I think the church has somehow gotten the idea that it’s our job and duty to judge those who are “in sin.” (For some reason the sin of homosexuality is at the top of the sin list.) In doing so we have driven the gay community far away from the church, Jesus, and His love. It is tragic. We also come into relationships with gay people with an agenda they can sense a mile off. There is also a great sense of fear involved in making friends with them. It’s as if they have a disease that could be contagious. But what would happen if we would love them like Jesus calls us to? If we befriended them and didn’t have an agenda driven friendship?

My family and I have more than a handful of gay friends. I must say that we aren’t close to any of them despite our efforts which have been free of agenda. Honestly I don’t blame them a bit for holding us at arms’ length. After seeing what the right wing church has done to them if I were in their shoes I would run the other direction.

A few years back our church did a seminar at our local university about sex and the church. During the seminar my husband got up and apologized to the gay community for the churches’ abuses and treatment of it. As he did his heart broke and he began to cry. I can’t tell you how powerful that moment was. Something broke in the room, and I know healing took place. Since that time we have maintained friendships with several gay people who were in attendance. It’s a small step, but you have to start somewhere.

I could have lived next to Hitler, Stalin, Jim Jones, Elton John, or Ted Bundy…in heaven …IF they had gone through GOD’s REHAB program. If not……you can live next door to them.

I think sadly you have misunderstood many things that the Lord God intended for you to understand. And many things that you may not are not even your fault; it’s just what society has lead you to believe. I do not disagree with the statement that gays claim to be born-again believers. But the fact remains that homosexuality is contrary to God’s nature. I’m sorry. That’s a fact.

I really don’t mean to start a fight or cause a problem. I don’t.
Now, more importantly, do I realize that my own sins are also just as contrary to God’s nature and do I realize that I cannot judge anyone else’s sin before my own? Yes, I realize that. You may disagree, and that’s fine.

I just want my bottom line to be this: If I say I love Christ, then I must love my fellow man. No matter who they are or what they do. I would also expect that from any other person who claims to carry the name of Christ. I would hope other believers would be as forgiving of my sins as I should be of theirs.
But as we grow together as family in Christ, always with our eyes on Jesus, we are ever aiming toward perfection…. turning away from our sins and turning more towards Love and Holiness.
Honestly, I find your explanation on who God is and we are and child abuse and all that to be extremely confusing and complicated. Whereas, Christ’s teachings? Extremely simple. Easy enough for a child to understand. Just love God and one another. That’s it. Nothing more. Like you and Dream wever said, the old testament stuff does not really apply to us today. It’s just all comes down to one simple rule that Jesus made very clear: LOVE. Follow this and you will have peace that passes understanding. Nothing else matters….
But I do agree with Jeff, the Christ-like life is very difficult. It may be simple to understand, but it is extremely challenging to maintain in the world. We are all sinners and our flesh is SO weak. And there are so many distractions from the Way and the Truth. I find myself struggling every minute of every day. We all do, don’t we? I have trouble being as loving as I should to my own husband and family members. That’s why we must be in CONSTANT prayer. CONSTANT communion with the Holy Spirit in order to give Christ the victory in all things.
I’m sorry, now I’m venting, or preaching, I guess. Please don’t be mad mutual minds and dream wever. I don’t mean to be hateful or judgmental. That’s not my place. I just have to share what I feel is on my heart and what the Holy Spirit reveals to me is Truth.

I’d just like to add that no one turned me away from the church for being gay. I did that to myself after reading Leviticus 18:22 “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination” and so I spent the last two decades of my life living under the assumption that there just won’t be a place in heaven for me. However, recent religious influences in my life have caused me to re-examine the book of Leviticus a little more thoroughly. What I discovered is that the whole book of Leviticus is kind of wacked – lots of “Thou shalt not’s” regarding sexuality and just incredibly stupid stuff. What I find odd is the passage condemning homosexuality is the only sexual condemnation followed by “it is abomination.” Seems pretty harsh so I Googled it.

According to Wikipedia “abomination” is mentioned 16 times in the book of Leviticus but mostly in reference to “dietary prohibitions (for example prohibiting the consumption of shellfish and pork).” Interesting; I guess I can see where eating shellfish might have been prohibited as the poor simpletons most likely did not know how to properly prepare it back then. The pork prohibition is a bit of a stretch though. But who knows? Maybe a strain of “mad cow’s disease” was afflicting their pigs at the time. But why was gay sex prohibited? I mean, it’s not like this was a new thing fresh out of the closet for them. Ancient Greek and Romans had been having all-male drinking parties where young men were schooled in the art of “good citizenship” (homosexuality) for ages. So what happened during the time of Leviticus that suddenly made lying with a man as he would a woman such a bad thing?

If I remember correctly from Sunday school, the more descendant’s one had the richer and more powerful he became. Well OK. All these rules are starting to make sense now. Eating ill-prepared shellfish, diseased pork and homosexuality are all things that could threaten the health, survival and procreation of the tribe. Or more to the point; it could threaten the health, survival and procreation of more money and power to the rich patriarch or King. Well, I suppose if I were a rich, greedy King back in the day I’d have wanted a law prohibiting homosexuality too. I mean, how else could I hold my tribe accountable for creating more boy babies for me to send off to slaughter… I mean… war?

After re-examining the book of Leviticus it has become clear that this book was not written by or for God at all. It was written for the benefit of the rich and powerful centuries ago. Bottom line – these laws no longer apply in today’s world. Or if they do, then there are an awful lot of pork and shell fish eaters whom I’m afraid will never make it into the kingdom of God. LOL

Sorry to vent. Guess this article kind of touched a nerve with me as well.

Stay real George!

Question: How do I get a photo or graphic to appear next to my user name?

Let’s stick to the facts so it doesn’t get personal.

What you just said is Soooooo…damn cruel. I used the word damn to show of the importance of your choice of words.

So I placed it on my website to show of your lower level of the understandings of God’s love. I said Shame on you more then once.
http://www.equaltogod.com/patrobertsonshate.htm

Christ to me means “The Devine Light of God Within.” What most of you are saying is that God isn’t perfect. Shame on you all! Read my site. The Bible is the lowest form of communication God uses because words can often be misinterpreted. People gay and straight are leaving the churches for a reason. There is nothing wrong with us.