Gay Christian International

The leader of the British National Party, Nick Griffin, has posted the address of a gay couple on his Twitter account with a warning that a “British justice team” would turn up to give them “a bit of drama.” 

The couple were brought to the attention of the political leader when they won damages against a hotel owner after she refused to give them a room with a double bed because it conflicted with her religious beliefs. They were awarded £3,600 in compensation after their claim of unlawful discrimination.

Mr Griffin responded to claims that his Tweets were “disgusting and he should hang his head in shame” (Liberal Democrat MP Tim Farron) and that he is “an odious hypocrite” (Labour MP Chris Bryant) by Tweeting “Why don’t left & gay activists confront Muslims instead of picking on meek & forgiving Christians? Bullies are always cowards!”

I have always struggled with myself. In Islam, the idea of jihad was entirely internal—it was a struggle between the holy parts of us and the wicked. Similarly, we in Christianity note an internal war: one between the Flesh and the New Creation. Jesus tells us, “the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matt 26:41). 

Yet, at the same time, Saint Paul tells us to “count [ourselves] dead to sin but alive in Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:11). I realize there is a lot of commentary about Romans, but I have always personally struggled with this passage. How are we count ourselves dead to sin if we still sin? How do I take part of the New Creation if I am plagued with sick fruits? We are ransomed from Death in sin, yes, but death to sin has not severed its power. Why is the war between the Old Self and the New Self still going on? I am not going to lie—I feel enslaved by my sin. The chains are hard to break.

What are these chains? We often make the mistake of confusing our gifts as sin itself. Why? Because they are hated by the world, and therefore perpetuated as vile creatures of the self. In the past, my thoughts about sexuality emprisoned me. I understood sex as a dirty thing, especially within a gay context. As a result, the fruit grew, but they were choked by these vines. The fruits were rotten. I thought to myself, “this is because of my sexuality. If I were not gay, these fruits would be fresh”.

What a lie.

It was not my sexuality, but the depricating thoughts that I applied to it. I did not see the chain; I was blinded by the Adversary. The beauty of my sexuality could not shine until the chains were ripped from their roots. How did I know?

I cannot say for sure. It was a gentle, small voice that told me, “be free”. It was a voice that did not destroy me, but built me up. It was a deep-hearted whisper that I thought maybe, just maybe, could be true. 

The Holy Spirit is not as forward and loud as sometimes we put Him. He can be found in the silence just as much as he may be discovered with Tongues of Fire. The Holy Spirit is the one that inscribes the Law on our Heart. And this law is always lifegiving—not destructive. 

And I trusted it. I pulled with struggle the chains that I felt were present. It was by no means an easy task; I struggled, quarreled, lost hope, found hope, gave up, tried and tried. Once I pulled it out, though, I felt free. Free in Christ. Dead to the Flesh, and alive in the New Creation. Moving closer to who I am meant to be. 

We all have chains, and not just ones pertaining to our sexuality. Sin still ties us up. But we are the New Creation. We will not die. However chained we may be, our bodies have changed. We are the New Creation. However tired we may become, we will not fall asleep. We are the New Creation. And the New Creation is grounded in Jesus. The New Creation is grounded in Love.

So, whenever you struggle, look for the good fruits. Trust  that gentle whisper in your heart. God has made you new. The Old Self is dead, and the New Self has been born. Break the chains, one at a time. 

Everyday, we will get a little closer to liberating who you are. Your beauty has been transformed; it has become immortal. Love it and free yourself

“God, I don’t know what my future holds, but I know who holds my future.”

The Bible plainly states that people can overcome homosexuality. After listing a number of categories that typically characterize unbelievers, including “homosexual offenders,” Paul reminded the believers in the city of Corinth, “That is what some of you were” (1 Cor. 6:11).

Paul witnessed firsthand how the power of God’s mercy and grace drastically changed the lives of people, regardless of their struggles. And God can do the same for anyone today. Before focusing on the godly solutions Paul had in mind, let’s examine how living in a fallen, rebellious world contributes to broken relationships and confusing sexual attractions. [-  Roman]

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However the distinct lack of this phrase, ‘homosexual offenders’, in Scripture renders your argument null. There is no Scriptural mention of “overcoming homosexuality”. So while the Bible does state that one can overcome sin through Jesus, it does not classify homosexual behaviour into said sin category. Ergo, there is no reason to over come that which is not a vice or illness.

I would like to recognize that you are making the effort to have a civil discussion and exchange of thoughts, so thank you for that!

-Ian

Some people speculate that the biblical passages indicating homosexual activity as sinful refer to a completely different kind of homosexuality than is practiced today.

For instance, they suggest that Leviticus 18:22, which states, “Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable,” is only condemning homosexuality associated with pagan religious practices. A similar claim is made regarding the apostle Paul’s comments about homosexual behavior in Romans 1:24-27, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, and 1 Timothy 1:9-10. Some propose that Paul’s statements referred only to pederasty (sex between men and boys) or prostitution involved in pagan worship. In either case, it is argued that Paul did not have in mind “loving and committed” homosexual relationships.

One of the major shortcomings in this sort of speculation is that there is nothing in the surrounding context of these passages that justifies limiting the meaning of these verses to homosexuality involved with pagan worship or to pederasty. The meaning certainly included such activities, but there’s no evidence to suggest that Paul was referring to these activities exclusively.

Conversely, the context shows, for example, that it’s impossible to restrict the meaning of Romans 1:24-27 to pederasty, given that Paul referred to female homosexuality in the same way as male homosexuality: “Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another” (vv.26-27).

Furthermore, an examination of the Greek word arsenokoites used by Paul in 1 Corinthians 6:9 and 1 Timothy 1:10 clearly shows that his intent was to condemn all homosexual lust and behavior, including what takes place today.

Biblical scholars have long understood the Greek word arsenokoites translated “homosexual offenders” in 1 Corinthians 6:9 and “perverts” in 1 Timothy 1:10 to mean “one who lies with a male as with a female, a sodomite.”12 It’s also been demonstrated that Jews in the Greek civilization acquired the word arsenokoites from the Greek Old Testament text of Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13, which condemns homosexual activity in general.13

It’s evident that Paul didn’t restrict the meaning of this word to certain kinds of homosexual behavior. Even ancient Greek writings used it in a broad sense that would include all homosexual behavior.14 Therefore, according to Paul, all forms of homosexual activity are sinful.

[- Roman]

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(Message Copy of Reply)

Here’s where I feel that this analysis is, while an interesting one, a flawed one. If you are looking towards defining the context of the verses in terms of what The Apostle Paul was saying about what was going on at the time, as well as how it can be applied to today, then the limitation of meaning needs to be done so by the words used. Obviously. However, the use of arsenokoites was not used in the terms of “homosexual offenders” until the 20th century (as the word homosexual didn’t even exist until 1868, and means something completely different now than it did then. If you’re interested in knowing where I got that date look up Jonathan Katz’ The Invention of Heterosexuality.). 
Arsenokoites’ appearance in ancient Greek literature was extremely rare, and of the 73 instances that it was used it always referred to the word in the context of rape or sexual coercion. An example of areenokoites/arsenokoitai being used in Greek literature was the myth in which zeus raped ganymede. The Apostle Paul’s use of arsenokoites/arsenokoitai cannot just be chalked up to him magically redefining its usage to include what we know as homosexual relationships in general. That is careless study. Particularly seeing how if he were condemning homosexuality in general, there were far more popular Greek words that would make more sense in the context of these verses.
The other thing I want to suggest is that changing your sexual orientation from x to y or z is the sin that Paul is talking about when he states “and even the women exchanged their lusts”. Forcing oneself to change one’s natural sexual orientation is the sin, not “going gay” (not that one consciously could make that choice to begin with anyways without harming oneself immensely).
As an ex-ex-gay, I have experienced trying to change my sexual orientation and failed miserably. I was extremely depressed thinking that I was failing God, to the point where I was becoming suicidal. I know this is not the case for all ex-gays, but for most it is. And conversion therapies that have been produced by organizations like the Exodus Ministry have not only been proven to be psychologically harmful as well as based on archaic psychotherapies, but also have been proven to fail on a majority level (even their founders now condemn Exodus Ministry). Most people who have “succeeded” in becoming ex-gay (at least from what I’ve noticed) were bisexual or heterosexual (thinking that they might be gay) to begin with, as is the case with Joe Dallas author of Desire in Conflict. So “changing their orientation” is only a minor modification in their behavior, and not changing their orientation.
I’m not saying that you are unhappy or suicidal, or even damaged goods. I don’t know that and don’t want to make that assumption. I also don’t want to assume that you were bisexual or heterosexual and questioning. If you truly think that being ex-gay is what works for you, then by all means. However I cannot condone that or the theological ideology that you prescribe to.
I don’t want to get into an unending debate with you, as you and Ian have already been going at it with each other for a while now. Contentious arguing is going to get nobody anywhere fast, and the Bible is against such arguing, so I won’t partake in any such arguing.

Proverbs 26:21
As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.
I’m not going to point fingers as to who is being contentious, but I’m cutting it off here. If you would like to have a civil conversation with us in the future, that would be welcomed. But for now I think it would be best if we just let this sit for a while till our coals cool off. Lol.
I hope all is well, and God Bless.
-Troy

Reblog, please: http://damianmcgintleman.tumblr.com/post/21428495804/national-day-of-silence

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ekoVGgn5sT0

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Gay Mormons - It Gets Better

Do you not know that the wickedwill not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexuals nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will not inherit the kingdom of God. - 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

How can you miss this verse?

I’m praying for you and for your eyes to be open and to see the Truth. God bless.

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I have responded to this before, so please accept this excerpt as my response:

“Next we see, 1 Corinthians 6:9 and 1 Timothy 1:9-10 used to condemn homosexuals. But we know that there was no word for ‘homosexual/ity’ in any language until 1868 when it was coined by German Psychiatrist Helmut Thielike in a critical response to a Prussian sodomy law. The word mistranslated as ‘homosexual/homosexual offender’ in certain Biblical translations, is ‘arsenokoitai’. A word meaning ‘man-bed’ (literally). It has been translated throughout history as ‘pervert’ (*the most accurate), and ‘masturbator’(during Martin Luther’s era; but that is also a mistranslation). ‘Pervert’ or ‘perversion’ is the best translation as the last time it was used in the Classical era (and specifically by a Classical church leader) in the 2nd Century AD to condemn men who were having anal sex with their wives. Not homosexual acts or homosexuality itself!” -Homosexuality Packet

I pray that you will learn to love without condemnation of others and learn to accept what God has made. Have great day!

-Ian