Should Christians interact with Gays at all?

[Polycarp_fan]

Certainly Gays themselves are demanding that Christians leave them alone. So much tension, anger and argument whenever a Christian has to engage a homosexual/Gay Activist, should a Christian even be doing it in the first place?



All quotes ESV:

Matthew 7:

1"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.


3"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
6"Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.

///

2 Corinthians 6:

The Temple of the Living God

14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said,

"I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
and they shall be my people.
17Therefore go out from their midst,
and be separate from them, says the Lord,
and touch no unclean thing;
then I will welcome you,
18 and I will be a father to you,
and you shall be sons and daughters to me,
says the Lord Almighty."

///

Romans 1:

18The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness . . .

28Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. 29They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity . . .

32Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them . . .

///

Romans 2:

9There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; 10but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 11For God does not show favoritism . . .

///

1 Peter 1:

13Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 14As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."

22Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. 23For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 24For,

///

1 Peter 2:

11Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. 12Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

///

8Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. 9Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10For,
"Whoever would love life
and see good days
must keep his tongue from evil
and his lips from deceitful speech.
11He must turn from evil and do good;
he must seek peace and pursue it.
12For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
and his ears are attentive to their prayer,
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."
13Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened." 15But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

///

2 Peter 3:

17Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. 18But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

///

1 John 1:

5This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.

2:

15Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world.

26I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray.

///

Jude 1:

3Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints . . .

17But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. 18They said to you, "In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires." 19These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.

20But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. 21Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.
22Be merciful to those who doubt; 23snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.

Doxology
24To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—[/quote]

"All men are like grass,
and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall,
25but the word of the Lord stands forever." And this is the word that was preached to you . . .

///

Revelation 1:

. . . 25Only hold on to what you have until I come.

21:

1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

 

[FundamentalistJohn]

Certainly Gays themselves are demanding that Christians leave them alone. So much tension, anger and argument whenever a Christian has to engage a homosexual/Gay Activist, should a Christian even be doing it in the first place?



All quotes ESV:

Matthew 7:

1"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.


3"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
6"Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.

///

2 Corinthians 6:

The Temple of the Living God

14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said,

"I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
and they shall be my people.
17Therefore go out from their midst,
and be separate from them, says the Lord,
and touch no unclean thing;
then I will welcome you,
18 and I will be a father to you,
and you shall be sons and daughters to me,
says the Lord Almighty."

///

Romans 1:

18The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness . . .

28Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. 29They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity . . .

32Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them . . .

///

Romans 2:

9There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; 10but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 11For God does not show favoritism . . .

///

1 Peter 1:

13Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 14As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."

22Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. 23For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 24For,

///

1 Peter 2:

11Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. 12Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

///

8Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. 9Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10For,
"Whoever would love life
and see good days
must keep his tongue from evil
and his lips from deceitful speech.
11He must turn from evil and do good;
he must seek peace and pursue it.
12For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
and his ears are attentive to their prayer,
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."
13Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened." 15But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

///

2 Peter 3:

17Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. 18But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

///

1 John 1:

5This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.

2:

15Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world.

26I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray.

///

Jude 1:

3Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints . . .

17But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. 18They said to you, "In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires." 19These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.

20But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. 21Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.
22Be merciful to those who doubt; 23snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.

Doxology
24To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—

"All men are like grass,
and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall,
25but the word of the Lord stands forever." And this is the word that was preached to you . . .

///

Revelation 1:

. . . 25Only hold on to what you have until I come.

21:

1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

Wouldn't the answer to your question depend upon what you mean by engage? I can't personally think of a single homosexual that has ever been unpleasant or inappropriate towards me irl. And I don't hide the fact that I believe Scripture teaches homosexual sex acts to be sinful. Of course I also don't open conversations with that either. Getting to know people is fun and it makes them more likely to listen to you when they realize that you are honestly concerned about people in general and them in particular.

Take some time to get to know those you witness to. It makes a difference.

 

[Washington]

Should Christians interact with Gays at all?

You mean like a gay Christian talking to himself? Or two gay Christians doing stuff together? Or did you mean heterosexual Christians doing anything with a gay?

Certainly Gays themselves are demanding that Christians leave them alone.

I assume you're not wondering why.

So much tension, anger and argument whenever a Christian has to engage a homosexual/Gay Activist,

"Has to"???? Just why does a Christian have to engage homosexual activists?

should a Christian even be doing it in the first place?

Nope. But then I think you already know that.

 

[Gremlins]

I honestly don't imagine it would upset your average gay person very much not to have to have anything to do with Polycarp_Fan.

 

[allhart]

I don't think a lot of gay people even care about the institution of marriage. Its is about destroying it. Its Being in rebellion to God and recognition of their rebellion to God and if there wasn't a institution of marriage needed. There wouldn't have been a need to create women in the first place.

 

[ReverendDG]

Certainly Gays themselves are demanding that Christians leave them alone. So much tension, anger and argument whenever a Christian has to engage a homosexual/Gay Activist, should a Christian even be doing it in the first place?

no gays are asking you to stop attacking their rights because an interpretation of a book you have.
if there is anger, its mostly because you seem to not want to accept answers people give you.

i certainly think christians should interact with gays, i get the impression that christianity is a religion of inclusion not exclusion.
why do gays have to accept your views on homosexuality to be considered worth interacting with?

 

[b&wpac4]

I don't think a lot of gay people even care about the institution of marriage. Its is about destroying it. Its Being in rebellion to God and recognition of their rebellion to God and if there wasn't a institution of marriage needed. There wouldn't have been a need to create women in the first place.

To a lot of people it's a rights issue. They can't visit the person they love in the hospital, etc. I think if those rights were granted by the state, there wouldn't be that much of a problem.

 

[Pliny the Elder]

I don't think a lot of gay people even care about the institution of marriage. Its is about destroying it.

That is utterly ridiculous since gay pople love their significant other just as much or more than straight people do and I have the distinct impression that you do not know any homosexual people.

Being in rebellion to God and recognition of their rebellion to God and if there wasn't a institution of marriage needed. There wouldn't have been a need to create women in the first place.

Homosexual people are not in rebellion to god or any other supposed deity they merely want to make a life long commitment to the person they love without some bigot trying to tell them what they do or do not feel.

That is also ridiculous, you also posit that woman was created specifically for marriage, that is just plain ludicrous.

 

[ReverendDG]

I don't think a lot of gay people even care about the institution of marriage. Its is about destroying it. Its Being in rebellion to God and recognition of their rebellion to God and if there wasn't a institution of marriage needed. There wouldn't have been a need to create women in the first place.

thats a bunch of lies and you know it, there are both christian and non-christian gay people that have explained their reasons for wanting the right to marry their partners

you think women exist because of marriage? then why do female animals exist? there's no marriage there. plus you don't need to be married to make kids, so marriage isn't about children.

at least that's what i can understand from your word salads

 

[Catherineanne]

Certainly Gays themselves are demanding that Christians leave them alone. So much tension, anger and argument whenever a Christian has to engage a homosexual/Gay Activist, should a Christian even be doing it in the first place?

Your question presupposes that 'Christian' and 'gay' are mutually exclusive.

This presupposition is fundamentally flawed. There are many gay Christians, and the rest of us are perfectly at liberty to spend time with them. I suspect that if we get our Christianity right, even the most fanatical gay activist will not have a problem with us.

On the other hand, some Christian activists would try the patience of a saint, gay or not.

 

[ReverendDG]

To a lot of people it's a rights issue. They can't visit the person they love in the hospital, etc. I think if those rights were granted by the state, there wouldn't be that much of a problem.

they can now, but it costs a lot of money and time, marriage gives them the rights with just signing a piece of paper.
heck i don't think even with a lawyers help they can get some of the things hetero marriage allows.

the problem would go away if some christians would stop trying to legislate their morals.
we live in a secular country, why do they care if the marriages are only valid under the state and not in their churches?

 

[Catherineanne]

I don't think a lot of gay people even care about the institution of marriage. Its is about destroying it. Its Being in rebellion to God and recognition of their rebellion to God and if there wasn't a institution of marriage needed. There wouldn't have been a need to create women in the first place.

If gay people want to destroy marriage, how come they want the right to marry one another?

Your assertions make no sense whatever.

 

[Angel4Truth]

That is utterly ridiculous since gay pople love their significant other just as much or more than straight people do and I have the distinct impression that you do not know any homosexual people.

Hmm how could you verify that?

Homosexual people are not in rebellion to god or any other supposed deity

Sure they are.

they merely want to make a life long commitment to the person they love without some bigot trying to tell them what they do or do not feel.

That isnt possible unless other people accept it?

That is also ridiculous, you also posit that woman was created specifically for marriage, that is just plain ludicrous.

See matthew chapter 19.

 

[Angel4Truth]

If gay people want to destroy marriage, how come they want the right to marry one another?

Your assertions make no sense whatever.

To be given legitimacy before everyone and be able to claim its equal and ok when it isnt. Most of us would like our particular flavor of sin legitmized before everyone rather than accepting we are sinners.

 

[Wyzaard]

Hmm how could you verify that?

Why should we doubt that they are as loving of their partners as any others?

That isnt possible unless other people accept it?

Without legal recognition, no... it's not possible.

See matthew chapter 19.

Exactly... ludicrous!

 

[Catherineanne]

To be given legitimacy before everyone and be able to claim its equal and ok when it isnt.

If the law says it is, then nobody has the authority to say that is is not. Legitimacy is about law, not about the opinion of bigots, however loudly they squeal. Therefore, if gay marriage is legitimate in law, then it has equal value, and is ok.

Most of us would like our particular flavor of sin legitmized before everyone rather than accepting we are sinners.

Such as the sin of casting stones at our brothers before we eradicate our own particular failings? Hmm, you may have a point ...

 

[Pliny the Elder]

Hmm how could you verify that?

Just look at the number of divorces now and look at the number of peeople that marry out of convenience, tax reason, shotgun wedings etc. and then look at the lengths that homosexual people are having to go to just for the simple right of marrying the one they love.

Sure they are.

The bible is just a book to many people and it does not have anything to do with civil rights, law or love.

That isnt possible unless other people accept it?

It would be except for the fact that the Christian fundies are making it difficult.

See matthew chapter 19.

The bible means nothing to the rule of law nor to many people.

 

[Angel4Truth]

Why should we doubt that they are as loving of their partners as any others?

To say a gay loves their partner more than a heterosexual is doing that? Did you read what i responded to?

Without legal recognition, no... it's not possible.

Its not possible to be committed to another person without legal recognition and other people accepting it? Explain please.

Exactly... ludicrous!

It defines the purpose of marriage in chapter 19 of matthew. Sorry if you didnt read it or do not care what it says.

 

[mpok1519]

uh, normal, mentally healthy individuals wouldn't think "Oh, is this guy gay? What if he/she is? I might go to hell if I talk to them. Maybe I should ignore their existence."

If people actually thought that way, then, well, good lord. no wonder people think God has turned away from the world; people are so full of hate they think hate impresses God.

 

[Pliny the Elder]

To be given legitimacy before everyone and be able to claim its equal and ok when it isnt. Most of us would like our particular flavor of sin legitmized before everyone rather than accepting we are sinners.

Sin is merely a concept and a very illogical one at that, so quit forcing your opinions on others.