| Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Florida
Posts: 132
| Hello Everyone,
No one here is judging nor are they saying God does not love homosexuals. God’s mercy covers over our errors and sins, but does God’s mercy covers over all our sins and is God’s mercy limitless?
Some have been taught that God is all compassionate and loving and that he extends his open arms to everyone, no matter what they do in their life or how they live it. Many churches will say: “that homosexuals are persons made in God’s image and because Jesus died, God’s mercy will cover over that sin.” Does God’s mercy cover someone who persists in practicing such things as homosexuality?
Other churches will say: “If God does not abhor, but rather loves, the homosexual with the nature he was created with us can do no less. And this means that we must accept the homosexual as he is.” Now though, we need to ask ourselves, “Does God accept homosexuals as they are?”
If we are not familiar with what the Bible says or we are a careless reader of the Bible, it might cause some to agree with the above clergy statements. They may even think about Jesus reclining at a table and eating with tax collectors and sinners. But, do you remember what the Pharisees said to Jesus? ‘Why is it that your teacher eats with tax collectors and sinners?’ Hearing them, he said: ‘Persons in health do not need a physician, but the ailing does. Go, then, and learn what this means, “I want mercy, and not sacrifice.” For I came to call, not righteous people, but sinners.’” Matt. 9:10-13.
If we tend to read the Bible casually it would appear that Jesus was approving of the sinners because he associated with them. This also could be misunderstood and that he was counseling the Pharisees for objecting what Jesus was doing. But is this what is really happening hear? Take note, of Jesus’ introductory statement: “Persons in health do not need a physician, but the ailing do.” A discerning person would reason that Jesus was not condoning their sins but he was associating with them so as to cure them of their sins.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus even admonished others by what he said: “Happy are the merciful, since they will be shown mercy.” Matt. 5:7 The fact that Jesus showed mercy, does it means he condoned sin? No, instead Jesus showed that we need to have compassion for the spiritually ill person/s as we would the physically ill. On one occasion a leper caught sight of Jesus and he fell upon his face and begged him, saying: “Lord, if you just want to, you can make me clean.” And so Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying: “I want to. Be made clean.” Immediately the man’s leprosy vanished from him. Sometimes he told the one who was ill simply to pick up his bed and walk. But in other instances he said instead: “Your sins are forgiven you.” Luke 5:12, 13, 20.
The Bible says: “Do not be misled: God is not one to be mocked. For whatever a man is sowing, this he will also reap; because he who is sowing with a view to his flesh will reap corruption from his flesh, but he who is sowing with a view to the spirit will reap everlasting life from the spirit.” Gal. 6:7, 8 There is no doubt that God forgive the sins of all people and he looks with mercy upon all of us, because we are the children of Adam and we were born in sin. Ps.51:5
God tell us at Ezekiel 33:11: “I take delight, not in the death of the wicked one, but in that someone wicked turns back from his way and actually keeps living.” We who sin everyday sometimes take advantage of God’s patience and do not take to heart his warnings. Many millions have used the time God has given man to set matters right as an opportunity to practice all kinds of sinful acts that are contrary to what God has warned us against. God does love all people, but he does not love our sins! 2 Cor. 6:1,9 ; Rom. 1:28-32
I personally do not believe any on this site hate homosexual persons, many though do hate the act of homosexuality. Why? Because God hates it! 2 Cor. 6:9-11.
Sometime we humans take God’s mercy for granted to do what we want to do. That is being independent from God. When we only listen to God’s laws when we agree with them, that doesn’t obligate God to show compassion and mercy forever. The time period of God’s forbearance is nearing an end. When it concludes, God’s angelic hosts will enter into their assigned work of execution, and God’s mercy will not cover those who are found still engaged in their lawless acts, who have not turned around and received the mark of true disciples of Jesus Christ. Ezek. 9:5, 6 When that time arrives, will God’s mercy cover all your sins?
Mercifully, Jesus healed both the physically ill and the spiritually sick, though not condoning their sin. When he warned them he did so with love and compassion, not to condone their sin but to help them to reach repentance and turn around to doing things God’s way and not their way.
I have seen gay men and women turn their life around. I know a young man who had feeling for other men and he had mentioned it started when he was very young. He soon learned that this type of lifestyle is disapproved by God and his desire to please God in all things, made him make changes to bring his life style in harmony with God’s ways. He is now happily married to a young women and they have children and he is an elder in our congregation.
I also have a friend who was gay. She was very much attracted to women; in fact she only dated other women. She came to learn about God and what He requires from each one of us, changed her life and married and is now a minister of God. She told me when she was gay; men repulsed her, now she is married to one. Was she truly gay?
Yes, she told me it started when she was about 5 years old. When we talk, I ask her all the time, “What do you think made you gay? Her reply after thinking about it was, “I don’t know, I just never liked boys.” “I then asked if she thought it was a learned lifestyle.” She then looked at me and smiled; “yes, because now I am happy, married to a wonderful man. I could not have done that if I didn’t have the ability to choose to change.” Most of all, she wanted to be pleasing to her creator and that is what helped her.
My closing comment is this: I do not hate homosexuals, some have ended up as my close friends, and I dearly love them. The two mentioned above are two very special people to me. I have deep respect and love for these two people and others who were homosexual and have chosen to change their lifestyle to please their creator. They did not use any excuses to make others except homosexuality as normal or approved by God. They did not use the excuse that people hate them because they are homosexuals.
Most God loving people, do not hate homosexuals but hate their acts of homosexuality. I say it is a choice because people I know who had homosexual tendencies since a very young age, have changed. If it wasn’t a choice, they would not be able to change. When we are born with something it usually stays with us the rest of our life. I have Cerebral Palsy, I don’t like it, but I can’t change it, I was born with it. Some Homosexuals have changed, if it was not a choice, it could never change. How do you explain this? |
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