Gays, family ties and opening up.... - Page 8

rgcraig · #71 06-25-2008, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rico

There are carriers. I know someone in Indianapolis who I believe is a carrier. He's HIV+, has been for almost 15 years now, and has not shown even the first symptom of heading towards bad health.

Like Magic Johnson?

Rico · #72 06-25-2008, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rgcraig

Like Magic Johnson?

I am sure the enormous amount of money MJ has thrown at being HIV+ has played a significant role is his staying healthy. My friend is broke as can be and doesn't take any meds whatsoever.

Jack Shephard · #73 06-25-2008, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pastor Poster

I don't think a person can help how they feel.

They can only deal with those feelings.

And sexuality is an intregal part of our very core.

This makes this inclination very, very hard to overcome. It's even worse than an extremely obese person who is trying to overcome excessive eating. The obese person struggles because the very thing that enslaves him is a necessary drug. He must have food to live.

And so he must discipline himself. Focus. Place his body under subjection. Crucify the flesh with its carnal desires.

It's even worse for the homosexual. He must deny himself something that seems natural. Something that most of us feel is an integral part of our lives. He must immerse himself in the word, prayer and fasting. Submit himself to the leading of the Holy Ghost. Even then he may never be attracted to the opposite sex. He can, however, live a life that is overcoming. Pure. Holy. In line with God's Word.

I once had a mentor tell me that he did not believe anyone could be delivered from homosexual acts once they had given in - even once.

I firmly disagreed with him.

Either God is a deliverer, or He isn't. I seriously doubt homosexual attraction is something too strong for God to deliver a person from.

I believe compassion is order here, and I appreciate the advice given to our friend, JT, in this thread.

To recap, either God is a deliverer, or he isn't. I don't think we can limit His ability to save us from anything we fall into.

Your post is on point! That was a good example of the obese person. I agree God IS infact a deliverer or He is infact NOT. I have seen His work first hand. I think this is one of the toughest topics that the church has ever had to deal with. It is easy to write it off as just sin. No argument it is sin, but it goes deeper into the nature of a person, like you said. There is something inside each person that drives them. The search for approval and satisfaction often takes you in different directions when talking about the human life. Approval from God and satisfaction from God are in the same vein. There is no debate how God feels about it being sin, but I would also say there is no debate that this rips God's heart out when He sees how His kids are treated. Many gay are treated way worse the murders. I am not avocating this lifestyle but I am saying for people that have not ever had to deal with it either personally or in their family it changes the way you think and speak about the topic.

OnTheFritz · #74 06-25-2008, 04:38 PM

Wow. What a mature and thoughtful thread. Which reminds me..... where is StMark?

Jack Shephard · #75 06-25-2008, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rico

I am sure the enormous amount of money MJ has thrown at being HIV+ has played a significant role is his staying healthy. My friend is broke as can be and doesn't take any meds whatsoever.

Agreed. Though he could actually be a carrier, you never know.

Rico · #76 06-25-2008, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JTULLOCK

Agreed. Though he could actually be a carrier, you never know.

True. As far as I know, there isn't really any sort of test one can take to know if they are a carrier who will never develop symptoms. My guess is eventually science will develop some sort of vaccine for HIV.

Jack Shephard · #77 06-25-2008, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rico

True. As far as I know, there isn't really any sort of test one can take to know if they are a carrier who will never develop symptoms. My guess is eventually science will develop some sort of vaccine for HIV.

I hope so. You never know it might be needed. A recent study I saw said HIV/AIDS is down in America.

Rico · #78 06-25-2008, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JTULLOCK

I hope so. You never know it might be needed. A recent study I saw said HIV/AIDS is down in America.

Yeah. Unfortunately, it is still putting a serious whammy on the people of Africa though.

chosenbyone · #79 06-25-2008, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rico

True. As far as I know, there isn't really any sort of test one can take to know if they are a carrier who will never develop symptoms. My guess is eventually science will develop some sort of vaccine for HIV.

Rico,

The standard HIV/AIDS test would confirm if a person was a "silent carrier" of the virus. Currently, there are over 18 million people infected with HIV and another 12-14 million people who are "silent carriers".

Silent carriers are people that have the HIV virus but remain asymptomatic and unaware that they have the HIV virus.

CB1

chosenbyone · #80 06-25-2008, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JTULLOCK

I hope so. You never know it might be needed. A recent study I saw said HIV/AIDS is down in America.

There are approximately 40,000 people each year that are infected with HIV in the US, which is a number that has remained unchanged for the last decade.