Same Sex Marriage

[Riverwalker]

You need to separate the issue from the people.  God loves the people, and hates the sin

You also need to find a way so that they know tacitly or implicitly that you can never "accept the sin" but you are willing to accept them, as people.

Like the woman caught in adultery....Jesus did not overlook her sin, he just did not pass judgment, but told her to go and sin no more.

[Marathoner]

1 hour ago, Who me said:

When someone has a problem with their understanding of Christianity then one has to earn the right to talk to them about it.

Well said, my friend. Platitudes are meaningless. 

Such was the case with a close friend who was burned by Christians many times during her life. Her family and relatives were believers and they treated her cruelly and callously. This wasn't a distortion of the truth on her part because I witnessed their mistreatment of her firsthand. I was grieved for her sake. 

She was exceedingly hostile toward Christians as a result... that is, until the Lord planted me in her life. I had no idea what I was getting into but He did. The Lord moved upon me mightily to remain silent: be a friend asking for nothing in return. Stand for her sake just as the Lord stands for me, forgiving her as surely as my Father in heaven forgives me.  Love her like the Lord loves me. 

Keep His word and walk in His Spirit. 

The Lord made the way straight, giving me words to speak when the fullness of time had come. My friend exploded with rage when she discovered that I'm a Christian but the Lord spoke of this beforehand. What did I do? I bore it in silence and didn't go anywhere. I took the worst of it and loved her anyway.

This is how the Lord honored me with the right to demonstrate His love for my friend. Her heart softened and she remembered the Lord whom she believed in during her youth. We need to get out of the way and listen to Christ... He tells us what we ought to do and say.   

[Leonardo Von]

1 hour ago, Who me said:

Jesus was called, with good reason, the friend of prostitutes, drunks, traitors, all those labelled by the ' good ' as sinners.

Jesus was friend of sinners and loved them, but never condone with their deportment.

On the contrary: He always said: "go and sin no more" (John 5:14; 8:11).

[Leonardo Von]

1 hour ago, Chicken coop2 said:

@Leonardo Von you keep telling us what to do. When are you going to share your personal experiences in order to show us the success these things have produced? 

The success of what I am saying abide in the fact that all of this is written in the Holy Scripture.

After all as Jesus said, "Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away." (Mark 13:31).

My personal experiences don't account, but Jesus and His word, as it is written:

"...let God be true, but every man a liar;..." (Rom 3:4)

[Marathoner]

1 minute ago, Leonardo Von said:

Jesus was friend of sinners and loved them, but never condone with their deportment.

On the contrary: He always said: "go and sin no more" (John 5:14; 8:11).

My friend, when we dwell upon reproach then our eyes are not fixated upon the Lord. Have you forgotten from whence you came? Were you not a sinner when the Lord came to you?

There are no "buts" when showing forth the Gospel of Jesus Christ, @Leonardo Von. We do not approach our neighbor to proclaim " The Lord loves you, but this is where you sin." 

It's not our place to accuse others. The Spirit of the Lord convicts us all and an example of this can be seen in the Samaritan woman at the well. The Lord revealed all she had done.

The woman then left her waterpot, went her way into the city, and said to the men, “Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” Then they went out of the city and came to Him. (John 4:28 NKJV)

The fruit of the Lord's conviction: 

And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me all that I ever did.” So when the Samaritans had come to Him, they urged Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. And many more believed because of His own word. (John 4:39-41 NKJV)

The woman who was a sinner believed, and many believed in Christ because of her testimony. Her example is rather remarkable, isn't it? She witnessed that the Word made flesh is the Christ just like Peter did.  


 

[Waggles]

One witnesses to anybody and everybody. 

One shares their testimony.

One plants a seed, another waters, but God gives the increase. 

God calls people to salvation.

We are merely pawns moved on the chessboard.

[Leonardo Von]

1 hour ago, Who me said:

Our example is Jesus he was always approachable.

He is approachable. So much so that He asked around all people to come unto Him and in no wise he cast someone out. (John 6:37). 

Nevertheless, He never gave up the truth to please anybody:

• "Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch." (Mat 15:12-14). 
• "Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him." (Joh 6:60-66). 

 

 

 

 

 

[Marathoner]

9 minutes ago, Chicken coop2 said:

Amen. 

Yes. First, I witness to my unbelieving neighbor by my conduct. I see their need and meet it asking for nothing in return. 

What does this mean, asking for nothing in return? I didn't say, "I'm happy to help but do you have a moment to spare?" Nope. I busied myself with serving them instead. 

Next, my unbelieving neighbor witnesses the power of Jesus Christ displayed in me. I don't strike back... never accuse, and never separate myself from their company because they're a sinner. Why would I do that, when the Lord came to me when I was a sinner? Christ never shunned me so I will never shun my neighbor. 

He is our example.

Finally, the time comes when my unbelieving neighbor cannot help but ask questions. "You're a Christian? But you're not like other Christians I've met. What is this you have?"

Love. I love them because I haven't forgotten what is was like to walk in their shoes. Thieves... drug addicts... prostitutes... it doesn't matter. The Lord is our example and He came to save the sick and the dying, just like He saved us.  

[Leonardo Von]

16 minutes ago, Marathoner said:

It's not our place to accuse others.

Say the truth isn't accuse. Jesus was clear:

• "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day." (Joh 12:48).

Jesus ALWAYS said the truth in love. It was people that felt offended, judged and condemned themselves, accused by their own conscience (Rom 2:15).

[Riverwalker]

9 minutes ago, Chicken coop2 said:

So, has your personal experience with homosexuals thus far just been to quote bible verses to them? Has this been successful? 

Well it can hardly be detrimental since it is the word of God ...right?