Dec 02 2006
Faith and Sexuality
I remember back in the early days of AOL. I was still a confused teenager, trying to make sense of my sexuality. Reconciling both my faith and sexuality was a journey for me, and looking back – I was glad I went through it because without that experience under my belt today, I would easily turn away from my faith.
I used to open a member room called ‘gaychristians’ on AOL chatrooms. Before you know it, the room will be full. There will be bashers and faithfuls together in the same room discussing the relationship between Christ and homosexuals.
I made lots of friends there – and through that room, I started my slow process to reconcile my faith with my sexuality. I hope you will share your experiences with me, so come along.
Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ.
First of all I would like for you to realize what I’m about to say is not a diss, bash, or anything else to put you down, but I’m still trying to figure out where the ‘title’ gay-christian comes from, when the Bible presents verses against men having sex w/men, and women w/women?
You probably know the verses I’m referring to (old and new testament), and while I realize the Bible has been translated in various languages, and in different versions, and that God/Jesus have ‘called out’ those who will serve them by ‘their’ Word, then what exactly is a ‘gay-christian’ if the Word of God speaks against it?
I’m asking because saying that you and others were ‘born that way’, makes it look as if God/Jesus are ‘double-minded’ and here’s why.
How could ‘they’ say men having sex with men, and women w/women is an abomination, then turn around and say people are ‘born’ this way (also, I’ve never seen it presented in the scriptures saying people are born gay, if I missed it, can you please give me the exact location so that I can read them for myself?)? Am ‘I’ confused or is there something I’m missing in the Bible?
Once again, I’m not trying to make you or anyone else from the gay community look or even feel bad by what I’m saying, but I just want to know for those of us who name the name of God and Jesus, do we believe ALL of what the Bible says as we’re supposed to, or have convinced ourselves that “they” are mistaken?
What’s ‘you’re’ take on this ‘via the Bible’ if at all possible? I ask for your perspective via the Word, because God/Jesus have never let me down even one time, but us humans are pretty good at deluding ourselves. Your input please? Take care and be blessed.
Hello Bea!
Peace in the name of Jesus Christ.
I understand exactly where you’re coming from and I appreciate you pointing out exactly things that you don’t quite fathom. Let me break down my answers so you can easily read them.
1. Where does the ‘title’ gay-christian come from?
It’s simply a name. I am a Christian and I happen to be gay. So, I am calling myself a Gay Christian. Nothing more, nothing less.
2. God/Jesus have ‘called out’ those who will serve them by ‘their’ Word, then what exactly is a ‘gay-christian’ if the Word of God speaks against it?
This has been a conversation for a very long time and it has been answered multiple times by religious scholars as well. I am not going to answer it since I don’t claim to be a scholar. I will however say that I only believe one thing that Jesus said,
“Love God, with all your heart, with all your mind and with all your soul and your neighbor as yourself. That is the greatest commandment.”
3. How could ‘they’ say men having sex with men, and women w/women is an abomination, then turn around and say people are ‘born’ this way (also, I’ve never seen it presented in the scriptures saying people are born gay, if I missed it, can you please give me the exact location so that I can read them for myself?)?
I will not attempt to answer this question as well – - but let me point out a youtube video for you to watch and tell me afterwards whether anything in the bible, written or unwritten should be translated literally… Here’s the clip.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWuXpfXSl5Y
I Think the term gay Christan originated just as the term Christan did. For derogatory purposes.
But thats not why I’m here. I want to make some points.
First you can’t be gay and Christan-not to demean but this is what thus said the lord.
If you think the Old Testament is done it is.
but our sexuality is human nature. All things created on week one they were created to work a certain way. Just as sexuality.
All things concerning our sexual nature from the O.T. re still observed. Or our sexual practices.
Bestiality,incest, and homosexuality. Paul condemns the effeminate in 1st cor; 6:9-10 romans 1:27 says that it is error to commit such. the natural(sexually established) use(sex) or a woman. Jude 7 says sodom and gommorah were destroyed for goin after strange flesh. not angel flesh.
Strange means outside of sexual and God defined nature.
I could list all refrences but if you want the truth
LOOK IT UP.
IN CHRIST JESUS,
SMASHMOUTH.
Smashmouth – - the same answer as I have always given…watch the video and let me know…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWuXpfXSl5Y
I listened to the video – the Law was given to show the people all that sin is, not to promote such behavior. You call yourself a Christian – so you believe Jesus died to grant forgiveness for sin – all of them, including the practice of homosexuality. You do not need special forgiveness because you call yourself gay – calling yourself gay is a choice, regardless of your sexual orientation.
Let’s say I can see nothing wrong with murder and because there are a lots of murders in the world I believe I am born that way and feel the urge to murder, so I call myself a Murderer Christian – I have committed no sin until I actually murder someone.
God gives each person a specific will and specific physical and emotional and mental attributes. We are called as Christians to mold ourselves into the image of Jesus. For me a Murderer Christian I must daily fight the battle to not give in to my God-given urges, but rather fight them to make myself more like Jesus.
If you believe you are a gay Christian, then you must follow the same principles as other non-gay Christians. Your cross to bear is likely singleness and to be an example for other gays who wish to be Christians – you get nor do you need any special treatment, laws, consideration or get a pass in sexual behavior.
You are so right about what all Christians are called to do.
Please accept Jesus’ Love from a Conservative, Bible-believing, White 67 year old Male with 3 children and 4 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren who prays you win your battles and ask you pray I win mine.
Hey, i am having a rather tough time with a friend of mine, i am gay and recently found my way back to the church through this friend who is also gay and christian but he denies it, identifies as straight so he can remain involved in youth ministry and sleeps with men on the side secretly. we have arguments over what the bible does and does not say and why it says it. I personally am of the opinion that the bible – as a result of being written and re-written by the hand of man – is flawed. and he is of the opinion that it is god inspired and therefore not flawed in any way. When i bring up topics such as the ones raised in the video clip you pointed out he likes to enforce that that is OT and as a result of Jesus’s death on the cross for us the new testament is all that matters. my issue with this is that you cant have the old with the new, and also who decided that the sins that went into the new testament deserved to be there? im pretty sure it wasn’t god?! im struggling to find a balance for myself with my faith and my sexuality and im finding it even more struggling that he refuses to even consider the opinions of someone else because his particular church “have it right”… (clearly everyone else has it wrong? lol) didn’t Jesus and god only speak of love and acceptance? and even then the books are written by men with their own personal opinions and views of a world which is now extinct? my personal belief is that god required us to breed as a result of our 1: lack of numbers and 2:lack of other means of reproduction… we not only now have methods of reproduction which don’t require sex but we are abundant in numbers! so much so we cant maintain a world wide level of quality of life! so confused please help!!! xo bless you.
sorry i meant you cant have the new without the old haha :s
Hello Michael,
Thanks for leaving a comment. I feel your pain. I had to struggle the same way just like your friend did. I was in denial for a long time. I have often asked myself, “How could I even claim myself to be a Christian when I am lying about my sexuality all the time?” I pretended to be straight when I am not so that society can accept who I pretend to be.
I can only say that until your friend is able to accept his sexuality and admit to himself that being gay is as normal as being straight. I feel bad that he has to lie about who he really is because I know that he feels doubly guilty after having these sex acts with men on the side. It could be very destructive in the long term.
I wouldn’t go as far as saying that the bible is flawed – I would only go as far to say that we need to read the bible according to the time it was written. For example, we eat pork now. We touch pig skin. Those were things that were forbidden before.
Remember that Christ came to fulfill the law and not to change the law. But his coming has one message that fulfilled all laws, including the 10 commandments. And that message is “LOVE”.
If everyone followed Christ’s golden rule, nobody would judge anyone, kill anyone, lie to anyone, etc.
I don’t like going into bible verses to explain what is and what is not a sin because it can get too complicated and that is what Christ came for… it should not be that difficult to fulfill God’s wishes and command and it could simply be done through this:
“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
That’s all I live by.
Let’s pray for your friend as well.. and let’s pray for each other.
God bless.
Hello J.R. Abbot,
Thanks for visiting my blog and offering your opinion about homosexuality and your thoughts about it. It is surely welcome.
I don’t however agree with your equation of a murderer to a homosexual. I would probably equate homosexuality more to be as natural as you and I having the need to go to the bathroom. It’s a natural process and it’s something that cannot be controlled. I am who I am.
Being homosexual doesn’t give us the license to murder, to abuse children, to be promiscuous, to lie, to disobey our parents and all the rest of whatever we believe are sins.
It took me a long time to understand what God’s plan for me is. And that plan is to be true to myself, not deny the love of another person (please don’t equate this to promiscuous sex as even gay christians believe that having sex outside of a committed relationship is a sin).
Thanks for your comment and sure, please continue to pray for us as we will for you. God bless.