Homosexuality question

[nahkoe]

Originally Posted by houston

Seriously? A sinner should love Jesus more than self?

He may not know Jesus yet, but this is a strong and solid foundation. This, especially:

the only man he'll ever know who loves him with TRUE UNDYING LOVE...

If he has surrendered to Christ, then yes this instruction is important. If he remains unconvinced that God loves him, then save this for later. If he's still hesitating, then address those hesitations first.

Also, the distinctions we make aren't really in the Bible. Focusing on them only serves to drive a wedge even deeper. Focusing on Jesus serves to remove that wedge and bring healing and unity and wholeness.

[good samaritan]

When someone is weighing in the balance whether or not to give their heart to Christ they are not where they need to be yet. Before I began to serve God, I wrestled with the does and don'ts of Christian living, but it came to me that none of it mattered at that point in the relationship. If he would just come to God and not try to work out all the details. Without Gods' Spirit in his heart everything probably seems so hard, but when the Holy Ghost comes inside it is fire that burns out the impurities. God's Spirit can change him and he won't even miss that old man.

[nahkoe]

Originally Posted by good samaritan

When someone is weighing in the balance whether or not to give their heart to Christ they are not where they need to be yet. Before I began to serve God, I wrestled with the does and don'ts of Christian living, but it came to me that none of it mattered at that point in the relationship. If he would just come to God and not try to work out all the details. Without Gods' Spirit in his heart everything probably seems so hard, but when the Holy Ghost comes inside it is fire that burns out the impurities. God's Spirit can change him and he won't even miss that old man.

Five years and I'm still waiting for that...

I think it depends. I needed full disclosure on a lot of things before I was willing to surrender.

[good samaritan]

I believe in repentance, but I don't think that it means that we must have every sin in our lives made right. I think it is when we acknowledge our sinful state of being and that we surrender to God and allow his righteousness to work in our lives. Recently during a message I was preaching I felt to raise my hands up and say "hands up don't shoot." Hands raised is a universal sign of surrender and I think that we must do just that with God. I surrender, I give up, I can't live without you. This is my concept of repentance.

[good samaritan]

Originally Posted by nahkoe

Five years and I'm still waiting for that...

I think it depends. I needed full disclosure on a lot of things before I was willing to surrender.

Do you mean you miss the way lived without God?

[nahkoe]

Originally Posted by good samaritan

I believe in repentance, but I don't think that it means that we must have every sin in our lives made right. I think it is when we acknowledge our sinful state of being and that we surrender to God and allow his righteousness to work in our lives. Recently during a message I was preaching I felt to raise my hands up and say "hands up don't shoot." Hands raised is a universal sign of surrender and I think that we must do just that with God. I surrender, I give up, I can't live without you. This is my concept of repentance.

I was specifically referring to the thing you said about not missing the old man. I still have a lot of moments when I really do miss the way things used to be, or the things I used to do. But that's when I make a choice to reaffirm the choice I've already made.

[nahkoe]

Originally Posted by good samaritan

Do you mean you miss the way lived without God?

Exactly. Lots of things hold a very strong appeal that doesn't necessarily go away even as patterns of thought and behavior change.

[good samaritan]

Originally Posted by nahkoe

I was specifically referring to the thing you said about not missing the old man. I still have a lot of moments when I really do miss the way things used to be, or the things I used to do. But that's when I make a choice to reaffirm the choice I've already made.

I understand what you mean, but I view that as temptation and not actually missing the life you had. I could wish to do certain things that I used to do, but it isn't that I would want to go back. As long as we live we are going to have trouble in the flesh. I'm sorry I should be more clear about things because we do sometimes make it sound like our troubles are over when we come to God.

Repentance is also continual. We are going to make mistakes along the way. Gods' grace is sufficient.

[nahkoe]

Originally Posted by good samaritan

I understand what you mean, but I view that as temptation and not actually missing the life you had. I could wish to do certain things that I used to do, but it isn't that I would want to go back. As long as we live we are going to have trouble in the flesh. I'm sorry I should be more clear about things because we do sometimes make it sound like our troubles are over when we come to God.

Repentance is also continual. We are going to make mistakes along the way. Gods' grace is sufficient.

God's grace certainly is sufficient!

[Abiding Now]

Most won't like this but, I heard a Baptist preacher speaking about homosexuality and he said your Mom taught you a couple things when you were a kid that apply to two men having sex. Those two reasons are pain and odor. A man's body was not made for sex with another man, not to mention disease.