My First Gay Thread

[jediwill83]

I'm not speaking of God's tolerance or LACK OF tolerance for any sin....I'm simply speaking of our effectiveness in our witness and ministry.You can save yourself alot of trouble and overcome alot of defensiveness when you use a lil wisdom in your approach.They usually expect a negative reaction from a Christian...and when thats not what they encounter those shields sometimes drop.Some would say that from my LACK of a negative reaction I am by default supporting that lifestyle...not so.Just like the man I witnessed to one time...was in his house there to repo his washer and dryer...I let him finish his laundry and we sat and talked...his family all around...we talked about the Lord and how good God is....and how He can change a life...all the while he was knocking back shots of wild turkey and chain smoking...didnt offend me in the least...and the man was visibly moved that I would speak with him in the way that I did.You see...people know that they are a sinner...I dont have to tell them...I dont have to scream it at them...they already feel condemnation within themselves...I'm not here to bring MORE condemnation...I'm here to point the way to freedom.When we hold the light of Christ up to our life it illuminates our every fault for us to see...we see our sin in contrast to His Holiness.Jesus never told Zaccheaus he was a sinner...He just came to His house...but I believe in coming in contact with Him he realized there had to be a change which led to his repentant actions.

[Phoenix]

Originally Posted by jediwill83

I'm not speaking of God's tolerance or LACK OF tolerance for any sin....I'm simply speaking of our effectiveness in our witness and ministry.You can save yourself alot of trouble and overcome alot of defensiveness when you use a lil wisdom in your approach.They usually expect a negative reaction from a Christian...and when thats not what they encounter those shields sometimes drop.Some would say that from my LACK of a negative reaction I am by default supporting that lifestyle...not so.Just like the man I witnessed to one time...was in his house there to repo his washer and dryer...I let him finish his laundry and we sat and talked...his family all around...we talked about the Lord and how good God is....and how He can change a life...all the while he was knocking back shots of wild turkey and chain smoking...didnt offend me in the least...and the man was visibly moved that I would speak with him in the way that I did.You see...people know that they are a sinner...I dont have to tell them...I dont have to scream it at them...they already feel condemnation within themselves...I'm not here to bring MORE condemnation...I'm here to point the way to freedom.When we hold the light of Christ up to our life it illuminates our every fault for us to see...we see our sin in contrast to His Holiness.Jesus never told Zaccheaus he was a sinner...He just came to His house...but I believe in coming in contact with Him he realized there had to be a change which led to his repentant actions.

[jediwill83]

Originally Posted by Sam

Maybe my addiction to chocolate can be blamed on my genes?

no...but your size in jeans can be blamed on your addiction! lol

[trialedbyfire]

Originally Posted by Truthseeker

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

And a gene for joblessness.

[trialedbyfire]

Originally Posted by PastorTLArt

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.

If God "sends" you the right person, it will be a woman for a wife.

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by trialedbyfire

And a gene for joblessness.

Ya, that does seem to run in the family. I've known multiple generations who never worked -they all seemed to have "back problems" and collected their unemployment/welfare checks monthly.

They all seemed to have the big 6-8 foot satellite dishes in their front yard as well.

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by Hoovie

Except... PTA has just told us homosexual acts are cool with God as long as the participants are married...

Ya, I can see where he is saying that. My point was to play off of MissB's post and theorize that everyone is born with a weakness, vice or inclination to sin in a specific area. God no doubt has a reason he allows this to happen (note, didn't say cause).

[trialedbyfire]

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

Ya, that does seem to run in the family. I've known multiple generations who never worked -they all seemed to have "back problems" and collected their unemployment/welfare checks monthly.

They all seemed to have the big 6-8 foot satellite dishes in their front yard as well.

That gene seemed so very prevelant in South Carolina in the years I was living there. 6-8 foot satelite dishes and all, and atleast three cars outside of their trailers, two of them usually in horrible shape with cinder blocks where the wheels used to be.

Personally, I can't do it. I have to work to feel like a man. Guess I have a workers gene.

[llambert]

Hello everyone:

I don't post here much, but this caught my attention.

This link gives info on people who were once homosexual and have had total freedom:

http://www.lifeministry.org/- The woman who is the CEO of the ministry was in lesbianism for 10 years (her lesbian lover broke her heart). Just about all of their staff were also at one point homosexual (one leader was a pastor while having a male lover who broke up with him in the same week that he tested positive for HIV). I have met these people and believe that they are totally heterosexual now. This ministry started in NYC and has gone international with works in London, Colorado Springs, Latin, Central and South America

I have not met anyone from this next ministry, but I get the sense that there are testimonies of total deliverance to be found here as well:

http://www.witnessfortheworld.org/founder.html

Again, I don't know for certain, but I suspect that there may be testimonies of total deliverance from homosexuality in the mormon religion and in Islam as well.

This book

http://www.ebay.com/ctg/Aesthetic-Re...rback-/2774099also documents a secular movement that cured people from homosexuality

There is also a college student movement called Passion for Christ that has people giving their testimonies (although I don't know if any of these people are totally free or if they still deal with unwanted same sex attractions):

http://p4cm.com/p4cmwp/

Also, here is a good resource book from a pastor who is (I think) connected to COGIC, for ministry to the gay and lesbian community:

http://www.amazon.com/Ministering-Gr.../dp/076842268X

Finally, aren't there some people who post on here who were once attracted to the same sex and are now completely heterosexual? I seem to remember reading someone writing about this awhile back. There are probably people like this in our churches, but they may not feel led to share their testimonies publically. If you pray and ask around, God will lead you to these people who are right there in the church.

Homosexuality is a very heated issue and any discussion of it can bring up a lot of pain on all sides. It seems to me that if we're going to discuss it, we should refrain from sarcasm, assumption, coarse joking, accusation/blame and really listen to what each other is saying. To me if we can't yet have that kind of gracious and mature discussion on the topic, we should refrain from posting and just pray and ask God to guide us in how to listen and speak.

[Phoenix]

Originally Posted by llambert

Finally, aren't there some people who post on here who were once attracted to the same sex and are now completely heterosexual? I seem to remember reading someone writing about this awhile back. There are probably people like this in our churches, but they may not feel led to share their testimonies publically. If you pray and ask around, God will lead you to these people who are right there in the church.

I know of at least 1.