Homosexuality and Salvation

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shawntc

shawntc

Senior Member
May 7, 2010
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One of the more visible topics in society these days is homosexuality. In the church, one of the big questions being asked is, "Is it right?" That's for another post. The question I want to address is, "Can gays be saved?"

My answer is "Yes." Now, before you form a mob with pitchforks, I want to differentiate between a homosexual orientation and a homosexual behavior. You can't really help your orientation, but you can control your behavior.

The key passages often used to show homosexuality is sin are Leviticus 18:22, Leviticus 20:13, Genesis 19, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, 1 Timothy 1:10, and Romans 1:24-28.

Notice that in these passages, homosexual behavior is demonstrated as sinful. Not orientation! Nature, nurture, whatever. I don't believe your inherent sexual orientation is something you choose. I didn't choose to be straight, I just happened to be that way. Can orientation be changed? Maybe, I don't know, as I've not looked into that kind of stuff.

What does this mean for the individual who has same-sex attractions? It means that they would not be condemned for their orientation. Instead, it is behavior that God looks at.

Consider this. I, Shawntc, am a heterosexual male. I naturally have desires for the opposite gender. Is this inherently sinful? Not at all. What makes it sinful is when I use or satisfy these desires inappropriately - lust. That is when I sin. In the same manner, the homosexual doesn't sin simply for having same-sex desires. Such a person sins when they seek to satisfy those desires in a manner God doesn't approve of - through lusting after or doing sexual acts with someone of the same gender. If a person with same-sex attractions abstains from acting upon those desires - like I as a single, straight male am required to - then they commit no sin. The Bible is clear that those who engage in homosexual lifestyles are not saved. But if you're not engaging in the lifestyle (the behaviors), then it does not stop you from being saved.

Thus we see hope for those who have homosexual orientations. For God does not condemn those who have such an orientation, but rather those who engage in the behaviors that are desired by it. If a Christian came to me and admitted to having same-sex attractions, but demonstrated sincere repentance of it, then it would be amiss of me or anyone else to look down upon that person.
 
question: in the bible it says something about taking many wives is that correct? that it says that in the bible?
 
God does not condemn His children, period. He is love. He has nothing but love for us, and has absolutely ZERO tolerance for sin. For the wages of sin is death, and He never wanted that for us. He wants us to turn away from it completely.
Homosexuality is sin 100%. Whether you've behaved it, or kept it in your heart. Sin is sin, and it will be cut off along with satan. You need to turn away from it completely and see it as what it is. Immediately turn to Jesus, He is your salvation. Accepting His forgiveness is all it takes to be forgiven. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
This area means a great deal to me. I cared very deeply, and still do, for someone with a past of homosexual behavior. It hurt to see him hold onto it when it was so obviously hurting him. He confided in me, and I could see His torment. I wanted so much to help him, but I knew only Jesus could. At the time I had just started to get close to my Savior, and didn't feel secure enough to just tell him what he needed to hear, that he is loved by a big God who suffered everything this world could throw, and died to show him the truth that he is loved. I still keep in touch with him every so often, and tell him God loves him, but we ended up hurting each other almost as deeply as we cared, and it caused a great separation. It took a lot of God's love to heal, and thank God His love is more than enough.
 
newbie;bt4256 said:
question: in the bible it says something about taking many wives is that correct? that it says that in the bible?
Click to expand...

The Bible doesn't explicitly say polygamy is wrong, at least not that I can tell, but we can infer it.

In Genesis, God makes Adam and Eve. There is no mention of him creating other wives for Adam. Genesis 2:24 says "That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh." This hints at God wanting us to have monogamous marriages. Jesus quotes this in Mark 10:6-8: "But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.’ ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh."

In the second half of 1 Co. 7:2 it say, "each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband." The book of 1 Timothy lays down the rules for clergy (like deacons, bishops, etc.) and one of the things it requires is monogamy.

Now granted there are several instances of people having multiple wives (Lamech, Abraham, David, and Solomon are a few examples) but there's no reason to indicate God was blessing them with many wives. Indeed for David and Solomon, many wives ended up hurting them more than helping. David and Bathsheba, after they had committed adultery, were married. Solomon had over 700 wives, and they led him astray from God.
 
Elly5;bt4257 said:
God does not condemn His children, period. He is love. He has nothing but love for us, and has absolutely ZERO tolerance for sin. For the wages of sin is death, and He never wanted that for us. He wants us to turn away from it completely.
Homosexuality is sin 100%. Whether you've behaved it, or kept it in your heart. Sin is sin, and it will be cut off along with satan. You need to turn away from it completely and see it as what it is. Immediately turn to Jesus, He is your salvation. Accepting His forgiveness is all it takes to be forgiven. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
This area means a great deal to me. I cared very deeply, and still do, for someone with a past of homosexual behavior. It hurt to see him hold onto it when it was so obviously hurting him. He confided in me, and I could see His torment. I wanted so much to help him, but I knew only Jesus could. At the time I had just started to get close to my Savior, and didn't feel secure enough to just tell him what he needed to hear, that he is loved by a big God who suffered everything this world could throw, and died to show him the truth that he is loved. I still keep in touch with him every so often, and tell him God loves him, but we ended up hurting each other almost as deeply as we cared, and it caused a great separation. It took a lot of God's love to heal, and thank God His love is more than enough.
Click to expand...

Elly5 - I can't tell if you're agreeing or disagreeing with me. Also, are you saying that having a homosexual orientation is a sin? If so, then you are putting them in a very difficult situation. How do you repent of something you have no control over? If an alcoholic repents of alcoholism, is he still not saved because he has a desire for alcohol?
 
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