Quote from my Pastor from today's sermon

I agree 100% with all of this.

 

I don't disagree with that at all.

I understand your point, and it does have merit. But let me throw a bit of a twist at you -- what if the APA is right, and instead of "Sorry, something's wrong with you...", the message would be "Sorry, your parents/relatives/molester permanently damaged your psyche. I'm afraid your sex drive has been permanently altered."

I think you might be discounting and/or overlooking a few aspects of Christianity that are pertinent to your argument here.

Love is always valued and encouraged by God. Christians are commanded to love other people at least as much as ourselves. The fact that so many of us don't always live in compliance to that command is beside the point. The commandment is still given and still valid.

A large part of the Christian life is choosing to change our own will to match that of God. This choice is made out of trust that God's motivations are pure and good, and that His way will provide a richer and better quality of life than we can achieve on our own.

The core of Christianity, the fuel that keeps it alive and growing, is an interactive relationship with God. I'm not suggesting that this relationship automatically absolves the human need for intimate, physical contact.

...But it can.

Either way, it's not an easy, care free life. There are sacrifices to be made, prices to be paid, and losses to be felt. There are also riches and blessings that exceed the pain, guilt, and loss that are experienced often and in great abundance -- so much that the positives far outweigh the negatives. That's a promise straight from Jesus Himself.

"I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life." (Mark 10:29-30)

 

HB, you always make me think You make some very good points.

Thank you

Your point is valid. A lot of what gets the publicity does tend to give that impression. There are probably multiple reasons for this, including the tendency of the media to focus on the extremes of anything. Another part of it is probably an angry reaction of the gay community to the constant discrimination & degradation heaped upon them. I've had similar reactions to similar treatment (on a smaller, personal scale, & about different issues). Sort of a "You think I'm bad & you don't like it? Well just look how bad I can be, & to hell with what you think!" response, trying to throw their perceptions of you back in their faces.

It helps--on all sides of any issue--to try to see people as individuals, not just as part of a group. It helps to remember that most human beings have the same basic needs, physical & emotional.

In this particular example, I think it's also wise to take what your pastor said & expand on it a little bit. There are millions of heterosexuals whose focus on sex is way out of proportion to its real importance. They just don't get as much press, & what you see of it is far more subtle than a gay pride parade.

The best way to overcome stereotyping people, though, is to actually get to know some individuals & to see the wonder & beauty that exist in them.

 

I just thought of a very bizarre question to throw out there. IF you believe that homosexual acts are sin, & if you understand that the inclination is not a choice--would you have any problem accepting someone into your church who was in a celibate homosexual relationship?

I'm being serious here. There are sexless marriages that endure. There are people who live celibate lives & are satisfied with that choice. What I'm wondering is if you think you or your God would welcome someone who chooses to pursue love & companionship if they are willing to forego the sexual aspect of the relationship for the sake of the faith. ???

 

first, why does homosexuality always seem to be the result of something negative?

second, my brothers and sister and i were raised in the same household, same parents, same relative influences, but they are all heterosexual. i am one of 2 lesbians in an extended, close-knit family of over 100 (grandma and grandpa were Roman Catholic heterosexuals. LOTS of babies) there are no gay men. what might be the deciding factors that just me and my cousin are the ones with the damaged psyche? what other behaviors might i exhibit due to damaged psyche?

third, i understand your example was for illustration, but that statement is an awfully long reach. why make it so complicated? why can't homosexuality be equated to heterosexuality in that it is what it is? the god i believe in is a god of love. he created me and he loves me.

i edited hb's post just to pinpoint a certain subject. i did not intend to take anything out of context. hb presented a good argument

 

No, I wouldn't have any problem with accepting someone like that in to the church.

 

Good questions all. The assertions I posted were from the APA, not any kind of personal dogma I have, or my church subscribes to.

To respond to your first question, I've honestly never heard of homosexuality being the direct result of a positive influence, other than "my relationships with my parents are fine -- I just turned out this way." I honestly don't have a set-in-stone belief regarding this topic. I'm still in the process of listening to people and looking at evidence, regardless of position. The APA's explanations just seemed logical to me. They still do. But I'm still wide open to other arguments.

 

It should not be a problem but most church members are not mature enough in Christ to handle it.

 

I have knowns a few gay people over the years and I have never had a problem with any of them. Of course we never talked politics or religion.....

 

Probably not sex & relationships either

Please don't take that as an insult--I don't mean it to be

When you know & care for someone enough to share your heart with them, & they can share theirs with you--then empathy can come into play. And one ounce of empathy is worth more than hundreds of tons of knowledge, IMO. That's the essence of love.