Gay Christians: ways of viewing scripture and support....?

Question

okay now first I want to state that the premis of the answers should be based on the following......that sexual orientation and sexual activity need to be kept separate as a person can have a sexual orientation and yet not engage in homosexual acts. And that the way of salvation is clearly outlined in scripture as accepting the gift of grace which is through Jesus Christ. I've just seen so many answers in other questions saying you can't be a gay christian and that is obsurd......just because someone is struggling with a sin (keeping in mind the difference between action and orientation) doesn't mean they can't be children of God. My question is about the interpretation of scripture that talks about homosexuality and what your thoughts are. the verses I've been looking at have been Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13; Romans 1:27; 1 Cor 6:9 ; 1tim 1:10. I'm just trying to wrap my head around sound scriptural teachings and how it has been interpreted differently about this issue

also looking to network with Christians who may be struggling with being homosexually oriented please feel free to email me if you would like to talk about it with me...I don't believe there is a support group in my area

since the premis of the question is of a christian nature please only answer if you are a christian and you have a view on the interpretation of the above scriptures. and also be clear on what is the sin. Being homosexual is not just about having sex just as being heterosexual is not just about having sex so please don't say that being gay is a sin....it's about the action and it's the interpretations of the above scriptures I want to hear your opinions on, not your in-acceptance that another human being could be different. I also want to network with others who may be struggling at understanding their sexual identity and who are in a position of loving the Lord and wanting their relationship with the Lord to grow and to do his will in their lives.

oh and before people pass judgment on me I will be open to say that I am a virgin and have always been brought up to wait for marriage to have sex. doesn't change the struggle in understanding ones sexual identity activity or not activity......sorry for sounding defensive, I've just been reading other posts on other questions that didn't seem to have much love in their answers and to be a follower of Christ demands that all our actions and words be said in love.

I need to put the question to a vote because I cannot decide which answer I like best as many of them all helped me in some way. What I have come to is an understanding that I did not choose to be gay but that I am. And I feel that the Holy spirit is leading me in an understanding of scripture that deals with sexual sin and of homosexuality. It is okay to call myself a gay christian because that is who I am, but that doesn't mean for me that being in a gay relationship and doing homosexual acts is what God wants for me either. It could mean a life of being celibate or it may mean something else. either way I love the Lord and will continuously seek his will in my life. thank you for all your responses.....I do accept email so feel free to email me with more insight as you wish as long as it's loving

Answer 1

Sin entered the world with Adam.

But of course it never did because Adam never existed (the figure is an archetypal man, symbolizing 'humanity'). Sin actually entered the world in the perverted mind of priestly scribes. A perfect God no doubt could have created a perfect world. But instead God's priests had their deity create Sin. If God's creatures did not sin how could this heavenly monster exercise his 'saving compassion' through the intercession of the priesthood?!

Sin, sinfulness and sinners appear in every book in the Bible, several hundred times in fact. Sin is the very foundation of Judeo/Christian religion. It is the dominant theme of the Torah and the Prophets.

Who is the author of all this "transgression of God's Law?" In a theology which allows only a single god, there can be only one answer:God himself!

According to the paramount Jewish sage, God tells us:

I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else. I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

Isaiah 45.5,7


The theology of course has an unresolved paradox because the sole deity has to remain blameless, even if he is the ultimate author of all that is evil.

"Since it is of faith that God is omnipotent, omniscient, and all good it is difficult to account for sin in His creation. The existence of evil is the underlying problem in all theology."
– The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume XIV

In an attempt to talk their way out of this corner, the priests pass the blame for sin to mankind. Though Man is "God's perfect creature" he is given the free will to chose various temptations – which are themselves on offer only because God allows them to be! Thus the great god himself connives to entrap mankind in sin, with such tasty fruits as the Tree of Knowledge and genitalia. When Man's weak will succumbs the penalties are severe indeed. As Ezekiel writes in 18:4, "The soul that sinneth, it shall die." And don't think you can hide your sin either: "Be sure your sin will find you out" Moses writes in Numbers 32:23.

After its encounter with Zaroastrianism, Judaism later acquired the notion of an evil god (Satan), together with his demons, as a counterpoise to the good god (Yahweh) – but even then, Satan can only exist because the "all-powerful" god allows it.

Man inevitably sins. The temptations are so appealing, contact with the unclean and bodily discharges are so likely. The answer? The holy charlatans come forward with the notion of repentance and atonement, which – surprise, surprise! – involves obedience of, and payments to, the priests: animal sacrifice will do nicely, thank you.

The priests specified a whole variety of offerings ("burnt", "peace", "guilt", "sin") which required either "clean" animals (cattle, sheep, goats, doves, pigeons), cereals, incense or wine (Leviticus 1. 3 ). The fat and inedible parts were burnt (that was God's bit!); blood was smeared or sprinkled on the altar (a bit of drama); the choice cuts and skins went to the priests. The priests eat and the sin of others is atoned.

Judaism had had its sin but at least it allowed for the occasional appearance of men of "righteousness". In the sacred mythology, these paragons appeared from time to time to berate their fellow tribesmen.

But Christianity went further. In the demented mind of the Christian theologians, sin became more obnoxious than it had ever been. As Christianity developed so too did sin. No longer was sin just an action (Romans 1:32); transgression could occur in word (e.g. Matthew 5.22), or thought (e.g. 1 John 3.15) – "Thought Crime" would accompany the arrival of Church totalitarianism.

The natural self, with carnal instincts, had to be denied. The guilt that any transgression engendered, even for the tiniest infraction, fed the psychosis upon which Christianity flourished. Sins became cardinal or deadly. Deliberate disobedience of the known will of God required the harshest punishment – death and the torments of hell. Rebellion against God’s law was far worse than the calamitous behaviour of princes that merely produced distress, sorrow and suffering.

Empowered by the authority of the Roman state, the fanatics of Christ were more proactive than Jewish scribes had ever been. It became their sacred duty to hunt out and punish sinners.

The priestly "protection racket" required the criminalizing of the whole of humanity through the doctrine of Sin. In a world run by clerical gangsters, the writ of Holy Mother Church was enforced by sadism and torture. For more than a thousand years, the henchmen of Christ inflicted a cruel barbarism on every community they encountered. Law was replaced by Divine Right, scientific method criminalized, ancient medical knowledge lost for a millennium. Women, fortunate to be domestic slaves, might find themselves in enforced celibacy, joyless marriage or burnt as a witch. Roasting heretics became popular entertainment and a religious duty.

Answer 2

Galations 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

The reason I started this answer with these scriptures is to try to make a specific point

The 3 sexual sins are adultry, fornication, and being homosexual.
If a straight man says to you that you cant be gay and christain yet he cheats on his wife or has sex out of marrage then he cant be a christain either.

Now I am a straight man but before I found Christ, I was a drunk and a drug addict. I wanted drugs and strong drink in the same manner that you say you have a sexual orientation with the same sex. I could not get rid of my desires for the things that were destroying my life. You might believe that you were born that way and maybe you were. Either way it is your physical flesh desires that cause you to be that way. God didn't make you that way.
When Christ came into my life he changed me and made me see the spiritual side of life and some how showed me the difference. I had been in rehab a lot and could not get rid of my addictions. I no longer drink or do drugs. I am not perfect by no means. But just saying God saved you by Grace and still doing those things is not understanding what grace is. When you find Christ personally his grace will change you. When you understand the difference between spiritual and carnal. Then you understand the war between the 2. I cannot explain how Jesus did it I just know I was set free from that bond that those drugs and that strong drink had on me.

Answer 3

Im not sure what your questions is exactly. But I do agree with you that there is a difference between having a tendency towards homosexual feelings and ACTING on those feelings.

God is loving and understanding and kind. If you are struggling with a sin and are working to overcome this and are NOT actually committing the action (which is the sin) - then God will help you.

Answer 4

I get occasional e-mails from those who would have me cease to say that I am a Bisexual Christian. I refuse. It's not out of pride, or the desire to say that being Bisexual is okay- to make a sin not a sin, because it is definitely a sin.

What the 'cleaner than me' Christians are doing, is showing their lack of discernment. They have no idea how much like the Pharisees they have become. I believe that they have become this way because they really think that there are worse sinners than themselves, partially due to their reconciliation of James with Paul and Jesus. Or their leaning towards James with all doubt towards Paul - the one God chose to be an Apostle after the Resurrection.

The message from these Pharisees: You have to be cleaner. A cleaner Christian.

My message: Jesus Christ saves any who believe in Him.

I have much more to say on this subject, and have already said much on prior questions.

Answer 5

It seem to me that, all are lost... Jesus said that the only SIN that could not be forgiven is to grieve the Holly Spirit... In the old testament there is scripture that states that men held the organs of generations and gave their oath to that man to serve his house and family! And for those that still wish to stand in judgment of even these Holy words, remember it was Jesus himself that said..."I do not come to do away with the law ....But to add to it..." meaning the Old Testament of your BIBLE..... Be At Peace and fulfill the greats commandment of THE CHRIST.. Love one another!!!!!

Answer 6

Christian has no Gay its pure religion
don't make it dirty by the sin.
1Co 3:16-17
Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

Answer 7

Here are two websites which you may find useful:

http://godmademegay.com/Letter.htm

http://gaychristian.net/justins_view.php

Personally I am straight, but I guess i have a somewhat unique life story, which made me learn a lot about the gay community, including the Christian view on the subject. Here is my story.

I first met my husband 5 years ago. We hit it off straight away, and after a few weeks were literally inseperatble. He was the most clever, kind and sweet person i have ever met, and we just clicked. He was also Christian and taught me a great deal about God, as at the point in my life when i met him i was very close to becoming an atheist. After a year we were married. At first things were really great between us, but then after a year or so i started noticing that he seems really depressed, and it showed in everything he did, including our relationship. I didn't know what was wrong with him, and he wouldn't talk about it.

Long story short after 2 years together he finally found out what was wrong with him, and when he did i was the first person to know. Basically after some therapy and research he found out he had GID (gender identity disorder), basically female brain, male body.

No, i did not feel like he cheated me, he was always completely honest with me, its just he didn't know what was wrong with him himself, why was he feeling so depressed. Later her admitted to me that when he was a teenager he thought that all boys secretly want to be girls, and that it's just a phase. Also his mother told him that when he was little (he himself doesn't remember it) he refused to wear male clothes, so she had to dress both him and his sister in boy clothes so that there is no jealousy.

And of course he prayed to God everyday to make him 'normal'. I don't know what exactly causes GID, but i think it is something to do with the hormones in the womb, my husband's mother drank a lot and used drugs, so that might be the cause of his GID, i don't know.

It was very difficult for me to take it all in, my dreams of ever having a normal happy family with this man were crushed. I did not know what to do, because i still loved him with all my heart. After he came out to me not a day went by that i didn't cry for about a year. He tried his best to fight it for me, but it was very hard for him, and finally he made a decision to start his transition, because he literally couldn't live the way he did anymore. I was crashed.

It took me over a year to fully accept all this, and i do still struggle sometimes. But in the end of the day i made a promise to God when i first met my husband that i will be with him NO MATTER WHAT, if God will make it so that we can be together (as we are from different countries, and sorting out all the documents was very very difficult), and also my now partner (can't really call her husband anymore) loves me very very much, more than anyone i ever been with. And we just connect.

And of course i paryed to God to make it go away when my husband came out to me, i prayed with tears in my eyes every day, but i guess God has a different plan for us. Sometimes i think that he is just testing whether i can keep the promise i made to him or not, and I am not planning to break it.

My partner lives full time as a woman now, and please don't think of some stereotypical transgender image of some diva here, she dresses very very simply (mostly jeans and simple tops) and hardly wears any makeup, she doesn't want any attention from anyone. Everyone sees us as a lesbian couple, and even though I am not a lesbian at all i love my partner with all my heart and will never leave her. Of course i wish she was a man again, but i know that it won't happen, she is still the same caring, sweet and loving person on the inside, and i love her for that.

So yeah... this is what made me research the Christian views on homosexuality, even though i don't know if i actually fit that category.

Personally i believe that if you have true love with another person, you should hold on to it and cherish it for the rest of your life, I don't see how that can be sinful.

Since I got married, God has blessed me and my partner with many wonderful things and helped us overcome some really bad hardships, so i KNOW that he loves us and wants for us to be together, in the end of the day both of us made a promise ot him to be together no matter what life throws at us. And i think that's the main principle on which the Bible asks us to build our relationships. God doesn't want you to be permiscous, but he wants you to be happy with the one you love.

I think maybe the reason God brought me and my partner together (the way we met was very unusual!) was because he knew that i would be the only person who would unconditionaly love him just the way he is, i do strongly believe that God wants all of his children to be happy, maybe that's why he gave me to my partner and her to me, because we make each other happy.

Sorry it turned out so long, couldn't quiet explain it in a few words :)

Answer 8

I'm straight but who are you to say that gays don't believe in God. Many do and Jesus said he who has no sin may cast his stone.

Who cares they are not hurting anybody and God loves them too.

Here's my take on the gays.
GLBT are fashion and taste leaders and creators, and they know how to have fun and enjoy life and each other. GLBT work hard, play hard, and make an awesome contribution to our society, and families, and the world. Without GLBT the whole civilized world would be completely dreary, and so thank God for GLBT!

Answer 9

do not lie with man as you do with woman says to me that you should not go against your natural urges...
and the way I see it is , if homosexuality is your natural orientation .... then you should not deny that

you have to remember also that these were laws written at a time when the world was very underpopulated and mortality was low
people needed to be reproducing

times have changed drastically

Answer 10

I do not believe that same sex relationships are sinful, see http://www.gaychristian.info/