How would you respond to a Christian who had this view of homosexuality.?

Question

Basically, he believes that homosexuality is handled badly by a majority of Christians, but that it's still a "sin". He says "Though many will try to say otherwise, and there are SOME cases which contradict, but a large part of the homosexual community came to have these feelings through circumstance, much of the time not in their own control. Impressionable children who don't have a father figure, or are abused. Dysfunctional families. Rape or molestation."

What are your thoughts?
(And remember - this is very much not my own opinion.)

Answer 1

There isn't anything you can say to people like that. They have closed minds.

Answer 2

Well I'm a Christian but I feel it's pretty much FACT that many Christians so not know how to appropriately respond to this topic. Many sound angry and hateful. I do not personally believe that gay people choose to feel the way they do. I reckon for some it is a great struggle to come to terms with how they feel especially if they know parents/friends will respond badly. It's naive of people to think it is as simplistic as making a choice such as what color shirt to wear today. It's an easy 'choice' I suppose if the issue does not effect you personally. But all choices that involve 'someone else' making a difficult 'choice' are pretty easy I suppose.

Answer 3

I tend to agree to a point. I don't think Christians should be expected to accept any sinful behavior or activity. But nonethelss, we should be winning people to Christ even when they are in their sinful behavior. That is what Christ did. Even while we were yet sinners, He died for us.

I know first hand how homosexuality is viewed in a number of churches. There are a number or churches that believe homosexuality is unforgiveable. They believe that by the point a person practices that, God has completely given them up. So they don't want such a person in their church, since they see reaching out to them as a waste of time.

At a few churches, I've used the argument that if I am such a sinner since I was born with a mind and body that don't match, then shouldn't they allow me to worship in their church that I might not be such a sinner anymore? Accept a person first, then wait for repentence, not the other way around.

I believe that psychodynamic causes are possible, but can that explain all homosexuals? It doesn't seem to. There are many homosexuals who have never been raped, molested, nor subjected to incest. Disfunctional tends to be a subjective thing, many people who were subjected to that don't recognize it as such, and many people are defensive to some degree regarding suggestions they could have been abused by their family. Besides, there are many people who grew up in dysfunctional families that did not turn out to be gay.

Answer 4

First off, what does he base his conclusion on? From a statistical significance angle:

1) What's his sample size?
2) How does he draw the causation conclusion? (If I pray for rain and it rains it doesn't mean my prayer caused that to happen. Just because someone was abused and later in life comes out as being gay, you can't jump to the conclusion that the first caused the second.)
3) Similarly, how does he account for all those who experienced similar trauma and aren't gay?

From a biblical/religious perspective ask him to cite relevant biblical passages and make sure he's not picking and choosing which parts of the old testament he believes in. (most of the commonly cited passages come from the same part of the bible that forbids all sorts of things most Christians don't consider standards of their religion - and my understanding is fuzzy here but it's theologically related to Jesus/Christ releasing them from the restrictions Jews follow?)

From a more personal perspective, ask what he thinks Jesus would find so offensive about two people expressing their love in a committed life-long relationship? Lack of procreative potential? What about people who are infertile?

And what about the cases he allows (even as a small minority) in which someone who is homosexual came to have those feelings without any dysfunctional circumstance involved? What kind of loving god creates people who, from birth, are attracted only to people of the same sex and then tells them that it's wrong to express that attraction and that their loving relationships will never be approved/sanctified by god?

Answer 5

Just say "Thank you for your opinion..here is mine". The thing is that you can't argue with feelings or opinions..because they are just that. Everyone is entitled to their own thoughts.

I am a christian. I don't agree with homosexuality, but I DON'T put down homosexuals. It is not our place as christians to judge..thats for the big guy upstairs. I actually have a friend that is a wonderful gay guy. We all sin & no sin is greater than another in God's eyes. I have many straight friends that do other things that I don't agree with, but it doesn't stop me from being their friend. I think some christians take it too far and forget the wonderful quote "let he who is without sin, cast the first stone".

Btw: I also agree with PaulCyp!

Answer 6

Well, it depends on the person, I guess. If I felt that a discussion of the issues would be productive, then i would talk with them about where he is getting his data. I know MANY homosexuals, and NONE of them have the missing father figure or were abused. It seems unlikely to me that I have run into the group of people who do not fit that profile.

If there would be no constructive conversation, and both parties are unwilling to consider anything else, I would simply agree to disagree and drop it further. That is what a Christian co-worker and I have done!

Answer 7

I'd agree that there are some Christians whose (correct) beliefs that "homosexuality" the acts and lifestyle is sin and not to be promoted by Christians, does in some cases corrupt their view of homosexual "individuals" and can be described as hostile and as a poor representation of Jesus Christ's love for all humanity. We are not to condemn anyone for their sin, as Christ came to "save" sinners not to condemn them, and He forgave us for our sins because of our faith in Him.

I would also agree that a person's experiences while growing up have much to do with a person choosing to try the "other" side. I'd say that it is possible that some people are attracted to the same sex from very early on and even admit the "possibility" that they were predisposed to it, that some are attracted to both sexes at once...and even that some are attracted to small children and animals...I would then say that it is "all" wrong just as the Bible states. That even if it was genetically predetermined...I would state that it is a product of the corruption of creation because of the fall of mankind when sin entered creation through Adam and Eve. Mutations and diseases, genetic defects are constantly being studied in order to provide cures for them...and if a genetic flaw goes against even the most basic biological "design" (procreation) which is necessary for human survival as a species...then it only proves it as being a defect and not a beneficial trait. Homosexuality would be one such defect if it were ever proved to be genetic.

man and woman were made for each other. Not man for man or any other combination or addition.

Answer 8

Well.... what do you say to someone who quotes a part of the dictionary? Facts are facts as much as they may arouse negative emotions in people the statistics about homosexuality and early childhood abuse have been in for ages...statistics are facts,not pro or con, domestic violence among gay and lesbian partners exceeds the incidence found in heterosexual couples but that may be because drugs and alcohol and one night stands are more prevalent...
what the Bible says about it is surely no big secret,but to say it out loud is now so vulgar. Well,so why make the pretense of "discussion" if all you want is your own politically correct views reiterated back to you. They are not your views so you are safe from the ire of all those out there that these quotes and statistics inflame. The heat is off of you. I imagine your friend can take whatever it is you want to say regarding the matter. I'd say feel free. Let fly. Everyone is entitled to their own view.

Answer 9

Do you all want to hear something that really puts this in perspective?
Opinions are like assholes. We all have one and they all stink.
Hey, every one of us is entitled to an opinion, right or wrong. I view homosexuality as a strange alien kind of life for someone other than myself. It doesn't work for me. That doesn't necessarily make it sin. If you're gay and it's someone else's fault, that is a sin. Most of the people I know that are gay, knew they were gay long before they had any kind of sexual experience and they don't blame anyone for it. They're just gay, it isn't because their male relative molested or raped them.

Answer 10

I had a wonderful father figure, was not abused, not part of a dysfunctional family, raped or molested. I am lesbian, and have been since a very young age. People that believe we HAVE to have been mistreated to be gay is totally absurd. My sister is very religious, and she too, says that I am a sinner, but that Jesus may not love the sin, He still loves me...that's all that matters, and to heck with all the judgemental people in this world, with their twisted thoughts. and ideals.

Answer 11

You tell him "you are absolutely right...Christians do handle it horribly! You can't even handle it so go away until you can stop thinking my sin is worse than yours. "Everyone is a sinner and to be Christian totally means everyone will be forgiven of all sins when they believe in Christ. That's one big "get out of hell" card to anyone accepting Christ. There are no subclauses or levels of sin as I understand it.

Personally, I think most Christians abuse the hell out it and commit as much sin as they want because Christ has already forgiven them. To them there is no karma, evil deeds will be forgiven, so they can be as evil and mean as they want to any sort of people they don't like while preaching down their nose at them being sinners for not believing the same things.