What are your thoughts about homosexuality? I believe this is the big issue in the culture today. I will be sharing some thoughts this Sunday morning. Not so much the biblical view of homosexuality but more so how Christians have done a poor job of engaging the gay community. How does the church do a better job in promoting their agenda...which should be only one thing--the love of Jesus. Can the Church disagree with the gay lifestyle and still love well? How do you stand on a truth you believe in and yet still not write people off in our culture?
How would Jesus deal with this issue today? How have homosexuals stereotyped all Christians unfairly? How have Christians unfairly stereotyped all gay people? What needs to change to break through these stereotypes?
Love to hear your thoughts...
Peace,BT
God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. (Gen 1:31) I think Christians forget this is how it all started. It's all good. Sin is good. That's why the "love the sinner, hate the sin" thing makes me crazy. If I hate sin, my own or someone else's, I can't learn from it. When we learn we grow like the lilies of the field. When we hate, we die. I know because I've been dead, and Jesus and all kinds of people - believers and athiests - taught me to love. The fact that I worship here makes some of my gay friends angry. The fact that I believe in gay civil unions probably makes some of you angry. You can choose anger. I choose love. I choose Jesus.
ReplyDeleteAnd the fact that I'm still angry about people who love the sinner and hate the sin means God isn't done with me yet *insert sheepish grin*
ReplyDeleteGod said it was "good" before Adam & Eve decided to rebel against him. Once sin entered the world, God didn't wink at it and sweep it under the rug as if it were also "good" - he doled out huge consequences that showed just how serious He took it. Keep reading into Genesis 3 and it's a clear picture of how God hated the sin but continued loving the sinners. He disciplined them even WHILE he himself made garments of skin and clothed their nakedness. That is 100% justice and 100% love!
ReplyDeleteWe talk a lot about "being Jesus" to the culture, but I think it's more accurate to say we should be more like John the Baptist or Paul, who didn't strive for the perfection of Christ but, in humility and with an awareness of their own shortcomings, always, always pointed others away from themselves and TOWARD Him.
This is a huge issue! Especially in the light of not wanting to create a new hypocrisy for myself! I don't want to fake it until I make it. How am I suppose to handle this in a godly fashion? I simply and honestly don't know.
ReplyDeleteLet me end by saying that I am so glad/thankful that there isn't a spoken category for my sin like there is for homosexuality. Trust me, I have some junk in my trunk, and I really appreciate not having to wear the label "Gossip," "Controller" or something equally nasty, and being flogged for it daily.
I'm frustrated by the decision to take a preference or behavior and make it one's identity. It seems that especially in the poitical and sexual arenas, personal preference defines the person. If you don't like my sexuality, you don't like me. If you vote this way, I hate you.
ReplyDeleteOur tendency to generalize and stereotype is as old as time. Jew, Gentile, Samaritan... Black, White...Christian, Muslim, Athiest...Homosexual, Straight...Republican, Democrat...
Jesus always spoke with people, not at them. Seems simple enough.I'll do my best to follw His example.
I totally agree on being glad my sin is not worn on me like a label.
ReplyDeleteThe understanding i struggle with is that God knows what you don't...ugh!
Yes also on the stereotype comment...there is something in us that makes us want to categorize everyone. Course, i think we are all control freaks at heart and that seems to help us when we can put everyone in neat boxes that i conceive and decide upon.
ReplyDeleteI'm straight, Christian and do believe the Bible teaches that homosexuality is wrong. But I am also thoroughly embarrassed by how Christians have handled the gay issue and primarily interacted with gay people. It is typically arrogant, hateful and condescending. I confess a cultural "pull" to act this way as a Christian...but I do NOT want to be this way and want to be part of doing it Jesus' way. Thanks for bringing these topics to the table.
ReplyDeleteThanks for addressing these issues -- so necessary. It reinforces that we are expected to love God and love others... how simple it sounds... and how hard it is to apply. This series has raised my awareness so much... and i am inspired every week to do better. i am a mess... =)
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