I have had several conversations about homosexuality and the church’s response to homosexuals over the past few months with Steven. I will be responding to this from my perspective tomorrow, but in the time being, I would love your responses. Here is Steven’s perspective:
Rules for Being a Gay Christian, According to Christians I’ve Talked To:
- Don’t be gay.
- If you’re gay, don’t fall in love. That kind of love is sinful and immoral.
- If you’re gay and you DO fall in love, we’re not going to let you legally marry that person so you can visit them in the hospital, make medical decisions for each other, etc.
- If you object to us banning you from having the same legal rights as us, see Rule 1: Don’t be gay.
- P.S. God loves you.
The Conversation: In the Beginning
maybe you can do a third post about gay and lesbian peoples involvement in volunteering and leadership is or should be.
That could be good. Where homosexuality fits IN the church rather than the church's response TO it. I'd be down for that.
This is a creative way to give voice to a real issue we are faced with today. As clever as it is, however, I feel that it loses most of its constructiveness because 1. This issue is a known issue and 2. You didn't provide any solutions.
Maybe they're supposed to be inferred (like mine in this comment). I dunno. I guess I just prefer posts that simultaneously provide solutions to well articulated problems.
peace | dewde
Dewde – I hear what you are saying, but the lack of solutions offered was entirely intentional. I hope to facilitate a conversation and feel this was the best way to not close off perspectives, which is why I deviated from the post and response format of the other “The Conversation” pieces. I will be responding, even though I doubt my thoughts could be taken as “solutions” tomorrow. I wanted to make sure readers (who are largely Christian) had ample time to take on Steven's perspective.
P.S. – thanks for dropping by and commenting. Welcome!
Great topic! I'm looking forward to some interesting convo, and will check back soon.
Looking forward to your thoughts and solutions to this issue! I'll see you tomorrow!
I became a follower of Christ when I was almost 17. I spent the next 10-12 years focusing on my sin. Many times I grew agitated with my condition. I was always told privately that God loved me just the way I was, with all of my issues, sins, and hang ups but then when it came time to hear a public teaching it seemed to focus around what I needed to “stop” doing. I put all of my effort in that and failed miserably. I found that attempting to focus on my sin was like trying to focus on one of the hash marks on the road going 55. I had an epiphany years back that changed the landscape of my Christian perspective forever. Christ did not brutally die on a cross so I would “stop” doing things, he did it all so that I would start to do something with the life he gave me. So as that began to take root into my heart and infiltrate my way of thinking I began to ask the question, “What is it God wants me to start doing?” The answer came in the words of Christ, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” Mat. 22:37. That was it. What I needed to start doing was focusing and loving God. It is God who changes and cleanses the heart, covers our sin making us new. Homosexuality is a sin just like premarital sex is a sin. Sin is sin, but the bottom line is God is God and He is after our hearts and not our ability to abstain from sin. So my advise to Steven is stop focusing on the hash mark (sin) and put you eyes on God. If you will take the next 12 months and give all that you have to God your life and perspective will forever change. Start to do something.
Good words Jaime, “he did it all so that I would start to do something with the life he gave me” I love that.
Truly, when we can get our eyes off of ourselves and where they belong, the entire game changes.
This is a question for those more familiar with the Bible. I know that Homosexuality as a sin is mentioned in the Old Testament(Leviticus?) but is it mentioned at all in the New Testament? What is the context?
[...] The Conversation: Rules for Being a Gay Christian [...]
[...] you missed it, you can read Steven’s post, which got things rolling – and my response to his [...]
:(
I typed quite a bit before logging in via twitter & lost my comment.
I forgot to respond to this, sorry! This issue is dealt with in the next post, Rules for Being a Gay Christian (Response) – see if the comments there shed light on this.
Sorry Richard! You have to sign in before you comment, otherwise it will delete what has been written, as you found out. :(
:(
I typed quite a bit before logging in via twitter & lost my comment.
I forgot to respond to this, sorry! This issue is dealt with in the next post, Rules for Being a Gay Christian (Response) – see if the comments there shed light on this.
Sorry Richard! You have to sign in before you comment, otherwise it will delete what has been written, as you found out. :(