Quote:
Originally Posted by Aquila
Dude, I understand what you advocate. But don't you realize that rather you or I advocate that, many "gay Christians" WANT to be recognized as what they are? Why? Because the church has historically put such a stygma on them. They want to be able to say, "Hey, I'm gay and I'm a devout Christian too."
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I would say that if someone actually wanted to say, "Hey, I'm gay and I'm a devout Christian too", then they have a fundamental misunderstanding of what takes place in the life of a believer when they are born again.
When we become born again, we are freed from our sin nature (Ro 8:2). That doesn't mean we immediately stop feeling the allure of sin, although over time the carnal senses grow more dim as we develop spiritual desires within. What it DOES mean is that we are no longer
bound under chains
to the sin nature. And because of this, God himself no longer identifies us with our past "old creature". He now identifies us as a "new creature". This is not to ignore the fact that, even as a new creature, we continue to experience temptation, and yes, it can be a real struggle at times. Jesus himself had to fight against genuine temptation. But here's a very important point to remember: simply because Jesus himself was tempted to turn stones into bread doesn't mean he should've been labeled a "glutton", nor when he was tempted by Satan to fall down and worship him meant that Jesus now should've been labeled an "idolator".
In like manner, we as Christians- new creatures- will suffer temptation. But that doesn't mean we should identify ourselves by the temptations we experience. We may even be tempted to sin
in the very same manner that heretofore we were bound in chains. But that doesn't mean we should identify or label ourselves based on that temptation. Why? Because Scripture never does.
For example, let's say that before I became born again, I was bound in chains to alcohol. I could rightly have been labeled an "alcoholic". After I became born again, Christ freed me from the bonds of alcohol, and I became a new creature. But now let's say that- even as a new creature- I continue to be tempted by alcohol. Simply because I continue to be tempted by that which Christ loosed me from DOESN'T mean I continue to wear the label "alcoholic", nor do I label myself "alcoholic Christian".
And this was my whole point in quoting
1Cor 6:9-11. Paul never said in that passage that those who were once labeled "X", and who were now labeled "Christian", wouldn't continue to suffer temptation "X". But even if they did continue to suffer temptation in the very same area, he nevertheless identified them as "washed", "sanctified" and "justified". They were now identified with what Christ had done for them, not for what they had been delivered from, or even what they continued to struggle with.
See where I'm coming from? At the end of the day, people can label themselves however they want to, but that doesn't make it
biblical, and if something is not biblical, then how can we say that it is truly helpful? If we truly want to help these people, and any others who continue to struggle with temptation (which is all of us!), why not help them to identify with what Christ has done and is doing for them, rather than identifying with past labels of the "old creature"? Scripture doesn't, so why should we?
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