Dear Chosenbyone,

All of us caught in the lies of satan are tormented. Whether they be adulterers, fornicators, pedophiles, homosexuals, transgendered, those caught in the spirt that promotes being a peeping Tom, lust, pornography, addictions of any kind; alcoholism, substance abuse, gambling, sexual addictions, ect...

When struggling with any of these or similar sins/addictions we are confused, wonder what is really us...the us of what others have told us we are, the us of what we think we are, or the us of who satan tells us we are, or the truth in who Jesus says we are!

I do think we need to show mercy, grace, and compassion, but we also need to be truthful to people...they can be free from the lies satan tells them. They do not have to be bound by the addictions they have acquired whether from their own poor choices, the abuse done to them by others, or the transgenerational sins of the family.

Calling sin to be sin is not judgemental, but saying there is no hope and condemning people to a life without Christ and his transforming power is. I am so glad that the things that have happened to others, such as; physical, mental, or sexual abuse did not happen to me...not that I haven't had my own issues and demons to torment me.

The example you gave about a transgendered person afraid to be baptized because they would lose themselves is just what we all do when we are baptized...we die to ourselves, our will, and agree to give our life over to Christ and His will. It does take a sensitive and compassionate person to address this in a way that the person struggling will understand that we all struggle with the same things, only others to a greater extent.

I fight constantly with the side of myself that is strong and independent and have to force myself to submit to God's will. Not because I don't want it but because I hate to feel helpless or out of control or like I am giving up my identity. Trust is difficult for me...I have been hurt, had to survive against all odds, and to just fall into anyone's hands, and yes...sometimes I don't even realize how arrogant I am to think I can control things better than Christ can do for myself. When I have to wait, trust without questioning, not knowing where my next footstep will be placed...I am scared...you might say terrified and sometimes find it easier to go back to what I know and even the bondage I have been delivered from because it is comfortable..a.t least I know what to expect.

The transgendered, the homosexual, and those bound by other confusing and hell-driven addictions are not any more confused or scared than the rest of us. Instead of looking at what we perceive to be vast differences between us...we need to look at the truth of the commonalities we all face. Christ came to break the curse...we either believe it and give our lives to accepting and "Letting" God change us or we fight inwardly as well as outwardly our whole lives not really believing in anything...hopeless if you would.

In summary, we all struggle with different variences of the same issues...and we either believe Christ and his transforming power and 'let' it happen with us, or we don't believe, and die a most miserable death as we have lived in life. This is the saddest condition of all.

In God's Grip [most of the time],
Rhoni

Hello, Rhoni -

I know that we've all struggle with a wide variety of issues/sins and I'm thankful that Christ transformed and delivered many through his power.

I don't want to give the impression that I am unable to recognize and appreciate those that have struggled with issues/sins other than homosexuality or transgendered confusion and were set free from those chains of bondage.

There just seemed to be a trend where people that struggled with other sins were shown much more compassion and patience than the aforementioned sins I listed.

I remember once that a young lady (late twenties) had a remarkable testimony of deliverance from her particular struggle which was lesbianism. She became quite a prayer warrior and felt that she wanted to share her full testimony with the church.

She approached the pastor and expressed her desire and assured him that she would forward the copy of the testimony she wanted to give for his review.

She wrote a beautiful well written account of what God did in her life and submitted it as she promised. The pastor was a good man and handled the situation with love when he asked her to remove any mention of her involvement with homosexuality.

He felt that the congregation wouldn't be very receptive and some sins were meant to leave under the blood. She was perplexed and disappointed but obedient and deleted any mention of her deliverance from that particular sin.

I couldn't help but wonder if she had been able to share her story, perhaps some young girl who needed that example of grace would have had the faith to know that she could be delivered too. There actually was a young girl from that church who now has turned her back on God and has became steeped in that sin.

I'm not claiming that it would have prevented her from straying, but there would be no way of knowing that today.

Below was a post I posted earlier this week, where I mentioned that the Lord delivers from many sins and I'm so thankful that he does.

God bless you.

Do you not know that the unrighteous and the wrongdoers will not inherit or share in the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived(misled): neither the impure and immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor those who participate in homosexuality.
Nor cheats (swindlers and thieves), nor greedy graspers, nor drunkards, nor foulmouthed revilers and slanderers, nor extortioners and robbers will inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God.
And such some of you were (once). But you were washed clean (purified by a complete atonement for sin and made free from the guilt of sin), and you were consecrated (set apart, hallowed), and you were justified (pronounced righteous, by trusting) in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Holy Spirit of our God. I Corinthians 6:9-11 The Amplified Bible

Just as many of us once fit in one or many of these categories we have the assurance that Jesus washed us clean and now we are no longer slave to those sins.
Much blessings to you.
__________________
"You have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, Abba, Father!" (Romans 8:15 NASB)

Chosenbyone,

This is a beautiful testimony. I will have to say that I agree with the Pastor's handling of the situation. It is my opinion that he was protecting her. Just like many on this forum, many in that particular church would have looked at her and treated her differently. Should they? No, not all all, but in our humanness we judge some particular sins worse than others and the issue of homosexuality is one of them.

God will open doors for her to share her testimony with just the person that needs it. When the time is right her sharing, regardless of anyone's acceptance of it or not, she will be strong enough to take the criticism that comes her way.

How do I know this? I was once caught in a sin that had me bound, was forgiven, and delivered, but many [16 years after the fact] still label and critisize me...even many on this forum who know very little about me. 8 years ago I would have fallen under the load of the criticism, but today I can take it with a grain of salt. I know who I am in Christ and what He has done and am no longer under condemnation.

Sincerely, Sis. Rhoni

Why do you think society is so obsessed with this issue right now and why do so many seemingly 'normal' people want the society as a whole to accept this??

I don't think it is obsessed with it. I think a very loud minority is obsessed with it and WANT us all to be obsessed with it

Maybe. It's just in the papers and on the news all the time.

In the quest for tolerance and acceptance of everyone regardless of their issues, there had been too much compromise. Just like the ultra conservatives who go above and beyond scriptural inferences and references to the point of embracing legalism, and the ultra liberal who, in their new found liberty excuse even the sinful - justifying all they do by misappropriating the value of Grace...the world, in excersizing their freedom, have forgot the principles this country was founded on, justify all dysfunctional behaviors, allowing the behaviors to be 'normalized' to the point of accepting things that should never be accepted, and which infringe upon the rights of others as persoanl accountability is neglected while freedoms are mistaken for whatever happens is all right.

Balance, and moderation in all areas of life are needed. Morality should be our goal and not just individual choice.

Just my thoughts on the whole matter.

Blessings, Sis. Rhoni

That makes teh papers and news obsessed with it, not society. That is my point, they are trying to push this on society

The media, i.e., Newspapers, T.V., colleges, and internet are powerful ways to spread the propaganda to the world as a whole. If society wasn't focused on it - it wouldn't be in the media. What are we doing to stop it? Or should we?

Just curious, Rhoni

True, but it does seem like the homosexual movement wouldn't have this support without heterosexuals backing them. I just find it interesting that this is happening.

As far as the transgendered movement, I saw a video in a class of a kid who was a twin and he liked all girl things and sat and walked and talked like a girl. So, they were saying he will probably grow up gay. I was very angry when I saw that thinking, "how dare they put that in the mind of a kid just because he has feminine traits"!! Is he now expected to grow up gay? What if he doesn't? Will he be letting down a whole community of pro-gay people? Just as kids who grow up in the UPC face tremendous pressure to remain UPC, I imagine some kids grow up with strong pressure to keep up the charades of others. I found it very sad.

As far as homosexuality...I do believe some may be born with a propensity....or gained a propensity because of molestation. I think it is wrong to chastise anyone who has a propensity but is trying to overcome. On the flip side, I don't like how so many are simply embracing homosexuality as normal. Peopl have a propensity towards alcoholism and being over weight too. That doesn't mean we just accept it without a fight.