><>... Hi Christine...><>
Thanks for the intro.
"On background, some of us are having a discussion about homosexuality, sparked by a 60 Minutes segments which cited the statistics that 25% of the gay teens who come out to their parents are immediately kicked out of their homes, and that 30% of all teen suicides are among gay youth. This seems to be a horrible human toll, and so I was interested in examining all the facets of this problem in America.
A horrible human toll indeed!!. It just sickens me! Where is the Love?
Unfortunately Christine many children are thrown to the streets for much less also. .....But I will stay on the issue here...gay teens.
However Christine, you know as well as I do that homosexual behavior is widely unaccepted by many non christians as well. Many non-christians parents are also guilty of this loveless act (throwing their kids to the street) .
Non-christians have their own reasons for opposing homosexual behavior.
Christians who opppose this behavior for the most part, do so because we know from the teachings of the Bible that it is sinful.
Just as is adultry,lust,child molestation,stealing,murder,cheating cruelty to animals, and 1000 other kinds of behaviors.
Christine imagine, if you will, (this ought to be easy for you..:)....that there was no Bible...( God forbid).....and on top of that, we had no moral rules or laws against it in any country in the world, and not one person on the planet opposed it...... We would still have the killer disease associated with it...AIDS....Now I know Christine that this behavior is not the only way AIDS is transmitted, but it certainly is a major one....Common sense, and the instinct for survival dictates that this reason alone is sufficient to discontinue such a behavior.
Now back to the Bible:
Having said that I want to make it perfectly clear that even though the word of God teaches us that this behavior is a sin, it is not unlike many other sins. I won't get into it here but there is only one unforgivable sin, and homosexuality is not it.
Those of us who have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior are also sinners, we are no better than any other human being, just better off, as per the teachings of our Lord Jesus.
When a person accepts Christ as their Lord and Savior,s/he begins on a journey of a new life, a new way of living. It is a way of life that is different form the way we used to live. Many people come to Christ with all kinds of sins and some with very awful and reprehensible behaviors, Christ rejects none. When we do come to accept Christ as Our Lord and Savior, we must ask for forgiveness and turn from our sins....If Christ expected us to come to Him only if we were perfect, there would be not a soul He'd be waiting for!
The point is Christine that as christians, all sin (except one) is forgiven and forgotten by God.....and if we ask for forgiveness over and over again He is sure to forgive us.....But we must first ask for it and then turn from the sin, and no one but God knows how difficult turning from some sins really is for some individuals. I dare say that many homosexuals have accepted Christ as their Savior and have asked for forgiveness and have turned from what they know to be sinful behaviors. Just as many other non-homosexuals have accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior and have asked for forgiveness and have turned from their sinful behaviors....as best they know how....and not a one of us ( christians) lives a life free of sin.
But a sincere christian continues to try....However impossible
Christine I will continue at another time.
Thanks for the invite
Shalom...><> |
