Common Myths about Gay Christians

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Truthseeker

Who's beating them?

I think some are being hypercrtical of the fact that they use the term "gay Christian".

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Truthseeker

I guess next we will have molester christians?

Adulterer christians?

Gambler christians?


When does it end?

You don't get it either. For example, "Cutter Christians" reach out to cutters. Messianic Christians often have ministries reaching out to Jews. Maori Christians reach out to the Maori. XXX Christians reach out to those entrenched in the porn industry. We don't hypercriticize them.

[Nitehawk013]

I wouldnt say we don't criticize. I think the panning of the XXX porn star CHristian "ministry" was pretty widespread when that group started out.

We ought to desire to save all, but I wouldn't recommend hanging out at the whore house to reach whores.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Jay

Then they are trying to reach the same group that God saved them from, but they are no longer gay. They may still have homosexual attractions. However to say that some one is gay indicates that they are an active participant in the gay lifestyle. That is why there are so many 'gay churches'. They wish to have all of the trappings of Christianity without actually having to commit their all to Jesus.

Ummm... that's what it means to YOU. Let them define themselves. I can see asking a "gay Christian" what they mean by the term "gay Christian". However, if they define it as a Christian who was gay and is reaching out to the gay community my answer would be "Okay. Neat." You just grumble and criticize over the wording of their terminology. lol Let them define themselves and take it from there. If a "gay Christian" group defines themselves as being active in lifestyle and unrepentant, deal with the issue. You're getting all tied up in terminology. We've discussed "terminology" for several pages now. We haven't discussed any REAL issue about these believers in depth yet.

The "Cutter Christians" who reach out to cutters. Do you automatically take the stand that says, "Well, they must be unrepentant cutters." Or... is that a critique you reserve only for "gay Christians"?

I view this as fallout of the easy believism, and charismatic movements that did not demand true repentance and never preached with any conviction. It was inevitable that this was going to happen.

Blah, blah, blah. Again, hypercritical.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Truthseeker

Jay is spot on.

Would Jay say that "Cutter Christians" must be unrepentant cutters because of their handle? Or would Jay say that these are Christians who had a propensity to be cutters and are now tell all that they might reach out to cutters?

I think Jay is singling out "gay Christians" for more heavy criticism.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by DaveC519

[COLOR=RoyalBlue]Notice above I said, “If we allow sinful thoughts to develop into lusts, even if we don't act on them, the Bible says it's the same as if we had acted on them.” Again, it is not a sin if a particular thought enters into our mind which is not Christ-like. It is what we do with that thought that may lead to sin. If we bring it into captivity to Christ, then we have not allowed it to develop into lust. Lust conceives sin, even if it only occurs in our heart. And that was the whole thrust of Jesus commandment in Matthew 5:28. He was saying that adultery is not just the physical act, it is the intent of the heart regardless of the act.

I must have missed your point bro. Sorry. I fully agree. However, I think there is also a difference between desire and lust. Lust is a driving covetousness. What I mean by "desire" is something that you feel and know will please the flesh. One can sense a deep desire for sin in their flesh and not be "lusting".

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by DaveC519

[FONT=Verdana] Again…wow! The predilections you have brought here are telling. When we are born again, we become a new creature in Christ Jesus. We disassociate ourselves with all previous “orientations”, regardless of the nature/content/subject matter of any temptations we continue to experience after being born again. All sin is sin. We can never justify sin, because Scripture never does. If we succumb to temptation and sin, we can repent and be forgiven. But we must also remember that “repentance” is defined as a turning away. We are new creatures in Christ Jesus precisely because he gives us power to become new creatures. Without that transforming power, we merely the old creature with a new label.

So you don't believe these "gay Christians" should reach out to their friends and family who might still be in the gay community?

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by bbyrd009

Amen. I don't see a problem with it being a process, but I do see a problem when no process is present.
Consider how any word you might insert in front of Christian becomes a limiting factor, a wall others must overcome.

I think it's an important point that we cannot always readily see the "process". This is why casting judgment can be so dangerous. For example, let's say we see a Christian backslide and begin to live a life of active sin. We might not see a "process". But we don't know that for the past week this person has cried themselves to sleep because God is dealing with their hearts as part of the process. We don't see them praying over their mirror saying, "God, I can't fight this alone. I want to be free." All we see is them "living it up" in a life of sin.

Therefore, even when one falls into sin we need to be cautious in our judgment.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Nitehawk013

It's a fine line I think between being hard on sin, but loving to the sinner. Some err on the side of love, and give th eimpression they are accepting of sin. Some err on the side of law and give off the impression that they are judgmental or self righteous.

Would Jesus go to the homosexual and show them love? Without a doubt. He'd sharea table with them. He would also. I have no doubt, tell them to stop with their sinful living. Go and sin no more.

My fear in saying there are "gay Christians" is just as others have said. It almost legitimizes thier sick lifestyle. "iT'S OK TO BE GAY. jESUS LOVES YOU AND YOU ACCEPTING hIS GIFT OF SALVATION". (oops. Caps lock)

Bingo. You fear. But you're not letting them define themselves and basing your conclusions on that. With hand in the air you're rejecting them outright based on terminology out of your fear that it legitimizes sin.

[Aquila]

Now, on a personal level... I don't like the term "gay Christian" either. But those who demonstrate an understanding of faith, love, and repentance... I'm not going to beat them up over the term. There are far more important issues here.

Like...

How can we help "gay Christians" find healing, peace, love, and a secure family in the body of Christ? I was talking to a "gay Christian" a few years back at a church in Huber Heights, Ohio. He explained how he hates testimony services. I asked him why and he explained that his sin is one of the few sins one cannot stand up and boldly talk about. He says everyone is always suspect of his private life. He doesn't get a new start. He doesn't get a clean slate. If he falls back into sin he'll not be loved back up on his feet... he knows he'll be written off as a reprobate and find himself unwelcome in the body. So guess what he did... he made up a story about how he was addicted to "drugs". However, the story is his life story. It's just wherever the subject of his previous lifestyle comes into the picture... he uses the term "drugs". He feels so alone. I tried to explain to him that there are so many of us who don't judge him or look at him in that way and would actually stand with him to encourage his testimony. But he's afraid he'll loose the only loving family he's ever had. "Gay Christians" are simply Christians who are attaching their history and disposition on the front of their proclamation to let the whole world know.

Now... do some live like libertines? Yes. God knows who are His sheep and who are not. But to get mired down in an argument over the term "gay Christian" is a bit much in my opinion. Like I said before... we wouldn't criticize "Cutter Christians" as badly.