Sexual immorality, by definition, is doing something wrong irrespective of whether those engaging in it are or are not professing to be Christians.
Genuine (not to be confused with those that merely profess to be) Christians align with creator God's holiness which is a fundamental characteristic of God finding expression in the words of the seraphim in Isaiah 6:3: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts” (NRSV).
The reality of creator God’s holiness calls for a human response (despite our sinfulness see Isaiah 6:5; Romans 3:23, etc...).
In the Old Testament, this response manifested in three different ways: (1) in priestly literature as ritual cleanness; (2) in the prophets as the cleanness of social justice; (3) in the wisdom tradition as the cleanness of individual morality.
Israel was called to be a holy people (Ex 19:6; Lev 19:2) on the basis of their relationship with Yahweh and to reflect the moral holiness of Yahweh its God.
With the arrival of the Messiah (e.g. Jesus Christ) a New Covenant was established and the Old Covenant fulfilled; however, God's morality did not change as God's morality is an extension of Himself and God Himself does not change (e.g. immutability), see Malachi 3:6.
So it's no surprise that in the New Testament, Christians are called “the saints” and instructed to be holy in character and behavior which are both to reflect the work within them of the Holy Spirit. The paraenesis (e.g. moral instruction) has a dual focus for both individuals and their assemblies (e.g. churches).
In other words, both Christians and Christian assemblies are called to be holy abstaining from immoral behavior and display the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
This, of course, has socio-political implications for the world as well and not just because God is both real and the holy creator. People are social beings that interact. This interaction changes people and causes social change. Conversely, social change itself changes people. People's beliefs, attitudes, decisions, and behaviors affect society influencing cultures, structures, and institutions, for better or worse, which, in turn, affect people.
Given the importance of people's beliefs, attitudes, decisions, and behaviors to their own lives, the lives of others, and society; it is imperative that they be rooted in reality which is found in a correct understanding of the Christian worldview.
God's holiness is essential to both the individual and the societies individuals create. Forgoing it has many undesirable consequences, all ultimately serious, both temporally in the material world but also eternally spiritually speaking.
Now let me introduce how God's love and mercy, two of God's other characteristics, mesh with His holiness. As I've stated before on this forum many times, it is in scripture we find the proper relationship between God's moral law and His agape love. Two equal and opposite dangers must be avoided:
1. Legalism effectively ousts agape love as a dynamic of the gospel and the Christian life by reducing both to obedience or conformity to a set of external commands or rules (after the manner of the scribes and Pharisees in the gospels).
2. Its opposite, antinomianism, ousts God's moral law as a dynamic of the gospel and the Christian life. Antinomianism is heresy that tells Christians it's OK to forget about God's law and concentrate solely on agape love... a course which is a justification for degeneration and immoral license, such as homosexual marriage, rather than promoting the true Christian liberty (i.e. freedom from sin).
The Gospel of Jesus Christ and God's grace in Jesus Christ frees the Christian from both these erroneous tendencies but only if Christians respectfully strive to follow God's moral law and both practice and realize agape love in their lives.
And not that certainly Paul shared the Gospel with pagans involved in all sorts of normatively immoral behaviors in his travels as should we; however, Paul never condoned those behaviors or misrepresented God's holiness and desire for all humanity to both be justified in Christ and reconciled to Himself and sanctified as per 1 Thessalonians 4:3 which states:
"It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality" noting that "But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person-such a person is an idolater-has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them." -Ephesians 5:3-7.
"Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God." -1 Corinthians 6:9-11.
It is one thing to repent and become a Christian in recovery/sanctification struggling toward sanctification with sin issues in life. This is the condition many Christians find themselves in; perhaps all of us to one extent or another. We are born-again Christians who have aligned ourselves with God and His love and holiness in sanctification recognizing that is essential for both our lives AND our societies.
Sidenote: for those of you who like theology, note that God's divine holiness is a precursor for His mercy. Consider Hosea 11:9 where after an agonizing reflection on Israel’s unfaithfulness (Heb 11:1–8), God determines not to execute justice on Israel as one might expect, but rather mercy: "for I am God and no mortal, the Holy One in your midst, and I will not come in wrath." Here the holiness of God becomes the basis for God’s freedom to act in gracious ways toward His people when one might expect only judgment.
Okay i want to say first off, This is not a topic i want people hating on others. I am actually curious who shares my thoughts or at least is willing to talk to be about my thoughts.
So here it goes...
I don't think Gays or Lesbians are doing anything wrong Because some are not christian. They dont know it is a Sin, so why are we putting them down. I Love them as people, they are human like us.
But here is where i stray from that thought process. If someone who comes from a Gay or Lesbian background and they become a Christian, I believe thats when it is bad, because as brothers and Sisters we are suppost to love one another and help each other through our sins. I think that when someone from that background comes into the church that we work along side them, Not trying to Fix them but Help them see what God wants in there life. (To put it plain an simple, not meaning to be harsh in ANYWAY, but it is something i believe if you are a follower of Christ you need to rid the sin from your life) Every sin is Equal, so my lies are just as bad. But i feel we need to help them see what God wants for them.
i believe that you should not be a gay or lesbian in the church. Now when i say that, I mean Please dont hide it from us, Let us love you Let us walk beside you in this! We want to help! We cant do anything, But God can transform you!
I in no way want to put the message across that i am a Gay and Lesbian Hater, But nor am I a supporter.
