Gays Fight for Identity at Religious Colleges

smbelow, 1 Corinthians 5:9-13. How does this apply to homsexual lifestyles of Christians? Accordingly, they are to be removed from the church. I go to the cause and effect, because this is a dynamic that cannot be denied. In the household of faith, how is it that the children are so cursed. Is there no distinction between those who walk with God and those who do not? I know there are those who would say that a gay person can walk with God, and I would say that the righteousness of God tells me "NO!" but His mercy and the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross tells me "Mercy covers a multitude of sins". But then John in 1 John tells us clearly that the one born of the Spirit cannot continue in a lifestyle of sin. Is the gay person to be celibate for their whole life, if they wish to walk with God?

But even moreso, we must ask ourselves what is our response to this. Is it hatred of the gay? Is it condemnation? Is it open acceptance? Is it sticking our proverbial heads on the proverbial sand? Each one of us must choose, and in our walk with God, understand that Jesus said, "My sheep know My voice...". But do we count our lucky stars, like a newborn baby has all it's fingers and toes, that we now also consider our children perfect if they aren't gay as well?

The sins of Sodom and Gomorrah have long been linked to sexual perversion, however that is not the truth. Sexual perversion was only a part of the whole. Isaiah tells us that Sodom "lived in luxury and cared not for the poor."

¹⁰Hear the word of the LORD,
You rulers of Sodom;
Give ear to the instruction of our God,
You people of Gomorrah.

(This is figurative, referring to Israel, but in the usage of this figurative speech, God is comparing Israel to S & G, and found the alike.)

¹¹"What are your multiplied sacrifices to Me?"
Says the LORD.
"I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams
And the fat of fed cattle;
And I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs or goats.
¹²"When you come to appear before Me,
Who requires of you this trampling of My courts?
¹³"Bring your worthless offerings no longer,
Incense is an abomination to Me
New moon and sabbath, the calling of assemblies--
I cannot endure iniquity and the solemn assembly.
¹⁴"I hate your new moon festivals and your appointed feasts,
They have become a burden to Me;
I am weary of bearing them.
¹⁵"So when you spread out your hands in prayer,
I will hide My eyes from you;
Yes, even though you multiply prayers,
I will not listen
Your hands are covered with blood.
¹⁶"Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean;
Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight
Cease to do evil,
¹⁷Learn to do good;
Seek justice,
Reprove the ruthless,
Defend the orphan,
Plead for the widow.

This is just one passage that describes the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah. It was much more than homosexuality.

@razorsteven,

I understand that for those who order their lives by Biblical directives and wisdom, the issue of God's laws and righteousness is always at the center, or should be. There are abuses and hypocrites, but we're talking the true Christians, who actually walk the talk.

I also understand that there are those who do not recognize Biblical legitimacy, and for them, their consideration is that gay rights are a civil issue, not a religious (I hate that word!) one.

For me, I would have to agree that gay marriage, civil unions, etc, the whole thing, is indeed a civil matter, and not a "religious" one. However, we must ask ourselves. What comes first, the belief or the deed? Do we not act out of our beliefs? So we who believe that the gay lifestyle is a wicked lifestyle, do not want such persons engaged in that lifestyle to be viewed as normal and acceptable, and there are many reasons for this.

• We must, from the heart, honor God by what we hold to be true, noble and right.
• We do not want our children to be taught that homosexuality is an acceptable lifestyle choice.

However, on the other hand:

• Our very own book, the Bible, in Paul's letter to the Corinthians (1 Co. 5:9-13) tells us:

⁹I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; ¹⁰I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world. ¹¹But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler--not even to eat with such a one. ¹²For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? ¹³But those who are outside, God judges. REMOVE THE WICKED MAN FROM AMONG YOURSELVES.

(the words in bold include a gay lifestyle as being under the heading of "immoral person")

Ah, but these children raised in Christian families attending Bible college, are they the "wicked man"? Should they not be cast out of the family of God?

Here's what I garner from the whole controversy. We Christians seriously need to rethink our attitudes concering sin, prayer, and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. Sin is not a light thing, for the life that treats sin as a light thing is a life that God does not honor, nor does He listen to their prayers. If we want our voice heard in heaven, we must put away doing evil, and stop justifying and excusing ourselves.

If Christians believe that there is to be any fix for this dilemma, it needs to begin with us, and our walking in the truth.