Topic : 06/06 "I'm Gay, OK?"

Hi:)   

It was just a simple little joke about the pink frilly dress...I hope you didn't think that I was personaly stereotyping and the thank you was simply a thank you :)     

A few days ago a lady at church I know went to a ladies pink hat tea party...I was still kind of laughing about that.  (I also laughed with her).   

I actualy don't mind pink...I have a pink shirt, and at times I do wear make-up but not that often.   

In some of the places I would hang out before, I would see more lesbian's that wouldn't look any different then straight women and there are many people in the church struggling with unwanted homosexuality or people who are living double lives in the church like I had done for a while before truly surrendering my life to Jesus Christ.  The church needs to know and understand or perhaps the church is finaly coming to see that this issue is hiting close to home.     

You have many people out there who truly believe in Jesus Christ and who simply wants to come to understand their sexual desires in light of their faith in Christ and it's kind of confusing when the bible speaks against what feels so natural to some, in that I mean...no one asked to be gay and yet people are gay and those who are gay didn't wake up one morning to say, "I think I want to be gay," And yet here is a person who is coming to believe in Jesus Christ.     

In a world where there are no absolute's, "what's right for you might not be what's right for me," Things do get just a little bit confusing...don't you think?  The bible also addresses that by saying in the account of Noah and the Ark, people did what they thought was right in their own eyes and so grieved the heart of God.  This is why I look to God's word as absolute truth and I never regret embracing God's word as absolute truth and I never regret embracing who God created me to be. First and formost...a woman created in the image of God, second...that I am a child of God who is created for good works, third...I am a work in progress and God's grace is tailor made and precision cut to fit my needs in any circumstance I may find myself in.  Fourth, a sinner saved by grace through faith in Christ, AMEN   

1Cor 6:11 which read's "AND THAT IS WHAT SOME OF YOU WERE..."    

Is there anyone in the church who can realy convey a redemptive response to the issue of homosexuality instead of causing people to see only one thing...the fact that so many gay's and lesbian's feel that they are unloved, and unacceptable by the church. (and rightly so:(  )   

Peace<><   

Maybe you didn't understand what I was agreeing to.   

I went back to read some of what you had writen and for the most part I don't have much to disagree with you on either with the exception with how words and thoughts are conveyed.     

Peace:)   

This is what I agreed on...   

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world but to save the world through Him"   

"Saved by grace through faith in Christ,"   

"Where sin abounds so does grace all the more abound,"   

"humble yourself therefore, under the mighty hand of God and in due time He will exhault you,"   

"Do not be conformed any longer to the patterns of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind"   

"He who began a good work in you is faithful to bring it to completion,"   

"And that is what some of you were but you have been washed, sanctified and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God,"   

When people speak truth...I agree.  I don't know how you came to understand my comment the way you did.   

I share from the perspective that not only is healing possable but that freedom from homosexuality is possable.  I also understand that same-sex attraction is not a choice.  I understand this because of my own conflict of desires, if you will.   

The battles that we face in life more often then not isn't something that we can control but our response to the world around us, what we do and what we say, that we can control.  Sexual behavior can be controled and we aught to submit our lives totaly to God.   

So what's your deepest most darkest secret? What is your personal testimony of how you came to faith in Christ?  What has God done in your life?  What life did you live before coming to faith in Christ?   

I mean, we all have "stuff" in our lives but this is what I have come to believe about who God is...   

"He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver..." Malachi 3:3   

Do you know when a silversmith knows the silver is refined?   

He knows when he can see his image in it.  Not only that but the silversmith will not take his eyes off of the silver until the silver is fully refined and purified and if God does sit as a refiner and purifier of silver...then in my own life He will not take His eyes off of me and He will never turn His face away from me no matter what I do or where I go.  My God is faithful and I rest in His care.  My life is hid with Christ.   

Sincerly,   

Sarah<><   

Who are you to judge others?  If God make these people gay then he must deal with the consequences of his actions. Would you all ask  a criple to walk, a mute to talk, the deaf to hear all in the name of our lord?  People are different.  Differences should be celebrated and embraced. I prefer to live and let live. If gays are happy with their choices then I am happy for them.  Love is a beautiful thing. Intolerance is the real  crime.  If two consenting adults want to be together and celebrate life and love I am all for it. I suggest that all you holy rollers worry about priests and sexual offenders taking advantage of non consenting children.  I have seen both sides of this issue and I come down on the side of freedom of choice, tolerance and acceptance. When 50% of marriages between a man and a women end in divorce......why not deal with that issue?   

I agree, I totaly agree.   

I accept all people no matter what the difference.     

I choose to live my life the way I do, as a Christian.  I do the best I can to have Christ Lord of my life in all areas.  I define myself not by struggles or weaknesses, or the "box" that some people want to place me in.  I am defined by who I am in Christ.   

This said and done, it is not my job to dictate how people aught to live their lives, but I do share what I believe.     

And so regardless of who the person is, what they do, who they are and what they believe...   

We have all been created by God and we truly do need to treat everyone with love and respect, even if we do believe differently:)   

God does love us all   

"yet while we were still sinners Christ died,"   

God doesn't wait for our lives to be perfect before we can come to Him, we are invited to come just as we are:)   

As we do that, God will do the rest.   

 Peace<><  

As a Dutchwoman, I always find it highly amusing to read American discussions about this subject. No offense intended, but really you should know by now that no one in their right mind would CHOOSE to be gay. Why would you choose to be discriminated against, not have equal rights as a different sex couple and be used by the president as a political tool? Even in my very tolerant country, where gays can marry and have equal rights, discrimination is still there.  

I do not particularly like the extreme parties that are held sometimes with vast numbers of men in drag, dancing on boats in the canals of Amsterdam. I don't see how they would contribute to a more equal treatment of gays and I know many gays who agree with me, but still they are free to do so and everyone is free to go and watch, or not. That is what true freedom is. 

On this board I saw many indignated 'Christians' saying that the bible judges homosexuality. This may be true, but God created everyone the way they are and homosexuality is of all times! And by the way, when God said we should love our neighbour, he did not mean 'only our straight neighbour'! He also said we should not judge eachother and I am sure that if being gay is your only 'sin' , you are doing a whole lot better than many 'straight' people. Judging is very human, but also the biggest sin of all.  

The Bible has been misexplained so many times, which has led to slavery, apartheid, the masskilling of jews in world war 2 and also, not so known maybe, the masskilling of gays in world war 2. Gays were presecuted the same as jews, mentally ill, gipsies and generally anyone who was not ' perfect'.! 

Lets try to stick to the most important rules God gave us: Love theigh neighbour as thyself and God above all.!