Gays, family ties and opening up.... - Page 3

MrsMcD · #21 06-25-2008, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JTULLOCK

As a possible solution to this situation with the family I have thought about having them move away from each other and not talking anymore. Both the men have verbally stated that except for each other they are not attracted to other men, but infact are attracted to women. I guess they would fall under the bisexual tag. After having met these family members I really believe that. I think that the separation from each other will be tough, life long friends, but would be easier in comparison to one or both dying of AIDS or the extreme going to hell.

I couldn't agree more!

Pro31:28 · #22 06-25-2008, 01:11 PM

I think this is a very important discussion. I was one of the youth leaders (about 6 or 7 years ago) at a church we attended in Oregon. I formed a lot of relationships with kids, and many of them are now adults. We had an amazing (approxamate) 2 year revival where the youth just exploded. They really led the church... but I digress....
In the past couple of years, I have tracked a few of them via the internet and there seems to be quite a few who have chosen the homosexual lifestyle. I have wondered if this is a kind of "phase" (similar to 'free love' in the 70's) or a very strong attack by satan...
What do you think?

And yes I have continued to remain in contact with them, and I will continue to do so...

Rico · #23 06-25-2008, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JTULLOCK

As a possible solution to this situation with the family I have thought about having them move away from each other and not talking anymore. Both the men have verbally stated that except for each other they are not attracted to other men, but infact are attracted to women. I guess they would fall under the bisexual tag. After having met these family members I really believe that. I think that the separation from each other will be tough, life long friends, but would be easier in comparison to one or both dying of AIDS or the extreme going to hell.

How can they get AIDS if they aren't attracted to other men?

Jack Shephard · #24 06-25-2008, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pro31:28

I think this is a very important discussion. I was one of the youth leaders (about 6 or 7 years ago) at a church we attended in Oregon. I formed a lot of relationships with kids, and many of them are now adults. We had an amazing (approxamate) 2 year revival where the youth just exploded. They really led the church... but I digress....
In the past couple of years, I have tracked a few of them via the internet and there seems to be quite a few who have chosen the homosexual lifestyle. I have wondered if this is a kind of "phase" (similar to 'free love' in the 70's) or a very strong attack by satan...
What do you think?

And yes I have continued to remain in contact with them, and I will continue to do so...

I commend you on sticking with the friendships. But incase you are only doing so in order to hope to get them 'saved' again then I would say stop the friendship now. Not saying you are, but just a word of advise. No one hate empty promises and flattering words than I and the gay I know are looking and wanting genuine friendship just like us. It is funny alot of people in the church treat them like they are contagious, ya know? I for one try and treat everyone the same not matter the sexual orientation. Better be a good friend than a great fraud.

Jack Shephard · #25 06-25-2008, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rico

How can they get AIDS if they aren't attracted to other men?

Not certain I understand where you are going here...Not all gays get AIDS and not all the people with AIDS are gay. The only men that JA and his bf are attracted to are each other. Otherwise they would mostlikely be with women. Neither have AIDS. The point of my post you quoted is that it is better to go through the hurt of not seeing and communicating with one another than it would be for either of them to get AIDS and lose the partner that way.

Pressing-On · #26 06-25-2008, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JTULLOCK

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pro31:28

I think this is a very important discussion. I was one of the youth leaders (about 6 or 7 years ago) at a church we attended in Oregon. I formed a lot of relationships with kids, and many of them are now adults. We had an amazing (approxamate) 2 year revival where the youth just exploded. They really led the church... but I digress....
In the past couple of years, I have tracked a few of them via the internet and there seems to be quite a few who have chosen the homosexual lifestyle. I have wondered if this is a kind of "phase" (similar to 'free love' in the 70's) or a very strong attack by satan...
What do you think?

And yes I have continued to remain in contact with them, and I will continue to do so...

I commend you on sticking with the friendships. But incase you are only doing so in order to hope to get them 'saved' again then I would say stop the friendship now. Not saying you are, but just a word of advise. No one hate empty promises and flattering words than I and the gay I know are looking and wanting genuine friendship just like us. It is funny alot of people in the church treat them like they are contagious, ya know? I for one try and treat everyone the same not matter the sexual orientation. Better be a good friend than a great fraud.

We had a gay man attending our church for a while. He is living with the son of one of our members.

Honestly, I did not have a problem with this as he tried to pray and seemed to want to change. He finally told our pastor he didn't want to change.

When he told our son that he was "beautiful" it became personal for me and I struggled with - correction - am struggling to have compassion on him. My first thought was - "I wouldn't care if you dropped dead now."

I think when it becomes personal it's another whole ball game to work through.

Sorry, if anyone is offended by my feelings. I honestly am trying to work through this. He doesn't attend anymore, but my husband said, which he didn't mean and was speaking out of fear - "If he touches my son, I'll beat him to death with a baseball bat".

That is how volatile feelings can run, for some, with this issue. Just being honest.

Pro31:28 · #27 06-25-2008, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JTULLOCK

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pro31:28

I think this is a very important discussion. I was one of the youth leaders (about 6 or 7 years ago) at a church we attended in Oregon. I formed a lot of relationships with kids, and many of them are now adults. We had an amazing (approxamate) 2 year revival where the youth just exploded. They really led the church... but I digress....
In the past couple of years, I have tracked a few of them via the internet and there seems to be quite a few who have chosen the homosexual lifestyle. I have wondered if this is a kind of "phase" (similar to 'free love' in the 70's) or a very strong attack by satan...
What do you think?

And yes I have continued to remain in contact with them, and I will continue to do so...

I commend you on sticking with the friendships. But incase you are only doing so in order to hope to get them 'saved' again then I would say stop the friendship now. Not saying you are, but just a word of advise. No one hate empty promises and flattering words than I and the gay I know are looking and wanting genuine friendship just like us. It is funny alot of people in the church treat them like they are contagious, ya know? I for one try and treat everyone the same not matter the sexual orientation. Better be a good friend than a great fraud.

Well I genuinely loved these kids, and still do. In fact there are even a couple who have donated to my son's mission fund. I know that there were many who turned their back on them when they went into this, and I won't be a part of that. Jesus told us to love our neighbors as ourselves, not just the ones that look like they are living right.
Sin is sin, and I have no problem calling it what it is, but the sinner is still loved by Jesus, and hopefully by me too.

Pro31:28 · #28 06-25-2008, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

We had a gay man attending our church for a while. He is living with the son of one of our members.

Honestly, I did not have a problem with this as he tried to pray and seemed to want to change. He finally told our pastor he didn't want to change.

When he told our son that he was "beautiful" it became personal for me and I struggled with - correction - am struggling to have compassion on him. My first thought was - "I wouldn't care if you dropped dead now."

I think when it becomes personal it's another whole ball game to work through.

Sorry, if anyone is offended by my feelings. I honestly am trying to work through this. He doesn't attend anymore, but my husband said, which he didn't mean and was speaking out of fear - "If he touches my son, I'll beat him to death with a baseball bat".

That is how volatile feelings can run, for some, with this issue. Just being honest.

I completely agree with you and I imagine if a heterosexual man at our church told our daughter that, my husband would feel the same way

rgcraig · #29 06-25-2008, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JTULLOCK

As a possible solution to this situation with the family I have thought about having them move away from each other and not talking anymore. Both the men have verbally stated that except for each other they are not attracted to other men, but infact are attracted to women. I guess they would fall under the bisexual tag. After having met these family members I really believe that. I think that the separation from each other will be tough, life long friends, but would be easier in comparison to one or both dying of AIDS or the extreme going to hell.

If they aren't "with" other gays they aren't going to contact AIDS.

It's a tough situation because they were friends first and to having to give up the long-time friendship will be very difficult.

Michlow · #30 06-25-2008, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rico

How can they get AIDS if they aren't attracted to other men?

Quote:

Originally Posted by rgcraig

If they aren't "with" other gays they aren't going to contact AIDS.

It's a tough situation because they were friends first and to having to give up the long-time friendship will be very difficult.

Come on people! This isn't the 80's! You don't seriously think that only gay people get AIDS????