Do you think that homosexuality is a choice?

[EnemyPartyII]

It is a message of salvation, first. Without Jesus Christ, we cannot obey that call.

Indeed.

Still Loving and forgiving unconditionally

 

[Floatingaxe]

The question here should be have some of these posters read anything OTHER than the Bible? Even more so, have they read the Bible and NOT used their influences from their churches to interrprut it? My point being. If today, churches, regardless of denominations, starting teaching that love is love, and sex should not matter. That same sex relationships were perfectly acceptable in God's eyes...then 100 years from now, the issue would be acceptable simply b/c the Bible said so. Many YOUTH today have no real issues with same sex anything only because it is not so foreign nor taboo as back in my parents day, etc... This generation will grow up teaching same sex anything is not an abomination...just that it is the way some people are prewired. Just like today no one is around embracing slavery, and saying we must have it cuz the Bible said so. So will homosexuality go the same way in years to come. the more exposure to it, the more it's understood, the more it will b/c acceptable. Accepting homosexuality does NOT make a heterosexual a homosexul despite what some fundamentalists would have you believe. This new generation is much better than the former when it comes to interracial marriages, interfaith marriages, etc... Once thought to be an abomination, is not considered that at all..by most. Homesexuality is the same. Some will always dislike it, but it will not be something that "needs to be changed" or "corrected" or "medicated" or to receive therapy to "reverse it". Ok, 'nuff said. Went off way too long here..but guess I had lots to say.

Your proposal isn't new. The world has done that--taken the word of God and watered it down and began to embrace secularism.

It is a slippery slope--to apostasy.

 

[Floatingaxe]

AMEN!! couldn't have said it better than myself. People INSISTING that they speak for God and KNOW what God said, etc.. is what gives Christianity a bad name. My congregation is growing, and quite nicely since I became a member last year. In fact we baptised yet another memeber this past Sunday. Is our church perfect...of course not. There are some issues I do not support at all, however that is what you get with organized religion. Even "non-denominational" is a denomination in and of itself. They are traditionally hardlined. In any event, it is people like yourself that I admire b/c of your continued pursuit to set the record straight. There is no "gay agenda" unless that is used to the same way fundamentalists and literalists have an "agenda". There is no "gaying" of Christianity, and I do not believe in GAY CHRISTIANITY. CHRISTIANS ARE GAY! CHRISTIANS ARE MEN! CHRISTIANS ARE DIVORCED. CHRISTIANS ARE LIBERAL. CHRISTIANS ARE CONSERVATIVE. CHRISTIANS ARE DEMOCRATS. CHRISTIANS GET ABORTIONS. CHRISTIANS BELIEVE IN THE DEATH PENALITY. CHRISTIANS ARE PRO LIFE. Christians come in all shapes, sizes, colors, etc... It is beyond ridicuous when people say something as stupid as it's impossible to be gay and be a christian. That's like saying it's impossible to be divorced and be christian. It's impossible to believe in dinasours and be christian. It's impossible to be a female pastor and be christian. It's just the squeeky wheel that gets the grease, and the few loud mouth people that ruin something beautiful. As you so clearly stated....they are HARD LINE ANTI GAY HIDING behind Christianity. For thousands of years people have slaughtered others in the name of religion when actually it is done out of hatred, and not faith. Christians are as guilty as the next. Fast forward to the 21st century. People will kick, ridicule, abuse, hate, and even kill gay people in the name of "religion" when the fact is they are cowards. Instead of saying what is REALLY the issue...that they "hate"...they say "God said"...and that magically makes everything ok. Again..tragic at best...and so very very VERY sad. In ending what is already a very long response, i read something the other day in the paper that really said it well. That while so many of our fundamentalist christian brothers/sisters spew anti-gay hatred, and that gay people will not be accepted into God's kingdom because of their knowingly embracing sin...it is EXACTLY those people that turn off so many from Christianity..that thus PREVENT many from receiving God's grace and salvation. Perhaps THEY should be the ones worrying about whom God will accept at their death and whom he won't? A great thing for the hardliners to think about.

Thank you for that judgmental diatribe. Not biblically-based anything, but thanks just the same.

 

[EnemyPartyII]

Thank you for that judgmental diatribe. Not biblically-based anything, but thanks just the same.

It is possible to form rational, reasonable, logical, ethical beliefs OUTSIDE the Bible.

 

[ChaliceThunder]

Typical. Everything's circular to you.

It isn't. It is straightforward. Deny God's sovereignty, His law and His authority to declare what sin is, (in this case, homosexuality) indulge in that sin, embracing the darkness, and BAM! You've got yourself a stronghold.

I believe your stronghold is actually your weakness. It appears you have a difficult time looking at your own life, so you need to judge others, and spend limitless amounts of time picking and choosing scriptures in "support" of this fruitless activity. This is an excellent way of ignoring the problems that hound you.

Meanwhile, you could be giving thanks to God for life and love, and for the gifts that everyone brings to this forum.

But...choices are choices.

 

[ChaliceThunder]

If you have repented for your homosexuality, then yes, you are forgiven and cleansed. Now walk in your justification and obey God in your moral ways. We cannot keep Jesus out of any area of our lives. Social, financial, familial relationships, recreation, work, and also sexuality---Jesus wants dominion over all.

I am sick to death of you claiming authority in deciding who is cleansed from sin and who is not.

You, above all people, are in no position to speak for God.

[staff edit]

 

[Floatingaxe]

I believe your stronghold is actually your weakness. It appears you have a difficult time looking at your own life, so you need to judge others, and spend limitless amounts of time picking and choosing scriptures in "support" of this fruitless activity. This is an excellent way of ignoring the problems that hound you.

Meanwhile, you could be giving thanks to God for life and love, and for the gifts that everyone brings to this forum.

But...choices are choices.

Actually, after walking with Jesus for 45 years, and having been taught well, I do know my weaknesses all too well. I know my strengths too, thank You, Jesus! The other thing I have learned is that the word tells me that I cannot consider discussing someone else's weakness when I have my own in that area. I don't. My log is gone. Now I can help with your bothersome speck. That is how it goes. That is how it is.

Jesus is Lord and He alone frees us from those sins that bind us. Homosexuality is a major bondage and the bondage du jour for this generation.

I thank my God every day for His many blessings and provisions. You have a lot of nerve expressing your advice as to how I need to thank Jesus Christ instead of speaking out about homosexual sin. You totally miss the whole point of the call to us as His kids to contend for the faith, and the ONLY authority we have at our disposal is the infallible and authoritative written word of God, added to personal testimony of God's power in a life.

 

[EnemyPartyII]

The other thing I have learned is that the word tells me that I cannot consider discussing someone else's weakness when I have my own in that area. I don't. My log is gone. Now I can help with your bothersome speck. That is how it goes. That is how it is.

I used to be conceited, but now I'm perfect.

 

[Floatingaxe]

I used to be conceited, but now I'm perfect.

People in bondage are in no condition to assist and warn others in the same graveclothes. We have to be free of our own graveclothes to help unwrap another.

 

[EnemyPartyII]

People in bondage are in no condition to assist and warn others in the same graveclothes. We have to be free of our own graveclothes to help unwrap another.

Fair enough.

Are you open to the possibility that you might not be as perfect as you think you are?

Do you ever accept anyone else's attempts to teach you anything?

 

[Floatingaxe]

Fair enough.

Are you open to the possibility that you might not be as perfect as you think you are?

Do you ever accept anyone else's attempts to teach you anything?

I am far from perfect and I resent being told I am.

Secondly, I have excellent teachers already. I don't submit to just anyone as my teacher.

 

[EnemyPartyII]

I am far from perfect and I resent being told I am.

Secondly, I have excellent teachers already. I don't submit to just anyone as my teacher.

yet you think we should submit to you?

 

[Floatingaxe]

yet you think we should submit to you?

Stop being personal!

No, I only speak what God's word says. If you have a personal problem with me, it's your problem. Work on it.

 

[eastcoast_bsc]

Actually, after walking with Jesus for 45 years, and having been taught well, I do know my weaknesses all too well. I know my strengths too, thank You, Jesus! The other thing I have learned is that the word tells me that I cannot consider discussing someone else's weakness when I have my own in that area. I don't. My log is gone. Now I can help with your bothersome speck. That is how it goes. That is how it is.

Jesus is Lord and He alone frees us from those sins that bind us. Homosexuality is a major bondage and the bondage du jour for this generation.

I thank my God every day for His many blessings and provisions. You have a lot of nerve expressing your advice as to how I need to thank Jesus Christ instead of speaking out about homosexual sin. You totally miss the whole point of the call to us as His kids to contend for the faith, and the ONLY authority we have at our disposal is the infallible and authoritative written word of God, added to personal testimony of God's power in a life.

I think you miss the point. You act incredulous that someone would disagree with you or attempt to teach you. Then you make the comment that you are now void of anything in your life that would blind you in your judgement of others. Your very statement shows that you should continue to be open to teaching and objectively look at your own shortcomings.

You may think you have reached the point in your walk where you see clearly and are no longer vision impaired. Usually that is the time when one falls.

 

[Floatingaxe]

I think you miss the point. You act incredulous that someone would disagree with you or attempt to teach you. Then you make the comment that you are now void of anything in your life that would blind you in your judgement of others. Your very statement shows that you should continue to be open to teaching and objectively look at your own shortcomings.

Talk about exaggeration! I never said anything of the kind. I am not void of weaknesses. I have never said I had none. Stop reading into my posts your own hatred.

I am very open to good and right teaching. I seek it! My teachers are of excellent character and possess great knowledge of God and His word and their lives add up.

You may think you have reached the point in your walk where you see clearly and are no longer vision impaired. Usually that is the time when one falls.

My walk has been a long and arduous one. I have overcome much, and I am still overcoming. My vision is always focused on the prize--Jesus Christ and His glory.

Your judgment is false and unwarranted, based on misinterpretation, and your own bias.

 

[EnemyPartyII]

Stop being personal!

No, I only speak what God's word says. If you have a personal problem with me, it's your problem. Work on it.

I'm not trying to be personal... you genuinely seem to believe that everyone should accept you as an inerrant teacher, and that your interpretation of God's word is infalible.

Am I mistaken?

 

[EnemyPartyII]

People in bondage are in no condition to assist and warn others in the same graveclothes. We have to be free of our own graveclothes to help unwrap another.

Talk about exaggeration! I never said anything of the kind. I am not void of weaknesses. I have never said I had none. Stop reading into my posts your own hatred.

I am far from perfect

So... if you aren't perfect, and only people who are perfect should be trying to teach others... ?

 

[EnemyPartyII]

I am very open to good and right teaching. I seek it!

seems to contradict

Your judgment is false and unwarranted, based on misinterpretation, and your own bias.

You seem to imediately dismiss anyone who tries to teach you anything new, or who wants to suggest a different point of view to you.

Whats the point of having teachers if you are only going to listen to them when they say things you already agree with?

 

[Floatingaxe]

I'm not trying to be personal... you genuinely seem to believe that everyone should accept you as an inerrant teacher, and that your interpretation of God's word is infalible.

Am I mistaken?

Yep. I don't have an ego the size of Texas that presumes that all should bow and scrape to my teachings.

However, I know that God's word is true and His promises are secure! I speak only what I know through the Lord and His work in my life, and those I know and through the excellent teaching I have had in His word over 4 decades.

 

[Floatingaxe]

So... if you aren't perfect, and only people who are perfect should be trying to teach others... ?

Christians are instructed by God's word to teach and instruct each other. Then there is this thing called "discipleship", where a believer takes another or more with him on his walk with Christ. Each new Christian should be led in a way that he or she is so able to lead another. It's a good thing...