Matt. 19:12
For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.
Why does it seem that when people, especially men, don't marry by the time some think they should be married, that they are suspected to be gay. And these men go to church, live a clean life, but they are looked on as suspect! (could they be gay???) I can well remember when a young woman was a certain age, if she wasn't married, she was looked upon or made to feel she was going to be an "old maid". Many rushed into marriage and many of those marriages did not last.
Falla39
Most humans are tribal in nature. Anyone who doesn't fit in the preconceived mold of the tribe becomes suspect...without anyone really choosing to understand them. This is exactly what I'm concerned with.
As for eunuchs, understanding their class in ancient society. From prisoners of war, to cast servants, to volunteers, to people with anatomical, genetic, hormonal, and emotional gender issues. Interestingly pagans were more exploitive and abusive towards them than the Hebrews and early Christians. That's one reason why Philip witnessing to the Ethiopian Eunuch would be a bit challenging to the ancient mind...as is Christ's love, care, and respect for a Roman centurion and his sick personal servant. Any Pharisee would be morally appalled. This also explains why the centurion would be so ashamed, and deemed himself as being unworthy, to even allow an honorable Jewish rabbi like Jesus under his roof. The man and his servant were a ceremonial abomination. This agrees with what we know about the lifestyle of the average Roman centurion and the role their personal servants had in Roman society. At least that's one point of view to ponder.
As for your statement about who Jesus would or would not associate with, I do not believe that He would 'hang out' in the Rainbow District of my city or any other ciity.
I think Jesus might surprise some of us. Reaching out in the gay district just seems like something he would do, imo.
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"If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world." - C.S. Lewis
Why does it seem that when people, especially men, don't marry by the time some think they should be married, that they are suspected to be gay. And these men go to church, live a clean life, but they are looked on as suspect! (could they be gay???)
Good question.
Could it be that we have elevated marriage in the church to a place it should not hold? Do we undervalue singleness in our churches today, mimicking the culture at large? Do we think that romantic love is the greatest joy we could ever hope to have?
Jesus, as an abstinent single man his entire life, proved that wrong.
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"If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world." - C.S. Lewis
Could it be that we have elevated marriage in the church to a place it should not hold? Do we undervalue singleness in our churches today, mimicking the culture at large? Do we think that romantic love is the greatest joy we could ever hope to have?
Jesus, as an abstinent single man his entire life, proved that wrong.
The Bible doesn't say whether Jesus married.
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Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
Could it be that we have elevated marriage in the church to a place it should not hold? Do we undervalue singleness in our churches today, mimicking the culture at large? Do we think that romantic love is the greatest joy we could ever hope to have?
Jesus, as an abstinent single man his entire life, proved that wrong.
You make an excellent point. When my wife left I felt like the church pitied me, until I started dating.
I think Jesus might surprise some of us. Reaching out in the gay district just seems like something he would do, imo.
Well...Orthodoxy...I just happen to think you are correct because Jesus was criticized for eating with sinners, for allowing a sinner woman to wash his feet with her tears and dry them with her hair. He went to Samaria. He called Zaccheus and Matthew, both were hated publicans. Both repented. All those places and people where the High Priests and the scribes and pharisees would not go to.
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It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. (Psalms 118:8)
Last edited by AreYouReady?; 02-05-2012 at 02:02 PM.
Matt. 19:12
For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.
Why does it seem that when people, especially men, don't marry by the time some think they should be married, that they are suspected to be gay. And these men go to church, live a clean life, but they are looked on as suspect! (could they be gay???) I can well remember when a young woman was a certain age, if she wasn't married, she was looked upon or made to feel she was going to be an "old maid". Many rushed into marriage and many of those marriages did not last.
Falla39
Many years ago I used a couple of popular Christian dating sites on the web. One thing that struck me was how older men who were still virgins were avoided like the plague. Now when I say "older" I do not mean 25, 26, or 29. I am referring to 40 or older (and yes, it does make me think of the movie The 40 Year Old Virgin). The constant comment made was "What is wrong with them???" -and to be fair, in many cases there DID seem to be something a bit off. Honestly the women who were virgins late in life seemed on average to be far more normal than the guys who still were.
Well...Orthodoxy...I just happen to think you are correct because Jesus was criticized for eating with sinners, for allowing a sinner woman to wash his feet with her tears and dry them with her hair. He went to Samaria. He called Zaccheus and Matthew, both were hated publicans. Both repented. All those places and people where the High Priests and the scribes and pharisees would not go to.
Reminds me of The Marin Foundation today, building bridges between the GLBT community and the church.
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"If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world." - C.S. Lewis
So...who is so convinced that being born again eradicates sinful proclivities and orientations?
Would you encourage an alcoholic who was born again to have a drink? After all...if they are born again, they aren't alcoholic any more. Correct?
I am.
I am convinced of the reality of sactification. For some, change may take what seems to be a long time, but the Gospel of Jesus Christ does a work in the life of the Believer that is too radical to be defined by the word abstinent. The Bible does use the word, "transformed" and the phrase, "born again" giving us an idea of just radically our lives can be changed by faith in Jesus Christ.
Today, I may be tempted to do x, y, and z-- but I don't have to be tempted tomorrow by the same sins.
I am reminded of the scripture, "... such WERE some of you."
There aren't any gay Christians, but a Christian can be tempted and even fall to this temptation.
There aren't any murderer Christians, but a Christian can be tempted and even fall to this temptation.
There aren't any sinner Christians, but a Christian can be tempted and even fall into sin.
Should a Christian struggle, even fall, even more than once, Philippians 1:6 reflects God's commitment to our sanctification.
It's not the will, plan, or promise of God, neither does it bring Him any praise, for Christians to remain connected to or be known by their sin.
Christians are not DEFINED by their past! I'll go even further, with the Bible as support that Christians are not DEFINED by their CURRENT temptation, struggles, and even failures.
Is there a Christian here who has never failed? If you have failed, in whatever capacity, do you define yourself by that failure? Does yesterday's lie make you a liar today? Does last year's infidelity render you unfaithful today?
The Word of God declares in 1 John 3:2, "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is."
There is no such thing as a sinner Christian.
There is no such thing as a holy heathen.
Either we are a Christian or we are not.
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"The choices we make reveal the true nature of our character."
Last edited by Jermyn Davidson; 02-16-2012 at 07:20 PM.
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