[jenniepepsi]

I wanted to share this because I am just so happy about it!

My 19 year old cousin is gay. He has been since he was 16. Most of the family has outcasted him. But me and my husband have always welcomed him to our home when he needed it (as we did these last 2 weeks, he goes to job corps a few hours away and came home to visit with family for summer vacation) his parents do not even aprove of him. They love him, but approval and love are different.

Last night he went to stay the night at a neighbors house next to his parents, because my hosue is very far from his parents, and he is going home today and his parents don't have a lot of gas, and they need to take him to the bus station today (they do not allowe him to sleep in their house, which I understand, its their choice, and though I don't AGREE with them on it, I respect it)

And all these 2 weeks my husband and I have been making sure to include him into our bible studys with our daughter. He has closed his heart to God because he feels that being gay makes him unforgivable. Me and issac did all we could to make sure he knew that he was wrong. God loves him no matter what! If god can love a murderer and a thief and an adulterer as he has shown in the bible, then certainly he can love him for being gay.

This morning he called me. And told me that last night he cried and cried to himself and broke down and asked jesus back into his heart!! OMG MY HEART IS SO FULL! I feel like exploding! I am SO happy for him and so PROUD of him!!


(I know I am opening myself up to criticism, and different opinions. But try to be nice :) OK? )

[JudyKayTee]

Not sure what you are saying - he is going to be a practicing Cristian and gay OR he is going to be a practicing Christian and has renounced his "gayness."

[spiritcharms]

That's a lovely story! Not surprised your really happy for him x

[jenniepepsi]

Im not entirely sure Judy. I know that last month he was talking to some 'gay christians' I know it sounds like an oxy moron. I am praying for him though, in hopes that he can understand gods laws AS WELL as share in his love.

[s_cianci]

I'm glad your cousin experienced this breakthrough. Being gay is a sin but it is a forgivable sin. In particular, gay people can choose to remain celibate just as a heterosexual person can remain celibate. And if he remains celibate then he's not guilty of anything sinful, at least not specifically related to being gay. Sure, he may "lust" after other men just the same way that a straight person may lust after someone of the opposite sex. And the lusting is sinful for a straight person just as it is for a gay person, even though lusting in and of itself doesn't involve any overt sexual activity. The real point is that, when it comes to sins of a sexual nature, straight people as just as vulnerable as gay people.

[jenniepepsi]

And that's exactly what I told him s_cianci. I told him that as a christian, he can be sinless (at least in THIS situation, no one is sinless completly) if he does not participate in the 'act' if you know what I mean.

[JudyKayTee]

I find no "sin" in being gay. I figure it's up to God to judge, not me.

I am glad you are happy about this and wish him peace, whatever his decision may be. And, yes, there are certainly Gay Christian groups out there.

It is very apparent that you love him no matter what and that is heartwarming. I also know how sincere you are, how much you are trying to help him find his way and very often people are so busy condemning the person, telling him he's a sinner, that they forget we are all human.

Good for you!

[jenniepepsi]

I don't mean that it's a sin to be gay in its self. God said man shall not lie with man. Its not really a sin unless he accually commits the sexual act with another man. Or like CS said, the lusting, but that's for gay or straight alike.

[JudyKayTee]

Everyone has a different take on gays, of course. I am more offended by straight men who don't support their children, quite frankly, than I am by gays, whether they are actively gay or not.

[jenniepepsi]

That's an excellent point judy lol (had to spread the rep)

[Tj3]

Everyone has a different take on gays, of course. I am more offended by straight men who don't support their children, quite frankly, than I am by gays, whether they are actively gay or not.

No sin is better than another.

1 Cor 6:9-11
9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.
NKJV

It is not a matter whether you or I are offended, but whether God has said that it is a sin.

[Tj3]

i dont mean that its a sin to be gay in its self. god said man shall not lie with man. its not really a sin unless he accually commits the sexual act with another man. or like CS said, the lusting, but thats for gay or straight alike.

It is not just the act that is a sin. Jesus dealt with those who tried to get away with that position regarding other sins, where they thought it was just the act that was a sin:

Matt 5:27-28
27 "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not commit adultery.' 28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
NKJV

And there is more that he had to say in this regard, so the sin has been committed before the act take place. An orientation towards a sinful act is, according to Jesus, a sin in and of itself.

[jenniepepsi]

Very good points hon. Thank you for pointing that out to me. I will continue to pray for him and try to convince him of what is right (if he hasn't already)


On a side note, I can't imagine the agony for a homosexual, who wants to be a good christian, and to also know that it's a Sin.

Can you imagine how much they must HATE themselves? Many people (including myself) believe that while, a homosexual may not WANT to be the way they are, they can't help it.

[Tj3]

very good points hon. thank you for pointing that out to me. i will continue to pray for him and try to convince him of what is right (if he hasnt already)

on a side note, i can't imagine the agony for a homosexual, who wants to be a good christian, and to also know that its a Sin.

can you imagin how much they must HATE themselves? many people (including myself) believe that while, a homosexual may not WANT to be the way they are, they can't help it.

It is important to realize that it is a choice. We all struggle with sin our lives. And all believers hate it when they sin. I never understood why so much focus is given on this one sin. Look at how Paul struggled with the sin nature:

Rom 7:13-25
13 Has then what is good become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful. 14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. 16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God--through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.
NKJV

I don't know why they would hate themselves - but as they grow in the knowledge of God and His word, and as the Holy Spirit continues to guide them in their Christian walk, they will more and more see how their lives fail to align with what God wants for them - as it is for the rest of us. The sin may be different, but a person who struggles with the sin of homosexuality should be treated as being no better or no worse than a person who struggles with a multitude of other sins, like you and I.

[jenniepepsi]

I'm so glad you're here Tj3, every post you make is so knowledgeable and helpful. Are you a pastor (priest/ect) ? You should be :P

[N0help4u]

When people come to God they are to repent and ask God to reveal the changes they need to make in their life. So he needs to pray to God to help him overcome his desires and give them to God.
We all have to empty ourselves and allow God to guide us from there. It takes years sometimes for some people. Then some people that accept Jesus never do get it and continue in the way they are.

[jenniepepsi]

VERy good point nohelp, (you really should change your name :P you give LOTS of help lol)

I will definitely tell him this, that helps a lot.

[Tj3]

are you a pastor (priest/ect) ? you should be :P

No, I am just another believer who has studied God's word for many years.

[JudyKayTee]

It is not just the act that is a sin. Jesus dealt with those who tried to get away with that position regarding other sins, where they thought it was just the act that was a sin:

Matt 5:27-28
27 "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not commit adultery.' 28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
NKJV

And there is more that he had to say in this regard, so the sin has been committed before the act take place. An orientation towards a sinful act is, according to Jesus, a sin in and of itself.

You are certainly entitled to interpret your Bible in any way you wish - I don't just don't happen to agree with you.

It's the people who are so busy judging other people that I wonder/worry about - good that you can cast the first stone.

I don't feel I'm in that position.

I lost my interest in this thread when one person had to be repeatedly "pulled" because of his ranting, raving and name calling, another posted that he didn't believe in an eye for an eye EXCEPT if someone raped his daughter and a third who finds waterboarding and other means of torture acceptable.

I realize you are none of those people but it caused me to wonder just why these three felt they could judge other people.

If your faith gives you comfort and guidance, I'm glad for you.

[redhed35]

I smoke,I drink,I have sex and I live in a glass house..
I'm glad God will judge me and see my heart and not other christians.

I'm happy for your cousins decision jenniepepsi.