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I've always wondered about this because I have seen people who say they are chrisitans and go to church and everything but they are homosexual. And I've always heard that being gay was a choice that everyone has. I was wondering what people opinion is of that and if it's possible to be both or impossible according to the Bible.

Quote from: accmn on Tue Feb 10, 2009 - 20:26:47
I've always wondered about this because I have seen people who say they are chrisitans and go to church and everything but they are homosexual. And I've always heard that being gay was a choice that everyone has. I was wondering what people opinion is of that and if it's possible to be both or impossible according to the Bible.

I do think that you can be gay and a Christian, just as you can be a Christian and be committing other sins, but you cant live a gay lifestyle without God strongly challenging you about it eventually. He wouldnt allow it to go on for long. Just as if you were hetrosexual and sleeping with people before marriage, or comitting adultery. Eventually you would have to stop sleeping with other people, as God makes it clear that sex with anyone who isnt your spouse is wrong(and that is a man married to a woman)
I know a lady who has come back to God after a long period away and she has been living with a man for three years.Eventually I think she will have to either marry this guy who isnt a Christian or choose bewteen them, and that will be very hard. The man isnt a Christian and has said that he wont marry again. (They are both divorced)

yeah this is something that I have always wondered about because I'm sure that there are gay people who consider themselves Christians and a lot of them feel that it isn't a choice. Just a random question but one that I've always been confused about.

Well, living a life of homosexuality is a sin, but can be overcome just as any type of behavior that is an abomination to our God. He gives those the courage, power and wisdom to overcome their temptation to live in sin, if they so choose. It's anyone's choice to remain in sin, but you also have to choose to be willing to allow Him to work in your lives, no matter what the sin may be.

It's not that God doesn't love them, He definitely does, but He expects the effort to be put forth to allow Him to work in each of our lives, regardless of what sin we could be living in.

Hi and welcome here, :)

I think you could easily ask each and every one here  ---Can you be Christian and "go to church and everything" and  still consider yourselves Christian --- when you steal paperclips from work by choice, drink a bit too much by choice, eat a bit too much by choice, practice pride by choice, practice dishonoring your parents by choice, gossip by choice, masturbate by choice, tell dirty jokes by choice ---you get the picture.

We're all just sinners ---but we can still love Jesus and aspire to be like Him with all of our weaknesses of the flesh.

Best wishes,
:) Elaine

Have you be syping on me?     

As with any human, you will know if they are a Christian by their fruits. If they live a homosexual lifestyle and have no intention of repenting from it or acknowledging it as wrong...not looking too well in their favor.

However, if they are born again and struggle with homosexuality...but acknowledge it as sin...work hard at letting their life be transformed into the image of Jesus Christ by abstaining from a homosexual lifestyle...then you may see good fruit and call them a brother in Christ.

Ultimately, God knows our hearts, and we are simply playing a guessing game as to who will, or won't be, in Heaven.

Someone who is truly born again is a "new creature in Christ". "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold all things are become new." 2 Cor. 5:17

Homosexuality sex is sin (just as adultery is), and if anyone is committing that sin and is actually born again, then God will chastise them until they repent of that sin and turn from it--just as He will do with any sin we commit as a born again Christian.

We can't necessarily help having what desires we have, but we are not destined to act out those desires. Sinning as an unbeliever is natural. However, as a born again Christian, we have the Holy Spirit within us. We have the power of God at out disposal to resist sin and don't have to do it on our own. If we give in to sin, it's because of our own lusts and desires. God has provided us a way to resist sin.

Quote from: OneLung on Wed Feb 11, 2009 - 10:26:24
Have you be syping on me?     

Don't need to - you reveal so much on your own!!

No, according to God's Word it's not possible to be a Christian and live a homosexual lifestyle.  Just as it's not possible to be an adulterer, liar or thief and live for God.

Quote from: Bonnie on Thu Feb 12, 2009 - 07:28:58
No, according to God's Word it's not possible to be a Christian and live a homosexual lifestyle.  Just as it's not possible to be an adulterer, liar or thief and live for God.

Well, that wipes out more than 3/4's of the people that attend my church.

And yet, I still love 'em ---and I'm just me --imagine how much God must love 'em and He is Love and He's the One that wants their love, created them in love, for love --go figure.

Yeah, we're not perfect - good thing Someone died for our sins.
I'm still a Christian and I still slip and do some bad things.   
My experience of the Almighty Lord is one of immense mercy and dripping love and forgiveness.   Just my take Bonnie. Don't want to ruffle any feathers, really.

But that is my experience ---endless and boundless forgiveness ---- I'll take any one on that sees me sin and then says I'm not a Christian.   I'm a screw up. And God Bless me - I'm a beloved child of my Eternal Father ---and He knows it and He knows that I know it. Thank you my Blessed Perfect Father.

Elaine

(Do I dare press post?)

Quote from: Elaine on Thu Feb 12, 2009 - 13:44:01

Quote from: Bonnie on Thu Feb 12, 2009 - 07:28:58
No, according to God's Word it's not possible to be a Christian and live a homosexual lifestyle.  Just as it's not possible to be an adulterer, liar or thief and live for God.

Well, that wipes out more than 3/4's of the people that attend my church.

Then 3/4'ths of your church need to seriously examine their hearts. It is one thing to stumble, it is another entirely to sin your life away never acknowledging that what you are doing is wrong and that you need more of God and less of you.

If you are a homosexual and you have a boyfriend or partner...and you claim to be born again...you will no longer have that boyfriend or partner. Could you still slip up and have a homosexual experience? Sure, but you would have "messed up" and repented (turned away) from your sin.

God's love is extended to all His children. But if you live in sin, after saying you made a proclamation of faith, then its time to re-examine if you really meant what you proclaimed. Reading/reciting the sinner's prayer, or asking Jesus into your heart, doesn't do anything if you didn't truly mean it.

There is a difference between "living for sin" and "committing a sin". The latter, suggests that you messed up, repent, and ask for forgiveness. You act out repentance, by fleeing from sin.

The first, suggests that you simply continue to sin, don't even try to not sin, assuming you are forgiven from something you read/recited. Anyways, thats my take on it :)

Quote from: fanuvmxpx on Thu Feb 12, 2009 - 13:53:42

Quote from: Elaine on Thu Feb 12, 2009 - 13:44:01

Quote from: Bonnie on Thu Feb 12, 2009 - 07:28:58
No, according to God's Word it's not possible to be a Christian and live a homosexual lifestyle.  Just as it's not possible to be an adulterer, liar or thief and live for God.

Well, that wipes out more than 3/4's of the people that attend my church.

Then 3/4'ths of your church need to seriously examine their hearts. It is one thing to stumble, it is another entirely to sin your life away never acknowledging that what you are doing is wrong and that you need more of God and less of you.

If you are a homosexual and you have a boyfriend or partner...and you claim to be born again...you will no longer have that boyfriend or partner. Could you still slip up and have a homosexual experience? Sure, but you would have "messed up" and repented (turned away) from your sin.

God's love is extended to all His children. But if you live in sin, after saying you made a proclamation of faith, then its time to re-examine if you really meant what you proclaimed. Reading/reciting the sinner's prayer, or asking Jesus into your heart, doesn't do anything if you didn't truly mean it.

There is a difference between "living for sin" and "committing a sin". The latter, suggests that you messed up, repent, and ask for forgiveness. You act out repentance, by fleeing from sin.

The first, suggests that you simply continue to sin, don't even try to not sin, assuming you are forgiven from something you read/recited. Anyways, thats my take on it :)

Amen, that's the way I see it too.  Telling a lie and being a liar are two separate things as an example.  Telling a lie, repenting and making it right and being a liar who never stops is the difference.
God hates sin yet many people fail to realize that.  You can't have your cake and eat it too needs to be understood.  If you're not serious about your commitment to God maybe something is missing...

Elaine, I would find a new church also.  God Bless.

A short period of time before my return to God in 1979  I was on the verge of a nervous breakdown.  Two years of living as a homosexual had taken its toll on me. I became ill.  I still remember the incredible peace that filled my soul the day I got on my knees and confessed my sin to God.  He spoke the word 'forgiven' to me in my heart.  I had peace, felt cleansed and I knew that I had returned to Him.  It had not been an emotional moment--I had purposed in my heart to repent.

I often think that the thing that kept me going in that lifestyle (primarily dancing in discos and getting tanked in bars--sex was the least of it for me) was the knowledge that my involvement in the gay community was not going to be a life long choice.  I knew my days there were numbered.  It had been a 'given'.  Up to a point the beers I had been consuming in heavy number numbed the emotional pain caused by the torment of living in sin.  But eventually the alcohol stopped working...I couldn't cope any more living a lie.  If you will to sin and you are a Christian you live a lie. There can be no greater phony than a Christian who willfully sins.

Being true to myself brought peace.  It wasn't dancing to the Village People on some disco dance floor.  The reason I began to 'break up' emotionally (and that is a frightening experience) is that I hadn't been true to myself for that two year period...if you are a Christian you must live your life in Christ by walking to obedience to God's Word.  Anything less and you invite pain into your life.

Usually when I read homosexual here,  I replace it in my head with glutton or drinker ---may sound dumb - but I do. I'm sorry, I have wonderfully loving , giving Christian smiling happy hugging friends and beloved sweet relatives that live their lives giving their time and money to charities that are filled with gluttonous thoughts, are obese, desire sex (I think are sex addicts) and I just have never met warmer more real people that would  be at your death bed being your advocate and wiping your drool.

I don't care if they are sinning everyday being gluttons eating/dreaming of their next restaurant meal - I know they are... ----or filled with a male prideful ego ----they are tangible loving present human beings in my life and many others -also - many use pot daily ---they love Jesus and are weak idiots -- it's not my place to to do anything but love them and be an example of NOT being a glutton, obsessed with food and drugs or filled with pride, etc. (I am "born again")   If someone asked them if they were Christian they would say yes.  Buddhists, agnostic, whatever ---no. Definitely Christian.  Born again -no.    But a lover of  and believer in Jesus, yes.
No, they do not read and know the Bible ---but what little they do know of Jesus they love.    I am not in their heart - only God is there.

I love them. God loves them and they reflect God's love to others immensely.

I have sat next to people in church with alcohol on their breath and I've sat next to hugely obese ladies and next to prim and proper little snobs and shy wallflowers ---- I treat them equally the same with love and acceptance ---I know alot about many people and how they abuse their wives and I give them a hug and a squeeze the same as the saintly 5 yr old.

No, I'm not changing any church.  They are all struggling and and I will be the first to show them love and acceptance and compassion and a shoulder to cry on- on their 77th mistake.

I have the freedom of no judgement. Crippled by dogma. Simply loving my neighbor as I love myself. And I am very understanding and forgiving of myself.

My next church is soon to be a homeless/drug mission called The Mission  where all the pastors are all homeless looking almost toothless ex druggies from the streets ----those are my kind of people -struggling for Jesus and going right back in an hour and using  -over and over and then coming back for food and shelter and hugs.   I will look at the same people the first day with the same love as the next day - after they keep making the same mistake over and over and over.

Homosexuality (and all other sins) is as compatible with Christianity as water is with electricity.

Water & electricity mix very well though. If your in them when they mix...the only thing that isn't mixing well is the human :)

Quote from: fanuvmxpx on Fri Feb 13, 2009 - 11:26:08
Water & electricity mix very well though. If your in them when they mix...the only thing that isn't mixing well is the human :)

yes he gets fried.....................

Quote from: Mikeyjc on Thu Feb 12, 2009 - 18:52:09
A short period of time before my return to God in 1979  I was on the verge of a nervous breakdown.  Two years of living as a homosexual had taken its toll on me. I became ill.  I still remember the incredible peace that filled my soul the day I got on my knees and confessed my sin to God.  He spoke the word 'forgiven' to me in my heart.  I had peace, felt cleansed and I knew that I had returned to Him.  It had not been an emotional moment--I had purposed in my heart to repent.

I often think that the thing that kept me going in that lifestyle (primarily dancing in discos and getting tanked in bars--sex was the least of it for me) was the knowledge that my involvement in the gay community was not going to be a life long choice.  I knew my days there were numbered.  It had been a 'given'.  Up to a point the beers I had been consuming in heavy number numbed the emotional pain caused by the torment of living in sin.  But even then the alcohol stopped working...I couldn't cope any more living a lie.  If you will to sin and you are a Christian you live a lie. There can be no greater phony than a Christian who willfully sins.

Being true to myself brought peace.  It wasn't dancing to the Village People on some disco dance floor.  The reason I began to 'break up' emotionally (and that is a frightening experience) is that I hadn't been true to myself for that two year period...if you are a Christian you must live your life in Christ by walking to obedience to God's Word.  Anything less and you invite pain into your life.

  Michael, that is a truly moving testimony!  God Bless you, my friend.

Quote from: Bonnie on Fri Feb 13, 2009 - 16:43:06

Quote from: Mikeyjc on Thu Feb 12, 2009 - 18:52:09
A short period of time before my return to God in 1979  I was on the verge of a nervous breakdown.  Two years of living as a homosexual had taken its toll on me. I became ill.  I still remember the incredible peace that filled my soul the day I got on my knees and confessed my sin to God.  He spoke the word 'forgiven' to me in my heart.  I had peace, felt cleansed and I knew that I had returned to Him.  It had not been an emotional moment--I had purposed in my heart to repent.

I often think that the thing that kept me going in that lifestyle (primarily dancing in discos and getting tanked in bars--sex was the least of it for me) was the knowledge that my involvement in the gay community was not going to be a life long choice.  I knew my days there were numbered.  It had been a 'given'.  Up to a point the beers I had been consuming in heavy number numbed the emotional pain caused by the torment of living in sin.  But even then the alcohol stopped working...I couldn't cope any more living a lie.  If you will to sin and you are a Christian you live a lie. There can be no greater phony than a Christian who willfully sins.

Being true to myself brought peace.  It wasn't dancing to the Village People on some disco dance floor.  The reason I began to 'break up' emotionally (and that is a frightening experience) is that I hadn't been true to myself for that two year period...if you are a Christian you must live your life in Christ by walking to obedience to God's Word.  Anything less and you invite pain into your life.

  Michael, that is a truly moving testimony!  God Bless you, my friend.

Thank you Bonnie.  Just telling it like it is...

Michael

Quote from: Elaine on Thu Feb 12, 2009 - 13:44:01

Quote from: Bonnie on Thu Feb 12, 2009 - 07:28:58
No, according to God's Word it's not possible to be a Christian and live a homosexual lifestyle.  Just as it's not possible to be an adulterer, liar or thief and live for God.

Well, that wipes out more than 3/4's of the people that attend my church.

Elaine

Are you sure that 3/4's commit adultery and keep on committing adultery, lie and keep on lying, steal and keep on stealing, etc...?