Homosexual?

Phenomenon said:

I think that I have a lot in common w/ Love4Jesus. I am 17 years old and have been struggling w/ my feelings. It is becoming more and more difficult. Especially because of what other people might think if I let them know what my feelings are. I am pretty sure that I would lose everyone close to me, except for my mother. My father would want to kill me, my friends would leave me...there would be nothing left for me. I feel like I need to tell someone so that I can talk to them, but with the risk of being alone looming around, it makes it very difficult to even think of talking to anyone. I would like to thank all of you who have already posted. Your insight and guidance is very encouraging, especially when all I hear is that all gay people should die from my closest friend, and my father as well. Anyways, thanks again, and God Bless!

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Okay I just wanted to say something that did help me not to be as worried about homosexuality. First here is a verse that is nessiary
(I wrote it cause I like the NIV best)
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor theives nor the greedy nor the drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of Hod. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God

Okay this verse quotes a lot of sins. And I know that I fit into several of the sins listed adn I'm sure everyone in the world is guilty of one or more of them. SO first off remember you are far from alone. It doesn't say that anyone of them is worse than the others in God's eyes. So Basically God sees homosexuality as just as bad as lying or being greedy. And the thing that gets me ios that we as humans make one sin worse than another and God doesn't see it that way.
So since all these sins are equally bad in Gods eyes adn He forgives us for being greedy or lying then He forgives homosexuality just as easily. While that doesn't mean that we can going around sinning because we know we can be forgiven, it does mean that if you fall you aren't that bad off cause he will forgive you. I hope I didn't confuse anyone too bad cause I know I tend to do that when I post stuff. Let me know If there is anything that I can do. I'll do what I can.

Love_4_Jesus said:

How does someone truly know if they are a homosexual?

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I think if you crave man meat...you are a homosexual.

he_is_risen!! said:

Okay I just wanted to say something that did help me not to be as worried about homosexuality. First here is a verse that is nessiary
(I wrote it cause I like the NIV best)
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor theives nor the greedy nor the drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of Hod. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God

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Thanks for posting this scripture. It says something interesting near the end. It says, after listing all the sins, "And that is what some of you WERE". It does not say that is what you ARE.

The scripture implies that in Christ, we are new creations. When we were washed, sanctified and justified in His name not only were we forgiven from our sins, but we became new creatures, we became God's children.

So, as God's child, do not accept sinful identity. You are not a 'gay' person nor are you 'homosexual', that is NOT your identity at all! Are you tempted with sin? YES! But even Christ was tempted. Yet, in temptation, we know that we have the power to overcome through Him who loved us.

I was reading in Romans the other day, about the Spirit helping us in our weakness.

26In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.
Romans 8:26-27

God doesn't leave us, nor will He forsake us. But He wants us to trust Him and sow to our NEW nature in Christ, and NOT to the old one of the flesh.

Love_4_Jesus said:

How do you become right with God if you are a homosexual? How do you really rid your selfish desires and not look at the person of the same gender in the wrong way?

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First of all know that what everyone is telling you is not complete. We know that sin is sin whether I lie or steal or commit sexual adultery. 1 cor 10:13 says that God is faithful to give you a way out of your temptation. The culture of today is doing everything within it's power to make people believe being gay is not a choice, but natural which the bible says in Romans is unnatural. So to whom do I trust faithless, atheist doctors or the Word of God. Obviously I choose that which does not change. I believe the state of being gay comes about by various situations and experimenting as you grow up affecting the development of a person's brain. I believe that each day is going to be a struggle and as anyone battles sin it is a daily process of eliminating the outward actions and then working on the root problem in our minds. Paul tells us to run the race as the one who will win the prize. While Romans 12:1 says to lay aside every burden and run the race. Any sin that is habitual is like carrying a sack of potatoes you cannot run but just stumble and fall. A runner needs to train to finish the race. Jesus says that if we want to follow him we have to deny ourselves. that means all things sinful. Notice my consistent message of it all being the same in God's eyes sin is sin. People who are still somehow biased cannot accept this, but in all lists of sin homosexuality is listed among them and it is not first. I would suggest maybe buying the study called "Breaking free," By Beth Moore a big book like experiencing God. I will be praying for you

Who do you look at when walking down the street, usually? Men or women?
Who do you fantasize about (lusting is bad, but we have all done it once in our lives at least, so you should be able to tell from that)
Who are you normally drawn to in a sexual way or who do you find attractive?
You probably already know if you are asking the question
That is where the journey begins. It's a tough struggle, but you can deal with it with God's help.

Hey Love4Jesus,

A lot of people have said a lot of things to you thus far. First off, Homosexuality is a sin and so is lust. I know that you probably feel that you cannot help your sexual attraction for men, but here are some words of truth and hopefully of comfort. First of all, Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God loves you and he shed his blood on the cross so that by relationship and faith in him you could have eternal life. There is absolutely 100% deliverance from Homosexual attraction. Why? You Can Do All Things through Christ who strengthens you. Don't ever give up, seek Jesus fully, and if you fall down in sin, get up and keep going because you know that your Savior loves you fully, perfectly, more than anyone else. God has a perfect love for you and he knows everything you have done, and all you have to do is come to him with what you have, your life and give it to him. We all are sinners, we all are filth and shame when it comes to God's glory, but he is merciful and loving enough to accept us even though we are flithy only because Jesus took our punishment and by his stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:5). I pray that you would open your heart fully to Christ so that he may come in and change you. Just remember that when God changes you and you are delivered from sins and you are delivered from addictions in your life, God wants to use your testimony to help other homosexuals in need of God's amazing Grace. Have a blessed life, I mean it. In Christ,

TheMessage88

themessage88 said:

Hey Love4Jesus,

A lot of people have said a lot of things to you thus far. First off, Homosexuality is a sin and so is lust. I know that you probably feel that you cannot help your sexual attraction for men, but here are some words of truth and hopefully of comfort. First of all, Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God loves you and he shed his blood on the cross so that by relationship and faith in him you could have eternal life. There is absolutely 100% deliverance from Homosexual attraction. Why? You Can Do All Things through Christ who strengthens you. Don't ever give up, seek Jesus fully, and if you fall down in sin, get up and keep going because you know that your Savior loves you fully, perfectly, more than anyone else. God has a perfect love for you and he knows everything you have done, and all you have to do is come to him with what you have, your life and give it to him. We all are sinners, we all are filth and shame when it comes to God's glory, but he is merciful and loving enough to accept us even though we are flithy only because Jesus took our punishment and by his stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:5). I pray that you would open your heart fully to Christ so that he may come in and change you. Just remember that when God changes you and you are delivered from sins and you are delivered from addictions in your life, God wants to use your testimony to help other homosexuals in need of God's amazing Grace. Have a blessed life, I mean it. In Christ,

TheMessage88

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TheMessage88
Hey, I thought your insights were very great and scripturally based. Most all of your comments I agree with. I just have some comments and things for you and others to think about. First of all, I am a young Christian guy who wants to live a life that brings glory to the Father. I have been a true Christian for nearly 10 years now although I was raised in a Christian home. Second of all, I am a young Christian guy who has always been attracted to men.

That being said, I acknowledge what the scriptures say regarding my actions and therefore do not commit such actions. However, it seems that you may be putting everyone in a box that just can't fit everyone. It is true that we can do all things in Christ who strengthens us. The comment that disturbed me was the fact that you said their is 100 % deliverance from homosexual attraction. I have a few questions: 1) Were you attracted to men before and were delivered from that? If you are not, then it is hard for you to understand this struggle. If you were, then God doesn't have the same plan for everyone 2) If not, do you think there is 100% deliverance from attraction to women? I mean will you get married and never be attracted sexually to your wife. I think it is highly unusual (although I don't doubt it exists) that one is completely delivered from sexual attraction, whether it be hetero, homo or bi 3) How do you respond to Paul's thorn?--THIS IS THE KEY...

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 "To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."

For me being a young guy who struggles with same sex attraction, this verse represents me and my struggle. And I know of others who feel the same way. Faithful guys, who have prayed for God to deliver them from those desires. I have done the same many times. I mean, who wants to be a guy that is attracted to other men!? The point is that God does what pleases him according to his will and what will bring the most glory to him. In my opinion, I acknowledge that God has the power to completely deliver me from these attractions, but I also acknowledge that he may allow them to be a thorn in my side so that through my weakness, he may be glorified. There is a big difference between complete deliverance and dominion, both of which occur in Christians, depending on God's plan for our lives. I hope this brings a little more understanding to our plight.

If one has never struggled with same sex attraction, one cannot possibly understand what we go through on a daily basis. I know there are many out there who understand my struggle.

anyone got a catechism of the Catholic Church?, it lays down this stuff really well

God didnt make anyone gay just as God didnt make anyone lust its not natual.Remeber adam and eve satin tricked them in thinking they were just as good as GOD.Satin is the root of all sin lust,murder,theft.God didnt want Robots he gave us all freedom of choice.To serve Him or satin.1 Peter 4:3 "You have had enough in the past of the evil things that GODLESS people enjoy Thier immorality and lust,their feasting and drunkenness and wild parties,and their terrible worship of idols."Read Romans 6:12 and Matthew 6:29..God Bless

Followers4christ said:

God didnt make anyone gay just as God didnt make anyone lust its not natual.Remeber adam and eve satin tricked them in thinking they were just as good as GOD.Satin is the root of all sin lust,murder,theft.God didnt want Robots he gave us all freedom of choice.To serve Him or satin.1 Peter 4:3 "You have had enough in the past of the evil things that GODLESS people enjoy Thier immorality and lust,their feasting and drunkenness and wild parties,and their terrible worship of idols."Read Romans 6:12 and Matthew 6:29..God Bless

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Who are you responding to?

Let me suggest a book to you that can completely spell out the truth about homosexuality to you. It saved me from my homosexual behavior.

A Way of Excape, By Neil Anderson

I will be praying for you.

Hey there..I'm Richard. I've had homosexual feelings ever since I can remember,and lately it's gotten a whole more confusing. I don't know if this is the correct place to ask about this,uh,but I'd love for someone to talk to about this. I can listen just as well,so yeah,this is getting to sound like a friend add in a newspaper,so I'll stop..

--rich

I have dealt with same-sex attractions for as long as I can remember. While I am certainly no expert on the subject, it is my personal belief that sexuality is more strongly connected to genetics than we realize.

I know, without a doubt, that homosexuality is not a choice. As many wise individuals have already said, the choice does not lie in the attractions, but in what we do about them. Thus far, I have successfully avoided acting upon my feelings, but I know it will be an uphill battle my entire life.

Fortunately, I'm a Christian. Uphill battles are my speciality.

I think we can all accept that homosexuality is not part of God's original designs for mankind. Thus, any promotion of homosexuality that 'normalizes' or encourages it contradicts biblical teaching.

Having said that I can accept that, in a fallen world, sexuality may be affected in some way. We can accept physical deformity, mental limitation, and more recently mental illnesses as valid human conditions. I can see no logical reason why our sexuality cannot also be so affected. Indeed the bible sees our fallenness affecting our entire humanity, and in some there are some very obvious distortions such as I have mentioned. Here, there probably will be some physical/genetic component, as in the others areas. It would be a mistake to assign all homosexuality simply to genes, but for some they may just be 'wrongly wired'.

We cannot know if the NT writers were primarily dealing with groups promoting homosexuality on religious or philosophical grounds ( I believe it is), rather than making a blanket statement for all homosexual people. We do not know, as far as I am aware, how the church treated some individuals who were homosexual by orientation in a pastoral sense.

Before we condemn any homosexual person we may need to reflect a little more. For any Christian with a strong homosexual orientation we should consider:

A homosexual person feels for same sex person the same way a heterosexual person feels for an opposite sex person. How would I be, as a heterosexual male if I feel the same distaste for sex with a man as a homosexual male would feel towards sex with a woman? That is the reality of what Christian homosexuals are living with.

To offer celibacy may be admirable but too simplistic. Paul taught that celibacy was a gift that only some people had. Not all homosexuals will be so gifted. Where does that leave them? And us, in relating with a homosexual person?

I will not accept that homosexuality should be normalised in any way. However, I do hold strongly to the belief that there are complex pastoral issues we do need to earnestly consider. When I come across someone who I accept as a Christian and who shows a real desire to follow Christ, and as far as I can discern there are genuine fruits to show that is true, what should my attitude towards them be as a Christian family member if I then discover that person is homosexual?

Sure, the wolves in sheep's clothing and similar will be trotted out by some. In spite of those who remain totally opposed to any acceptance of homosexuality in any form whatsoever, I am one who will endeavour to grasp the complications of those who find they are deeply attracted to the same sex, and who will try to avoid consigning all homosexuals to rejection from Christian life.

In doing this I will remain opposed to those who promote homosexuality as 'normal', who indulge in promiscuous homosexuality, and who openly and vigorously recruit others into their homosexual sexual practices.

If only life were simple.

John
NZ

Hey guys,



I found this website with all these forums just 2 days ago and am exploring it So i passed through this thread too. And I decided to tell you what the Ancient Orthodox Church believes about the subject. In a way I know what some of you are going through, not because I have homosexual desires, but I have other passions that I can't get rid of (see masturbation).



Homosexuality is not a sin if you are struggling with it. It is a disease. It is a sin only if you just give in your passion. The orthodox church sees all the passions as diseases that can be cured through God's help. You cannot do it yourselves. God gave you a problem to struggle with it and reach to him for help. That way you will get to know him and go close to him. The best way to fight it is to find a good spiritual father to guide you. By denying your own body's will, for the sake of God's will, you can reach sainthood.

And remember, no matter where you are, you can still repent and start the good fight. If you fall in the way, just get up, repent again and continue fighting. God will always love you and forgive you.



I hope this helped

May God be with you!

Thank ou all for your posts and honesty and Bless you for sharing and helping us all unserstand your struggles a little better. I have learned from you and I already believed much about acceptance and grace when I came to read this post. I have never encountered someone who could share openly and help me gain more understanding about your struggles in so few words! Again blessings!!!!

forgivenmuch said:

Most Gays Have Been Sexually Abused. Its A Sin To Be Gay .. And You Think It Is Ok To Be That Way. If You Are Struggling With It And Know That Its Wrong Then That Is Different.

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Really? Prove it. Could you please include a reference for this generalization? Thanks.

apologia25 said:

First of all know that what everyone is telling you is not complete. We know that sin is sin whether I lie or steal or commit sexual adultery. 1 cor 10:13 says that God is faithful to give you a way out of your temptation. The culture of today is doing everything within it's power to make people believe being gay is not a choice, but natural which the bible says in Romans is unnatural. So to whom do I trust faithless, atheist doctors or the Word of God. Obviously I choose that which does not change. I believe the state of being gay comes about by various situations and experimenting as you grow up affecting the development of a person's brain. I believe that each day is going to be a struggle and as anyone battles sin it is a daily process of eliminating the outward actions and then working on the root problem in our minds. Paul tells us to run the race as the one who will win the prize. While Romans 12:1 says to lay aside every burden and run the race. Any sin that is habitual is like carrying a sack of potatoes you cannot run but just stumble and fall. A runner needs to train to finish the race. Jesus says that if we want to follow him we have to deny ourselves. that means all things sinful. Notice my consistent message of it all being the same in God's eyes sin is sin. People who are still somehow biased cannot accept this, but in all lists of sin homosexuality is listed among them and it is not first. I would suggest maybe buying the study called "Breaking free," By Beth Moore a big book like experiencing God. I will be praying for you

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Boy I love this clear statement. This is what I have been trying to tell others for years and guess what I am straight. It just my daily struggles are in different areas, some of them even (gasp) sexual!!!! Oh No! Why is it that we as Christians like to point as some things so much and not at all sins equally. We all have sins in our life we must fight and struggle with. This is where God calls us to use judgement and discernement not on ech other, but on ourselves, Then out of a repentant heart comes the grace and strength to fight on another day.

I do care for all of my brothers and sisters in Christ whether they are fighting temptations for stealling or a sexual sin matters not I am here for them all to stand beside and pray for them and love thenm and support them, NOT TO JUDGE THEM, because there is a nice big log in my eye that I have to work on myself!!!!

My story sounds so much like many of yours. I've never had any attration to the opposite sex, but my faith was, and is, so important to me that I refused to just give in and accept that God made me that way. I went through the same progression of pholosophy too. I went from thinking that I was sinful just for having those thoughts and feelings to thinking that being gay was not sinful, but acting on those temptations was the sin. I was at college (a Christian college), in my senior year when I finally told someone. Of all people, I told my religion professor. She gave me some information that surprised me at first, then completely changed how I viewed myself. Up until that point, I'd been living two lives. In one, I was a really good Christian guy who was courteous and respectful to girls. In the other I was gay and less than pure. These two lives seemed to be mutually exclusive. The morals and standards of the one didn't really apply to the other. That's not to say that I didn't feel guilty and repent every time I sinned. I certainly did. But when I talked to that professor, it was like those two lives, for the first time in my life, smacked together into one. Suddenly I could see, gay sin is not the sin of having sex with the same gender. Gay sin is having sex outside a loving and committed relationship with God at its center. The sin of Sodom and Gomorrah was not that they were gay or had gay sex. It was contextual: they wanted to rape and murder the men (angels). Rape is a sin, gay or straight. The sin of Leviticus was not man lying with man, but of having sex as part of worship (as the people of Molech did).

If you have encounters with members of the same sex and you feel guilty for it, that is indeed Godly conviction. It is wrong to have sex outside a loving committed relationship. God does not want you to feel an extra layer of guilt just because it was a gay thing.

deekers said:

My story sounds so much like many of yours. I've never had any attration to the opposite sex, but my faith was, and is, so important to me that I refused to just give in and accept that God made me that way. I went through the same progression of pholosophy too. I went from thinking that I was sinful just for having those thoughts and feelings to thinking that being gay was not sinful, but acting on those temptations was the sin. I was at college (a Christian college), in my senior year when I finally told someone. Of all people, I told my religion professor. She gave me some information that surprised me at first, then completely changed how I viewed myself. Up until that point, I'd been living two lives. In one, I was a really good Christian guy who was courteous and respectful to girls. In the other I was gay and less than pure. These two lives seemed to be mutually exclusive. The morals and standards of the one didn't really apply to the other. That's not to say that I didn't feel guilty and repent every time I sinned. I certainly did. But when I talked to that professor, it was like those two lives, for the first time in my life, smacked together into one. Suddenly I could see, gay sin is not the sin of having sex with the same gender. Gay sin is having sex outside a loving and committed relationship with God at its center. The sin of Sodom and Gomorrah was not that they were gay or had gay sex. It was contextual: they wanted to rape and murder the men (angels). Rape is a sin, gay or straight. The sin of Leviticus was not man lying with man, but of having sex as part of worship (as the people of Molech did).

If you have encounters with members of the same sex and you feel guilty for it, that is indeed Godly conviction. It is wrong to have sex outside a loving committed relationship. God does not want you to feel an extra layer of guilt just because it was a gay thing.

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Hey dude, I have posted many times in this part of the forum because I am a young Christian guy who struggles with same sex attraction. I understand your ideas about OT scripture, but how you reconcile those of the new testament that condemn homosexuality? Thanks and God bless.