"It gets better," is the phrase Gays and lesbians have adopted as a kind of slogan to keep the newer generation of young people motivated in their fight for equality.
For the last forty plus years the Gay movement has been building momentum and has worked hard in our nation to change our perspective and our thoughts about them. See the timeline here. Over decades, and in the 1990's, they have clarified and identified themselves as group, an acronym: LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender). Originally, a community, now they strive to become a minority. Hispanics, blacks, immigrants, and women are considered minorities. On many forms it asks you to identify yourself as a minority. I know somewhere along the line, the LGBT identifier will be there. They have become organized, have found sympathy among celebrities and even our president, President Obama. I have heard him twice, with my own ears, mention the LGBT community in some of his presidential addresses.
They understand that in this nation you can influence change through the court system and gay marriage has been gaining ground. Same sex marriage has taken momentum in many states and is spreading slowly. It was in the 1970's that homosexuality was voted by pressure not by scientific fact, out of the status of mental illness(Source). It was a mental illness until then, even Sigmund Freud had referred to homosexuality on many occasions in his writings, and he concluded that paranoia and homosexuality were inseparable.
What does the Bible say about homosexuality? Lets explore it.
Genesis 13: 12 Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent even as far as Sodom. 13 But the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the Lord.
In Genesis 19:5, angels had arrived to Lot's house in Sodom and the men of the city approached Lot's house and the story says: 5 And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them. KJV Bring them out to us that we may know them carnally.” NKJV In the New International Version it is written in plain English, starting with verse 4: Before they had gone to bed, all the men from every part of the city of Sodom—both young and old—surrounded the house. 5 They called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them.”
Leviticus 20:13 NKJV If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them.
1 Timothy 1:8 NKJV But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;
9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,10 for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine,
Romans 1:26 NIV Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error. 28 Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. 32 Although 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.
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 NKJV
9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.
The Bible clearly states the standard set by God regarding homosexuality and lesbianism. He hates sin,but he loves his creation. Unfortunately, He is holy and where there is a sinful lifestyle, God cannot share an intimate relationship with them. Homosexuality is a sin according to the Bible. If the Bible truly is inspired by God, then his stance is clear. Sin can come in many forms. Sin is sin. Do not believe that pointing out a homosexual or lesbian's sinful lifestyle and choices is worst than any other sin many people commit. Sin is sin and it keeps you from God and from eternal life and leads ultimately to eternal condemnation.
I had spoken to a young man, who professed to be homosexual. He ranted about how much he had been criticized for his lifestyle in other churches and he expected me to join in on the criticism. He was looking for an excuse not to come back to our church. I did not give him one, I just told him we all have sinned and we all need to repent in order to be right with God. Your sins might be different from mine I told him, but my sins were an obstacle to heaven, until I asked God for forgiveness and repented and turned away from them. He left church that day not because I attacked him with how bad or sinful homosexuality was, no, he left because he said he liked being homosexual and wasn't willing to let it go. As a minister and a Christian who loves people, I represented my church, I was not going to be just another Christian, who was fast to criticize, but I pointed out we all have sinned and how with sin, we could never make it to heaven.
I had spoken to a young man, who professed to be homosexual. He ranted about how much he had been criticized for his lifestyle in other churches and he expected me to join in on the criticism. He was looking for an excuse not to come back to our church. I did not give him one, I just told him we all have sinned and we all need to repent in order to be right with God. Your sins might be different from mine I told him, but my sins were an obstacle to heaven, until I asked God for forgiveness and repented and turned away from them. He left church that day not because I attacked him with how bad or sinful homosexuality was, no, he left because he said he liked being homosexual and wasn't willing to let it go. As a minister and a Christian who loves people, I represented my church, I was not going to be just another Christian, who was fast to criticize, but I pointed out we all have sinned and how with sin, we could never make it to heaven.
The Gay movement continues with their agenda of acceptance, and with defending their sin and our disagreement will always be with what is written in the word of God. We should show them the love of God, as God does not love the sin, but he loves the sinner. We need to be clear and teach what the Bible says and not be first to cast the first stone. What's your voice? Let's hear it!
4 comments:
The follow up question I have to your posting is this. Why is it a sin? Our creator created man and woman for one, you can say two purposes. To procreate and worship him. It's quite simple if you follow that order and some Christians such as the famous Duggards as seen on TV take that to heart as we all should if we follow that path and not deviate. That is the only reason why homosexuality is a sin or rather why it is noted in the bible. Now that it has been cleared up here is where it gets tricky or confusing or as humans we add conditions to the rule. Many Christians don't follow that rule instead taking birth control pills, using condoms, or other methods to prevent pregnancy and change the "natural" course of God's plan. So than which is right? Are the Duggards wrong? Are the gays wrong? Who is right? The issue is complex as humans are. There isn't any easy answer, but I'll be waiting for a response. Thank you for allowing this blog to be open for discussion.
Thank you Anonymous, I appreciate your comment. My stance towards homosexuality is based on what the Bible states, it is included in a list of sins and living in sin keeps us away from the most important person in the universe, our Creator, who holds our life and eternal life after death, in his hands. We have to gain his approval to enter the next life in his presence, the other alternate place is not worth gaining the world and losing our soul over. So, sin is what Jesus Christ came to abolish in order for God's creation to live with him in eternity. Life on this earth is worth 80-90 years, if death doesn't come sooner, but eternity is trillions of years and infinite, our choices here can have eternal implications, we didn't write the story line, but in this world's story, we have been given a chance to choose our paths. I just wanna make my creator happy and if I can get a place in heaven, that is my goal and I hope my life reflects just that. God bless.
I don't want to appear like I'm attacking my faith in God. That wasn't my point. The point I was trying to get across is that the issue is complicated and must be viewed by all sides. The Bible doesn't speak of condoms and birth control pills because it wasn't a part of the discussion back than. Contraception by looking at the mere words is just that. Against conception and therefore one cannot say that the only difference between heterosexual and homosexual is the idea of conception if we as Christian use contraception as a way to build a family. God is indeed good. As the bible says you can't be in the middle. If you agree that God's grace is in control as the example of the Duggards than you would be right in being against homosexuals because you follow what you say. Again my point is that for the majority of Christians that doesn't happen. Great discussion by the way. Please don't take my words the wrong way either. Thank you all for your comments.
Thank you for your comment Marielis. Great discussion.
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