I'm a Christian with a question for other Christians...?

Question

I have heard in here a lot about homosexual marriage. I have heard Christians say it is an abomination and God hates it.
I know in the OT it says that God hates it and that if a man lays with another man as he would a women they should be stoned etc etc...
I have then also heard many Christians say that Jesus came and changed the old laws, therefore we do not need to follow them.
I do not believe Jesus spoke of homosexuality, but He did say that we should love everyone.
So how do Christians maintain that homosexuality is wrong? but then say the OT laws are not what we follow now?

I myself have no issue with homosexuals, and believe they should have a right to marry, like any other person. I do not see how it affects my life or any one else's and I do not see how "hating' gay people coincides with Jesus saying to Love everyone.

Silver: Thank you for correcting me, sincerely. I did not realise the NT did in fact speak of homosexuality. I understand now why people say it is not God's wish, but I still maintain that we are to love them and not harass them.

wow I have gotten some absolutely wonderful responses to my question and for the first time on Y!A I think I have had to admit that I have been wrong about something.

I agree wholeheartedly that we should not hate, bash or harass homosexuals. I do however have to confess that my willingness to set aside God's Word in the issue of gay marriage was a way to feel like I was not judge another.
I want to "fit in" and not "rock the boat" but I see from some responses how as a Christian I can disagree with some things that God is obviously not behind, without being mean or judgmental.
The bible does clearly state that God does not consider homosexuality to be "right", so who am I as a Christian to go against His word?
I will love everyone, but I can dislike some things that they do.

This is actually very hard to admit.

Answer 1

Jesus never changed the old laws, in fact, he obeyed EVERY one of them. He came to provide a rescue for those of us who were incabable of earning salvation by obeying the law. The law is therefore not VOIDED, but rather we have been given the free gift of salvation through Jesus' sacrifice for us, in spite of our disobedience to the law.

So you have touched on an important fact about how we Christians should respond to homosexuality. Jesus loved sinners (us) while we were still sinning, and did not come to condemn the world but to love it and in so doing show it the path to righteousness.

So I'm with you that we should not hate gay people any more than we should hate any other person who is not living a life according to God's principles (which includes or included all of us at some point in our lives). We need to love others, regardless of their sexual orientation or lifestyle.

I am only careful to not confuse the sin with the sinner. God loves the sinner, but hates the sin. Christians who believe in the authenticity of scripture should not be confused (in what we believe) as to what the scripture says about homosexual behavior - otherwise how are we different from non-Christians? The Bible says we should be set apart in our spirit and in our beliefs.

Answer 2

First of all, all those "Christians" who say the Old Testament is done away with are wrong. The Old Testament has never been done away with. It still exists and we are to follow the entire Bible both Old and New. In fact there are some things in the New Testament like the book of Revelation that could not be understood without the Old Testametent book of Daniel. That being said alone then suggests that what God says about homosexuals in the Old Testament should still be followed today.

There is a text in the New Testament that does mention homosexuals. Forgive me at this moment, I don't remember where it is but I will look for it. I have read it myself. The text talks about the different sins that people commit that will keep them from heaven such as murder, lying, adultery and so on. Wouldn't you know that the text also says homosexuals too. The Bible clearly says that homosexuality is a sin. Both Old and New Testament. Therefore anyone who is a homosexual will not go to heaven.

I am completely against homosexual relationships. However, we are all God's creatures. And yes God says we are to love everyone. I am not against them, that is up to God. He is the ultimate judge not you or I. I am against the sin not the sinner. I feel sorry for them and pray that they will turn from their evil ways. God gave us free will and it is their choice to choose Him or not.

Answer 3

From your "Additional Information" it appears that you have the general idea of Christian love toward the sinner, but hate toward the sin.

One thing I would like to add, is that Christ did NOT change the OT laws:

Matthew 5:17-20 -- "Do not think that I [Jesus] came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven."

Rather, the Laws God gave the Israelites in the wilderness are the same for a Christian today -- the content of the Old Covenant is the same as the New Covenant. It is just where those laws are written and the power of the person to fulfill them that has changed. Speaking of the New Covenant, the NT has:

Hebrews 8:10 -- "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws [note, the same laws] in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people."

Also, it is a lot easier to understand loving the sinner while hating the sin if you have children. All one has to do is think on how many times a parent gets angry at the things their children do or have done, but does their love for them ever diminish?

Answer 4

Romans 1 states that homosexuality is a sin. And the part I think you need to read is the last paragraph of Romans 1 that states not only the person doing the sin is guilty but also the person that excepts it. So basically if you are saying it's OK to be gay and homosexuals should marry like anyone else you yourself are equally guilty of the sin.

Jesus did not come to change the laws he came to fulfill them. It's true homosexuality is simply a sin unlike any other but that doesn't make it any less sinful. We should love the homosexuals as Christ would and we should share with them the gospel. Their sin is between god and them to work out.

Ps: also keep in mind that we are not here to "fit in" Jesus said the world would hate us. Were here to share the gospel in truth and love and be the light in the darkness but not to supports someones sin just so they will like us.

Blessings

Answer 5

I think that by saying that Christians "hate" homosexuals is incorrect. My belief is that homosexuality is wrong period. It doesn't mean that I "hate" anyone, I just strongly disagree with their unnatural choices. Why unnatural? Parts of a man and woman were made to complement each other. to work in Harmony. We see this all through nature. It's like fitting a square inside a triangle. But hey, some figured out a way, liked it and call it "normal" because it "feels good". The passages from the Bible mentioned before are a good example of people giving into the "desires of the flesh" (desires of the flesh= whatever feels good)

Answer 6

Jesus took the punishment for how we ALL will fail when it comes to the perfection of G-d's laws. The laws however, are not to be ignored. They are given to us so that we may KNOW what G-d's perfection is in a perfect world. It is so that we may practice righteousness even if we at this time, cannot live up to it or are not perfect at it yet. No one may ever become as perfect as Jesus in this life, but it is sin if we do not try. Saying that we do not need to follow G-d's laws anymore is not biblical and is in fact very harmful to a "christian" and to those observing from the "outside"
Anyway, I don't judge homosexuals either. If they are not christians... you have not one excuse to say anything about it... you can pray for them and be their friend, but a decision for Christ is ultimately their decision. If the homosexual is a christian, they should not be condemned either, but befriended and prayed for, just like everyone else struggling in an imperfect world. I had a friend who was born intersexed... that is to say, "she" was born with both male and female organs.... that would be confusing to people like "her" don't you think? That's why I believe you cannot judge them... OR the gay people... things are more complicated sometimes than people want to think.

Answer 7

Jesus said "in the beginning God made them MALE and FEMALE and the 2 shall cleave together and become one flesh". He blessed the wedding with a miracle and recognized marriage between a man and a woman. The writings of Paul (re: Rom) are based on the OT and the teachings of Jesus. Paul couldn't be more clear about homosexuality. Neither could Jesus.
That said; Loving someone doesn't mean accepting the sin they are in as healthy. We love alcoholics but we try to free them from their sin for example. After coming to God, and that is the only issue here, many struggle with overcoming sin in their life. Acknowledging it as sin is the first step. Now how is this hating gays? I disagree with some Christians on certain points but I don't hate them because they disagree with me. We agree to disagree. We all agree that alcoholism is sin. That following carnal lusts are sin etc etc.

Homosexuals are free to live their lives how they see fit. They shouldn't intrude on something holy like marriage though, my opinion.

Answer 8

I don't think all Old Testament laws were change with the New Testament. To understand the New Testament we need to know the Old Testament. Makes things a lot easier.

As far as Gays marrying, that is set aside for male and female. Gays should be able to have some type of legal contract, pardnership or something that would be legally binding but not a marriage certificate.

There is no reason to "hate" gays. They are people to. Pops

Answer 9

first of all, Jesus said, "I come not to change the law, but to fulfill it" Jesus followed the old testament (he was an observant Jew and was called Rabbi or teacher) so where do you get the idea that the OT is now null and void? Just turn on the TV and hear every Christian preacher quoting the OLD TESTAMENT!!! Secondly, a mistake that all liberals and politically correct persons make is that disapproving of someone or of their behavior, is HATE. It is not hate. Lastly, you do not understand how those who change society's rules and keep lowering the bar, now this is ok, now this is ok, now this is also ok. Eventually destroy the society. We can already thank gays for AIDS & hepatitis C, because of their former rampant promiscuity and because anal sex is not natural. When I was a child cursing in public was not ok, now look at what is ok in public. Once upon a time this was AMERICA, now it is becoming the third world, but that is the agenda of some liberals. Lets keep taking in more hostile immigrants from alien cultures who refuse to become American or speak English. So far most of the terrorists were living right here!!! Let's always sink to the lowest common denominator in our culture and never make others reach higher. Not just immigrants but our streets are filled with ignorant low life residents too. Add to that selffishness and aggression and there you have it, what America is sinking to. As far as gays are concerned, they do not just want peace and freedom for their individual selves. They have a POLITICAL AGENDA. They flaunt themselves in public. They want gay "lifestyle" to be taught as just another choice and want children and teens to be able to be gay if that is what they think they are. They don't know what they are yet. Then gays turn around and say that it is not a choice, don't blame us because we are born that way. MAKE UP YOUR MINDS!!!! Gays want respect but most do not respect Heteros but say EVERYONE is really gay, they just can't admit it. They harass straight people by coming on to them and don't take "no" for an answer. If you disagree with them you are a "homophobe". No! I do not fear you, I disagree with you!!! Just like liberals, if you disagree then you are a "hater". I do not hate you, I disapprove of you!!! or of your behavior. If being Gay is ok, then what about incest? What about an adult and a teen or pre-teen? Where do we draw the line? The line was drawn at being Gay and now that line is no more, so what about the incest line or the adult-child line? or even the beastiality line? Forgiveness is not unconditional. One must be willing to change. Jesus said, "go and sin no more". Jewish scripture says, "I offer you life, why then do you seek death? Turn ye, turn ye from your way". Gays have got along for thousands of years without coming out of the closet, now they want to be equal with everyone else, but this is not a gay society, it is a hetero society. Do we really want to change this? Why are we so afraid to say, we don't hate you, but we cannot make your behavior acceptable or equal? Not just for gays but on a lot of issues. We already have an example of what happens when gays are in charge, it was called Sodom.

Answer 10

I am a Christian woman and do not hate anyone. The word declares that hating can lead to murdering. Of course the word does say for man to lay with another man is an abomination to God. So I'm not saying it's wrong on my own, I'm saying what the Word says. And I think that you need to study your Bible more. Clearly God does not want men to marry other men. What will happen to the family? Men are supposed to be the head of a family. Men that are gay need deliverance from Satanic influences that have them "confused". It is simply spiritual warfare. Jesus does say to love everyone..and he also says "He that is free is free indeed" That means we don't have to be in bondage to evil influences. We are children of God.