This is how many of us read the Bible...
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
"Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will enter inherit the kingdom of God.
1 Timothy 1:9-11
"For the law was not intended for people who do what is right. It is for people who are lawless, rebellious, who are ungodly and sinful, who consider nothing sacred and defile what is holy, who kill their father or mother or commit other murders. The law is for people who are sexually immoral, or who practice homosexuality, or are slave traders, liars, promise breakers, or who do anything else that contradicts the wholesome teaching that comes from the glorious Good News entrusted to me by our blessed God."
This is how the Bible was written...
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
"Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will enter inherit the kingdom of God.
1 Timothy 1:9-11
"For the law was not intended for people who do what is right. It is for people who are lawless, rebellious, who are ungodly and sinful, who consider nothing sacred and defile what is holy, who kill their father or mother or commit other murders. The law is for people who are sexually immoral, or who practice homosexuality, or are slave traders, liars, promise breakers, or who do anything else that contradicts the wholesome teaching that comes from the glorious Good News entrusted to me by our blessed God."
So what makes Homosexuality different?
Why does it seem that Christians today think of it as the "unpardonable sin" and that homosexuals are the only people who should never set foot in a church or even contemplate God's existence?
Why does the world believe that Christianity = Homophobia?
Who is at fault here? Christians or the world?
I'd say both.
This world is embracing godlessness to a level of pride and Christians have no idea how to handle it.
But I think we should handle it the way Jesus did.
"But Jesus never mentioned homosexuality..."
I totally just read your mind.
According to John 8, Jesus was chillaxing at a temple teaching some people about God. Suddenly, a bunch of religious men brought an "adulterous woman" to him and said, "This woman has been caught in adultery! The law of Moses tells us to stone her! What do you say?"
Now, we don't know the specifics of the adultery that this woman has been a part of, and I am not saying that it is a fact of what I am about to say.
But, what if the adulterous act that she was involved in was homosexuality?
Suddenly we want to find a nice stone and throw it right?
I mean, according to the law of Moses, anyone caught in adultery should be stoned. She fits the bill.
But Jesus knew, he knew that everyone holding a stone was guilty.
"He who is without sin, cast the first stone."
I think we should treat gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transexuals, and everything in between the same way we would treat a porn addict or a compulsive liar. With love.
The church today is slowly making me ashamed to call myself a Christian, imagine how it feels to be called Christ.
Are we living with the love of Christ?
Are we showing that love to this world?
Are we glorifying him with everything?
Or are we just the hateful hypocrites that the world says we are?
"Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will enter inherit the kingdom of God.
1 Timothy 1:9-11
"For the law was not intended for people who do what is right. It is for people who are lawless, rebellious, who are ungodly and sinful, who consider nothing sacred and defile what is holy, who kill their father or mother or commit other murders. The law is for people who are sexually immoral, or who practice homosexuality, or are slave traders, liars, promise breakers, or who do anything else that contradicts the wholesome teaching that comes from the glorious Good News entrusted to me by our blessed God."
What's wrong with this?
I've sat in churches where, the second a preacher mentions the sinfulness of homosexuality, people would begin to applaud, cheer, shout, stand up and dance, and praise Jesus. And I HATED IT!So what makes Homosexuality different?
Why does it seem that Christians today think of it as the "unpardonable sin" and that homosexuals are the only people who should never set foot in a church or even contemplate God's existence?
Why does the world believe that Christianity = Homophobia?
Who is at fault here? Christians or the world?
I'd say both.
This world is embracing godlessness to a level of pride and Christians have no idea how to handle it.
But I think we should handle it the way Jesus did.
"But Jesus never mentioned homosexuality..."
I totally just read your mind.
According to John 8, Jesus was chillaxing at a temple teaching some people about God. Suddenly, a bunch of religious men brought an "adulterous woman" to him and said, "This woman has been caught in adultery! The law of Moses tells us to stone her! What do you say?"
Now, we don't know the specifics of the adultery that this woman has been a part of, and I am not saying that it is a fact of what I am about to say.
But, what if the adulterous act that she was involved in was homosexuality?
Suddenly we want to find a nice stone and throw it right?
I mean, according to the law of Moses, anyone caught in adultery should be stoned. She fits the bill.
But Jesus knew, he knew that everyone holding a stone was guilty.
"He who is without sin, cast the first stone."
I think we should treat gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transexuals, and everything in between the same way we would treat a porn addict or a compulsive liar. With love.
So, How are we to treat homosexuals in the church?
THE SAME WAY WE TREAT ANYONE ELSE!
Our churches are full of liars, drunkards, thieves, sexually immoral people, and everything else. That also includes you and me.
The church is not just a place of meeting for the righteous, it's a place of healing for the sick.
Our churches are full of liars, drunkards, thieves, sexually immoral people, and everything else. That also includes you and me.
The church is not just a place of meeting for the righteous, it's a place of healing for the sick.
I feel like we are so quick to judge them that we forget to realize how messed up we are!
Have you ever known that, according to the bible, Heterosexual lust is just as sinful as homosexual lust! And how many people who claim to live Christian lives are swallowed by their own lust!?
We are terrified of things we do not understand and through our fear, we become hateful bigots who judge people because they are just as bad as we are, but in a way that we cannot relate to. How much easier is it to judge a homosexual than it is to judge someone who struggles with the same things we struggle with.
The church today is slowly making me ashamed to call myself a Christian, imagine how it feels to be called Christ.
Are we living with the love of Christ?
Are we showing that love to this world?
Are we glorifying him with everything?
Or are we just the hateful hypocrites that the world says we are?
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