was very zealous & controversial in His day - and we shouldn't be any different than His example.

Apathy is the worse cancer growing in the church - far worse than angry zealots; at least they have a PULSE!
I admire zealous believers who stand in truth and refuse to compromise in this issue and I'll continue to be one of them.

 

[Cris413]

I disagree entirely. This goes to the chronic MISUSE of "homophobic". Anytime Christians stand up against something, it must mean they have a private issue w/ it or they're phobic about it. (i.e. unbalanced/fearful).

The truth is, this particular sin threatens to harm our nation more than most other sins as it tears away at the very fabric of the family unit to redefine it. (pervert it).

Outside of that, Christians SHOULD have anger & outrage against the immoralities being forced upon us today - imho, the worse attitude is APATHY!. We're all but completely apathetic to abortion now that it's been legal for so many years... we're apathetic to TOO MANY things we shouldn't be becuz we're letting the world conform us rather than conforming to God.
We don't so much care about all the harmful things permeating society. Jesus was very zealous & controversial in His day - and we shouldn't be any different than His example.

Apathy is the worse cancer growing in the church - far worse than angry zealots; at least they have a PULSE!
I admire zealous believers who stand in truth and refuse to compromise in this issue and I'll continue to be one of them.

In total agreement with you. There is sin that has a much more severe and perverse impact on society and family values. No believer should support, tolerate or accept it.

Act 17:16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols.

Jud 1:7 as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.


What is the most effective way to witness against it?

I believe that...there needs to a high awareness of the fullness of sin to fully understand the need of the Savior Jesus Christ.

As I considered my post a bit further...the difference between the sin of the nice family (aside from the fact they maintain social and family values) and the sin of homosexuality and such.... is the nice family is probably more apt to come to repentance and salvation as they may not be fully given over to sin. The problem here is that sin is not recogonized and these folks are quite comfortable in their perception of their own "goodness"

Regarding homosexual sin:

Rom 1:28And even as they did not like to retain God in [their] knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;

A much harder nut to crack. One of the reasons gay marriage is such an issue is that the gay community desperately desires to be more socially acceptable so they can rest more comfortably in their sin...which is recognized by many as being sin but for some reason...we are supposed to ignore this particular sin and redefine law to make it more acceptable??

One of the most awesome ways of God is that although He does allow us and use us to participate with Him for His Kingdom business, He does all the real work.

We need to prayerfully seek Him and be willing, useful vessels in whatever manner His sees fit to use us for His will and good purpose.

 

[flyingsum0]

I would treat a homsexual teh same way Id treat any of you. But if they asked my opinion Id certainly give it to them.

Just like others we meet in life guilty of sins...lust, greed, jealousy, alcholics, drug users, gluttony etc...we as Chritians should be a lighthouse in the storm. And while we as Christians know homosexuality is wrong, we need to give them the choice to come to Christ by seeing Christ in us first. Signs and protesting will never show them Christ..in their minds, it will just show them a bunch of angry poeple that wil never acept them.

 

[ANM29]

God never said the world would be SIN FREE just because of the SIN FREE Christians that are in it.

He said we would be in the world, but not to allow the world to get into us. We can't control sin. We are still sinners ourselves in need of God's grace every single minute. Who in the world do we think we are? Half of us so-called Christians are going to get to the gate and God will say, " I never knew you, depart from me"..He did say that is going to happen. What will be our excuse then?? BTW, we will be in the same lake of fire as the homosexual too....

We are out of control if we think we have a right to accuse one group of people for moral decay in this country or even world. We are sooo wrong!

Sin is the cause of moral decay in this world. Sin period!

Not one of us sinless Christians can stop all of homosexuality anymore than we can stop all liars from telling lies.

Do the job God has called YOU to do, and leave the work of the Holy Spirit up to the Holy Spirit.

Christians are the biggest Control Freaks I have ever seen in my life. God didn't tell us to go around trying to make the world Sin free , that is his job if he wanted that to happen.

 

[ANM29]

Duplicate.....

 

[ANM29]

Amen! I feel that a sin is a sin is a sin is a sin! Some Christians get so bent out of shape about this topic that they begin to become hateful! Even on CF, I have seen people become so angry and hateful...it is sad.
But I think the sometimes the ones that do become angry with this issue is because they are struggling with homosexuality themsevles.

This is true in a lot of cases, but not all.

I know a few men who were the biggest gay bashers I ever seen, but behind closed doors they were secretly having sex with men. I knew about them because I was friends with the guys they were sleeping with. I got to hear the voice mails,etc...Women as well. I use to be bisexual myself, and I have a book on women who were soooo straight and would never go that route that would go out of their way when they found out I was "BI" to be all over me or in my face..Amazing!

This is very true in many cases, they will never admit it though.

Whenever you hate someone for the sake of hating them, there is something about that person you actually envy....I've seen it many times.

Christians are not suppose to go around MAD and hating these people, if so, then I say something is wrong either with your own sexuality or your so-called Christian walk... ..

You make a very valid point. Not a soul on earth would admit that in public..Not many anyway.

 

[Nadiine]

But I think the sometimes the ones that do become angry with this issue is because they are struggling with homosexuality themsevles.

Uh for the record, I'm equally emphatic about this lifestyle as I am about any other sexual lifestyles that God forbids for us - and I have zero 'gay' issues privately.

It's just not true when people say stuff like this; the main reason it's so hotly fought against right now is becuz American & European societies are so heavily promoting it to be a common relationship.

Just a couple months ago a popular actor from Grey's Anatomy said a slur against a homosexual and they sent him to REHAB for counseling! This is how accepted it is in the entertainment industry and that should alarm us all to how close we're getting to acceptance.

That will bring more Christians to be more serious & harsher against it; it's no evidence that they probly suffer with it privately - NOR SHOULD WE JUDGE THEM OF THIS.

 

[MaidforHim]

After reading some of the replies I have to ask...

Did anyone notice that the OP asked a specific question and asked that you assume that homesexuality is sin and "IN THAT CONTEXT" how to deal with it?

That is how I understood the question. It seems very specific.

However, what I see here is many people trying to use this thread as their personal soap box.

How can anyone come here and get an honest answer?

If one cannot for the sake of the question go along with the view/question then why not be respectful and start your own thread for soap box purposes?

To the OP, I have some really good references on very positive ways to address and reach out to homosexuals. I will gather them and post them later.

Boycotting is only a small piece of the puzzle and is geared toward letting companies know of a customers disaproval. I think it's important for companies to know that the public, our citizens should be the one making moral decisions for themselves. It's not something a corporation should be pushing.

Boycotting companies for supporting homosexual causes no more alienates homosexuals than boycotting tuna companies that harm dolphins alienates dolphins. It lets a company know what it's customers want and expect and why they are buying one product over another. If you were selling a product wouldnt' you want to know?

The only real confusion on whether homosexuality is a sin or not lies in the hearts and minds of man, not in the Bible. Even the original Hewbrew and Greek are very direct and straight forward on this matter.

Keep seeking God's on this and He'll bring you understanding.

 

[Cris413]

After reading some of the replies I have to ask...

Did anyone notice that the OP asked a specific question and asked that you assume that homesexuality is sin and "IN THAT CONTEXT" how to deal with it?

That is how I understood the question. It seems very specific.

However, what I see here is many people trying to use this thread as their personal soap box.

How can anyone come here and get an honest answer?

If one cannot for the sake of the question go along with the view/question then why not be respectful and start your own thread for soap box purposes?

To the OP, I have some really good references on very positive ways to address and reach out to homosexuals. I will gather them and post them later.

Boycotting is only a small piece of the puzzle and is geared toward letting companies know of a customers disaproval. I think it's important for companies to know that the public, our citizens should be the one making moral decisions for themselves. It's not something a corporation should be pushing.

Boycotting companies for supporting homosexual causes no more alienates homosexuals than boycotting tuna companies that harm dolphins alienates dolphins. It lets a company know what it's customers want and expect and why they are buying one product over another. If you were selling a product wouldnt' you want to know?

The only real confusion on whether homosexuality is a sin or not lies in the hearts and minds of man, not in the Bible. Even the original Hewbrew and Greek are very direct and straight forward on this matter.

Keep seeking God's on this and He'll bring you understanding.

Looking forward to seeing your post sister. I found Ray Comforts video very informative on effective witnessing.

As I mentioned...witnessing to the gay community can be quite the challenge.

At the time I had the opportunity, I did not feel I was very effective in witnessing to my gay and lesbian friends that I cared very deeply for. (sometimes I consider if I should have used a harder approach).

None of them have spoken to me in years, I've since given up trying to stay in touch...but only God knows if a seed was ever planted. I still keep them in prayer.

God bless you! I'm looking forward to seeing your resources.

 

[oliveplants]

to the OP,
I don't boycott companies because I hate anybody. I boycott companies because because some of them give "my money" (they call it their profit) to causes which I would never support directly. Why support it indirectly?

 

[ANM29]

After reading some of the replies I have to ask...

Did anyone notice that the OP asked a specific question and asked that you assume that homesexuality is sin and "IN THAT CONTEXT" how to deal with it?

That is how I understood the question. It seems very specific.

However, what I see here is many people trying to use this thread as their personal soap box.

How can anyone come here and get an honest answer?

If one cannot for the sake of the question go along with the view/question then why not be respectful and start your own thread for soap box purposes?

To the OP, I have some really good references on very positive ways to address and reach out to homosexuals. I will gather them and post them later.

Boycotting is only a small piece of the puzzle and is geared toward letting companies know of a customers disaproval. I think it's important for companies to know that the public, our citizens should be the one making moral decisions for themselves. It's not something a corporation should be pushing.

Boycotting companies for supporting homosexual causes no more alienates homosexuals than boycotting tuna companies that harm dolphins alienates dolphins. It lets a company know what it's customers want and expect and why they are buying one product over another. If you were selling a product wouldnt' you want to know?

The only real confusion on whether homosexuality is a sin or not lies in the hearts and minds of man, not in the Bible. Even the original Hewbrew and Greek are very direct and straight forward on this matter.

Keep seeking God's on this and He'll bring you understanding.

Yes, I was on my own personal soap box..A lot of what I said needed to be said as far as "I" am concerned.

But, I did give my own personal thoughts on how to approach it....We all have our own personal opinions and I don't think any of us were wrong for speaking them...

When you open threads like this, you can expect these type of replies.

I don't know what the purpose of opening them if we are not going to "Keep it Real" and deal with the issue..

 

[Cris413]

to the OP,
I don't boycott companies because I hate anybody. I boycott companies because because some of them give "my money" (they call it their profit) to causes which I would never support directly. Why support it indirectly?

I feel very strongly about not patronizing companies or businesses that I feel are negligent, irresponsible or as you mentioned, support causes I would never support.

I don't watch certain television programs or view certain films for the very same reason.

My husband is afraid soon there will be no place left to shop and we'll have sell our television.


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[sinneD]

...we'll have sell our television.

And that's a BAD thing ???

 

[Cris413]

And that's a BAD thing ???

LOL...if you want to watch sports it is only reason we have a television I think