How should christians treat the saved homosexual?

[Iconoclast]

..."Tolerance" seminars on the weekends?

Your argument, while seemingly valid, leans towards new-age Christianity. It is the world biblical view of Christianity, not the Biblical world view!

Just as there is no place in the believer's life for gossip, hate, division, stealing, etc., the same is true for the sins of the eyes, heart and flesh [lust, be it for a person of the same sex or that of the opposite sex] is still a sign of sin controlling the life, and not Christ controlling the life.

Granted, the process of sanctification is a life long process, but, there is no room for a believer to go on wilfully sinning and calling themself a believer.

It reminds of those who live in the flesh six days a week, and go to church on Sunday praying for a "Crop failure!"

If a believer's life is given to this view of God's forgiveness, maybe they need to return to the alter and get it right, this time!

While we should have mercy and long suffering for our brothers and sisters, there comes a time, when we need to question the seriousness of their repentance. The alter is not the place for the believer to run to be day-after-day, week-after-week to ask for forgiveness of the same sin, repeatedly. Absolution is gained through a remorseful heart, and a repentant man is one that knows how blessed they were to be forgiven, and they have a burning desire to turn things in the direction of God.

However, if the sin from which God delivered them from continues to burn within their flesh, heart and spirit, there is something to be said about this parable in Mark 4:13-20, (NRSV) -"And he said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand all the parables? The sower sows the word. These are the ones along the path where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them. And these are the ones sown upon rocky ground: when they hear the word, they immediately receive it with joy. However, they have no root, and endure only for a while; then, when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. And others are those sown among the thorns: these are the ones who hear the word, but the cares about the world, and the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it yields nothing. And these are the ones sown on the good soil: they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.”

I'm sorry, but to go around telling people that I am a born-again adulterer; born-again fornicator; born-again homosexual; born-again molester; born-again luster; born-again voyeur; born-again Nazi; born-again Satanist; born-again witch; born-again "whatever" is a contradiction to what the Word says when we read in 2 Corinthians 5:17, (NRSV) - "So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!"

To tell someone that they are a born-again homosexual seems to me that they are giving themselves enough leach to hang themselves on when the flesh tempts them. This way, they can have an excuse to sin, and an advocate to run to for absolution, whenever they see the need.

Sorry, it won't work for me! We are either a new creation in Him, or we are not? Again, no wiggle room; no gray area. Only a new creation, sanctified [growing], and moving towards everlasting glory.

Homosexual Christian is an excuse waiting to sin, with an eternal hope to be forgiven each time they return to their old stomping grounds to eat of the bitter fruit.

WOW...DUDE....:thumbsup::wavey::thumbsup: Your best post !!!

 

[Alive in Christ]

Zaak posted...

But it's been this way for too long and this is why the Church has failed MISERABLY in ministering to the homosexual or the drug addicted or anyone who commits one of the "bad" sins on our sin list.

Our constant unrighteous judgment is okay.
Our overeating and gossip are okay.
The ladies reading the smut in the romance novels is okay.
Letting our daughters run around looking like little hookers is okay.

Because none of those things are on our "bad" you can't be a Christian if you do this repeatedly list.

Agree 1000%

 

[Zaac]

But the homosexual Christian, just like the sexually-sin plagued heterosexual Christian will live in MISERY over their sin - if they are genuinely saved. The conviction should lead to repentance and forsaking the sin.

Yes.:thumbs:

No one - homosexual or heterosexual - can live in the deep and filthy pit of their sexual sin and live with contentment/peace there and boast that God is perfectly fine with it.

Those people - homosexual and heterosexual alike - are more than likely not saved to begin with.

I'm not sure why, but reading this made me think about slavery in the United States. Christians for decades believed it was okay to own slaves and that God was perfectly fine with it. So can we also assume those Christians who owned slaves were more than likely not saved to begin with?

The homosexual Christian will be transformed. Instantaneously? Sometimes. Sometimes it's a painful process. But a transformation is part of the sanctification process and it is inevitable. Think about this. Did your salvation instantly take you from being a sinner to being a perfect sinless person? No. It doesn't work that way. But our SANCTIFICATION process should lead us day by day to being a closer image of Jesus Christ and living separately from the world and its evil.

Yes indeed it does take time.

 

[Matt22:37-39]

But it's been this way for too long and this is why the Church has failed MISERABLY in ministering to the homosexual or the drug addicted or anyone who commits one of the "bad" sins on our sin list.

Our constant unrighteous judgment is okay.
Our overeating and gossip are okay.
The ladies reading the smut in the romance novels is okay.
Letting our daughters run around looking like little hookers is okay.

Because none of those things are on our "bad" you can't be a Christian if you do this repeatedly list.

You are absolutely right...We are the TOOLS God has called to USE to bring others to Him...for one to get saved and then to help them in their walk...it is called DISCIPLINING!...and for by the GRACE of God there go I.

We need to stop judging and start loving...not condoning ones sin, we all need to be held accountable...Matt 18- 1 cor 5 but that should even be done in LOVE and all for the purpose of restoration between God and others...hence my name

MATT22:37-39

 

[Matt22:37-39]

Scarlet no one said God is fine with it, no one is condoning their sin...but what is happening in the CHURCH today is people who are saved judging others who are and determining which sins are worse than others...the bible is clear about how to confront someone living in sin...but it seems some sins are an "abomination" while others are not...the homosexual should be treated the same as the fornicator, adulator, divorce unblically etc. i the church...are you helping this person draw closer to God or are you condemning them without knowing all the facts and making assumptions.

The problem real in the church is they are too legalistic or too liberal therefore do not know how to RIGHT DIVIDE THE WORD, much less apply it.

Matt 18 and 1 cor is clear on how to go about church discipline.

 

[salzer mtn]

Where do some of you people draw the line at ? No wonder the world looks at some people and say's if they are going to heaven then i don't have a thing to worry about. What's next gay pastors ? after all, we can counsel him, he's just a carnel christian. What communion hath light with darkness. As one old Elder use to say, If the professed saved man continues in gross sin, he needs to dig a little deeper till he hit's the rock.

 

[annsni]

Where do some of you people draw the line at ? No wonder the world looks at some people and say's if they are going to heaven then i don't have a thing to worry about. What's next gay pastors ? after all, we can counsel him, he's just a carnel christian. What communion hath light with darkness. As one old Elder use to say, If the professed saved man continues in gross sin, he needs to dig a little deeper till he hit's the rock.

If a man comes to our church and says, "I'm a Christian and I'm gay. Accept it.", we just may have an issue. We would discuss with him - in love - the issue of sin in the life of a believer. We would seek to counsel him to leave the life of sin and if he refuses, we'd have to do as Scripture says and treat him as an unbeliever.

But if a man comes to our church and says "I'm a sinner and I'm gay." or "I'm a Christian but I was gay and continue to battle that sin but I know that it is wrong and I will not enter into that lifestyle again, God willing." then we have something to work with.

 

[Matt22:37-39]

EXACTLY....that is what I have been saying, and I've said it many ways, but some will never get it because of their PREJUDGING

:thumbsup:

 

[Matt22:37-39]

When I refer to homosexuals that includes lesbians as well...funny how many think two men is an abomination, but two women...well....lol

Either way, love and accountability done right can do wonders!

 

[Alive in Christ]

Matt22 posted..

Hmmm, why do I feel that many of you wouldn't have a problem so much if it was a lesbian who was struggling with same sex attractions?....lol...never heard a man yet who thought that was bad.

Makes me wonder what kind of men you are running with. I dont recall any of my christian brothers ever saying that homoseuality is fine if its women. Never

 

[salzer mtn]

If a man comes to our church and says, "I'm a Christian and I'm gay. Accept it.", we just may have an issue. We would discuss with him - in love - the issue of sin in the life of a believer. We would seek to counsel him to leave the life of sin and if he refuses, we'd have to do as Scripture says and treat him as an unbeliever.

But if a man comes to our church and says "I'm a sinner and I'm gay." or "I'm a Christian but I was gay and continue to battle that sin but I know that it is wrong and I will not enter into that lifestyle again, God willing." then we have something to work with.

I just don't understand this modern day salvation approach. What happened to the old time salvation between God and man and the only mediator was Christ, not a counselor. A salvation that set a man's feet upon a solid rock, old things passed away and behold all things are new. Do we have a watered down version now that requires a counselor to be carried around in a man's back pocket all the way to heaven ?

 

[annsni]

When I refer to homosexuals that includes lesbians as well...funny how many think two men is an abomination, but two women...well....lol

Either way, love and accountability done right can do wonders!

Yep - I just mentioned a man for convenience but it is applicable to ALL in sexual sinful lifestyles.

 

[annsni]

I just don't understand this modern day salvation approach. What happened to the old time salvation between God and man and the only mediator was Christ, not a counselor. A salvation that set a man's feet upon a solid rock, old things passed away and behold all things are new. Do we have a watered down version now that requires a counselor to be carried around in a man's back pocket all the way to heaven ?

What "modern day salvation approach"? The Bible tells us in Romans 10:14 "How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?" So where is the counselor? Right in that verse.

 

[Matt22:37-39]

Matt22 posted..



Makes me wonder what kind of men you are running with. I dont recall any of my christian brothers ever saying that homoseuality is fine if its women. Never

I'm a woman who knows what mens number # fantasy is...but that is ok...I'm sure many will deny it....lol

 

[salzer mtn]

Here is Peter's counseling to the wicked. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. For i perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity Acts 8:21-23.

 

[salzer mtn]

I'm a woman who knows what mens number # fantasy is...but that is ok...I'm sure many will deny it....lol

This kind of talk makes you wonder who people really are that comes on these talk boards.

 

[Matt22:37-39]

Hey, if you can find something I said wrong, I'd love to hear cause I'm all about truth and facts....

 

[salzer mtn]

Hey, if you can find something I said wrong, I'd love to hear cause I'm all about truth and facts....

You start a topic on how should christians treat the homosexual and then you say you know what men's fantacies are so what is the fact's ?

 

[Matt22:37-39]

I know people in and out of the church who are gay...men and women. I just find it ironic or sad actually that the church condemns one sin over another...fact is unless the church gets back to OBEYING God's word and not just preaching it....there will be sin abound in it...no matter what the sin is....so either Christians TREAT all Christan the same or shut up about the LIES Satan uses through them...can't have it both ways....that is the TRUTH!

 

[Matt22:37-39]

BTW, I looked up and more than one source says I am right...didn't take genius to figure that one out....