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Can Christians be 'Homosexual'

Discussion in '2000-02 Archive' started by Rev. Joshua, Oct 4, 2001.

  1. Brother Adam

    Brother Adam New Member

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    Okay perhaps my example was a bad one but what i said still stands.

    Until Next Post, Adam
     
  2. Kathy

    Kathy New Member

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    With regard to people being 'born gay', I think it's true...why? Because we are all born with a sinful nature. Born to be an adulterer, born to be a liar, born to be a thief, born to be a homosexual...it's all sin. The only thing that takes us away from the magnetic pull of sin is trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and baptism with His Holy Spirit.

    The point of the matter is that yes, we should love the sinner and not the sin. But we have people leading churches who are homosexuals and are declaring that God says being homosexual is ok. It's no different that any other false doctrine. It's false and leading people astray. It's a 'feel good' doctrine that leads straight to hell.

    And I totally agree with Helen when she said that you don't want to continue in sin when you are are a true born again believer. You may have your sins and still be dealing with them, but that doesn't mean you are happy. I got saved in 97 and I didn't quit smoking until 6 months ago! I was utterly MISERABLE in my sin. Sure, sin is fun for a season...but there comes a day where you must inevitably pay the piper so to speak.

    Oh well, that was more than I wanted to say, but I found this soapbox here and I figured hey, might as well use it huh? LoL

    Kathy
    <><
     
  3. Reklaw

    Reklaw New Member

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    That view sounds pretty Calvinistic to me, personally... Born to sin isn't what I would call being a just God. Being born with the potential to sin and choosing that path is another thing.
     
  4. John Wells

    John Wells New Member

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    Kathy,

    You are right on target! Here's a practical view of the sanctification process: one true, one not!

    I am an alcoholic
    I know alcoholism is a sin
    I asked Jesus to be Lord of my life
    I still desire to “tie one on” once in a while
    God’s Spirit within me says “no” when I think of that
    I have given in a couple of times. Immediately I felt the shame of disappointing God and repented
    I was an alcoholic
    I haven’t taken a drink in years
    I am an ex-alcoholic Christian
    Thank you Lord for being patient with me, and loving me enough to change me

    Contrast with:

    I am a homosexual
    I know homosexuality is a sin
    I asked Jesus to be Lord of my life
    I still am a homosexual
    I have found a church and pastor that says it’s OK because I was born the way I am
    My partner and I wish the laws would allow us to be legally married
    I am so thankful that God does not see me as a sinner because of my imputed righteousness
    Now I can be an active homosexual
    I am a Christian homosexual
    Thank you Lord for loving me the way I am

    The first scenario shows a progression; a process of sanctification. See any difference or problems with the second view?
     
  5. Brother Adam

    Brother Adam New Member

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    Posted by Kathy: "It's false and leading people astray. It's a 'feel good' doctrine that leads straight to hell."

    I think its more that churches want to tailor their churches to draw in as many people as possible (so yes some of it is feel good). It's a doctrine of tolerance. "let's let them do what they want to and then they will come to our church."

    Until Next Post, Adam
     
  6. Brother Adam

    Brother Adam New Member

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    "Born to sin isn't what I would call being a just God."

    Just yes, fair?...well was sending His Son to die in shame on a cross fair?

    Think about who messed up though? Adam and Eve. Not God.

    Until Next Post, Adam

    [ October 05, 2001: Message edited by: flyfree432 ]
     
  7. John Wells

    John Wells New Member

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    Reklaw,

    Sift these verses through your statement!

    Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. (Psa 51:5 NIV)

    for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (Rom 3:23 NIV)

    As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one." (Rom 3:10-12 NIV)
     
  8. ellis

    ellis New Member

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    Help me make sure I have this correct. This is what I perceive from the people who have posted on this thread and taken the hard line:

    1. Salvation comes by grace through faith in Christ, but it must be maintained by works.

    2. Christians eventually become sinless and perfect.

    3. Homosexuality is a worse sin than anything else.

    4. Anyone who disagrees with the specific quoted prooftexts here is a liberal, and liberals aren't Christians.

    5. In the rare and virtually impossible event that a homosexual person is saved, they will instantly be cured and become a normal heterosexual just like that.

    I do say this tongue in cheek, but if you read back over this thread, that is the general drift of the more militant position. None of these statements are Biblical, and there is an awful lot of twisting of contexts to come to this conclusion.

    [ October 05, 2001: Message edited by: ellis ]
     
  9. Brother Adam

    Brother Adam New Member

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    ellis,

    you can read posts any number of ways. It is important to read them as the author is trying to explain what they believe or want to get across. It is very hard to realize emotion on a message board. I could be screaming at you, I could be talking in a very depressed tone, I could be talking normally, or with sincerety in my voice. We just cannot tell.

    Until Next Post, Adam
     
  10. Helen

    Helen <img src =/Helen2.gif>

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    Help me make sure I have this correct. This is what I perceive from the people who have posted on this thread and taken the hard line:

    1. Salvation comes by grace through faith in Christ, but it must be maintained by works.

    I don't know if you consider me a 'hard liner,' but here are my responses. First, salvation comes by grace through faith, and works are evidence of that salvation, that change of heart. But we cannot maintain our own salvation anymore than a sheep can maintain himself when bought by a new owner! And we ARE sheep -- the sheep of His pasture. He takes care of His own, coming and going. If one strays, He 'goes out looking' (although I have serious doubts about Him not knowing where each of us is!). At any rate, there is nothing we can do to earn or maintain our own salvation -- or anyone else's. Works are simply evidence of the new person we each have become.


    2. Christians eventually become sinless and perfect.

    VERY eventually. As in, not on this earth!


    3. Homosexuality is a worse sin than anything else.

    It depends on how you define 'worse', actually. The Bible says sexual sin is a sin against your own body, so in that sense it is a 'double sin' both against yourself and against God. But the important thing to keep in mind is that a sin nature is like the chicken pox -- some show much more visible signs than others, but all are sick with the same disease and need the same cure! And all are contagious! With that understood yes, one person can have a worse outbreak os chicken pox and one person may have a more damaging outbreak of sin. However all is rebellion against God and will be dealt with in the same fashion...


    4. Anyone who disagrees with the specific quoted prooftexts here is a liberal, and liberals aren't Christians.

    Oh? You sound like you have a nasty chip on your shoulder! I don't think anyone has tried to judge a person, just the sin. The point has been made, however, that anyone living in the lifestyle of sin -- any sin -- would have a hard time convincing other Christians that he or she is one of them! That's because actions and words from from the heart and show what is in the heart. And a heart that is for God sure is going to get out of that lifestyle of sin -- whatever the sin is. Some things take longer than others, but God is always faithful to deliver His own from evil.


    5. In the rare and virtually impossible event that a homosexual person is saved, they will instantly be cured and become a normal heterosexual just like that.

    Many homosexuals are saved. From what I understand some of them have to battle the flesh for awhile, but the difference is then that they want to battle it, and the Lord helps them win. That's a far cry from finding excuses for what the flesh has been craving.


    I do say this tongue in cheek, but if you read back over this thread, that is the general drift of the more militant position. None of these statements are Biblical, and there is an awful lot of twisting of contexts to come to this conclusion.

    Can you please explain what has been twisted out of context and what is not biblical about at least my posts? Thanks.
     
  11. Rev. Joshua

    Rev. Joshua <img src=/cjv.jpg>

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    Wow, I'm not sure that I can effectively respond to the three pages of posts that have followed my comments.

    First, I didn't mean to digress into this topic. I had a serious question for the forum moderator about where we should post those kinds of links.

    As to the biblical arguments and prooftexting, I said that I was only giving a "cursory" treatment of those texts because I don't think it would be feasible to synthesize and properly treat the several books on my shelf that deal specifically with the texts used to condemn homosexuality. I don't treat these texts casually, and have spent untold hours of study on them.

    I recommended the two most accessible books I know of for anyone who wants to look at the texts in a more in-depth study. They are the Scroggs and Helmeniak titles.

    As to my own stand, I've looked at every text cited here, and I do not think they make a cogent argument about consensual, commited, monogamous homosexual relationships. Nor do I think the Bible "speaks clearly" on this issue. The Bible likewise speaks clearly on the treatment of menstruating women, wearing clothing of mixed fibers, and beating the slaves who are our property. Without careful exegesis and responsible scholarships; these texts can be (and have been) misused and miniterpreted - because of their "clear teaching."

    My view is certainly not an unorthodox one, as most mainline Christian groups are almost evenly divided on this issue. I have no wish to attempt to persuade people whose minds are clearly made up. I do want to point out that there are other baptists, baptist ministers, and baptist theologians who share this perspective.

    Joshua
     
  12. John Wells

    John Wells New Member

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    Joshua said, "Nor do I think the Bible "speaks clearly" on this issue."

    Please explain to me and for all what is unclear about the following:

    Leviticus 18:22 (ESV)
    You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.
     
  13. Don

    Don Well-Known Member
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    Joshua, you're probably right. There are probably baptists and baptist preachers out there who agree with you.

    I just haven't met any yet. And I've met a LOT.

    Josh, let me ask you something: The books you recommended were obviously pro-homosexual. What books could (or would) you recommend from the other side of the argument?
     
  14. Dr. Bob

    Dr. Bob Administrator
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    Just want to add my appreciation for EACH of you who has contributed to this thread. The spirit of the discussion is uplifting, while the topic is less than enjoyable.

    Keep up the good work. It is edifying to see what the Word teaches and then admonish one another to follow it. The Bible is clear on separating homosexuality as "more evil" than other sins. BUT . . . just a reminder that after the harsh condemnation of both male and female "perverts", God goes on to list other sins that also infect humanity: <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>While we can "camp out" like Paul did against the homosexual, let's not forget to point the convicting finger of God's Word at other sins that seem "more acceptable" in our genteel society.
     
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