Hard question for the church......

[one love]

Well...I had a lesbian couple come to church....we didn't treat them different than any other sinner couple...we even bought them a refrigerator and stove for their trailer.

Matter of fact....just got off the phone with one of them and they are working on getting back to church....

My goal is to try and help lead them to a place of repentance and regeneration!! Just the same as any other that needs it.

My church is unique in the fact that we have a lot of foster parents involved...and foster parents have a natural tendency to take in the abused and rejected.....

Thats it!!!!!
Some severe anti-abortion/anti-gay church political crowds may make a protest at your church

Here is the truth if a sinner comes in your church would you shake there hand? Then a gay person should be no different. Sin is sin, no matter what it is.
If you go to a jail ministry and meet a murderer would you treat him the same? you should, sin is sin.
Love covers a multitude of sins
I have a very good friend that was gay and is living in victory now, working in his ministry. They should be treated in no other way then anyone else period.
I wonder if there was internet 70 years ago what would they be saying?
Maybe:


"would you let a black person in your church and recieve them?"

Well I will quit I am not going to get started or this post will never end believe me.

[THE RAzEr]

interesting opinion about sin. complete abstinence of one thing is good, but not for this?

I'm not sure I do, but if I understand your comment above correctly...

My point is I would not forbid them to attend because they were in sin, nor beacuse they were adulterers (of either or both sexual persuasions).

However, heterosexual affection of a non-direct sexual nature (i.e., holding hands, touciung affectionately, love pecks, and flirting) is natural, wholesome, and sinless in and of itself. Homosexual affection of a non-direct sexual nature is NOT natural, wholesome, but is by it's very nature sinful. Therefore, I would not be willing to permit such public displays in a church seting, service, or event.

I do not agree that only intercourse between the heterosexual couple is sin.

This would be like saying if I were sleeping around on my wife, it would not be sin to sit in church and hold hands with the person I was having intercourse with privately.

For a man to look upon a woman in a lustful nature is sin. Both couples are sinners in there relationship, not just in their sexual exploits!

How should they be treated by the church. They should be loved by the church.

You know if sinners can't come to church in the midst of their sins, then we all might should just roll over sunday morning, and go back to sleep.

Except for the grace of God!

[Dr. Ron]

Poiman,

I am sorry to have to break the news to you, but affection between members of the same sex is not only natural, normal, but in general accepted by all of society.

While I understand the context of your reply, it is not quite well thought out.
All of the women in this church embrace each other, kiss on the cheek, and show affection in many ways.,

The men hug....and do the three pat on the back...

When I was a child, every man in the church greeted each other "with a holy kiss" as is scriptural....you wanna go back to those old paths????

I can show you videos of old GAs where the guys were puckering up all the time.

Again, I understand your context. But I caution those who come here on a regular basis, not to make it an issue. They fit in with all the other people here .....our goal is to give them an attitude of acceptance ...not of the lifestyle, but of them as God's wonderful creation. If I can introduce them to Christ, he can and will convict them of their sins and lead them through the Holy Spirit. I have one man who is a counselor who is married and has kids and works with other homosexual men to bring them out of the lifestyle.

We all need to realize that we are wrestling not against flesh and blood. The people are not the enemy. They are hungry souls needing food and water......how can we turn them away.?

I have to admit that appointments and things stupid , moved this thread to the back page quickly......check your priorities.

[oletimer]

Ron , there is a different between Brotherly Love and sexual love. This is also true of the opposite sex. In our local church we have great love for one another, but at the same time every thing is kept in decency. Anything else could be construed as sin plain and simple.

I am sorry to have to break the news to you, but affection between members of the same sex is not only natural, normal, but in general accepted by all of society.

Somebody need to brake the news to you that the (sexual, passional) affection between members of the same sex is not natural and normal. It may well be accepted by many and they will give account for that, but it is still not accepted by the Word, Christ, Holy Ghost and God. Thus the church must never accept it and expect God to bless them. Love is to be shown to all sinner that they may repent and come to know the true Love of God. Sin muct be called sin so they can believe and repent.

Ro 10:17
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

I know of a gay person and maybe some that I don't know of that has came to our services and they are all treated with as much love as we can give them. They are treated no different any other sinner. We just try to love themand win them to the Lord.

[RamboPreacher]

i think in this text-only forum, you are both saying the same thing, and don't know it. the appearance of outward affection can be taken "either" way. in the mind of the "beholder" so to speak.