Same Sex Marriages...is it right or wrong?
(If you're reading this and you are either gay or lesbian, thank you for trusting me enough to come and read it. The first section is geared toward pointing out Scripture that talks about same sex relationships, if you bear with me and continue reading, you'll find out that I challenge Christians to change their thinking as well. No one is perfect, especially Christians. It is my firm belief that everyone deserves to be loved and accepted despite anything else. That's all any of us really want right? Thank you for your trust and understanding. May God Bless you.)
I know what you're thinking. Ok, another preacher going off on another Biblical rant on same sex relationships and marriage. But wait, don't judge a book by the cover! Give me a few minutes of your time and I'll present a case as to why we, as Christians should be embracing and loving these people instead of condemning them.
Ok, I know, I know. Yes, you are right, the Bible speaks out against same sex relationships. It's one of the reasons why Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed. Probably the most famous scripture is Romans 1:26-27 which says:
26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.
However, if you read the whole section of Romans there, from Romans 1:18-32 says:
18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.
24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.
28 Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
All of this is referenced to Leviticus 18:22-23 which is the section in the Bible where we are told what to do and not to do. It says that we should not lie with the same sex as a man does with a woman, nor with an animal. Ok, so we know it's wrong, but what is the point of quoting all of the scripture from Romans? The point is, God deals with those who pervert the Word of God on HIS own terms. It says nothing to the effect that WE are supposed to do it. If you really pay attention, same sex relationships are not the only ones who are condemned. Those who are envious, murderers deceivers, gossips and the list goes on. All of this is saying it to those who do not believe in God...that is the whole point...those who do not believe in God are handed over to their sinful ways.
Ok, we now know for sure that the Word of God says not to do these things. So, you ask, why are we not condemning them and moving forward with denying them the right for marriage and such. Let me pose this question. Is adultery illegal? What about gossiping? Is deceit a crime? That one depends on the circumstances, if we are talking about lying to a co-worker, no. If we are talking about lying to a court, yes, that is illegal. My point is exactly this...if you are not ready to be judged for the things you've done wrong, then do not judge others. Yes, homosexuals are living in sin...but so is a man and woman who is living together that isn't married and having sex. We don't ban them from our churches and functions. We reach out to them don't we? Love on them, show them the correct way of doing things is usually what we do right? Same goes with divorcees...I mean seriously, how many churches are the ones who host divorce care groups??? A lot actually. Adultery runs rampant these days...yet, people pick up and move on from those too. So, what's the point you ask? My point is this. Why are we singleing out same sex couples? Are they not children of God as well? Don't they deserve the same chance to know Christ that we did when we were lost in our sin? The answer is, yes, they do deserve a chance.
This does not mean that we should just blindly accept the sin as we do with divorce, adultery and men and women in relationships living in sin. We should not be accepting of ANY of these things. However, what we should do is love them, grow a relationship with them and show them the Christ that we know. Help them understand the error of their ways.
Homosexuals are part of the group of people, along with drug addicts, gamblers and alcoholics who are out there in our world searching for something more in their lives. The reason they go to the outlets they do, whether it is alcohol, same sex relationships or whatever is the fact that they are seeking approval and love. They never received it more than likely from either their parents or relationships in the past. They are looking for something to fill that natrually made gap in us that desires something more. My friends, they are looking for Christ, they just don't know that is what they are looking for. Jesus can fill the gaps in their lives if they would just allow themselves to be opened up to him.
What is the remedy for homosexuality? Jesus is. When a person authentically gives their life to Jesus, there is an inherent need that comes over us that wants to do things right. For me, it was the want to leave my sexually immoral lifestyle in the past. I was introduced to pornography in my teens and for a guy, it becomes a natural part of life. When I authentically gave my life to Jesus, after a while, I realized the detriment it was doing to my relationship with him and I wanted to leave it in the past. It will be the same for those who live a lifestyle of homosexuality. They will realize the need for this lifestyle is gone once they give their life fully to God. It may not happen right away, but it will eventually. Encourage them not to give up, love on them because they will be afraid of the unfamiliar and the change...trust me, no person likes change unless you are unusual like me. :-) Even I dislike big changes.
So, you're probably wondering what my particular views are on the subject. Well, here they are. I do not believe in homosexual unions at all. It is Biblically wrong, HOWEVER, if we were doing our job as Christians, there wouldn't be anyone who felt they needed the same sex in order to be accepted. I also believe adultery should be a crime too, but that's just my opinion...I am indeed a little old fashioned in my views, but I am liberal in the sense that we need to be reaching out to the groups we are condemning as Christians. We don't like to be persecuted as Christians, so let's not do it to every one else too. Two wrongs do not make a right.
In conclusion, I just want to say that it pains me to see homosexuals persecuted by none other than Christians. Love on your friends and aquaintences who are homosexuals...show them Christ you know. Be the witness to them so that they may have the equal chance for redemption that we did. Christ can be all they need him to be and even more...just like he is and can be for you. May God Bless you and be with you as you go into the world to witness and love EVERYONE, not just certain groups.
I know what you're thinking. Ok, another preacher going off on another Biblical rant on same sex relationships and marriage. But wait, don't judge a book by the cover! Give me a few minutes of your time and I'll present a case as to why we, as Christians should be embracing and loving these people instead of condemning them.
Ok, I know, I know. Yes, you are right, the Bible speaks out against same sex relationships. It's one of the reasons why Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed. Probably the most famous scripture is Romans 1:26-27 which says:
26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.
However, if you read the whole section of Romans there, from Romans 1:18-32 says:
18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.
24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.
28 Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
All of this is referenced to Leviticus 18:22-23 which is the section in the Bible where we are told what to do and not to do. It says that we should not lie with the same sex as a man does with a woman, nor with an animal. Ok, so we know it's wrong, but what is the point of quoting all of the scripture from Romans? The point is, God deals with those who pervert the Word of God on HIS own terms. It says nothing to the effect that WE are supposed to do it. If you really pay attention, same sex relationships are not the only ones who are condemned. Those who are envious, murderers deceivers, gossips and the list goes on. All of this is saying it to those who do not believe in God...that is the whole point...those who do not believe in God are handed over to their sinful ways.
Ok, we now know for sure that the Word of God says not to do these things. So, you ask, why are we not condemning them and moving forward with denying them the right for marriage and such. Let me pose this question. Is adultery illegal? What about gossiping? Is deceit a crime? That one depends on the circumstances, if we are talking about lying to a co-worker, no. If we are talking about lying to a court, yes, that is illegal. My point is exactly this...if you are not ready to be judged for the things you've done wrong, then do not judge others. Yes, homosexuals are living in sin...but so is a man and woman who is living together that isn't married and having sex. We don't ban them from our churches and functions. We reach out to them don't we? Love on them, show them the correct way of doing things is usually what we do right? Same goes with divorcees...I mean seriously, how many churches are the ones who host divorce care groups??? A lot actually. Adultery runs rampant these days...yet, people pick up and move on from those too. So, what's the point you ask? My point is this. Why are we singleing out same sex couples? Are they not children of God as well? Don't they deserve the same chance to know Christ that we did when we were lost in our sin? The answer is, yes, they do deserve a chance.
This does not mean that we should just blindly accept the sin as we do with divorce, adultery and men and women in relationships living in sin. We should not be accepting of ANY of these things. However, what we should do is love them, grow a relationship with them and show them the Christ that we know. Help them understand the error of their ways.
Homosexuals are part of the group of people, along with drug addicts, gamblers and alcoholics who are out there in our world searching for something more in their lives. The reason they go to the outlets they do, whether it is alcohol, same sex relationships or whatever is the fact that they are seeking approval and love. They never received it more than likely from either their parents or relationships in the past. They are looking for something to fill that natrually made gap in us that desires something more. My friends, they are looking for Christ, they just don't know that is what they are looking for. Jesus can fill the gaps in their lives if they would just allow themselves to be opened up to him.
What is the remedy for homosexuality? Jesus is. When a person authentically gives their life to Jesus, there is an inherent need that comes over us that wants to do things right. For me, it was the want to leave my sexually immoral lifestyle in the past. I was introduced to pornography in my teens and for a guy, it becomes a natural part of life. When I authentically gave my life to Jesus, after a while, I realized the detriment it was doing to my relationship with him and I wanted to leave it in the past. It will be the same for those who live a lifestyle of homosexuality. They will realize the need for this lifestyle is gone once they give their life fully to God. It may not happen right away, but it will eventually. Encourage them not to give up, love on them because they will be afraid of the unfamiliar and the change...trust me, no person likes change unless you are unusual like me. :-) Even I dislike big changes.
So, you're probably wondering what my particular views are on the subject. Well, here they are. I do not believe in homosexual unions at all. It is Biblically wrong, HOWEVER, if we were doing our job as Christians, there wouldn't be anyone who felt they needed the same sex in order to be accepted. I also believe adultery should be a crime too, but that's just my opinion...I am indeed a little old fashioned in my views, but I am liberal in the sense that we need to be reaching out to the groups we are condemning as Christians. We don't like to be persecuted as Christians, so let's not do it to every one else too. Two wrongs do not make a right.
In conclusion, I just want to say that it pains me to see homosexuals persecuted by none other than Christians. Love on your friends and aquaintences who are homosexuals...show them Christ you know. Be the witness to them so that they may have the equal chance for redemption that we did. Christ can be all they need him to be and even more...just like he is and can be for you. May God Bless you and be with you as you go into the world to witness and love EVERYONE, not just certain groups.
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