To the very serious Christians out there....?

Question

I have a serious question. FIRST, I've been married to my husband for 25 years. I am not gay. But I truly believe they deserve the same rights as people who are heterosexual. Now, you put them down (people who love people of the same sex) and you voice your opinions about how bad they are, etc. I want to know what gives you the right to do so? Oh and by the way, I believe in God/Jesus. I just don't understand this. I've read the bible (granted in bits and pieces - not 100%) and it does say it is not up to US to "judge" people. I really would like to know your answers. If it is because the "bible says," then the fact that it is not up to US to judge people is in there, how do you explain the conflicting words?

Answer 1

If only all Christians were as smart and tolerant as you.

Kudos!

Answer 2

I am a very serious Christian, I do NOT HATE gay people. I DO HATE homosexuality. I do not judge them, as in saying YOU ARE BAD, YOU ARE GOING TO HELL or whatever....I do judge what it is good and what is evil based on what the Word of God tells me..to not do so, would leave us ignorant...so sometimes when Christians are angry about what is sinful, it may be mistaken as hatred or judgement. On the other hand, there are "Christians" that don't live by the Word of God. I have read my entire Bible 3 times COMPLETELY in my lifetime. And I have searched for meaning. I have found my answers (except for one)---oddly, it seems many here have not read it for themselves. People throw words and sayings around that they picked up somewhere else or that sound cute. It is very obvious many here do not know what they are talking about or how to spell basic English.

Answer 3

I'll let somebody else dig up all the appropriate passages from both the New Testament, and Tanakh.

The basic message of Christianity --- which usually gets lost --- is to love the sinner, but hate the sin.
The sin, in this case, being homosexual sex. More specifically, "A man shall not lie with a man, as he lieth with a woman."

Rabbinical Judaism, teaches that the Torah clearly prohibits male homosexuality. It is not quite so confident making the same claim for lesbianism. Protestant Christianity is willing to state that both homosexuality, and lesbianism, is prohibited.

The Gospels are pretty clear that sex outside of marriage is prohibited.

In the Pauline Epistles, we find a condemnation of homosexuality. The implication is that lesbianism is also prohibited. This is the stance of most Evangelical Fundamental Christians.

A case made by some homosexuals, is that the passages are referring to Temple Prostitutes, not homosexuals. To support their claims, they cite several relationships in the Bible --- David and Jonathon being the best known homosexual couple with Ruth and Naomi being the best known lesbian couple.

A case made by some Christians is that those passages refer to anal intercourse, not homosexual, or lesbian sexual practices. The support for this idea comes from extensive word studies, sentence diagramming, and similar methods of exegesis.

Marriage, as an institution, has its roots in religious practice --- specifically, God blessing the couple. For most of history, a wedding, and marriage, have been nothing more than religious events.

As women lost their status as property, the importance of marriage as a civil contract between "equal" partners emerged.
As governments have formally recognized that marriage is simply a contract between two people, it has changed the criteria of who is eligible to sign such contracts.

The current controversy about marriage, is simply whether the church, or the state gets to decide what the criteria for marriage is.

That history records at least one same sex wedding conducted by the Bishop of Rome, and several others within that Parish is embarrassing for Christians.

In getting worked up about the sin, Christians often forget about the sinner. When a Christian preaches about homosexuality, the message heard by the homosexual is the he is immoral. And as such, there is no redemption for him. And thus, the Christian is being judgmental.

Sometimes the Christian is being deliberately harsh against the sinner. Other times the Christian is merely being harsh in condemning the sin.

Answer 4

I think people who are gay have the same rights as heterosexual people I will not judge them. I have my own problems to over come and I have to work on those every day. No matter how I feel about people who have strong sexual desires for those of the same sex the lord has said it to be wrong. He has said we cannot do a lot of things. I do know however that every one will be judged upon their own sins not upon a broad based book. If you have a reason like mental, hormonal, or genetically unbalanced trait. I trust the lord will take all these thing into consideration when we are before him during our time of judgment.

Answer 5

We are to test the spirit to see if it is of God. This is not the same as judging. God is the only righteous judge.
It does say in the bible that a man lying with man as with womankind is an abomination in both the old and the new testaments.
You must take the bible as the whole truth of God.

Answer 6

Well first God did not tell anyone it's okay to be gay everyone just thinks that because they keep on hearing thing about just be free it's not ok it the devil work he always does everybackwards he will change everything that God says good evil so it's not ok to be gay or bi but yes God would still love because he is the only one who knows ur heart and look past eveything that's why people love him so much if u need more info get at me at [e-mail] or pray about it because pray change and make things clear

Answer 7

it also says men should not lay with men - thats the bible take on it. I think everyone will be jugded by god from what is in each heart not what a group of humans decide is right and wrong. To me I understand it in my own heart that it is a sin so I know I would not do it (not that I would). as for bashing them about it I would not do that to anyone for what they believed in. the only thing that I would get very passionate about is if someone says something to harm others with their words and can not back it up with something other than their opinion.

Answer 8

No they should not have the rights. We are to love them, but hate their sin. Romans 6 is a good scripture for that topic. I wanna just go off the deep end if I may, and I hope this never happens either. But lets say we give gays rights and accept them. What keeps the pedophile from saying I want rights. I wanna be able to have young kids when ever I want. Ok lets say 20 years from now they allow that. We have opened a road to accept all kinds of sin into this world. I know alot of thise is being done anyway, but if we open one road we have to open the other to give rights for anything. We are to abstain from all appearance of evil. I think that would cover giving rights to gays, pedophiles, etc...

Answer 9

Before homosexuals opened up their lifestyles to the public, they had the same opportunities as everyone else. You need to understand that not everyone finds that particular behavior easy to accept. It is extremely offensive to some to the point that they will reject that person in order to not have to deal with what offends them. Those kinds of feelings are not restricted to the act of homosexuality, however. You might be surprised at the reasons people don't hire a potential employee. Everyone has a right to their beliefs as long as they handle them in a manner that is acceptable to God.

The bible refers to homosexuality as an abomination. (Leviticus 18:22). An abomination is defined in the Hebrew language as something disgusting or an abhorrence. Because we are made in God's image, we tend to hold the same root values in our moral makeup. However, the Lord never said He hated the people that commit the act of homosexuality, just the act. Therefore, like our God, we need to have an attitude toward homosexuality that will allow God to draw those involved in it to Himself and out of their sin.

As far as judging is concerned...

1 Corinthians 2:15 says, "But he who is spiritual judges all things..."

As Christians we are to judge sin. That means we are to determine what behavior constitutes as sin in the church as well as in the world. We are not to bury our heads and overlook what is contrary to the word.

However, there are two thinge to consider...

Romans 14:10- "But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother?..."

Luke 6:37 "Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemn. Forgive and you will be forgiven."

This type of judgement the bible is refering to is a condemning, critical eye towards those in the church who have stumbled in sin. This is a person that chooses to look down on the offender rather than desiring to restore that brother to God.

The bible also instructs us not to condemn the world, (those who reject Jesus) as they are already condemned. We are to have the same attitude of reconciliation toward those who are unsaved as those who are saved.

The bible is not forbidding moral judgement, it is regulating the attitude and actions by which we process and handle the sin we encounter.

Answer 10

Jesus message to me seems to be the same to you: to love others, forgive others, show understanding, be inclusive.

The overwhelming majority of our debates concerning Christianity come back to this question:

"Is the Bible the literal Word of God."

I do not believe it is. I believe it is a collection of books/letters written by men in search of God. Because these men were imperfect, their writings/conclusions are imperfect.

Because of this, even the most literal-minded Christian does not believe that woman should Not be teachers, as Paul said, or that it is better not to marry (also Paul).
In fact, most conservative Christians do not have any major problem with divorce, even though Jesus is quoted as saying he is against it.

Despite this, The Bible does serve as a means to connect to the loving Father, who helps us when we stumble, forgives us when we do wrong, and helps us find a peaceful heart, one that allows us to give to others, and love others (even people who are gay).

Peace to you and your family.

Answer 11

homosexuality is accepted but not encouraged. if you are gay i would recommend you be celibate and not perform the sin of having sex with a same sex person. judging the person is wrong because it isn't our place. the bible says it is a sin in more than 1 passage. so not wanting or accepting homosexuality is not wrong, i don't think that it is wrong for people not wanting things like same sex marriage or them raising children.