Do you have personal Christian Friends who are Gay?

[Guest divinedestiny]

I do not have any friends that are gay. I have a step-daughter who is. The other children(all grown) avoid her and her own full-blood sister avoids her. Not because she is gay, but because you cannot have a single solitary conversation with her without her gay lifestyle being imposed somehow on the subject. she is obsessed with it, and we are all just weary of it. We love her, but she herself created space, not the other kids. They do not feel complelled to say "Yes, I went out to dinner with my straight friends last night" but if you are talking to her you WILL hear "Yes, I went out to dinner with my gay friends last night". I pray for her daily, but she has created her own version of the Bible, what to believe and what not to. Her heart is too hard to hear any truth at this stage.

Cajunboy::::Right! And we're encouraged to love all mankind, no matter what the sin. I'm just curious to know, "If God put it in your heart (if HE hasn't already), to give a sermon on homosexuality and sexual desires(of a sinful nature) and you realized that much of your congregation was gay, would you still go through with it?? Just curious?

Well, I don't give sermons but if I felt led of the Lord to speak about homosexuality to women and I knew there were going to be lesbians there I don't think I would let that sway me. I would simply ask the Lord to speak through me instead of the words simply coming from me. Isn't that what all preachers/teachers should do anyway? My pastor recently finished a series of sermons, 23 I think, on Overcoming Life Dominating Sins. Homosexuality is only one of those.

Since I don't believe one can lose their salvation I believe that a child can accept Christ and grow up to make some really bad decisions. Homosexuality is a bad decision like thevory, rape, murder, lying, fornication, adultry. All are sins that are forgiven. I can not judge a person's heart condition by their actions since mine don't speak to highly of my relationship with the Lord either. Like I said, it helps to know the person One can not know a person unless they become their friend.

One must be very careful how closely they stick to a Brother who is living in sin. The Bible clearly teaches us that we must be careful lest we fall into the same temptation. But we can not shun them or call them not our friends because of their choices. Goodness, we wouldn't be friends with anyone then. And if we don't stick close enough to them they don't want to hear what we have to say about their lifestyle anyway. It's a fine line that we walk, but Jesus walked it and we can strive to walk like he did. Eat with sinners, show them the Truth.

People don't care how much you know, till they know how much you care.

While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Christ was a friend of sinners. We should be too. LOVE covers over a multitude of sins.

[MeCajunboy]

cajun, what makes a person a christian?

does it have anything to do with repentance?

Cajunboy::::Ma'am, the easiest way for me to relate to the first question is to say, "One who strives to be Like Christ." and YES! It has everything to do with repentance. But , I'm concerned about the one who "refuses" to repent. For those, I would not recommend one not stay in a friendship relationship too very long, unless you truly feel you can do some good and eventually turn that person over to Christ. Statistics are not very good for "Christian" recovery for the "gay" person. Most go back and forth in their relationship. the one thing I tell the ones that I have worked with is, "take confidence that one day you will be very old and perhaps without a partner and then you might only have God to depend on. Can you be sure HE will want you then, just because you have no one else and are almost finished up. That's kind of like the guy who I was working with for about a year, and he was babbling in homosexuality. His final comment to me before I decided to give Him to Jesus was, "That's o.k. just before I draw my last breath, I'll simply REPENT! My last words to him was, "And what if you can't get the words out of you mouth in time and you expire?..what then?

Blessings

Cajunboy

the reason i aasked the question was the way you worded the original question... do you have "christian" friends who are gay.

i like your answer here. a christian is someone who strives to be like Christ, and yes, it has everything to do with repentance. so taking that to its logical conclusion, is it possible to call an unrepentant sinner a christian?

i've had gay friends in my life. i don't currently have any gay friends, but i get along quite well with my gay neighbors. they're wonderful people. but they don't know Jesus. i guess i was just kinda trying to point out the oxymoron... there are no gay christians. there are plenty of christians who used to live a gay lifestyle, and plenty of christians still struggling to overcome homosexual desires, but if a homosexual is unrepentant, they aren't christians.

(No gay Christians! oxymoron) I know where you're coming from LadyC. But I never talk in terms of a sinner NOT being able to communicate or reach Jesus, when I'm being questioned or being put on the spot by someone who chooses to dwell in any type of sin. I purposely don't do this because we already know that "subconsciously" they already fell unloved and unworthy by God, so as to ease their suffering a bit, I always remind them that all the need to do is stop and ask for forgiveness and believe that they are saved and go from that point on. Because if they don't believe....that it will happen the instant they repent, they will never get past the point of no return, so that they can leave that sin behind and bury it for good. So, I always place a lot of emphasis on the fact that God is always open and ready to forgive and receive them as HIS children and they can be assured that HE will support their efforts as long as they promise to never look back to entertain that sin again.....I also tell them that you always know when satan knows he's losing you because he is the most intense and challenges you the most often when he knows you belong to God and God has your back! I always tell those who think they have given up that we are all STRIVING Christians, in that we are constantly striving to get closer and learn more about how to please God.

Thanks for the input you are truly blessed and I am also discerning that you have been through a great deal of suffering before you got to this point.....Myself also. Probably everyone here has had equal experiences...That's why we fight so hard to stay in God's graces, because we know how hard we had to work to get there....not because of God, but because of ourselves.

Blessings

Cajunboy

[Guest LadyC]

I always remind them that all the need to do is stop and ask for forgiveness and believe that they are saved and go from that point on. Because if they don't believe....that it will happen the instant they repent, they will never get past the point of no return, so that they can leave that sin behind and bury it for good. So, I always place a lot of emphasis on the fact that God is always open and ready to forgive and receive them as HIS children and they can be assured that HE will support their efforts as long as they promise to never look back to entertain that sin again....

imagine how many unsaved people we could lead to God if every christian approached them with such love and compassion!

[Guest Biblicist]

I do not have any friends that are gay. I have a step-daughter who is. The other children(all grown) avoid her and her own full-blood sister avoids her. Not because she is gay, but because you cannot have a single solitary conversation with her without her gay lifestyle being imposed somehow on the subject. she is obsessed with it, and we are all just weary of it. We love her, but she herself created space, not the other kids. They do not feel complelled to say "Yes, I went out to dinner with my straight friends last night" but if you are talking to her you WILL hear "Yes, I went out to dinner with my gay friends last night". I pray for her daily, but she has created her own version of the Bible, what to believe and what not to. Her heart is too hard to hear any truth at this stage.

I am sorry to hear that your step-daughter is so hardened that she forces everyone away from her with her lifestyle. She must be very lonely.

Is it possible for you to talk to her and just ignore the "gay" comments? Just be with her and love her anyway? Ask the Lord to help you block that out, He is able to be in control of her mind and mouth through you. Pray that God puts a guard over her mouth when she is talking to you. Or pray that he puts a guard over your heart and ears so you don't even notice it.

The only way to reach her is through her heart. That can not be done till you spend time with her and show her that you still love her.

My theory is that homosexuality is actually transferance of the relationship the person should have had with the same gender parent. Just a theory at this point, only a few homosexual stories to back that up. But it's a strong theory. She is searching for a relationship with a mother figure, a female role model and she is finding it in the wrong place.

When you start to spend time with her, if you do, don't talk about the Lord at first, just pray that you be so bright a light that she asks you about it, and then be ready with your answer.

I will pray for your relationship with her.

[aphrodite]

I've known some gay people---in past and present. More as aquaintances than friends, with the exception of one.

I really don't care if people are gay or not. I don't really believe being gay is a choice for most. I have researched the subject countless times and taken into account different points of view (including the strict biblical or conservative Christian view). And I've done soul-searching. I can't find it in my heart to condemn people just because they are gay, nor do I believe the government should discriminate against someone because of sexual orientation. (This is my personal opinion and I don't expect everyone here to agree.)

[MeCajunboy]

I do not have any friends that are gay. I have a step-daughter who is. The other children(all grown) avoid her and her own full-blood sister avoids her. Not because she is gay, but because you cannot have a single solitary conversation with her without her gay lifestyle being imposed somehow on the subject. she is obsessed with it, and we are all just weary of it. We love her, but she herself created space, not the other kids. They do not feel complelled to say "Yes, I went out to dinner with my straight friends last night" but if you are talking to her you WILL hear "Yes, I went out to dinner with my gay friends last night". I pray for her daily, but she has created her own version of the Bible, what to believe and what not to. Her heart is too hard to hear any truth at this stage.

Cajunboy::::Right! And we're encouraged to love all mankind, no matter what the sin. I'm just curious to know, "If God put it in your heart (if HE hasn't already), to give a sermon on homosexuality and sexual desires(of a sinful nature) and you realized that much of your congregation was gay, would you still go through with it?? Just curious?

Well, I don't give sermons but if I felt led of the Lord to speak about homosexuality to women and I knew there were going to be lesbians there I don't think I would let that sway me. I would simply ask the Lord to speak through me instead of the words simply coming from me. Isn't that what all preachers/teachers should do anyway? My pastor recently finished a series of sermons, 23 I think, on Overcoming Life Dominating Sins. Homosexuality is only one of those.

Since I don't believe one can lose their salvation I believe that a child can accept Christ and grow up to make some really bad decisions. Homosexuality is a bad decision like thevory, rape, murder, lying, fornication, adultry. All are sins that are forgiven. I can not judge a person's heart condition by their actions since mine don't speak to highly of my relationship with the Lord either. Like I said, it helps to know the person One can not know a person unless they become their friend.

One must be very careful how closely they stick to a Brother who is living in sin. The Bible clearly teaches us that we must be careful lest we fall into the same temptation. But we can not shun them or call them not our friends because of their choices. Goodness, we wouldn't be friends with anyone then. And if we don't stick close enough to them they don't want to hear what we have to say about their lifestyle anyway. It's a fine line that we walk, but Jesus walked it and we can strive to walk like he did. Eat with sinners, show them the Truth.

People don't care how much you know, till they know how much you care.

While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Christ was a friend of sinners. We should be too. LOVE covers over a multitude of sins.

(Since I don't believe one can lose their salvation I believe that a child can accept Christ and grow up to make some really bad decisions. Homosexuality is a bad decision like thevory, rape, murder, lying, fornication, adultry. All are sins that are forgiven.)

CAJUNBOY:::::My true friend in Christ. I would ask you to please be very careful about what and how you relate to your own personal observations and when you make a very important statemen like the one you posted in parenthesis, you may want to fully back it up with scripture/verse as I've seen you do so many other times on another forum. NOTE: Hebrews 10:26 Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received a full knowledge of the truth, there is no other sacrifice that will cover these sins. There will be nothing to look forward to but the terrible expectation of God's judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies. Anyone who refused to boey the law of Moses was put to death wothout mercy on the testimony of two or three witness. this how much more terrible the punishment will be for those who trampled on the Son of God and have treated the blood of the covenant as if it were ocmmon and unholy. Such people have insulted and enraged the Holy Spirit who brings God's mercy to his people.

Finally, I chose "homosexuality" as a familiar topic over many of the others because it will affect approx. 10% of our nation this generation alone. And This is my personal belief but i'm thinking those concerned will be increasing those stats very soon to a more realistic value of around 20%, with all the recent publicity, and federal laws to encourage the dreadful sin. Also, It appears to be the sole sin in the secular community that man has publically stated that "it is not a sin, nor is it morally wrong, and some even say God made them that way.

Now knowing and hearing this , I have to ask, what do you think "judgment day is about?"

Be Blessed

Cajunboy

[Guest Biblicist]

Hebrews 10:26 Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received a full knowledge of the truth, there is no other sacrifice that will cover these sins. There will be nothing to look forward to but the terrible expectation of God's judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies. Anyone who refused to boey the law of Moses was put to death wothout mercy on the testimony of two or three witness. this how much more terrible the punishment will be for those who trampled on the Son of God and have treated the blood of the covenant as if it were ocmmon and unholy. Such people have insulted and enraged the Holy Spirit who brings God's mercy to his people.

You are quite right, and Scripture does back up the fact that any and all sins can be forgiven thorugh repentance.

Romans 3:22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

My position is this, there are churches that are teaching homosexuality is acceptable to God. To them that is "Truth". So this verse does not apply, since their verson of the truth has been twisted by false teachers. That's where this verse comes in. . .

Matthew 18:6 But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. 7 "Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come!

Those who have been lead astray by fasle teachers, while are sinning in their own right by not searching the scriptures as the Bareans did, are not deliberately sinning if they are taught it is NOT sin. It is a sticky situation that we can not judge from the outside. We can not know if a person has heard and rejected the Truth unless we have spoken to them personally about it.

I think homosexuality affects more than 10% of the population of America. It seems to me that the number would be reversed, only 10% are NOT affected by homosexuality.

In the 60's when the country was embracing "free love" there were preachers, false teachers, out there teaching that God accepted and even endorsed it. People who followed those false teachers and engaged in sexual sins believing they were welcome to do so by God himself can not be guilty of willfully sinning against God, can they? I see this as the same instance.

Once they know they are sinning against God, and they ignore the warnings anyway, then yes, they need to repent or seriously search their soul and their salvation experince.

I do not believe that Homosexuality is exclusivly the only sin that affects the American people. Every sin affects every family, and every sin has been made out to be "not that bad". And if you were to try to correct a brother or sister about a sin and they refuse to repent of it then the same is true for them as it is for a person who practices homosexuality. We need to think Biblically about our sin. It's all bad. Anyone who refuses to repent of any sin and try daily to keep from doing it would fall under Hebrews 10, would they not?

I do not believe that one can point out the sin of another till they themselves have first acknowledged and repented of the sin in their own life first. Trying to talk to a homosexual with the air that their sin is somehow worse than yours is not Biblical.

Matthew 7:1 "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3 "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

Does that explain it a little better?

Bibs

[MeCajunboy]

Hebrews 10:26 Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received a full knowledge of the truth, there is no other sacrifice that will cover these sins. There will be nothing to look forward to but the terrible expectation of God's judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies. Anyone who refused to boey the law of Moses was put to death wothout mercy on the testimony of two or three witness. this how much more terrible the punishment will be for those who trampled on the Son of God and have treated the blood of the covenant as if it were ocmmon and unholy. Such people have insulted and enraged the Holy Spirit who brings God's mercy to his people.

You are quite right, and Scripture does back up the fact that any and all sins can be forgiven thorugh repentance.

Romans 3:22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

My position is this, there are churches that are teaching homosexuality is acceptable to God. To them that is "Truth". So this verse does not apply, since their verson of the truth has been twisted by false teachers. That's where this verse comes in. . .

Matthew 18:6 But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. 7 "Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come!

Those who have been lead astray by fasle teachers, while are sinning in their own right by not searching the scriptures as the Bareans did, are not deliberately sinning if they are taught it is NOT sin. It is a sticky situation that we can not judge from the outside. We can not know if a person has heard and rejected the Truth unless we have spoken to them personally about it.

I think homosexuality affects more than 10% of the population of America. It seems to me that the number would be reversed, only 10% are NOT affected by homosexuality.

In the 60's when the country was embracing "free love" there were preachers, false teachers, out there teaching that God accepted and even endorsed it. People who followed those false teachers and engaged in sexual sins believing they were welcome to do so by God himself can not be guilty of willfully sinning against God, can they? I see this as the same instance.

Once they know they are sinning against God, and they ignore the warnings anyway, then yes, they need to repent or seriously search their soul and their salvation experince.

I do not believe that Homosexuality is exclusivly the only sin that affects the American people. Every sin affects every family, and every sin has been made out to be "not that bad". And if you were to try to correct a brother or sister about a sin and they refuse to repent of it then the same is true for them as it is for a person who practices homosexuality. We need to think Biblically about our sin. It's all bad. Anyone who refuses to repent of any sin and try daily to keep from doing it would fall under Hebrews 10, would they not?

I do not believe that one can point out the sin of another till they themselves have first acknowledged and repented of the sin in their own life first. Trying to talk to a homosexual with the air that their sin is somehow worse than yours is not Biblical.

Matthew 7:1 "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3 "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

Does that explain it a little better?

Bibs

Cajunboy::::: Bibs, you stated, "I do not believe that Homosexuality is exclusivly the only sin that affects the American people. " If you go back up to my previous statement you'll not that I did NOT make that statement. ( RE:I think homosexuality affects more than 10% of the population of America. It seems to me that the number would be reversed, only 10% are NOT affected by homosexuality.) Please note that I did NOT make any comments relating to your statement, as I only mentioned the National statistical average that was once believed in this country to be under 10% and that I personally believe it to now be about twice that amount. Also, I made no reference as to homosexuality being "exclusive" to our country, but since Our Country seems to be one of the last and largest to be under attack from both satan and the homosexual community's agenda, I thought I might address our country.

Lastly, you noted: I do not believe that one can point out the sin of another till they themselves have first acknowledged and repented of the sin in their own life first. Trying to talk to a homosexual with the air that their sin is somehow worse than yours is not Biblical. If I told you that in fact I was one to come out of that horrid sin; to be specific to come from the lowest of lows or the bowels of the torment, and reorganize myself and my life to the respectful loving husband and father I have come to be for the past 35 years, would you think I then have something to comment about it , let alone am able and have been helping those who feel like they have already lost the battle and believe and accept that "God made them that way?" Better that I use my resources, widdom, and knowledge of this specific subject that God condemns as sin, and assist as many as I can? Wouldn't you think? And if the truth be know, you might want to guess that more than half the men in this country alone, have been appoached or have experimented in this taboo as well? Of course, the TRUTH will not be known until God reveals our sins in those last days!

Blessings

Cajunboy

[Guest Biblicist]

Cajunboy::::: Bibs, you stated, "I do not believe that Homosexuality is exclusivly the only sin that affects the American people. " If you go back up to my previous statement you'll not that I did NOT make that statement. ( RE:I think homosexuality affects more than 10% of the population of America. It seems to me that the number would be reversed, only 10% are NOT affected by homosexuality.) Please note that I did NOT make any comments relating to your statement, as I only mentioned the National statistical average that was once believed in this country to be under 10% and that I personally believe it to now be about twice that amount. Also, I made no reference as to homosexuality being "exclusive" to our country, but since Our Country seems to be one of the last and largest to be under attack from both satan and the homosexual community's agenda, I thought I might address our country.

Lastly, you noted: I do not believe that one can point out the sin of another till they themselves have first acknowledged and repented of the sin in their own life first. Trying to talk to a homosexual with the air that their sin is somehow worse than yours is not Biblical. If I told you that in fact I was one to come out of that horrid sin; to be specific to come from the lowest of lows or the bowels of the torment, and reorganize myself and my life to the respectful loving husband and father I have come to be for the past 35 years, would you think I then have something to comment about it , let alone am able and have been helping those who feel like they have already lost the battle and believe and accept that "God made them that way?" Better that I use my resources, widdom, and knowledge of this specific subject that God condemns as sin, and assist as many as I can? Wouldn't you think? And if the truth be know, you might want to guess that more than half the men in this country alone, have been appoached or have experimented in this taboo as well? Of course, the TRUTH will not be known until God reveals our sins in those last days!

Blessings

Cajunboy

I'm really not sure, are you having a problem with what I said, or are you agreeing with me in a round about way?

I do commend you for removing yourself from a sinful lifestyle. Praise the Lord for His strength. Since you have been there, I would think you would be the BEST person to help those who are still there. Have you ever seen the tract How Aids Saved My Life? It's about my cousins life. He was not so lucky blessed as you to be released to a "normal" lifestyle. His release came through illness and death.

Do you find it difficult though to get people to listen to you? Or are they more willing to listen since you have been there?

[MeCajunboy]

there are no gay christians

Would there be no liar Christians? What about gossiping Christians? Or possibly drunk Christians? No Christians would commit fornication.

Women who wear men's clothing, and visa versa, would not be Christians, since it too is an abomination. [Deuteronomy 22:5]

An unjust man is an abomination to the just; [Proverbs 29:27]

Lying lips are abomination to the LORD [Proverbs 12:22]

These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. [Proverbs 6:16-19]

The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD [Proverbs 15:26]

Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD [Proverbs 16:5]

If you have found your personal sins among this list wouldn't that make you just as guilty a sinner as a homosexual? Are you still a Christian if you are guilty of struggling with these sins?

For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. [Matthew 7:2]

Cajunboy::::Bibs, what P.A. may be trying to tell you is the reason there is no such thing as a practicing "homosexual Christian" is you have to remember the definition of a "Christian" to begin with......One who strives to be LIKE CHIRST. That being said no one who knowing continues to lay themselves besides a partner of their same sex should continue to call themselves "Christian" because that is not being "Christlike." The average has to live in a kind of "imaginary" mode to get him/herself through life and to be able to walk into a church or synogogue because the hypocracy is just too great. I did not have to read the Bible to know I was sinning or living a wrongful life in my youth.....I just knew in my heart it was!

You are correct however, that a person can be struggling with sin, can still be a striving Christian. The difference would have to be "the intent." Because you have to accept so much responsibility of that particular sin to commit yourself to that way of life....Although, sins of adultery or murder and the like would be just as devestating and committing. The difference lies in the individual person Bibs.