Comments on: Homosexuality and your church http://baptistmessenger.com/homosexuality-and-your-church/ A Ministry of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma Sat, 13 Mar 2010 15:44:00 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: DP http://baptistmessenger.com/homosexuality-and-your-church/comment-page-1/#comment-1593 DP Sat, 23 Jan 2010 19:17:36 +0000 http://baptistmessenger.com/?p=1015#comment-1593 Deep, Your faith in the human institution called the APA amazes me. There support of homosexuality has been so politically driven and biased for so many years now I do not understand how anyone can see that they have any credibility any more. You go right on believing the garbage they are presenting and be as proud as you can be. God did not create you gay, you have been convinced by the APA you are gay. Deep,
Your faith in the human institution called the APA amazes me. There support of homosexuality has been so politically driven and biased for so many years now I do not understand how anyone can see that they have any credibility any more. You go right on believing the garbage they are presenting and be as proud as you can be. God did not create you gay, you have been convinced by the APA you are gay.

]]> By: Thom Hunter http://baptistmessenger.com/homosexuality-and-your-church/comment-page-1/#comment-1026 Thom Hunter Mon, 21 Dec 2009 00:09:31 +0000 http://baptistmessenger.com/?p=1015#comment-1026 Lew, I'm sorry for the difficult position you are in. I can tell you want to do what any loving Christian would want to do for anyone who is involved in habitual sin: point the way to freedom in Christ and through the power of the Holy Spirit. You've done that and, with a lot of prayer, hopefuly God will intercede and the Holy Spirit will lead your sister and your nephew out of the lifestyle. Today's culture, and indeed even some denominations, have gone astray with the intention of acceptance. This is wrong. Sin is sin, regardless of the cause or the comfort. I do have some contact information for Exodus and SBC's The Way Out, as well as some other resources that were to have run in the second article. If you would like to e-mail me at th2950@yahoo.com, I'll send you that information. And I'll be praying for your family. My journey was longer than it needed to be and caused greater damage than it should have, even though I never professed homosexuality as good. To me, it was always a sin. I just struggled to find freedom. It is my hope that others will find it faster and without causing others the pain. Thom Lew,

I’m sorry for the difficult position you are in. I can tell you want to do what any loving Christian would want to do for anyone who is involved in habitual sin: point the way to freedom in Christ and through the power of the Holy Spirit. You’ve done that and, with a lot of prayer, hopefuly God will intercede and the Holy Spirit will lead your sister and your nephew out of the lifestyle. Today’s culture, and indeed even some denominations, have gone astray with the intention of acceptance. This is wrong. Sin is sin, regardless of the cause or the comfort. I do have some contact information for Exodus and SBC’s The Way Out, as well as some other resources that were to have run in the second article. If you would like to e-mail me at th2950@yahoo.com, I’ll send you that information. And I’ll be praying for your family. My journey was longer than it needed to be and caused greater damage than it should have, even though I never professed homosexuality as good. To me, it was always a sin. I just struggled to find freedom. It is my hope that others will find it faster and without causing others the pain.

Thom

]]> By: Lew http://baptistmessenger.com/homosexuality-and-your-church/comment-page-1/#comment-998 Lew Sun, 20 Dec 2009 00:12:38 +0000 http://baptistmessenger.com/?p=1015#comment-998 We have a sister and nephew in the homosexual lifestyle. She came out 16 years ago and we did nothing. Our nephew came out six months ago and many in our family realizing that we had affirmed the sisters gay lifestyle by doing nothing were convicted about not having done anything. We have confronted both of them and offered to help them if we could. The problem is both confess Christ and homosexuality. Both see no sin in homosexuality. We have reasoned with them in the scriptures but to no avail. Not all in this family are of the same mind concerning this lifestyle. Some see it as a sin and some do not. We hate the mixed signals being sent. . The combined family size with grandchildren is around 30. We have many children ranging from 10 and up. We are grieved that there is no remorse or desire to leave this lifestyle which concerns us about their salvation. We are also concerned for our children who are being exposed to the notion that one can practice sin and call themselves a Christian. The sister and nephew see no problem with what they are doing and are not concerned about what kind of testimony this is to others. They openly live this lifestyle and promote it on face book. We all get together often as we are a close family.Can you make any suggestions as they do not want us to say anything to them anymore? We have a sister and nephew in the homosexual lifestyle. She came out 16 years ago and we did nothing. Our nephew came out six months ago and many in our family realizing that we had affirmed the sisters gay lifestyle by doing nothing were convicted about not having done anything. We have confronted both of them and offered to help them if we could. The problem is both confess Christ and homosexuality. Both see no sin in homosexuality. We have reasoned with them in the scriptures but to no avail. Not all in this family are of the same mind concerning this lifestyle. Some see it as a sin and some do not. We hate the mixed signals being sent. . The combined family size with grandchildren is around 30. We have many children ranging from 10 and up. We are grieved that there is no remorse or desire to leave this lifestyle which concerns us about their salvation. We are also concerned for our children who are being exposed to the notion that one can practice sin and call themselves a Christian. The sister and nephew see no problem with what they are doing and are not concerned about what kind of testimony this is to others. They openly live this lifestyle and promote it on face book. We all get together often as we are a close family.Can you make any suggestions as they do not want us to say anything to them anymore?

]]> By: Tom Collins http://baptistmessenger.com/homosexuality-and-your-church/comment-page-1/#comment-601 Tom Collins Tue, 08 Dec 2009 01:19:05 +0000 http://baptistmessenger.com/?p=1015#comment-601 Dear Deep - If you were that proud of being gay you would leave your real name and not some silly little anonymous statement. So - are you up for it? Dear Deep –

If you were that proud of being gay you would leave your real name and not some silly little anonymous statement.

So – are you up for it?

]]> By: Deep http://baptistmessenger.com/homosexuality-and-your-church/comment-page-1/#comment-585 Deep Mon, 07 Dec 2009 13:39:26 +0000 http://baptistmessenger.com/?p=1015#comment-585 So you are too narrow minded to accept the truth about homosexuality which God has created because He loves His children, just as He has created heterosexuality or bisexuality. I had previously posted two comments showing how the American Psychologists Association has voted overwhelmingly for giving due respect to gays and lesbians. I am a gay man and am PROUD of it. I know that God has made me gay right from the day I was conceived in my mother's womb and in the love of God. God loves me for being gay. So you are too narrow minded to accept the truth about homosexuality which God has created because He loves His children, just as He has created heterosexuality or bisexuality.

I had previously posted two comments showing how the American Psychologists Association has voted overwhelmingly for giving due respect to gays and lesbians.

I am a gay man and am PROUD of it. I know that God has made me gay right from the day I was conceived in my mother’s womb and in the love of God.

God loves me for being gay.

]]> By: Jeff http://baptistmessenger.com/homosexuality-and-your-church/comment-page-1/#comment-305 Jeff Tue, 01 Dec 2009 05:54:02 +0000 http://baptistmessenger.com/?p=1015#comment-305 Excellent article! I am walking in faith and victory over homosexuality and depression, because of the love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness of God, and the Blood of the Lamb, the Lord Jesus Christ. Nothing else. My father was physically present but emotionally absent. He was an abusive alcoholic. My mother was an enabler (an Alcoholics Anonymous term; it's a person who runs interference for the alcoholic, to keep the family looking good on the outside, and keeping the alcoholic from suffering the consequences of alcohol abuse). I kept my involvement in homosexuality hidden. I believed that God was disgusted with me, because I had made so many promises to "do better", but falling again soon afterwards. I believed the lies of the enemy, thinking that I was trapped, and there was nothing to do but live out what years God had allotted me, and face His condemnation at the Judgement Seat. I had had my chance to serve Him and live for Him, and I had figuratively tossed it to the wind. It was gone, and could not be retrieved. GOD IS GOOD! God loves me, and in desperation I turned to Him, deciding that if I didn't hear from God, this time, in an unmistakeable way, I would kill myself. I didn't want to commit suicide; I wanted God, and it didn't matter what He did, or how, just as long as He did answer. AND HE DID! That was in December of 2003. I have not acted out since. I am still tempted. I had bought the enemy's lie; he didn't have to force anything on me. I believed that if you were tempted, you might as well go ahead and do it, because it was the same thing. I had erroneously thought that being tempted was a sin, BUT IT'S NOT! Even our Lord Jesus Christ was tempted, when He walked the earth as a man (Hebrews 4:15). Our Lord was tempted, but He never once sinned. Therefore, it is not a sin to be tempted. I have confessed my sins, and have found healing and deliverance and peace and joy, because of God's love! I have also confessed my sins of unforgiveness and bitterness, and God has cleansed me of those, too! I am still tempted, many times every day. But I would rather be tempted many times, every day, and have to call on God, each and every time, and stand upon His Word, and learn to stand in the power of His might, in His armor (Ephesians 6:10-18) than to have a one-time "mountain-top" experience, and never have to call on God again. Why? The more you talk with someone, and have fellowship with him or her, the better you get to know that person. GLORIFY GOD! LIFT UP JESUS! OBEY THE HOLY SPIRIT! Excellent article! I am walking in faith and victory over homosexuality and depression, because of the love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness of God, and the Blood of the Lamb, the Lord Jesus Christ. Nothing else. My father was physically present but emotionally absent. He was an abusive alcoholic. My mother was an enabler (an Alcoholics Anonymous term; it’s a person who runs interference for the alcoholic, to keep the family looking good on the outside, and keeping the alcoholic from suffering the consequences of alcohol abuse).
I kept my involvement in homosexuality hidden. I believed that God was disgusted with me, because I had made so many promises to “do better”, but falling again soon afterwards. I believed the lies of the enemy, thinking that I was trapped, and there was nothing to do but live out what years God had allotted me, and face His condemnation at the Judgement Seat. I had had my chance to serve Him and live for Him, and I had figuratively tossed it to the wind. It was gone, and could not be retrieved.
GOD IS GOOD! God loves me, and in desperation I turned to Him, deciding that if I didn’t hear from God, this time, in an unmistakeable way, I would kill myself. I didn’t want to commit suicide; I wanted God, and it didn’t matter what He did, or how, just as long as He did answer. AND HE DID! That was in December of 2003. I have not acted out since. I am still tempted. I had bought the enemy’s lie; he didn’t have to force anything on me. I believed that if you were tempted, you might as well go ahead and do it, because it was the same thing. I had erroneously thought that being tempted was a sin, BUT IT’S NOT! Even our Lord Jesus Christ was tempted, when He walked the earth as a man (Hebrews 4:15). Our Lord was tempted, but He never once sinned. Therefore, it is not a sin to be tempted.
I have confessed my sins, and have found healing and deliverance and peace and joy, because of God’s love! I have also confessed my sins of unforgiveness and bitterness, and God has cleansed me of those, too! I am still tempted, many times every day. But I would rather be tempted many times, every day, and have to call on God, each and every time, and stand upon His Word, and learn to stand in the power of His might, in His armor (Ephesians 6:10-18) than to have a one-time “mountain-top” experience, and never have to call on God again. Why? The more you talk with someone, and have fellowship with him or her, the better you get to know that person.

GLORIFY GOD! LIFT UP JESUS! OBEY THE HOLY SPIRIT!

]]> By: Homosexuality and Your Church | Southern Baptist Blogs - SBC Voices http://baptistmessenger.com/homosexuality-and-your-church/comment-page-1/#comment-71 Homosexuality and Your Church | Southern Baptist Blogs - SBC Voices Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:54:51 +0000 http://baptistmessenger.com/?p=1015#comment-71 [...] This article was written for The Baptist Messenger, Nov.  12, 2009 and also appeared in The Baptist Messenger.com. The second article in the series will appear in the Nov. 19 issue of The Baptist Messenger and will [...] [...] This article was written for The Baptist Messenger, Nov.  12, 2009 and also appeared in The Baptist Messenger.com. The second article in the series will appear in the Nov. 19 issue of The Baptist Messenger and will [...]

]]> By: John Sparacio http://baptistmessenger.com/homosexuality-and-your-church/comment-page-1/#comment-44 John Sparacio Sat, 14 Nov 2009 03:18:28 +0000 http://baptistmessenger.com/?p=1015#comment-44 Let me also state that even if there is a biological component it does not mean I am condoning nor condemning but simply stating that it would make it much more difficult to fight such an urge. Let me also state that even if there is a biological component it does not mean I am condoning nor condemning but simply stating that it would make it much more difficult to fight such an urge.

]]> By: John Sparacio http://baptistmessenger.com/homosexuality-and-your-church/comment-page-1/#comment-43 John Sparacio Sat, 14 Nov 2009 02:30:15 +0000 http://baptistmessenger.com/?p=1015#comment-43 My above response is to a Preacher who asked my opinion on this article hence the reference to him being a preacher. My above response is to a Preacher who asked my opinion on this article hence the reference to him being a preacher.

]]> By: John Sparacio http://baptistmessenger.com/homosexuality-and-your-church/comment-page-1/#comment-42 John Sparacio Sat, 14 Nov 2009 02:09:13 +0000 http://baptistmessenger.com/?p=1015#comment-42 I read the article, although heart wrenching and with many aspects I am in agreement the question still remains, why the drive? If it were due to socio-ecological developments caused by a fallen world then a curse indeed it is. However, for a heterosexual to examine it from rose (heterosexual) colored glasses or should I say biblically colored classes may be too simple a view from where one sits. I really believe that there is some type of biological force at work, which, is still not clearly defined or understood. Again why the draw from a man who is married and should not have such desires. Why are there men who simple are very straight, and men who are very homosexual? You cannot make a truly straight man gay nor can you make a truly gay man straight. You can scare him into submission but that is a false change for the truly gay man. As I said earlier if a man is converted by other men then he or she can be converted back, this is clear but for the biological ones it seems quite a different story. God’s power is great and can heel all things but we just lack the ability that Jesus spoke of in healing potential for us common humans. Jesus was and is God and heeled all and even brought people back from the dead but what human in history has done so? These people are truly hurting and the biblical references make life ten times more unbearable, so they resort to a life without God or a life with God in there broken state in a broken manner. I cannot in my heart of hearts think that I can answer there questions or fix their minds. Too many suicides and gay beatings come out from the people who condemn them; obviously, something is not working in the way the help or advise is being delivered. We need a fresh and unbiased look at the subject in order to put it in perspective. I know for a Christian preacher like yourself, and being a truly heterosexual male, this is a hard statement to grasp since the scriptures are your guide, and understandable so. Nevertheless, I cannot sit all mighty on my bible and say since it says so by the prophets it is so by God, I do not know God's thoughts. Mean while they keep on coming, the beatings, and the suicides. I think that as Christians we need to attack the lifestyle question of promiscuity, drugs and alcohol firstly then look at the desire aspect. Statistics state that 2-4% of humans are gay or bisexual in America not the 10-20 % reported by the media, not that this should be any consolation but what it does show is that it is not as big of a problem as one would think see: (http://gaylife.about.com/od/comingout/a/population.htm). Therefore, the question is how to heal and or cope with this small segment of the population in a compassionate and rational manner. I read the article, although heart wrenching and with many aspects I am in agreement the question still remains, why the drive? If it were due to socio-ecological developments caused by a fallen world then a curse indeed it is. However, for a heterosexual to examine it from rose (heterosexual) colored glasses or should I say biblically colored classes may be too simple a view from where one sits. I really believe that there is some type of biological force at work, which, is still not clearly defined or understood. Again why the draw from a man who is married and should not have such desires. Why are there men who simple are very straight, and men who are very homosexual? You cannot make a truly straight man gay nor can you make a truly gay man straight. You can scare him into submission but that is a false change for the truly gay man. As I said earlier if a man is converted by other men then he or she can be converted back, this is clear but for the biological ones it seems quite a different story. God’s power is great and can heel all things but we just lack the ability that Jesus spoke of in healing potential for us common humans. Jesus was and is God and heeled all and even brought people back from the dead but what human in history has done so? These people are truly hurting and the biblical references make life ten times more unbearable, so they resort to a life without God or a life with God in there broken state in a broken manner. I cannot in my heart of hearts think that I can answer there questions or fix their minds. Too many suicides and gay beatings come out from the people who condemn them; obviously, something is not working in the way the help or advise is being delivered. We need a fresh and unbiased look at the subject in order to put it in perspective. I know for a Christian preacher like yourself, and being a truly heterosexual male, this is a hard statement to grasp since the scriptures are your guide, and understandable so. Nevertheless, I cannot sit all mighty on my bible and say since it says so by the prophets it is so by God, I do not know God’s thoughts. Mean while they keep on coming, the beatings, and the suicides. I think that as Christians we need to attack the lifestyle question of promiscuity, drugs and alcohol firstly then look at the desire aspect. Statistics state that 2-4% of humans are gay or bisexual in America not the 10-20 % reported by the media, not that this should be any consolation but what it does show is that it is not as big of a problem as one would think see: (http://gaylife.about.com/od/comingout/a/population.htm). Therefore, the question is how to heal and or cope with this small segment of the population in a compassionate and rational manner.

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