Over the past two hours, I have asked five questions about homosexuals & Christian communities. (Links to ?s posted below.):
+In what ways are Christians open to dialogue with members of the Gay community?
+Would Christians let a pair of gay or lesbian parents join a church's support group for adoptive parents?
+What would occur if a gay couple began to attend your church & kissed each other during the ritual of peace?
+What would occur at your church if a Gay Christian group asked to come and speak about their spiritual life?
+What would occur if your PASTOR invited a Gay group to church to discuss their experience of Christianity?
The answers are vary enormously: One church member said his pastor is gay. Several said they would "kick out" even the gay parents from the support group.
I invite you to review the answers.
This issue is dividing Christianity. How would you engage in a dialogue with your fellow Christians who disagree with you on a Christian response to homosexuality?
2007-01-02 13:30:41 · 16 answers · asked by NHBaritone 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AnzYVfhpr31fi_sRjnpKsljsy6IX?qid=20070102162955AAo7GW0
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=ArLKPMVOFfk6UaBZdAPRN7Psy6IX?qid=20070102165025AAsJHmh
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Au7SBAmJxE4h8WNdqiwc5Ejsy6IX?qid=20070102170656AAWFta1
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AqxUL0BavJ1veiW1AR8FEabsy6IX?qid=20070102174430AAI7zSb
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AslsHyscKuMgyx8.uf.4Z93sy6IX?qid=20070102175902AAnctix
.
2007-01-02 13:33:02 · update #1
Sorry it took so long to copy the links. I learned a better way just now, but I hadn't figured it out until now. We're all still learning something.
2007-01-02 13:34:23 · update #2
You are right in saying that this is a serious issue that is dividing the church. As an Episcopalian I know about this all too well. As you may know our church created an uproar across the whole world when we, as members of the Anglican communion, ordained a gay man as Bishop. Even in my own parish 20% of the people left over this. Some started their own parish and became part of a splintered off church. Frankly I wish I knew what to say to the others, truly I do. We have gays in our church, even had a priest once that married some of them. This did not drive the other members away, maybe because they knew the people as *people*. But the Bishop thing pushed them over the brink.
All I can say is that once I too thought that homosexually was wrong and condemned in the bible, and I argued it out with a priest years ago. He explained the story of Sodom and Gomorrah from a different point of view and slowly over time I came to see that God would not condemn anyone for what they can not help being. I think we must first be people of compassion and not of the law. The old testament people were the "people of the law", Christians are to be people of Love. And Love does not condemn, etc. That too is in the Bible, in the NT which is the new law, and that law is Love. If you are throwing the gays out of your church, I think you need to search your soul and ask yourself, "is this really what Jesus would do?"
2007-01-02 13:56:50 · answer #1 · answered by tonks_op 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Well, Mr. Baritone, based on your question, I would say it is time for dialog. This is not a sweep it under the rug conversation. I believe the general dialog would go along the lines of realizing all are welcome. But, it would be understood that homosexuality is a sin. And this sin is the same as any other. We all sin. What happens next is a spiritual discussion with the Pastor. Again, this is not about walking into the Church with a big sign around ones neck saying "I'm Gay". or "I'm an Alcoholic" or "I Steal".
2007-01-02 21:44:44 · answer #2 · answered by <><><> 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It won't be much longer and there will be designer humans with memory skin and body function that can change by programming. Might be a couple hundred years down the road. It won't be much longer when you won't be able to kill another human, without waking up with them alive right beside you moments later. There will be an unleashing of things like walking on water regularly and ascending and travelling on nano particles and other things. Basically if you can be male one moment and female the next, what happens then? Is that homosexual? Is it evil if you live thousands of years? Arent the wages of sin death?
2007-01-02 21:37:24 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
As with all questions on morality, the behavior of homosexuals is either right or wrong. On what basis do you judge the morality of the behavior? For the relativists, that means whatever feels good. For Christians it means the unchanging MORAL teachings of the Church that Jesus promised to guide throughout the ages: "Whatever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven, etc., etc. Christ was talking about moral laws here, not Thanksgiving turkey.
2007-01-02 21:55:09 · answer #4 · answered by thetruthteller 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
you ask far too much for any meaningfull anser to be made in this forum....The issue is fat too complex as it goes beyound the clearly stated "sin" position of God's Word.... any repsonce you receive here will be less than adiquate....
No one can be gay and be a pastor of a True Christian Congrigation
no advocacy for gay activities can be allowed in a True Christian congrigation
no homosexual act can be permitted in a True Christian service
No one activly practicing and advocating sin in any way would be pwrmitted in a True Christian support group of any kind
There is no homosexual act that is permitted for those of The True Christian Faith...so what "dialog" could possably be valid if it is for the advocacy of permitting activly practicing homosexuals to calim they are Christian...
No homosexual will be turned away by a Christian if The Homosexual is honestly seeking God's Word and Will... But no homosexual acts are permitted to Those of The True Christian Faith and can not be permitted in any Christian activity.
2007-01-02 21:46:59 · answer #5 · answered by idahomike2 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I would say that the difference would be split right down one line. All on one side would be born again Christians , and all on the other would just think they were Christians. Conservative churches say that only about 30% of those claiming to be Christian are actually Christians.
So- you should get a difference of opinion. The problem is, can you tell which is which?
2007-01-02 21:39:53 · answer #6 · answered by Desperado 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It would go something like this for the Christians who believe that following the word of Christ lies in hating his fellow man:
G/L: "I'm gay"
Christian: "YOU EVIL, HIDEOUS, REPULSIVE DEMON FROM HELL, I SHALL NAIL YOU TO A CROSS FOR YOUR BELIEFS AND HAVE PEOPLE SLASH YOU WITH KNIVES UNTIL YOU ARE DEAD!! Oh, wait...already tried that 2,007 years ago. But, hey, you might get a big
cult following."
G/L: "Oh, Christ. Here we go again."
Christian: (Crucifies G/L and smiles smugly). "Gosh, it's fun to play God and then blame my ignorant interpretation of the truth on the Bible rather than taking responsibility for my own prejudiced, ranting, illiterate nonsense. It's a blast to go through life acting as if I'm the only one who knows anything." *Skips. "Zippety doo dah, zippety ay, how many heretics can I kill today..."
(Lights fade).
I know it's not exactly what you're looking for NH, but I just couldn't help myself:-)
2007-01-03 01:10:11 · answer #7 · answered by Me, Thrice-Baked 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's quite simple really. I just use Bible verses from both the Old Testament and the New to support my view. My view is fairly uncomplicated: It's not a sin in itself to be a homosexual. It is, however, a sin to give into it.
1 Corinthians 6:9-10
Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual OFFENDERS nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
2007-01-02 21:35:39 · answer #8 · answered by The_Cricket: Thinking Pink! 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I would say what my Pastor taught in his series called "Grace & Truth about Homosexuality".
http://www.enduringtruth.org/store/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=767768
Addressing the subject of homosexuality with both grace and truth; practical advice for those who struggle with homosexuality; straight talk to believers about sinful attitudes and actions toward homosexuals (based on John 1:14,16-17)
2007-01-02 21:42:00 · answer #9 · answered by Martin S 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I would say what the bible says:
" Do not be deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor male prostitutes, NOR HOMOSEXUALS.....shall inherit the kingdom of God" ...... And such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God". (I Corin. 6:9-11)
You can be set free from this demonic sin through the power of Jesus Christ. Many homosexuals have been completely set free to live a holy life through the power of Jesus Christ.
2007-01-02 21:35:44 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋