So what that says is that 45% of younger evangelicals don't know what the Bible says or maybe does not believe it....in which case they see their church as a social club. Does not speak well of evangelical churches if true....which from my own personal experience have found not to be true.Among younger evangelicals, Pew finds that 45% support gay marriage.
I've often wondered how an evangelical can accept homosexuality. For mainline Christians it's obvious: we don't think Paul meant what you think he did. But it's not so clear that this apply to young evangelicals. There are a number of possibilities, but lack of teaching surely isn't one of them. If it's one thing that everyone in the US knows, it's that traditional evangelicals think homosexuality is the unforgiveable sin, and they're convinced that the Bible says that. It's simply not plausible that kids in a youth group would be ignorant of that.That only means, the Churches have done a ---- poor job of teaching.
Sure, but I doubt you'd agree. Furthermore, I think there's been a change over time. As it's become more mainstream, I think there are an increasing number of homosexuals who have rather different characteristics from those 50 years ago.Does anybody posting to this thread understand the reason Homosexuality came into being, the actual reason for it's beginnings?
Sure, but I doubt you'd agree.
Hi Rawtheran,
The Bible clearly teaches that homosexuality is sinful, either as an act or a lifestyle, because it goes against God’s original plan, design and created order. Throughout Scripture, there is not one instance of God approving or even condoning a sexual act between two people of the same gender, or blessing a marriage between two people of the same gender. The only marital union God ever established and ordained was that which exists between one man and one woman; and the only sexual act He approves of and declares as blessed is that which takes place between a husband and his wife. These truths are declared consistently throughout Scripture, from the creation account, forward.
When God created Adam, there was no suitable helper found for him until He created Eve. When He made Eve and brought her to Adam, He united that man and woman in marriage, blessed their union as husband and wife, and told them to be fruitful and multiply. The intricate and intentional design of their physical bodies alone testifies of God’s design and intention for marriage, sex and procreation.
People are not “born homosexual.” However, all people are born with a sinful nature, some having a greater vulnerability or susceptibility toward the sin of homosexuality as opposed to others who may struggle with tendencies to commit other sins such as violence, alcoholism, lying, stealing, etc. People give themselves to a homosexual lifestyle by an act of their own will, and only after hardening their heart toward God and His voice of conviction.
Perhaps the best illustration of God’s view of homosexuality can be found in His destruction of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah (which were filled with those committing these lustful acts). Had homosexuality truly been an “alternative lifestyle” approved by God, those cities would not have been destroyed. In fact, the Bible says that if there were only ten righteous people found in those cities, God would have spared them. However, the fact that God brought sudden destruction upon those cities establishes homosexuality as an unrighteous and ungodly act and lifestyle.
The good news, however, is that the blood of Jesus was shed for all sin, including the sin of homosexuality. When a homosexual repents of their sinful lifestyle and turns their life over to Jesus to follow Him, they are forgiven and cleansed from all sin, and made a new creation in Christ.
Hope that helps provide some of the answers you were looking for.
They need to know that love is not love. Lord Jesus said that if you love Him, you will do what He says. The first commandment is to love God above everything. God makes is clear in His word that homosexuality is the consequence of human rebellion - the opposite of loving God.Hello everyone I am in need of seasoned advice. Today in Youth Group in which I help lead we went over the topic of Homosexuality and what the Bible had to say about it as well as what the official doctrine of the Universal church had to say. Needless to say I don't feel that the other Youth Leaders and myself did a very good job of explaining homosexuality and why is it considered wrong. Some like myself were after of offending others and kinda had this mentality that well it's 2020 and it's ok in the west to be in a homosexual relationship. I tried the best I could to explain how God is loving but that homosexuality was a demonic manifestation and lie. At the end of it they still believed that love was love. Do any of you have any experience witnessing to homosexuals or how do we stand firm on the truth but present it in love?
First off, The Youth Leaders as well as yourself should have never broached the question if you yourselves did not know these answers.
Why did you right off the bat place Homosexuality to your Youth Group in the category of Demonic Manifestation, (Activity).
You hobbled yourself with another subject you then have to prove.
This 100%. I will admit that before I was saved I did not think homosexuality was sinful.They need to know that love is not love. Lord Jesus said that if you love Him, you will do what He says. The first commandment is to love God above everything. God makes is clear in His word that homosexuality is the consequence of human rebellion - the opposite of loving God.
There are 3 kinds of love. It's a weakness in the English language that Satan uses to twist God's word. There is physical love (Greek eros, where we get the word "erotic from). There is brotherly love (Greek phileo, where we get the word philanthropic from). Then there is real love, unconditional that only God has. The nearest we can get is mother's love, that stands by her child no matter what. The Greek word is "agape". There is no equivalent in English.
Early in my Christian life I had a bit to do with homosexuals. One thing that surprised me was how often they came from Christian homes. Perhaps it's not so surprising - Romans 1 states that homosexuality is direct rebellion against God.
How do you witness? The gospel is just as much for homosexuals as anyone else. I do make the point that sin is sin and I do not single out homosexuality. Also it is the work of the Holy Spirit to convict of sin. Unless the sinner is cut to the heart, the word cannot get in. Mental agreement is not salvation. Something like 95% of those who "make decisions" fall away for that reason. They were never saved in the first place.
Glad to help. I lost a good friend to AIDS. He gave up his sin when he got saved but backslid. He went back to his old lifestyle and it killed him.This 100%. I will admit that before I was saved I did not think homosexuality was sinful.
I thought about a reply, but I think we should stay within an area that would help the OP. I will only say that while it's clear there have been same-sex relations in all cultures, there have been very great differences in how they worked. E.g. during the 1st Cent the only class of relationships that we'd consider moral today were considered immoral, and visa versa. When I first started thinking about these things a few decades ago there was this concept that the Greeks had a more positive attitude. But as we learn more it's becoming clear that actual Greek / Roman practices are not something that today's gays would want. At least not Christian gays -- there's just as great a variety of expressions today as in the past.Don't be too hasty to assume I would disagree, although I very well might, from the things I have seen written here today.
I base my belief, on nothing more than what the word itself says caused Homosexuality to come into being.
Hello everyone I am in need of seasoned advice. Today in Youth Group in which I help lead we went over the topic of Homosexuality and what the Bible had to say about it as well as what the official doctrine of the Universal church had to say. Needless to say I don't feel that the other Youth Leaders and myself did a very good job of explaining homosexuality and why is it considered wrong. Some like myself were after of offending others and kinda had this mentality that well it's 2020 and it's ok in the west to be in a homosexual relationship. I tried the best I could to explain how God is loving but that homosexuality was a demonic manifestation and lie. At the end of it they still believed that love was love. Do any of you have any experience witnessing to homosexuals or how do we stand firm on the truth but present it in love?
I thought about a reply, but I think we should stay within an area that would help the OP. I will only say that while it's clear there have been same-sex relations in all cultures, there have been very great differences in how they worked. E.g. during the 1st Cent the only class of relationships that we'd consider moral today were considered immoral, and visa versa. When I first started thinking about these things a few decades ago there was this concept that the Greeks had a more positive attitude. But as we learn more it's becoming clear that actual Greek / Roman practices are not something that today's gays would want. At least not Christian gays -- there's just as great a variety of expressions today as in the past.
Do we determine our beliefs based on polls?You might think that, but it isn't true. It particularly isn't true in a youth group. Among younger evangelicals, Pew finds that 45% support gay marriage. I don't know about his youth group, but ours includes kids who aren't from our church. That's part of our outreach. They are even less likely to accept the traditional view. This will vary among communities, but in the OP's youth group, a reasonable fraction will accept homosexuality as normal. I believe few people are likely to change based on arguments, in either direction.
No, but we do determine people's beliefs that way.Do we determine our beliefs based on polls?
I do not know of any church that is universal nor of any that has a doctrine about homosexuality that is universally accepted.what the official doctrine of the Universal church had to say.
weren't Isaac, Jacob, and numerous other old testament saints polygamous?polygamy
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