My First Gay Thread

[MarcBee]

Originally Posted by BrotherEastman

Are you now consumed with this?

If I'm *consumed* with anything, it's with the hope for greater truth. When the "truth" I was taught for 20 years from estimable men of God doesn't correlate with other sources of "truth" in my life, I get curious, and love to ask questions from those who can handle the question, or may just have some evidence. For example, honest research from social scientists is something to consider, as is also what gays have to say about themselves, as is what I see around me, observing. I used to shoehorn all my experience and observations to fit only what the Mand of God taught me.

If you are implying that my "curiousity" about such a question reflects a sinful "curiosity" about homosexuality, then kindly don't firebomb this thread with such nonsense. Not only have I never noticed even a gay cell in my body, but I have never been able to enjoy a face to face conversation with an effeminate man. I WISH I could just relax to better enjoy their reparte' on a normal, civil human level, however. (Too bad a childish joke makes a guy have to defend himself, good grief.)

[BrotherEastman]

Originally Posted by Hoovie

What Does Science Say?

Here is a very informative article.
http://exodusinternational.org/2009/...s-science-say/

This is the ending summary.

"So are people born gay? Studies suggest that sexual orientation is an inter-play of both genetic and environmental factors. Genetics being able to predispose a person to homosexuality, but still relying on intricate environmental factors such as upbringing and social interaction to fully develop what some call the “homosexual potential.” Much like obesity has been discovered to have a genetic link, its understood that a person’s weight is ultimately dependent on environmental factors like diet and exercise.

Is change possible? Recent studies as well as first hand accounts confirm that sexuality is fluid and can indeed change whether through therapy or coincidentally over time. Researchers are careful not to claim that everyone can change their sexual orientation. Such absolute statements are as irresponsible as statements saying “people are born gay.” Researchers Yarhouse and Jones write that “some respondents experienced significant, meaningful change of sexual orientation in this sample, but we did not find that everyone (or anyone) can change. The fact that some human beings can break the four-minute mile barrier establishes that running a four-minute mile is not impossible, but that same fact does not establish that anyone (every human being) can break the four-minute mile barrier. So also our findings firmly refute any notion that change of sexual orientation is impossible.”(372)

"In the end, I like the way psychologist John Money put it. He compared sexuality to the development of language. He argued that a person is not born speaking English. And nothing in their genetics made them learn English rather than Swahili. Rather, the fact that a person learned English depended on their native culture. It has been shown that brains are innately predisposed to assimilate a language, whatever language that may be. Once it is aquired, the language becomes so natural to us that it’s as if we were born with it. Yet no matter how natural our native tongue may be, we know we are not born speaking English. In like manner, no matter how natural our same gender attractions may seem, let us not confuse that to mean that we were born gay."

I really like the last paragraph.

[BrotherEastman]

Originally Posted by MarcBee

If I'm *consumed* with anything, it's with the hope for greater truth. When the "truth" I was taught for 20 years from estimable men of God doesn't correlate with other sources of "truth" in my life, I get curious, and love to ask questions from those who can handle the question, or may just have some evidence. For example, honest research from social scientists is something to consider, as is also what gays have to say about themselves, as is what I see around me, observing. I used to shoehorn all my experience and observations to fit only what the Mand of God taught me.

If you are implying that my "curiousity" about such a question reflects a sinful "curiosity" about homosexuality, then kindly don't firebomb this thread with such nonsense. Not only have I never noticed even a gay cell in my body, but I have never been able to enjoy a face to face conversation with an effeminate man. I WISH I could just relax to better enjoy their reparte' on a normal, civil human level, however. (Too bad a childish joke makes a guy have to defend himself, good grief.)

Good grief! I apologize okay?

[Truthseeker]

Yeah, I even read an article saying a gene for violence. Even one for alcoholism. What's next a gene for debt??

[MarcBee]

Originally Posted by BrotherEastman

Good grief! I apologize okay?

OK!

[PastorTLArt]

Originally Posted by MarcBee

If I'm *consumed* with anything, it's with the hope for greater truth. When the "truth" I was taught for 20 years from estimable men of God doesn't correlate with other sources of "truth" in my life, I get curious, and love to ask questions from those who can handle the question, or may just have some evidence. For example, honest research from social scientists is something to consider, as is also what gays have to say about themselves, as is what I see around me, observing. I used to shoehorn all my experience and observations to fit only what the Mand of God taught me.

If you are implying that my "curiousity" about such a question reflects a sinful "curiosity" about homosexuality, then kindly don't firebomb this thread with such nonsense. Not only have I never noticed even a gay cell in my body, but I have never been able to enjoy a face to face conversation with an effeminate man. I WISH I could just relax to better enjoy their reparte' on a normal, civil human level, however. (Too bad a childish joke makes a guy have to defend himself, good grief.)

I would like to put my 2 cents in if I may, I highlighted and emboldened a statement above that I would like to touch on.

I guess its about time I say where I stand on the whole "homosexual" issue, since I seem to chime in a lot when a thread has something to do with the topic.

I guess I will go ahead and come out of my closet on the board, I am a gay man, and YES I was "born this way" if that's what you want to call it. I have had nothing in my past to "make" me gay, I didn't wake up one morning and "choose" to be gay, I just have always had an attraction to the same gender, I noticed it very early on in life. I was raised in a very strict home, I was raised as a typical "guy" I played sports, I played with boy toys, I listened to preachers decry "gays" from the pulpit, I had it deeply embedded from a very young age that homosexuality was wrong.

I fought with my feelings for many years, I spent countless hours on my face before God begging Him to change me. I sought help, I even endured preachers trying to cast the "spirit of homosexuality" out of me.

I did everything right, I prayed, I pleaded, I fasted, I cried out, and finally after many years, GOD CHANGED ME!!!! No, he didn't make me heterosexual, he didn't change my orientation, he didn't take away my desires, but He let me understand that He LOVES ME just the way HE created me!

Since that day, the day I became real with God, He has been so real to me.
I know that 99.9% of you will disagree with me, but You are not me, you haven't walked in my shoes, so you cannot even touch me with your doubts.

I know that I am accepted by my Father and I know that I am living in His will for my life, I am living out my calling and I am reaching people for the kingdom that most "pentecostals" would rather throw away.

I know that My Lord is able to keep me unto the day of redemption, I praise the Lord that I have been born again, my sins were washed away when I went down in His name over 20 years ago and I know that I was confirmed as His child when He baptized me in the precious Holy Ghost!!

I am open to talking with anyone, the bible admonishes us to "reason together".

Thank you for hearing my weigh in on the topic and May God bless all of you!

Now, If you want to burn me at the stake, you will just be sending me Home to be with Jesus sooner, and if you want to ban me from the board then that's your right, but at least let me know first!!!

Your Fellow-servant in the harvest,
Pastor TLART

[deltaguitar]

Originally Posted by PastorTLArt

I would like to put my 2 cents in if I may, I highlighted and emboldened a statement above that I would like to touch on.

I guess its about time I say where I stand on the whole "homosexual" issue, since I seem to chime in a lot when a thread has something to do with the topic.

I guess I will go ahead and come out of my closet on the board, I am a gay man, and YES I was "born this way" if that's what you want to call it. I have had nothing in my past to "make" me gay, I didn't wake up one morning and "choose" to be gay, I just have always had an attraction to the same gender, I noticed it very early on in life. I was raised in a very strict home, I was raised as a typical "guy" I played sports, I played with boy toys, I listened to preachers decry "gays" from the pulpit, I had it deeply embedded from a very young age that homosexuality was wrong.

I fought with my feelings for many years, I spent countless hours on my face before God begging Him to change me. I sought help, I even endured preachers trying to cast the "spirit of homosexuality" out of me.

I did everything right, I prayed, I pleaded, I fasted, I cried out, and finally after many years, GOD CHANGED ME!!!! No, he didn't make me heterosexual, he didn't change my orientation, he didn't take away my desires, but He let me understand that He LOVES ME just the way HE created me!

Since that day, the day I became real with God, He has been so real to me.
I know that 99.9% of you will disagree with me, but You are not me, you haven't walked in my shoes, so you cannot even touch me with your doubts.

I know that I am accepted by my Father and I know that I am living in His will for my life, I am living out my calling and I am reaching people for the kingdom that most "pentecostals" would rather throw away.

I know that My Lord is able to keep me unto the day of redemption, I praise the Lord that I have been born again, my sins were washed away when I went down in His name over 20 years ago and I know that I was confirmed as His child when He baptized me in the precious Holy Ghost!!

I am open to talking with anyone, the bible admonishes us to "reason together".

Thank you for hearing my weigh in on the topic and May God bless all of you!

Now, If you want to burn me at the stake, you will just be sending me Home to be with Jesus sooner, and if you want to ban me from the board then that's your right, but at least let me know first!!!

Your Fellow-servant in the harvest,
Pastor TLART

Sir, thank you for sharing your story.

Are you a "practicing" homosexual? To clarify, do you participate in homosexual activities or do you feel that the practice itself is sin?

[MissBrattified]

All human beings are born sinners. It comes easy to us, although my besetting sin may not be the *one* that besets others, necessarily. So with that in mind, it doesn't matter to me whether people choose the homosexual lifestyle or they are born that way. The Bible calls it sinful. The Bible condemns adultery (heterosexual sex practiced outside God's boundaries), and it doesn't matter if you were *born* with an attraction to women who aren't your wife, it's still a sin to take one to bed. You might have been a chronic liar since you were a toddler, and lies might roll easily off your tongue, but that doesn't mean it isn't a sin. Being born with a weakness of character or a fatal attraction does not change the definition of what sin is. God's Word defines sin, and that should be where we look to determine how we live our lives.

That said, being tempted to lie or tempted to commit adultery isn't sinful. Neither is being tempted to commit a homosexual act. The only complicating factor here is the Biblical stance on effeminacy: some gay men are effeminate. That in and of itself is an issue that needs addressing, but it's rather subjective.

[PastorTLArt]

Originally Posted by deltaguitar

Sir, thank you for sharing your story.

Are you a "practicing" homosexual? To clarify, do you participate in homosexual activities or do you feel that the practice itself is sin?

I am currently single, and I believe that any type of intimate relationship outside of the bonds of Marriage is sinful, so No, I am not currently "practicing". But I am sure that when the Lord sends me the right person and we enter our covenant that we will live our life just like any married couple.

[Jacob's Ladder]

Originally Posted by MarcBee

Does anyone here know someone who believes they have been "delivered" by the power of God from lifelong homosexuality? Not speaking of someone who got experimental then repented, but a former hardcore who now is not gay?

Last I heard, there aren't any verifiable cases apart from those speaking "by faith" and of course "behaving themselves".....thus far.

Sincerely asking the above, but of course I'm coming from a position (who isn't.) In recent years I've changed to believe that some people are born gay. Yes, environment has great effect too. But in general gay is not something ones chooses to be. Chooses to DO, yes, but chooses to "be", no. (Please don't take this to suppose I think homosexuality is compatible with the Bible, OT or NT. Pretty clear it isn't.)

I thought you were coming out of the closet.