Please take time to read and digest carefully, then make your
comments.Thanks.
Can you be a Christian and still be gay? Yes, I believe you
can! (Note this is not Rivera speaking o!..lols)
First, do you think Christians are being truthful when they
say: Love the Sinner and Hate the Sin. I find Christians at conflict with these
words. For those who say a person cannot
be gay and Christian, you have no authority to make that statement. A person's Christianity is between them and
Jesus; you don't enter into the equation.
Realizing that you're gay is sometimes difficult.
Maintaining your faith while living authentically as a Gay person is even more
difficult - sometimes you feel ostracized or isolated from both groups.
But you can find a balance, and continue to be a person of
deep religious faith even as you live as a gay or lesbian.
Trying to follow Jesus is a relationship, not a religion,
and it is open to all who believe - gays included.
Realize what Christianity is all about!
Being a Christian is not about being gay or straight, black
or white, male or female, free or slave... Christianity is about Jesus Christ.
Christianity means "Christ-like" and every Christian "...who
says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He
walked" - 1John 2:6.
No one can lose their salvation. Once a follower of Jesus is
truly born again, they cannot be "unborn." Anyone who tells you that
being gay will cause you to lose your salvation
is being cynical, and could not be any more correct by
saying the same thing to themselves for being "unloving
Christians"(obviously). Remember the Prodigal Son. He rejected his father,
asked for his inheritance before his father was even dead,took the inheritance
- and left. When the son was done "squandered his wealth in wild
living" he was met by a major famine and realized that even his father's
servant ate better than he did and set back home. Can you turn your back on
someone any more than that? Did his father stop loving him? No. Does God ever
stop loving you? NO. You may even fall away from your faith. Like the prodigal
Son,
when people realize when they are at the bottom of their
rope...depressed, hungry and willing to do anything God says just to be in the
lowest part of God's court, God will be searching for their return, still
accepting us,still loving us.
There is no such thing as "conditional"Salvation .
God knew that sin would be a fact of everyone's life, all of our lives. Jesus
says that we should not only forgive the first time someone sins against us,
but "seventy times seven." That's in Matthew, by the way. How many
people would you forgive after they did the same thing to you, not once, not
twice, but
490 times? And yet, that's what Jesus commanded. How many of
the church people
you know could say they would be willing to do that? Not many, if they were honest. Probably
not even one could. Yet God will, and does.
Even if you accept the idea that being gay is a sin (which
most, if not all churches do),remember that all Sin, except for rejecting
Christ, can be repented from, and this pertains to ALL Christians - it is the
same to God as any other sin (any sin is enough to keep you out of Heaven, if
not for Jesus' vicarious atonement).
You can take great comfort in knowing that Jesus' sacrifice
is sufficient for you - there is nothing you have done, or ever will do that's
big enough to keep you away from Him.Stand on the simplicity of Jesus Christ's
completed work . As Jesus was dying on the cross, He said, "It is
finished." But the Hebrew translation says, "It is completed."
Either way you want to say it, it means the same thing -when Jesus gave His
life on the cross, He paid the price for everyone's sin, once and for all.
No one can add anything or take anything away from this work
- it was completed by Jesus alone. No matter what else others may say is
necessary for you to achieve salvation,remember that Jesus has already
completed this work. Obeying the 10 Commandments is incredible difficulty (I
mean impossible),according to Jesus ""...My yoke is easy and My
burden is light." - Matthew 11:30, why, maybe it's because you don't have
to do anything but accept you are bought by Jesus, and now are His servant.
Have faith. Don't let those who would hang you up on
loopholes or technicalities convince you that you aren't really saved. The
Bible is very clear. It doesn't say, "Do good works to your neighbor to be
saved," or "first, get right with God," but we can quote a
little here:"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that BELIEVETH on me hath
everlasting life." - (John 6:43-47). Well that's simple, so the next
question is what does it mean to believe? John 14:15 - ""If you love
Me, you will keep My commandments." It also says, "…and all our
righteousness are as filthy rags." —Isaiah 64:6.Very simply put, you
cannot do anything to get into Heaven or to save yourself - except to Believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.
When it comes right down to it, those people are really
saying that what Jesus did was good enough to save them, but not to save
you.Believe in Jesus by doing what he tells his
followers, and everything will take care of itself.
Accept that you may need to find a new church home . Some
Christian religious bodies, unfortunately, seem to feel that excommunication is
necessary. First, they may pressure you to renounce your homosexuality.
When you are unable to comply, they may inform you that you
are no longer welcome to their fellowship(who wants to be in a congregation
that no longer accepts you anyway). Never mind that Jesus would never do this -
He insisted upon spending time and cultivating relationships with people the
church despised, which were people "who were knowingly in need of a
savior". You're in good company. Find a new church where you can be
welcomed and accepted, because in the end,it's all about getting in focus on
Jesus Christ and it's hard to focus on Him when you focus on the fingers being
pointed at you.
Listen critically and apply logic. Most people are simply
resistant to ideas they themselves are not familiar with. Be logical and remain
calm - above all back up everything brought to the table with scripture. Being
a Christian is not about male or female,black or white, straight or gay, It's
about Jesus Christ and his salvation for those who believe in him by doing what
he says.
Remember that this is about Jesus Christ, not you or anyone
else . Don't let anyone tell you that you aren't really saved, that your faith
isn't good enough, or that "even the devil believes in Jesus (actual
passage says - "even the devil believes that God is one"wink This is
your Walk. Walk it Jesus's way, not any other way,with a humble heart and heads
held high, remembering that it is you who will stand before Jesus one day and
answer Him as to whether you owned Him as your Lord and Savior - those people
will not be able to answer for you. Have confidence that He knows your heart
and will know that your answer is true.
Maintain your sense of humility without sacrificing self
awareness . People who don't have a gay person in their lives (or at
least,don't realize that they do) may surprise you
with their reactions. If someone makes a joke about gays,
don't feel the need to 'join in' by laughing. If you are offended, don't laugh,
and if they question why you don't find it humorous, simply tell them as a
person that you don't agree with the context and share your views. This honest
reaction does not require you to "put yourself in the cross hairs" by
explaining that your gay.
Remain a person of dignity, integrity and faith . Even if
your present church refuses to accept you as you are, there will be others who
will welcome you if only society and the laws of the land allows,the case
hasn't been so here in Nigeria where A Faith assembly for Gays has been under
criticism and violent threats and attacks. Rather than crying forever over the
things you have lost, try instead to focus on the blessings you do have in your
life.
Remember to read your Bible! Remember what a Christian
means.
Conclusion:
Many gay people around the world today most especially in a
continent like ours have been pushed out of the religious circle.
They've felt the urge to do away with their faith and no longer
value God.
Please it's not too late to identify with God, he doesn't
scare away, he's always there to hear you even if society teaches otherwise.
Attendance in Church is not what defines Christianity, it is
your heart, the place of Christ in your life.
You can start with a little prayer. Just try it. You may
still be at conflict with your sexuality and how religion sees it.
The effort you make today to get back on track can teach you
more on how to live everyday either you're gay or not.
This is the first part of The Series. Next week sunday, I'll
post a part2. Please stay tuned, God Bless.
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