Fundamentalists, could you tone down the hurtful anti-gay rhetoric?

Question

I am gay, and I am a Christian. I am strong in my faith...and regardless of what anyone says or does, they cannot steal God from my heart.

However, there are many in the gay community that have never heard about the love of God....they have never been inside of a church...and unless we can reach them, their blood will be on our hands.

Because of the nastiness, the hurtful rhetoric, finger pointing,name calling and judgemental attitudes..many gay people will turn a deaf ear to anything associated with religion...they will refuse to listen. When you mention religion with many gay people, the immediate connotation is not a good one. Religion is not seen as a positivie thing, nor are religious people seen as good caring people.

To borrow the words from another post...can we please show everyone the "face of Christ, and not the backhand of judgement"?

Answer 1

Here's the thing. Why is this sin, among so many, the focus of the fundamentalists sensibilities? Jesus himself condemns divorce in Matthew and says nothing specifically about homosexuality anywhere in the Gospels. Yet they allow divorced people who have remarried or are living with non married partners into their fold. I don't see the fundamentalist asking them to repent (at least with the same condemnation of 'lifestyle') or seeking to outlaw their right to form a family.

And for those that speak to murder and theft as sin equal to loving another human being that happens to be the same sex, oh please. When dealing with comparisons of transgressions lets stick to comparing transgressions against God alone separately from transgressions against others. And if you believe that the mere existence of a happy monogamous gay couple living down the street is a transgression against you in the same way that stealing from you is, then you better also be running the divorcees out of the neighborhood.

All I am saying is that to most fundamentalists the woman or man who has divorced and remarried is not living in sin, yet clearly that is the case in any interpretation of the Bible. In any event they are happy to leave that judgment to God.

But not so for gay people. Their behavior and attitude is more about distaste, hate and having control over others than it is about Christian compassion.

Answer 2

Put me down as supporting Karen M's answer. Homosexuals must fully repent and stop engaging in homosexual conduct in order to enter the kingdom of God. See 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%206:9-11;&version=31; ). Paul also said to throw the sexually immoral brother out of the Church. See 1 Corinthians 5:1-13 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%205:1-13;&version=31; ).

I agree we as believers are not in the position to impose the death penalty or any other harsh penalties for sin according to Christ's teaching and example as was aptly pointed out above. And, there should always be hope and help from the Church for homosexuals and others struggling with sin of anytype. But I must agree that unrepentant and practicing homosexuals should not be permitted into the Church where they could become a bad influence on other members and their children.

Answer 3

The Bible teaches that homosexuals cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. You can read about that in Romans chapter 1 and 1 Corinthians 6:9-10.

This is not an anti gay remark, its the truth.

God considers this behavior sin and God told us about that in His Book the Bible.

Being gay is not the unpardonable sin.

Homosexuality can be repented of and forgiven like any other sin.

And this is where homosexuals are different than any other group of sinners that I know of.

Bank robbers admit that robbing banks is wrong and they will go to hell for it.

Murders, are the same.

Gays are the only major group in our socieity that I know of which claims that their sin isn't a sin.

This is predicted in the latter parts of Romans chapter one.

The Bible defines what is and what is not a sin, not you and not me.

Jesus wants to forgive your sin, but first you have to admit its a sin and repent.

A church that says "Its ok to be gay." is lying to you and its really not a church.

Do you want the truth or do you want someone to lie to you to help you feel better on your way to hell?

I've told you the truth. I've told you the truth because I care more about you than if you will like me or not.

1 John 1:8-10 describes the homosexual in America perfectly.

8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.

You are deceived my friend.

You are deceived if you think you can be a Christian and also gay at the same time. You can't.

Its lots better to hear this from me now than to hear it from Jesus at the Great White Throne judgement.

Don't forget to read 1 Cor 6:11, which shows you that Jesus can forgive your sin and change you, if you let Him.

Pastor Art

Answer 4

Where do gays have the right to ignore Romans 1:18-32?
If God calls homosexuality an abomination, where do you accept the love of God overrides His laws and precepts?
The Truth is 100% loving, powerful and effective. But no one can claim only 99% of the Bible, while the other 1% convicts you of transgression. This is a deadly trap.
I know my shortcomings and faults. At least I attempt to live the Bible to free myself of all sin and strongholds. God's grace gives me the ability to walk in the Truth, not distort it or cover it up like a blanket.
Most gays refuse to listen to the truth because of the lies saying that homosexuality is created at conception. How can two HETEROSEXUAL people create a homosexual gene? Not possible.
One more question for thought:
Could you stand at the throne of God and say God created you as a gay, knowing the Word of God says it is against His design for procreation?

Can a thief stand in front of the man he stole from and say it isn't wrong, when his conscience and moral beliefs tell him different?

Answer 5

From the Christian perspective, this is a very tough issue to deal with. We're obligated to speak the truth, but we must balance that truth with love and compassion.

I'm not a fundamentalist, but I will say that the homosexual lifestyle is condemned by the Bible. God calls it an abomination, and if someone asks me what Scripture says about being gay, I can't water down the truth just to please that person. I am obligated to tell the truth in love.

On the other hand, I don't go around accusing gays or telling them that they're going to Hell. Condemnation doesn't attract people to Christ -- love and understanding do.

So that is how this Catholic Christian views the situation. I will tell you what the Bible says about homosexuality, but I'm not going to rant or tell you that you're going to hell. Your salvation is between you and God -- no one else.

Answer 6

You should realize that your little rant has nothing to to with the atrocity in Arizona, other than the fact that you, like so many others, are shamelessly using this event to advance your political agenda. Your strained logic falls short: "...threatening those who stand up for the Constitution..." (you mean the First and Second Amendment?)... "and immigrants' rights"...(I support immigrants' rights, but there is no right to ILLEGAL immigration.) I see no threat--subtle or otherwise--of violence and death in this section, at least from those on the right. If such things were submitted they would be reported and removed. BTW, did you used to post here under the avatar of "Sky"? He misused the word "whom" just as you do.

Answer 7

Are you a gay man that has become celibate? or does your church condone and accept the homosexual lifestyle? I agree with you that homosexuals get a lot of grief from the fundamentalists and they need to remember that Christ's love is for everyone. What is hard for them (fundamentalists) is the New Testament speaks against homosexuals harshly. In my opinion, the sin of homosexuality is the same as in other sin, which means you ask forgiveness and sin no more.

Answer 8

I think you're going about this all wrong. It's okay to get the message of Christianity, but the church will always find someone to hate.
-It used to be blacks. Slavery was justified through the Bible.
-Also women. Women have been oppressed for ages because of Eve and "original sin."
-Then it was Jews. Millions of Nazis followed Hitler on Christian beliefs, regardless of whether Hitler himself is seen as Christian.
-And today, gays are treated poorly because of nitpicking of the Bible.
-Who next?

Hate and bigotry are ingrained into the church. I think it's a good thing that more people don't follow such hate when they are exposed to it. Look at the answers to this very question. All bigoted. "I'm sorry, but you are deceived if you think you can be a Christian and gay." SO misleaded and yet you want more people to join up with these losers.

How about getting people to read the Bible, and tell them, "Hey look, see how people mistreated each other, but Jesus came and told them to stop acting like fscking pricks? That's a good message to follow."

Answer 9

I have a suggestion. If you don't want us to talk about gays, then don't ask us questions that cause us to talk about gays.
It is a two way street, you know.

If you were about to be hit by a truck and we jumped in and pulled you away from the path of the truck, would you hate us for that.

Well, we see you stepping in front of a high speed truck.

grace2u

Answer 10

Took a lot of bravery to say what you did. A star from me for your efforts. Well done.