Homosexuality????

[ThatRobGuy]

What is it that seems to bug Christians about homosexuality? I honestly don't see how the concept of 2 men or 2 women being together poses any kind of threat to society. I would hope that doctrine supposedly written thousands of years ago in Old Testament times (that nobody can 100% prove on way or the other), would cloud someones common sense. It's always been the age old debate of whether it's a choice or is it genetic? I personally feel that it's something that is in a person naturally. I happen to prefer women with blonde hair, I can't explain why...I just do. I think it's something along those lines.

With the kind of harassment gay people receive on a daily basis, and people telling them they're going to hell because their actions are "an abomination to the Lord", why would someone want to choose a lifestyle that would cause them to be an outsider. I think that if society got a much needed dose of logic they'd realize the simple fact "What does it hurt??"

But, I've ranted enough now...so here's a poll so that everyone can have a chance to rant too.

 

[knightlight72]

I'm not sure how you will take this mini, but here goes. As a christian we have a belief system that goes back to God's word. The bible is God's word. As christians, we believe God can have His word usefull even after thousands of years.

You may not agree with it, but that doesn't mean everyone has to agree with your thoughts. A christian isn't about making sure you feel bad, or another sinner should feel bad.

A christian wants to share what they know. What they want to share is God's word, so that others will know. That means it's not to hurt, but to help.

So as to why christians may have an issue with homosexuality, is because they see it as a sin. To God, a sin is something that prevents a person from knowing God.

 

[glo]

On behalf of my fellow believers in Christ, I want to apologise for blind stupid abusive behaviour to homosexuals.

However, I'm not so sure about whether it is a choice or not. Currently I hold that the minority of those who claim to be gay are actually innately homosexual, but that the majority were influenced by environmental and temperamental factors.
As I sort of adhere to psychoanalytic feminism, I don't believe that gender roles and stereotypical behaviour of each individual sex is wired at birth. And so, without super scientific evidence (or I've been lazy and haven't looked), I can't readily say that homosexuality is wired either. Heterosexuality is predetermined though, as evolution must had made us love procreating, whch same-sex couples cannot do, and thus the fall of humankind? I think not.
So I don't really know.

And once again I apologise for fundamentalist Christians who tell homosexuals to go to die and go to hell. Christianity is supposed to be a religion of compassion and love, not condemnation and hatred as these people make it out to be.

 

[Alencon]

So as to why christians may have an issue with homosexuality, is because they see it as a sin. To God, a sin is something that prevents a person from knowing God.

Fine, then don't engage in homosexual activities but do the rest of us a favor and stop trying to enforce your "morality" on the rest of us.

I consider it a "sin" to accept something as true without adequate evidence, so to my mind Christians "sin" by accepting dogma. You call this "faith" and consider it admirable while I consider it unethical.

Different folks just have different opinions. Why can't Christians just live with that hmmmm?

 

[BarbB]

I'm a fundamentalist and I've never ever told a homosexual to go die and go to hell. I don't know any but Phelps who has done that. Nice broad brush, glo.

Christianity is a religion of love and repentance and holiness and so much more.

 

[ThatRobGuy]

So as to why christians may have an issue with homosexuality, is because they see it as a sin. To God, a sin is something that prevents a person from knowing God.

How does someone being gay prevent them from knowing God??? I'm not gay personally, but one of my best friends is, and he's the kind of guy that would do anything to help someone out, and is just an all-around good person. Does the fact that he's gay make him worse than anyone else. I was introduced to a southern baptist minister, and that guy was one of the most awful human beings alive today....he did nothing but try to make everyone think like him by playing off of their fear of "Hell".

 

[BarbB]

How does someone being gay prevent them from knowing God??? I'm not gay personally, but one of my best friends is, and he's the kind of guy that would do anything to help someone out, and is just an all-around good person. Does the fact that he's gay make him worse than anyone else. I was introduced to a southern baptist minister, and that guy was one of the most awful human beings alive today....he did nothing but try to make everyone think like him by playing off of their fear of "Hell".

Being a good person does not make one a Christian. And sounds like you met a creep, not a Christian. Another broad brush there.

 

[Robbie_James_Francis]

I'm not sure about whether or not genes play a role in deciding sexuality, but I doubt it. However I very strongly disagree with the idea that our sexuality is ever a choice. What about the option of it being due to psychosexual development in early childhood?

 

[glo]

I'm a fundamentalist and I've never ever told a homosexual to go die and go to hell. I don't know any but Phelps who has done that. Nice broad brush, glo.

Well I assumed that fundamentalists would stick to the Old Testament. But I guess you're a more lenient fundamentalist... sincere sorry about that then if you really don't feel that way.

 

[Nightson]

I'm a fundamentalist and I've never ever told a homosexual to go die and go to hell. I don't know any but Phelps who has done that. Nice broad brush, glo.


Christianity is a religion of love and repentance and holiness and so much more.

I've heard it said many times. I've heard people advocating execution of all homosexuals. On this board I've heard a proponent for exiling them. From some pastors I've heard such hate and rhetoric that it makes me sick inside. Christianity may be a religion of love, but it's being used to teach hate.

 

[knightlight72]

Fine, then don't engage in homosexual activities but do the rest of us a favor and stop trying to enforce your "morality" on the rest of us.

I consider it a "sin" to accept something as true without adequate evidence, so to my mind Christians "sin" by accepting dogma. You call this "faith" and consider it admirable while I consider it unethical.

Different folks just have different opinions. Why can't Christians just live with that hmmmm?

I think I should point out that while you may feel that is a sin, why aren't you pointing this out to everyone? Don't you want others to be helped? Why allow someone to go about their business, and let them suffer?


While I can appreciate your difference of opinion, that doesn't change why people want to help others, which is what I was trying to convey. I wasn't trying to convey the opinion of sin.

 

[knightlight72]

How does someone being gay prevent them from knowing God??? I'm not gay personally, but one of my best friends is, and he's the kind of guy that would do anything to help someone out, and is just an all-around good person. Does the fact that he's gay make him worse than anyone else. I was introduced to a southern baptist minister, and that guy was one of the most awful human beings alive today....he did nothing but try to make everyone think like him by playing off of their fear of "Hell".

Any sin prevents you from knowing God. Staying in sin is similar to putting on blinders. You focus on the things not of God. That's how it prevents someone from not knowing God.

Does being gay make you worse than any other sinner? No. It makes you equally a siner as any other sinner. That is something you try and prevent, not glorify.

God wants us to be closer to Him, as He wants what's best for us.

Sin makes us want things that are not the best for us. (hence being born sinners make us want many things not good for us.)

 

[knightlight72]

I've heard it said many times. I've heard people advocating execution of all homosexuals. On this board I've heard a proponent for exiling them. From some pastors I've heard such hate and rhetoric that it makes me sick inside. Christianity may be a religion of love, but it's being used to teach hate.

But that doesn't make the message wrong.

Have you ever heard of a parent beat their child? Does that make all parents bad?

Just because the individual may be misinformed, doesn't mean they are actually using the message.

Let's keep in mind that Hitler claimed to be catholic. Do you really believe that Catholics teach to kill the jews?

It's the people who are wrong, not the message. The message teaches about love.

 

[Harlan Norris]

What is it that seems to bug Christians about homosexuality? I honestly don't see how the concept of 2 men or 2 women being together poses any kind of threat to society. I would hope that doctrine supposedly written thousands of years ago in Old Testament times (that nobody can 100% prove on way or the other), would cloud someones common sense. It's always been the age old debate of whether it's a choice or is it genetic? I personally feel that it's something that is in a person naturally. I happen to prefer women with blonde hair, I can't explain why...I just do. I think it's something along those lines.

With the kind of harassment gay people receive on a daily basis, and people telling them they're going to hell because their actions are "an abomination to the Lord", why would someone want to choose a lifestyle that would cause them to be an outsider. I think that if society got a much needed dose of logic they'd realize the simple fact "What does it hurt??"

But, I've ranted enough now...so here's a poll so that everyone can have a chance to rant too.

I voted, always a choice. Even though I'm not gay, I could still choose not to have sex at all. I could choose that. I feel confident that you can't be gay and Christian at the same time. I know there are gay churches. They have scued scripture, to make it acceptable. Not Christian. Comming to accept Christ requires repentance of ones sins. That is the cost. If you can't pay it you can't be Christian. However I don't go and picket the gay parade. This kind of activity is counter productive. The purpose of Christianity, is to bring souls to Christ. Every last Christian is a convert. The offer of salvation is held out to ANYONE who is able to repent of their sins, and accept Jesus Christ as their savior. The offer stands for as long as one lives.

 

[outlaw]

I'm a fundamentalist and I've never ever told a homosexual to go die and go to hell. I don't know any but Phelps who has done that. Nice broad brush, glo.

Christianity is a religion of love and repentance and holiness and so much more.

Try walking into a conservative Christian church and telling everyone you are a homosexual…I am sure that you will be given explicit driving instructions to hell and more than a few offers to help you get there immediately.

 

[outlaw]

I'm not sure about whether or not genes play a role in deciding sexuality, but I doubt it. However I very strongly disagree with the idea that our sexuality is ever a choice. What about the option of it being due to psychosexual development in early childhood?

Well the complete lack of evidence to support the hypothesis that homosexuality results from early childhood experiences kind of killed it.



But then…the complete lack of evidence showing that sexual orientation is a choice hasn’t stopped that myth at all.

 

[outlaw]

I've heard it said many times. I've heard people advocating execution of all homosexuals. On this board I've heard a proponent for exiling them. From some pastors I've heard such hate and rhetoric that it makes me sick inside. Christianity may be a religion of love, but it's being used to teach hate.

Well said

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Nightson again.

 

[seebs]

I think maybe I should answer the original poster's question.

[bible]Romans 2:1[/bible]

It all hinges on one word. "For." Most people treat this statement as though it said "If".

We like to imagine ourselves superior to others. God's view of this is different.

[bible]Luke 18:10-14[/bible]

Homosexuality is, for most of us, a "safe" sin. The vast majority of people will never experience any actual attraction to the same sex, so we can talk about homosexuality all we want, and imagine that we are not being hypocritical. Nevermind all the sexual sins we do commit. Nevermind all the other sins. Homosexuality gives us that warm fuzzy feeling that, unlike those people, we're obeying God.

It is, to put it mildly, a load of hooey. It is the very thing, the false separation, that Jesus wants to save us from.

I once read a very powerful sermon, called "Is the homosexual my neighbor?" It spoke to my condition.

Some people would argue that homosexuality can keep us from knowing God. Absolute rubbish!

[bible]Romans 8:38-39[/bible]

Wait, that's not big enough.

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Edited to add: Let me try again.

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

You ask why many Christians treat homosexuals so badly. I can explain this, but not excuse it. Please forgive us. We are only small, and we do not really mean any harm. Please understand that, if we were not in need of comfort, we would not have turned to the Comforter; if we were not in need of salvation, we would not have turned to the Savior. Please forgive us our faults; we have a long way to go, and the road is not always easy.

 

[outlaw]

I voted, always a choice. Even though I'm not gay, I could still choose not to have sex at all.

That would make you celibate not a heterosexual. .

I could choose that. I feel confident that you can't be gay and Christian at the same time.

How fortunate that such is not up to you.

 

[seebs]

I feel confident that you can't be gay and Christian at the same time.

Friend, I believe you are in deep error here, and I am not sure what to do about it.

What possible meaning can you have in mind for the word Christian?

[bible]Romans 8:38-39[/bible]

Who are you to stand between any person and his God? Who are you, to stand in the door of the Church Universal and say "no, I'm afraid you're not good enough."

Where do you get the authority to tell people they cannot have a relationship with Jesus? They can have that relationship, and they can believe, and they can be saved, no matter what you say, do, or think. You are not the boss of them, and you are not the boss of God, and because of this, it is not within your authority to determine who is or is not Christian.

[bible]Acts 10:47[/bible]

Go stand in front of some other building and keep out the riff-raff.

[bible]Revelation 22:17[/bible]

They are welcome. They may come, and be part of the Church, and they will be with us in Heaven, come what may, for no power, no thing, no judgment of mortal men, no cultural norm, nor even any sin, may come between them and the Lord they have chosen, and who has also chosen them.