With the ongoing salvos being fired back-and-forth over the thread titled "How should christians treat the saved homosexual?" I thought it would be prudent and worth our precious time to discuss what is commonly observed with the gay community and how I fear it may become an accepted practice in the church, if things continue to go the way, they look to be headed.
To begin with, it is not uncommon to run into a homosexual in our daily activities; and it seems that 90% of the time, when I meet a homosexual person they have to introduce themselves as being a "gay or a lesbian!"
It has become such common practice, that some of you may no longer notice it or even be offended or aware of the introduction label being put forth with the handshake, or fist bump!
However, with me, it seems so unnecessary for any person to broadcast or announce their sexual preference within their salutation!
It is not only offensive to me; it is a growing annoyance, and in fact, it does more to begin the building of a wall between me and that person than it would be for me to just find out their sexual orientation somewhere on down the line. I just don't need to know that a person is either gay or straight?!?!?
With that said. The thread I mentioned above has grown into a lengthy, ongoing debate over the need to use or not to use the word homosexual in conjunction with the word Christian or born-again. And while there are good arguments coming from both sides of this issue, I, for one, see no need to place any form of label on the person's sexual preference when introduced and the subject of their belief in Jesus comes up.
Whatever happened to the excitement and sense of personal accomplishment in the fact that we are just a Christian of the born-again variety? What is the reason or rationale behind the need to throw in the persons past [hopefully it is their past] sexual preference into their salutation?
Why does the born-again homosexual feel the need to broadcast or announce that they have come out of that particular sin?
Is this not akin to the practice that homosexuals are currently using when the proudly announce to people they are meeting for the first [or second] time that they are out-of-the-closet and a "gay" or a "lesbian?"
I am fearful that the practice of telling the world that they are gay, and pound and loud will be gradually transferred over to Christianity, and that it will only alienate these folks from the sincere, unexpecting believer.
Why can't we just be excited about the fact that we have been to the cross, washed in the blood, and born-again? Isn't it good enough to be a recipient of His unearned Grace? Isn't it good enough to be unworthy of the greatest gift God could give a sinner [like me]? Why the need to announce one's past sin(s) along with the label of being a Child of the King of Kings?
Maybe I'm legalistic. Then again, maybe I'm at the age in my life where youthful believers will snidely say behind my back that RD2 is and "old-fashion" legalistic fuddy-duddy! Nevertheless, names and brands about me and my belief systems aside, the truth is, it doesn't matter if I am legalistic or old-fashion. The truth is, I want no labels when it comes to who I am in Jesus. :godisgood:
I am loud and proud to be a Child of God, and as for where I was [in sin nature] when I came to Him, it is more than enough for me to simply tell those who may be interested, that I'm born-again by His Grace. No labels for me-PLEASE! :wavey:
After all, the Psalmist said it best when he wrote that our sins had been removed, and they are as far as the East is from the West! I am a new creature in Christ. I'm not proud of where I was when I saw the light. And I'm extremely grateful that I may not be as far along on the path as I'd like to be at this time in my walk with Him; However, I'm a whole lot further away from where I began this journey then I was even a day or two ago! :thumbs:
To begin with, it is not uncommon to run into a homosexual in our daily activities; and it seems that 90% of the time, when I meet a homosexual person they have to introduce themselves as being a "gay or a lesbian!"
It has become such common practice, that some of you may no longer notice it or even be offended or aware of the introduction label being put forth with the handshake, or fist bump!
However, with me, it seems so unnecessary for any person to broadcast or announce their sexual preference within their salutation!
It is not only offensive to me; it is a growing annoyance, and in fact, it does more to begin the building of a wall between me and that person than it would be for me to just find out their sexual orientation somewhere on down the line. I just don't need to know that a person is either gay or straight?!?!?
With that said. The thread I mentioned above has grown into a lengthy, ongoing debate over the need to use or not to use the word homosexual in conjunction with the word Christian or born-again. And while there are good arguments coming from both sides of this issue, I, for one, see no need to place any form of label on the person's sexual preference when introduced and the subject of their belief in Jesus comes up.
Whatever happened to the excitement and sense of personal accomplishment in the fact that we are just a Christian of the born-again variety? What is the reason or rationale behind the need to throw in the persons past [hopefully it is their past] sexual preference into their salutation?
Why does the born-again homosexual feel the need to broadcast or announce that they have come out of that particular sin?
Is this not akin to the practice that homosexuals are currently using when the proudly announce to people they are meeting for the first [or second] time that they are out-of-the-closet and a "gay" or a "lesbian?"
I am fearful that the practice of telling the world that they are gay, and pound and loud will be gradually transferred over to Christianity, and that it will only alienate these folks from the sincere, unexpecting believer.
Why can't we just be excited about the fact that we have been to the cross, washed in the blood, and born-again? Isn't it good enough to be a recipient of His unearned Grace? Isn't it good enough to be unworthy of the greatest gift God could give a sinner [like me]? Why the need to announce one's past sin(s) along with the label of being a Child of the King of Kings?
Maybe I'm legalistic. Then again, maybe I'm at the age in my life where youthful believers will snidely say behind my back that RD2 is and "old-fashion" legalistic fuddy-duddy! Nevertheless, names and brands about me and my belief systems aside, the truth is, it doesn't matter if I am legalistic or old-fashion. The truth is, I want no labels when it comes to who I am in Jesus. :godisgood:
I am loud and proud to be a Child of God, and as for where I was [in sin nature] when I came to Him, it is more than enough for me to simply tell those who may be interested, that I'm born-again by His Grace. No labels for me-PLEASE! :wavey:
After all, the Psalmist said it best when he wrote that our sins had been removed, and they are as far as the East is from the West! I am a new creature in Christ. I'm not proud of where I was when I saw the light. And I'm extremely grateful that I may not be as far along on the path as I'd like to be at this time in my walk with Him; However, I'm a whole lot further away from where I began this journey then I was even a day or two ago! :thumbs:
