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JamesTheLeast
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« Reply #30 on: April 14, 2009, 02:41:11 PM »
Think of it this way.

The Church welcomes all souls that wish to celebrate or enter into a relationship with God.  Anyone who openly and freely admits to the nature of thier sins and enters resolved to change and remove sin from thier life is welcome.  Those that do not, as Paul notes, should be rejected but once they resolve to change should be forgiven and admitted back.   It matters not whether that sin is homosexuality or arson. 

Respectufully I suggest that what sinners of all stipes would like is to be able to be welcomed into heaven while still sinning and likin' it. 
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ollie
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« Reply #31 on: April 14, 2009, 09:14:13 PM »
Quote from: wideeyed on February 20, 2009, 04:44:53 AM
While driving recently, I passed a banner which stated something along the lines of this:
"THE CHURCH SHOULD BE A SAFE PLACE FOR ALL PEOPLE TO TAKE REFUGE, WE WILL ACCEPT ANYONE WITH OPEN ARMS, AND NONE SHOULD BE AFRAID, FOR GOD IS WATCHING OVER THEM". I was overjoyed that this message was spreading the Word of The Lord to whomsoever happened to be driving on that particular road, however I made an observation.
The church is not a safe place in this world. It is not a place.
The church are the called of God by His word through His Son. They are constantly attacked by satan and his adversaries. The church are the saved and are seperated in the Christ, but not necessarily safe from physical abuse and harm.

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The church does not accept anyone with open arms. It is not a safe place for all. It is selective. I am speaking (or rather typing, as it were) about homosexuals. Homosexuals, such as several of my friends, can not feel welcome in a religious community, and are shunned simply for a lifestyle choice that is theirs to make.
The Lord selects who is the church and those be the ones that should be saved in obeying the gospel.

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So why is it that the church does not accept these valid human beings and in most cases GOOD PEOPLE into their ranks? Why has the old-fashioned homophobia still wafting through the ages, in our amazing world so amazingly given to us by God, where racism is barely a problem anymore?
The church does not decide who can be added to the Lords church and who can not. That is the Lord's to do and he does it through one's obedience to the gospel.

ollie
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« Reply #31 on: April 14, 2009, 09:14:13 PM »
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JamesTheLeast
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« Reply #32 on: April 14, 2009, 10:22:29 PM »
Oh Ollie,

I know you are right after a fashion.

But in terms of reaching those who are stumbling, or seeking the path I am reminded of a hockey coach trying to help the junior kids in the rink when the parents are in the stands.

In a nutshell....  Banging head against wall

~sigh~
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Bonnie
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« Reply #33 on: May 19, 2009, 09:17:14 AM »
Quote from: DCR on February 25, 2009, 03:18:02 PM
Quote from: jessbuds on February 25, 2009, 07:47:52 AM

Well i would like to share a little since i am a homosexual myself.

For what it's worth, I take issue with the notion of identifying oneself as a "homosexual" as if it were an inherent and permanent part of their identify.  In my mind, a homosexual is one who actively practices homosexuality.  Some may struggle with same-sex attraction.  But, I think for anyone to identify themselves as being a homosexual (with all due respect), whether they live a homosexual lifestyle or not, is starting off on the wrong foot.  1 Corinthians 6:11 says, "And, such were some of you."

Quote from: jessbuds on February 25, 2009, 07:47:52 AM
First Jesus does not condemn anyone regardless of who he or she is. Remember the "Come to me those of you who are weary and with heavy burden and i will give you rest'? Well this invitation from Jesus still stands today and will stand even to the last minute of our lives.

The church that does not accept or allow anyone because he or she is gay is not of Jesus though some claim they are and the Holy Spirit is not in them. Remember the fruit of the Holy Spirit? Love? Joy? Peace, Humility? etc?

IMO, a person is only "gay" or "homosexual" if that is the lifestyle they are continuing to live.  So, it's not an issue of whether Jesus or the church accepts "gay people" or not.  The people are accepted... but, it's the "gayness" that's not.  I hope you can see the difference.  Accept the sinner, but not the sin.  Or, as the cliche says, hate the sin but love the sinner.  If someone repents of homosexuality and comes to Christ... you know what?  He is no longer homosexual.  That ceases to be a part of his identity.  At least, it should. 

That doesn't mean that there won't be struggles along the way though.

Quote from: jessbuds on February 25, 2009, 07:47:52 AM
There is no much of a true church today i guess but during Paul's time there were gay people who are member of the church and even today so many and i am one of them. The problem lies in the very judgemental thinking of the people; they think that because someone is a homosexual he or she is bad. Not all are bad, in fact there are so many who are like this that are in agony because of being homosexual. Take me for instance, before i became a christian i was gay in fact i move and talk and even dress a little on feminine side when i attended the church but the pastor was very encouraging and eager to share the good news to me. I even wonder how many times he and his family prayed for me. Maybe hundred times. The fact is; how can we share the love of Jesus and His salvation to the homosexuals if we hinder them from coming to us in the first place? When Jesus even invited all sinners of all kinds to come to Him?

I say enough of our being narrow minded and its time to open our arms to our brothers and sisters who are still in darkness.

We cannot condenm a person while he is still alive because even to last minute miracle happen like the criminal on the cross with Jesus Christ. So who should condemn then Jesus? But He did not even condemn anyone excep the Pharisees of course.

But the church that teach homosexuality is okay;  is not good church either because it is a sin and should be confessed and repented like any other sins.


Again, in my opinion, no one should continue to think of themselves as homosexual.  Were there people in the church during Paul's time who had been homosexual?  Yes.  But, were they to be considered as still being homosexual once they left that life behind and found Christ?  In my opinion, absolutely not.


 Amen!
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UnhandledException
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« Reply #34 on: May 19, 2009, 07:22:47 PM »
You can love the person and hate the sin.   

It is possible to love someone while they're sinning? Of course it is.

Christianity is exclusive.   It is also excludes those that don't believe in Jesus Christ as the risen Savior.  Everyone should have the opportunity to accept or reject it. If you choose to reject it, then you don't belong there.
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JamesTheLeast
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« Reply #35 on: May 20, 2009, 11:51:37 PM »
Love the person and hate the sin.  Interesting.  And probably true.

But let's be clear here that we don't project the modern interpretation of homosexual onto the biblical one.  Because that is a favourite beguilement of the equalitarian factions.

You can be Gay.  You can love another man.  You can live with him.  You can marry him in the ceremony of your culture.  You can adopt and raise kids together.  You can own property in common and expect equal treatment under the law.  You just can't stick your penis in him.  That's it.  Harsh.  Crude.  But that's the brass tacks boys and girls.  In so much as you do not do with a man in love what you would do with a woman, you are pretty much in the clear.  Or at least a strongly debatable grey area.

But once you put sexual congress in the mix you are done.

No one asks a person not to be gay.  Nor expects the gay to suddenly be "healed".  Nor would Christ not accept a gay man openly without let or hinderance provided that he commit not an abomination.  His life style, and his feelings for other men are his own concern.  It is the simple act of sex which, with good reason given the range of possible psychological motivations alone, is decried.

Let my hate mail commence....lol
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« Reply #35 on: May 20, 2009, 11:51:37 PM »
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Bonnie
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« Reply #36 on: May 21, 2009, 06:50:05 AM »
I love that persons soul and pray for them to forsake their wicked way.  Until they do God is against them.

Peter 3:12  "For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil."

I don't know of any church in my area that wouldn't welcome homosexuals inside to hear the word.  Same as with drunkards, adulterers, etc. The sin doesn't make a difference. We want to see people get saved and forsake their lifestyle of sin.
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Psalms 118:24  "This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it."
candy
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« Reply #37 on: May 25, 2009, 03:03:45 PM »
I think were all struggling with some form of sin.  The difference is once the Holy Spirit convicts us about it what to we do? do we continue to sin or try to live a more righteous life.  It's not easy regardless of the sin.  All sin is sin at least from the Lord's eyes.  I believe the Lord knows our true hearts.  I like to hope He sees us trying to live more like Him and less like our true nature (sinners).  I just keep praying to exhibit the fruits of the sprit more than the fruits of the flesh.  Keep on keeping on in love like Jesus has for us.
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