rumitoid

The modern debate over LGBT issues is like Moses’ staff: it has the power to part the world into two disunited halves.

This became more apparent last week when Jen Hatmaker affirmed same-sex marriage and relationships in an interview in this forum. I did not anticipate the article would create such widespread conversation. After all, Jen is hardly the first Christian leader to make such comments. But I was surprised at the level of anger and frustration the article produce among those with differing opinions. (Perhaps we’re all just amped up from the insanity of the impending election.)

For the past week, I’ve watched Christians play judge, jury, and executioner with Jen and with each other. Name-calling. Villianizing. Public statements. Calls for boycotts. All actions taken by Christians and directed at their spiritual siblings.

The whole affair has me wondering whether it is possible for either side to disagree about LGBT issues in a loving way. That is, without demonizing others as haters or heretics, Pharisees or apostates.

To explore this question, I decided to speak to my friend Andrew Marin, a straight man who works to build bridges between Christian communities and the LGBT community. He is also author of Us Versus Us: The Untold Story of Religion and the LGBT Community, a book that discusses this topic through the lens of the largest national scientific study ever done in the LGBT community regarding religion and sexual orientation.

Here, we discuss how to dialogue about these issues with love. But more importantly, I’d like to know what you think. So feel free to leave your opinion in the comments section below.

(If you truly care about a Christian way to address this issue, please read the rest of this article. Very enlightening: https://religionnews.com/2016/11/01/on-lgbt-issues-how-can-christians-disagree-in-a-loving-way/

Parky60 Loc: People's Republic of Illinois

God loves all people, regardless of how they live or identify.

But it is imperative I also explain that:

1) God is not pleased with all lifestyles and behaviors and identities.
2) We will all give account to Him one day.
3) Jesus died to forgive us all our sins and to grant us transformation and new life.
4) While God does not simply call us to change -- whoever we are and however we live -- He does call us to repent. And you can be assured that repentance means a changed life.

Does this mean that if you're happy being a "gay Christian" God is happy with that? If you're "fulfilled" in your same-sex relationship, the Lord is OK with it? That you can be active "LGBTQ+ Christian"? Absolutely, categorically not.

Jesus calls us to holiness, not fulfillment, to obedience, not happiness. He calls us to deny ourselves, not indulge ourselves. And that means taking up our cross. Daily. (See Luke 9:23.)

It's the same message for everyone. Gay. Straight. Promiscuous. Celibate. Single. Married. "Be holy, because your God is holy!"

So, let's be perfectly clear. Sin is sin regardless of how we feel about it. Sin is sin regardless of whether it brings us temporary happiness or fulfillment. And all same-sex relationships -- by which I mean sexual and/or romantic -- are always sinful in God's sight.

Jesus offers everyone forgiveness of sins, acceptance in the Father's family, eternal life, and a radically transformed life.

That is the power of the gospel. Let us proclaim it without fear, apology, or shame.

Rose42

Nicely put! People know Jesus is inclusive in that He welcomes all who will repent. But He's exclusive in that He will condemn all who won't and that's what so many take issue with. There is no in between.

bahmer

Amen and Amen

padremike Loc: Phenix City, Al

Exactly Rose! Furthermore the Christian Church welcomes thru her doors all sinners, regardless of the sin, who sincerely desires to repent their sin and amend their life. Conversely those same doors must remain closed to sinners who deny their sin and justify their behavior. No true Pastor invites unrepented sinners intentionally into his flock because all sin wounds the Body of Christ, His Church. This is why we must all confess our sins daily. Unfortunately, many churches have compromised the faith and welcome, for example, practicing homosexuals, marry them as another absurdity, and tell them "come as you are we don't want to change you." What's the point? Why turn one's life over to Christ if one does not desire to change? To further justify their sin we hear their claim that both Christ and Paul were probably homosexual. Do not be confused by those who claim "rights" that are not rights such as a woman's right to kill their unborn child. Do not be confused by those who claim "love" neutralizes sin. Sincere and genuine Christian love require loving and protecting the soul of those who are beloved.

bahmer

Heck they even have homosexual pastors an oxymoron if you ask me.

padremike Loc: Phenix City, Al

What's frightening, bahmer, is that you and I are old enough to know this behavior was never acceptable or tolerable within the Christian community. Too many folks today, especially our youth, believe homosexuality is natural, normal and healthy!

bahmer

That is so true and they think that many other things are natural as well and it is becoming scary for the Christian community at large as many denominations have left the true faith and wandered off the beaten path to pursue these lusts of the flesh. Next we will have pedophiles in leadership positions as well. I wouldn't doubt that there are those that are into bestiality as well. Not only society but the churches as well becoming more corrupt.

rumitoid

Wow, excellent: Great thought and heart when into what you said. Thank you.

rumitoid

Another and well-thought out response, keeping Christ as central. Thank you.

rumitoid

That is not exactly true in the Gospels. He heals a man he knows will report him. Why? For this one reason: He loves! .Jesus is not exclusive--and that is the unfathomably love of Christ. Your lack of true apprehension of his love, relying heavily on dogma and Doctrine as truth and earthly wants and desired as needed is not knowing Christ but an introduction to knowing Satan. You are loving the world through the politics of this debased men. Enmity with God.

padremike Loc: Phenix City, Al

You've conveniently created a God that meets your own standards and personal beliefs disregarding the Truth that sin separates man from God. You are the one who denies Truth. All Truth, all real Truth emanates from only one source and that source is God; specifically God The Holy Spirit Who is the Spirit of Truth. A lie is a denial of Truth. Since all Truth comes from God and a lie is a denial of Truth then a lie is also a denial of God. To even suggest that Christians who reject homosexuality do not know Christ or Truth or love but embrace Satan's influence is a lie, a complete denial of God. Wise up!

Rose42

Its become increasingly clear you don’t know Christ. I suspected it long before you said the bible wasn’t the true word of God, God was a narcissist and many other things.

And you always ducked the question do you know what it means to be saved.

Rose42

Well said.

rumitoid

Maybe.