I'm quite bothered at this "New Christendom," that says I can live and act anyway and have a relationship with God. Not so my dear. The word of God specifically tells us Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. 2. Cor. 6:17.

But my favorite scripture is this, (when it comes to the justification of sin):

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, (homosexual) nor abusers of themselves with mankind. 1 Cor. 6:9.

I'm highly irritated to hear these "liberals" say "God loves everybody, so why can't I keep being gay?" Well let me tell you why, and set the record straight: Because the word of God says And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean Lev. 10:10. So there seems to be this mentality (of western culture) to let everybody just be who they are, there are no more laws, regulations and or boundaries, that's why our culture is going down so fast, nobody wants to stand up for what's right, but most importantly no one wants to admit they have a problem and wants justification in their wrong doing

The bible says that in the last days men will become lovers of themselves also they will be so consumed in their sin that he (God) will give them a reprobate mind, meaning that they will be so entangled in sin and unrighteousness that they wont know it. To put it simply, they won't know the difference between right or left, up from down, or light from darkness here's the scripture:

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

What is reprobate you ask?

1.       A morally unprincipled person.

2.       One who is predestined to damnation.

adj.

1.       Morally unprincipled; shameless.

2.      

      I  would like to thank you for your sincere truth about your past.  I am a substance abuse counselor in a prison; ninty percent of the inmates that are in my program have been molested and come from dysfunctional homes. Most of them call themselves bisexual because they want affection during their stay of incarceration.  Many of them know that their relationships are not about love but lust.  But, like you mentioned the devil tell people all sorts of things and they start to believe it.  We are not allowed to talk about God in the prison, but we can talk about a high power, positive and negative struggles.   When I was working in a residential substance abuse program there was this man there that was and still is struggling with homosexuality.  He attends church, but like you also mentioned.  Pastors tell people that homosexuality is bad but they don't really get any assistance with it because they are too ashamed to admit it.  This man continues to struggle with homosexuality, which triggers his drug addiction.  He is a readmit in the program; I am going to take him this article and pray that he gets some strengthen like you and so many others.

                                                   God Bless You

I appreciate your comments and I will be praying for the brother you mentioned in your post.

Yes...it is time for the church to not JUST tell you that homosexuality is a sin, but there must also be an approach into WHY this occurs to not only enlighten those that are struggling with it, but to PREVENT it in the next generation from being so widespread.

One thing that baffled me...until I understood the difference between "sin" and a "life consuming sin" (yes, it's ALL sin...but...) a woman or man who is wrestling with fornication and lust for the OPPOSITE sex can marry and fulfill those physical and emotional desires and be in the Will of God.  A homosexual can NEVER fulfill his desires and cravings without sinning.  That is a bitter pill to swallow when you're wrestling with it.

I have heard some say "no"...it's just sin regardless of why it happens.  True.  But my life and the renewing of my mind began when I realized WHY it happened and that I no longer had to buy into that lie from hell that I was born that way.  What those who have never wrestled with it do NOT understand is, it's not as easy as going to an altar, praying and POOF...no more feelings for men.  It doesn't work that way.  Sometimes, God's deliverance is NOT instant but progressive.

We must also be careful, as saints of God, to not allow ANOTHER trick the enemy has for the church.  It is EASY to say amen when someone is preaching about a sin that does not pertain to YOU.  But, it is true in some churches I have been around, homosexuality will be mentioned, but the church is never challenged about it's gossip, backbiting, lying, fornication, adultery, etc.  Homosexuality is not the ONLY sin in the world, and if we're not careful people get off on a tangent preaching about something and still having a church FULL of sin.

I think God is raising up men and women in this last day that will not only tell you the homosexual lifestyle is a selfish lifestyle and sin, but can empathize with compassion what it means to NOT want to live that way and to wrestle with it, for if you have never been through the fire you don't know how hot it really is.

God bless and let's keep praying for those with confused minds and hearts.

Who is the Judge here? You or God? What makes you any better than gays/lesbians? Wake up people, we all sin. If the Lord has a problem with it, that is an issue between the individual (the homosexual) and God. If God needed our opinion, I'm sure we would know about it. Believe what you believe, but don't think for one self-righteous moment that not being homosexual somehow makes you better or them worse. We've all fallen short, we all need saving, so we're all in the same boat.

You stated: "Just b/c you might not be practicing any homosexual activities, does not mean you are not a homosexual. You will be one until the day you die. "  That's the same lie the devil told me before I came "out" into that lifestyle.  Here lies the first problem with that assumption.  You don't know me; therefore, you have no proof that this statement you made is true....

My post did not come as many do with the condemnation that homosexuals are lost forever and that there is no hope...or that they are nasty people not worth the time of day.  I may have said it was sin, but I did NOT condemn a person.  A person can agree with me, disagree with me....doesn't matter.  The bottom line is NOBODY can take my experience from me.  To say that a person will be a homosexual until the day they die is the SAME abominable lie the devil said about alcoholics and made people think "once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic".

In addition to praying and seeking God, I was introduced to a book "Gay Conversations" written by Lynda Allison Doty and Nello Pozzobon.  It is a compassionate book.  It is NOT judgemental.  This was one instrumental piece of literature that made me start (first of all) realizing the origin of what I had been feeling.  This is MY testimony...you don't have to share in it....but it's MY experience and you canNOT minimize what God did for ME.

For me to say that homosexuality is sin is NOT being judgemental any more than telling my son that lying is wrong.  The bible (the Word of God) has already judged the issue, and we have it twisted in our churches when something goes against our grain, we holler "don't judge me".  I can say something is sin without condemning the PERSON...THAT is what judging means.  The reason that so many WHO WANT HELP and are NOT HAPPY in the lifestyle don't get the help they need is because we're too busy with posts like this (and sermons, etc) debating whether or not it's sin, whether one can be delivered, ridicule, laughter, making fun of....it's ALL a bunch of lies to KEEP people in bondage...especially those that WANT out!

The bible says it's wrong, and as far as I'm concerned THAT issue is settled.  The problem is that the church, for too long, stopped there and made homosexuals feel hopeless.  I agree...to just stop acting out the homosexual lifestyle does not end homosexuality.  But to explore the reasons behind it.....no we just didn't happen upon being homosexual...there were things that transpired in our life.  It is proven to me that with the increase in absent fathers, and in my case, a father that provided financially in the home but did not provide emotional, spiritual, support...well, coinciding with the absent male figures we have a rise in homosexuality.  It's a fact!

To say that "once a homosexual always a homosexual" or "once an alcoholic always an alcoholic" actually says that there is something that God CANNOT deliver from.  And, I beg to differ...there is NOTHING too hard for God!

If you think that homosexuality is "permanent" and there is no hope, then fine.  That's your opinion.  But, my post was to that ONE man out there who MIGHT be in the same dilemma I was in...somebody who does NOT want the madness anymore.

Recently, I shared my testimony of sorts as to my living a life of homosexuality and then grasping an understanding of the causes that contributed to it.  That was the beginning of my road to healing. 

I received a response from someone that partially states:  "I know homosexuals like that and they are very happy with who they are, continue to have strong relationships with God and live their lives righteously. They will tell you they were born with those feelings and no other factor contributed to those feelings. WHo are you to say they are wrong???"

I am not trying to be funny in the least, but I have a couple of questions for those that are willing to respond:

1.   Do any of us remember our birth?

2.   Do any of us remember having sexual feelings at birth or as an infant?

3.    If the answer is "no" to the above 2 questions, then what basis can someone honestly stand on to suggest they were born "gay" or "straight"?

This message is NOT sent with any hostility.  I KNOW where I stand on this issue; but I am curious to understand the philosophy and perspective of others as to where these certain ideologies originate...or is it just something we say ("I was born that way") to justify our behavior?

I agree wholeheartedly with your observation and your comments.  It is because of the church's attitude towards homosexuality that has caused those who WANT to come out and that WANT help to shy away and "hide'...and that was the problem I had for 39 years.  That problem starts when the church says, "homosexuality is sin and you're going to hell"...and they leave it there.  That's where the hopelessness begins.

Although Christ's love is unconditional, Christ commissioned the church to preach the Word without compromise and to win the lost.  In order to do that, sin must be called sin just as the Bible states it is. That does not just include homosexuality. It includes lying, gossip, bitterness, unforgiveness of others that have wronged you, adultery, hatred, envy, strife (and the list goes on).

 I think it is a double problem, though:  the church's (in general) intolerance for homosexuals (God HATES the sin, but LOVES the PERSON...many get that twisted and verbally attack the PERSON) and the homosexual's aggressive justification of their sin.  Thus the debates that occur.

When I originally posted, it was partially my testimony.  I did not do it to debate with anyone as some have chosen to do, but to merely give a gilimpse of hope for those out there in the lifestyle that don't want to be.  That is the element that those that want to justify homosexuality miss...EVERYONE that is a homosexual does not WANT to be...and for those, there IS deliverance.

Have a great week.

First, forgive me.  I made an assumption that you were male.

You know, I read the first line of your post, scanned the post, and decided not to read any more.   You are presenting an argument and you are neither

1.  Male

nor

2.  A male homosexual.

Therefore, for you to try to debate MY experiences or the experiences of ANY man, gay or straight is futile and basing an opinion on that which has no foundation.  It's like ME trying to tell YOU what it means to be a woman.  INSANITY!  What could you POSSIBLY know to argue with ME other than the words from some "gay friends"?

Once an alcoholic always an alcoholic?  Well, all it takes is ONE ex-alcoholic to disprove that....and I know PLENTY!  So don't proclaim something to be "fact" when people have been debating these issues for years.

I will not waste time continuing the debate.  As I stated before, I am not here to debate homosexuality but to shed light to those who were in the position that I found myself in....leading a homosexual lifestyle and wanting OUT or those who can witness to the miraculous changing power of the Holy Ghost.  Your opinions are irrelevant, as I was not addressing you.

And for the record, you stated:  "I truly believe that if society did not condemn homosexuality, you would not want out". 

How opinionated can you BE?  You are WRONG as you are wrong about a lot of things in your post.  I have lived both sides of the fence?  Have you?  Of course not...you're not even a MAN let alone a straight OR gay man!  I experienced things over the past 3 years that I have never experienced, as many have their opinions that the gay lifestyle (aside from being sin) is a selfish lifestyle and a very unhappy lifestyle.  I won't even elaborate on the fake happiness that some claim to have but the pain they REALLY feel.

All I can say in closing (and I won't respond to any more of your rebuttals):  I have been there.  You haven't.  I don't care HOW many alcoholics you have in your family and all the other "stuff" you proclaimed. I serve a God that doesn't 1/2 deliver.  He is ABLE to FULLY deliver.  Whether YOU believe it or not.

And good evening.