Lon
Well-known member
A little long with scriptures, but they are how we live as Spiritually indwelled beings. I've given commentary to tie them together for my reasoning and defense of our Christian view and understanding. I pray this post and the thread serve well for difficult days of needed discussion and understanding ahead. In Him
How do we respond to other supposed Christians and the world regarding our stance against homosexuality?
First of all, Trey Pearson is correct (hear me out) he actually did decide to come out and he couldn't keep trying to be something he was not, however, he further states in article: “There is absolutely no conflict with accepting who I am and following Jesus,” he said. “God wants me to be healthy, authentic, whole, integrated and my truest self.” -Trey Pearson
This part is dead wrong and it is not and cannot ever be Christianity *(please read and meditate over the scriptures prayerfully, especially if you have disagreement):
The first point I believe has to be an acknowledgement that we are not of this world: When God made man in the garden, he was flesh and blood but God breathed into him life. Genesis 2:7 It was not a physical breathe, it was Spirit. At that moment, we were made "in God's image." Genesis 1:26
The Apostle Paul summarized the Christian life this way:
And in a nutshell:
It means that we live on a different plain of existence than the world. We treat others as spiritual, not physical objects:
This also applies to us as we struggle against the world's propaganda of beauty and displays of flesh. It is difficult for even Christians to treat one another as brothers and sisters when flesh is flaunted. That person's soul is of greater importance than what is displayed to entice fleshly responses. It is appropriate to acknowledge our own struggles here and these scriptures can apply as adequately to those struggling with flesh-propaganda and commercialization.
Such will be a hard truth for some, but it needs your prayer and struggle. We wrestle not with flesh and blood.
How then do we talk about this with loved ones, friends, and others?
1) We Christians believe we are spiritual beings and our primary role in life is Spiritual
Jesus told Nicodemus that he must be born-again, of spirit. Christians then believe our calling is to love people in a spiritual manner. One supposed Christian on here said that if we give food at a food bank, and share the gospel, that there is a wrong agenda behind giving. I contest that as Christians, our greatest concern is not flesh, but spirit and we reckon the world as desperately needing Christ more than anything else Matthew 4:4
2) We Christians must tell supposed Christians that are homosexual and following those flesh impulses, that they
are not understanding what Christianity is and are surrendering to desires of the flesh. No man ever pleased God in his/her flesh.
3) I think we Christians can do a better job of drawing the line for understanding of those inside and outside of the faith, and I think we can love our enemies and do good to them, while explaining why we see sexual sin and all sins of the flesh as opposed to Christianity and a need to be born of Spirit as believers in Christ.
Here is an article by Peter Heck addressing Trey Pearson's homosexuality that also gives Christian perspective and may be helpful or useful for Christians reading.
Religious News Service said:Trey Pearson, 35, was overcome with emotion halfway into our first interview, and it is easy to understand why. For the past 15 years, he’s been the lead singer of the popular Christian rock band Everyday Sunday. But he decided to put his career on the line this week and acknowledge to his fans that he is gay.
“I finally decided to come out because I couldn’t keep trying to be something that I wasn’t,” he tells me. -Jonathan Merritt, RNS, May 31, 2016
How do we respond to other supposed Christians and the world regarding our stance against homosexuality?
First of all, Trey Pearson is correct (hear me out) he actually did decide to come out and he couldn't keep trying to be something he was not, however, he further states in article: “There is absolutely no conflict with accepting who I am and following Jesus,” he said. “God wants me to be healthy, authentic, whole, integrated and my truest self.” -Trey Pearson
This part is dead wrong and it is not and cannot ever be Christianity *(please read and meditate over the scriptures prayerfully, especially if you have disagreement):
The first point I believe has to be an acknowledgement that we are not of this world: When God made man in the garden, he was flesh and blood but God breathed into him life. Genesis 2:7 It was not a physical breathe, it was Spirit. At that moment, we were made "in God's image." Genesis 1:26
The Apostle Paul summarized the Christian life this way:
Gal 5:16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. Gal 5:17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. Gal 5:18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Gal 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, Gal 5:20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, Gal 5:21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, Gal 5:23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Gal 5:24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Gal 5:25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. |
And in a nutshell:
1Co 6:13 "Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food"—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 1Co 6:17 But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. 1Co 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 1Co 6:20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body |
It means that we live on a different plain of existence than the world. We treat others as spiritual, not physical objects:
1Ti 5:1 Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, 1Ti 5:2 older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity. 1Co 2:12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 1Co 2:13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. 1Co 2:14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 1Co 2:15 The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. 1Co 2:16 "For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ. |
This also applies to us as we struggle against the world's propaganda of beauty and displays of flesh. It is difficult for even Christians to treat one another as brothers and sisters when flesh is flaunted. That person's soul is of greater importance than what is displayed to entice fleshly responses. It is appropriate to acknowledge our own struggles here and these scriptures can apply as adequately to those struggling with flesh-propaganda and commercialization.
Such will be a hard truth for some, but it needs your prayer and struggle. We wrestle not with flesh and blood.
How then do we talk about this with loved ones, friends, and others?
1) We Christians believe we are spiritual beings and our primary role in life is Spiritual
Jesus told Nicodemus that he must be born-again, of spirit. Christians then believe our calling is to love people in a spiritual manner. One supposed Christian on here said that if we give food at a food bank, and share the gospel, that there is a wrong agenda behind giving. I contest that as Christians, our greatest concern is not flesh, but spirit and we reckon the world as desperately needing Christ more than anything else Matthew 4:4
2) We Christians must tell supposed Christians that are homosexual and following those flesh impulses, that they
are not understanding what Christianity is and are surrendering to desires of the flesh. No man ever pleased God in his/her flesh.
Rom 8:8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. Rom 8:9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. |
3) I think we Christians can do a better job of drawing the line for understanding of those inside and outside of the faith, and I think we can love our enemies and do good to them, while explaining why we see sexual sin and all sins of the flesh as opposed to Christianity and a need to be born of Spirit as believers in Christ.
Here is an article by Peter Heck addressing Trey Pearson's homosexuality that also gives Christian perspective and may be helpful or useful for Christians reading.
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