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Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Is There Really Scriptural Validity in Calling Homosexuality a Sin? "Part 2"


Surely God knows what he is doing. I always knew within myself that homosexuality was not to be compared to bearing false witness, stealing, killing, committing adultery etc; you know the 10 commandments in the book of Exodus, chapter 20. Some people like to compare homosexuality to drug addiction; I strongly disagree, there is no comparison. Drugs and alcohol are acquired and in most cases homosexuality is innate. Homosexuality certainly was not included in that list of commandments. I’ve often wondered why.

In the old testament of the bible there were many Mosaic/Leviticus Laws and rituals of sacrificing animals to cover sin/offences of the law. If you were an offender or sinned against one of the many laws (a man lying with another man as with a woman was certainly one of the dozens of offences), it was considered an abomination.

The people lived by the laws and the orders that God gave his servants before God sent his own son Jesus Christ to walk this earth and to become the ultimate sacrifice for sin by his crucifixion on the cross at Calvary to fulfill those laws and rituals. After Christ walked this earth and became the ultimate sacrifice, rose again and ascended to heaven; Jesus Christ then fulfilled all of those laws and rituals and thus there was a new covenant. Becoming believers that Jesus Christ and his sacrifice is the answer for this world today.
Jesus Christ ascended to heaven and now sits on the right hand side of God the father interceding for sinful mankind. So I encourage you to develop a relationship with Christ and live by his principles and standards. Here is the proof:
Galatians 3:10 Indeed, it is impossible to keep the whole Law of Moses anyway, for should one of the most insignificant laws be breached then the whole of the Law of Moses was breached: "For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them"
(Gal. 3:13). Something else was needed and that was Christ Himself and a New Covenant establishing the Law of the Spirit: "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law"

Please don’t disrespect the sacrifice and accomplishment of Jesus by selecting quotes from the Mosaic/Leviticus laws in order to persecute others.

I can also remember sitting at my home church as a child in Harrisburg, PA listening to our pastor preach against homosexuality; using the book of Romans the 1st chapter, lambasting any hope that I may have had of remaining in right standing with God and not being delivered from those “unnatural mental-emotions” that I so desperately wanted to be delivered from. If you can keep this in mind that for me until adulthood, this battle was purely spiritual, emotional and mental.

The physical and sexual emotions are a by-product or manifestation of the spiritual and mental emotions (just like with heterosexuals). If those spiritual and mental emotions are not handled with proper guidance, love and care, those misguided sexual emotions may lead to unhealthy sexual liaisons which becomes a way of life and develops into a decadent lifestyle that takes the life and joy out of your soul (just like with heterosexuals). Unfortunately with our youth, those physical and sexual emotions are oftentimes taken advantage of by adult sexual predators (just like with heterosexuals) which causes great mental disturbance and the victims sometimes become sexual predators themselves (just like with heterosexuals).

Was Jesus Christ the Son of God aware of “God fearing people who were born naturally with spiritual, mental and physical emotions for the same gender”? Matthew 19:12
(The words of Jesus) For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it. What are eunuchs? http://www.well.com/user/aquarius/contents.htm An interesting study by Malik Faris.


It is so important to read and study the bible in context of the historical climate and the actual story that is occurring. (Please take out the time to read the entire 1st chapter of Romans) The initial part of this letter is written to the saints at Rome, Paul was longing to see and speak with them in order to impart spiritual gifts to make them strong. Paul also proclaimed the wrath of God on the people who knew God for all-of-his wonderful works and miracles that were manifested before them however; they made a concerted decision to snub God and not to worship him. They wanted instant gratification and decided to worship graven images that they shaped with their hands; they began to worship animals and reptiles. So therefore God turned them over to themselves; they lusted after each other and had sex with each other, their genders did not matter. They also lusted after all of the materials things of this world and they received the mentality that goes along with God -haters. Some bible scholars advise that; what Paul was referring to was homosexual temple prostitution. This scripture does not apply to God fearing people who were born naturally with spiritual, mental and physical emotions for the same gender.

Please read 1st Timothy 1:8 and 1st Corinthians 6:9, these scriptures are also used as divisive tools against God fearing people who were born naturally with spiritual, mental and physical emotions for the same gender. Both passages contain lists of persons to be excluded from the Realm of God. The interpretation of these passages depends on two Greek words which have always presented a problem for translators. In the King James Version, they are translated "effeminate" and "abusers of themselves with mankind." In the Revised Standard Version, they were combined and rendered homosexuals; however, these are not the Greek words for homosexual, so that translations reflects the scholars' bias. The New International Version illustrates the difference in these two words by translating them "male prostitute" and "homosexual offenders". The Jerusalem Bible uses the terms "catamites and "sodomites". Catamites were youth kept especially for sexual purpose; they were usually paid large sums of money. Neither passage refers to persons of same-sex orientation, but to people who used their sexuality for personal gain.
(Quotes in italics are referenced from
http://www.firstmcc.com/sexuality_bible.htm )
Do you see the trend? The problem is not homosexuality; it is sexual abuse and sexuality used for personal gain.

The bible should not be used as a divisive tool to demonize God’s people who in most cases were born naturally with spiritual, mental and physical emotions for the same gender. Trying to change those emotions myself are like changing my brown eyes to be blue with man-made contact lenses, they remain brown. Did God make a mistake? Proverbs 3:13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

God-fearing people who are born naturally with spiritual, mental and physical emotions for the same gender, are they to live-out all of their days on this earth without expressing their physical emotions? No, I am not talking about having sex with multiple partners and living a decadent life of sex due to not having the capacity to legally marry/state certificate anyone of the same gender, or just being promiscuous. Should that person marry a heterosexual person and ignore their natural, spiritual, mental and physical emotions for the same gender in hopes that God will change their desire (unfortunately, if God chooses not to change your desire, that scenario sometimes leads to living a life of lies and deceit)? God is able to do anything! God knows what he is doing? We sometimes don't trust that he does.
One final scenario, will God honor a commitment of monogamy between 2 God fearing people who were born naturally with spiritual, mental and physical emotions for the same gender? Fornication is sex between unmarried persons that is distinguished from adultery. Marriage is an interpersonal relationship with governmental, social, or religious recognition, usually intimate and sexual, and often created as a vow between God and two individuals. A vow is defined as a promise made to God. A promise to God is the key point; not the legalistic matters and the other traditions. The promise is binding, and so differs from a simple resolution which is a present purpose to do or omit certain things in the future. The examples of marriage in the bible are between a man and a woman, however the bible does not speak against or prohibit same gender monogamous vows or commitments. Fornication does not exist with these ingredients.

Ponder these scenarios and sincerely pray to the Living God of this universe for divine answers and divine peace for your soul through his son Jesus Christ. Jesus had just admonished the people in these certain towns; they witnessed many miracles and still did not believe. These are the words that he spoke: Matthew 11:28 If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest. 29Take the yoke I give you. Put it on your shoulders and learn from me. I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest. 30This yoke is easy to bear, and this burden is light.
Samuel

I would love to hear your comments. If you have an experience that you would like to share and you would like to have it posted/featured on this site, email son_of_a_bishop3000@yahoo.com This should be healing and a lot of fun.

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Is There Really Scriptural Validity in Calling Homosexuality a Sin?


Is There Scriptural Validity in Calling Homosexuality a Sin?

Being raised in a Christian home with parents who were and are teachers of the word of God; I don’t ever recall specifically studying the subject matter of homosexuality in our family bible study sessions. Although, I heard my dad preach about being delivered from the spirit of homosexuality and I also heard my mother express her disdain for gays and gay rights and its negative affects in this country. Can you imagine the turmoil that I was experiencing when I would here these strong convictions coming from my parents who I love and adore?

I remember as a child sitting in one of my dad’s revival services, he was preaching about being delivered from the strong-holds of the devil and having the determination to stay delivered. He gave an example of this young man in Little Rock, AR who was the church’s organist; my dad was there in Little Rock conducting one of his revival services holding a prayer line for people who wanted to be delivered from various evil spirits. He told us about this particular young man who was obviously effeminate who stepped into the prayer line for deliverance. My dad said that he prayed and prayed for this young man and finally that evil spirit was cast out of him; he straightened-up and started to strut very masculine like and started talking with bass in his voice and testified “Thank God for Delivering Me, I am a Man, I am a Man! My dad and the congregation rejoiced. Then my dad told us of how he went back to Little Rock the very next year and asked that same young man if he was holding on to his testimony; my dad said that he responded very soft and effeminate like with a “broken like wrist”; Yes, I am. Did he lose the faith or was he just being his authentic self?

“I must be delivered” I said to myself. I did not have the issue of being effeminate. After many, many years of praying, fasting and asking God to deliver me from this “unnatural homosexual spirit;” I began to ponder and wonder why was it just not that simple of asking God to deliver me from this “evil”. The scriptures said: Psalm 84:11For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. John 14:13And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. So my search began of asking God to give me guidance and clarity to understand the so-called “sin of homosexuality”.
I have one question for you to ponder in closing.
Is homosexuality sex or is it emotional, mental, and spiritual?
Stay tuned next week for Part 2 of “Is There Scriptural Validity of Calling Homosexuality a Sin?” I would love to hear your comments so far.
Samuel


If you have an experience that you would like to share and you would like to have it posted/featured on this site, email son_of_a_bishop3000@yahoo.com This should be healing and a lot of fun.