here are deep personal tragedies, countless and sometimes seemingly
endless wounds gay people must face. Let us understand the term "gay" to
include gay males, lesbians, bisexual people, transgendered and all of
us who identify as a sexual minority. We encounter all sorts negative
programming from birth. Sometimes we feel forced to remain closeted, and
to lie to avoid disclosure and also verbal, physical, emotional, and
sometimes spiritual violence.
We encounter constant disapproval and disrespect from society as a
whole. Despite the fact that Jesus saw through people and brought out
what is real from within, gay people are still forced to work through
the outright verbal, psychological, and spiritual abuse; and sometimes
outright rejection and condemnation churches habitually and mercilessly
put us through. Thus, in the process, doing more spiritual harm than
good.
Instead of seeing the spiritual needs of the WHOLE person in a known
homosexual Believer we are automatically carried into the category of
some kind of reprobate who somehow MUST be unable to walk in the Holy
Spirit and be serious about serving the Risen Savior, Jesus Our Lord.
Those of us who know the truth of the gospel, are gifted and willing to
serve in ministry; are often victims of fall-out from our church due to
outright rejection. Or, perhaps more subtle yet powerful forms of gossip
and ostracism designed to render us discouraged, and to feel unwelcome,
unworthy, or downright unlovable- and incapable to minister as a child
of God.
Does this sound Familiar???
Let me make it clear that you do not have to understand nor agree
with everything here, or even every Bible verse in order to turn
your life to Christ and reach out to others who need the precious
personal relationship with our Lord. Don't worry about understanding
everything at once. God loves you as you are and wants to bless you
with His peace. You find this peace through prayer, trusting, and
waiting on God. Actively trusting with expectation and assurance that
He is answering your prayer, regardless of the circumstances.
This is written with the belief that the Bible IS the inspired Word
of God. There are bad and incorrect translations, and added words
possibly due to the fact that there is no word for homosexual in the
original Greek and Hebrew languages. However, Bible-abused people at
times will use these reasons to trash and dismiss the entire Bible. We
will look at the responses gay people have in reaction to these factors
in a homosexual persons' life.
Let's examine the kinds of things that happen when a gay person is
somehow disenfranchised from a certain church or fellowship. With
special emphasis in the life of a gay or lesbian youth growing up in a
homophobic family and forced to endure a church environment being
hostile to his or her inner makeup within, especially their discovered
sexual orientation. Most of here are -or were: young, gay and
Christian.
Many people, including the highly educated or those in authority,
believe that it is impossible to be both Christian AND gay. Yet, if you
are a gay Believer, you cannot abandon your sexual orientation, or your
position in Christ. Hopefully, one will not be self-deceived into
thinking he or she MUST want to deny either. Sadly, some of us do. And
suffer badly. The high costs of homophobia and condemnation have badly
damaged those who otherwise would be doing more of the Lord's work, as
well as ministering to other abused gay and lesbian Believers.
As long and as hard as some gay people try to conform to the
impossible mediocrity that one MUST be heterosexual ALL the time; most
people will not tell them that being Christian and gay is NOT mutually
exclusive. As true Christians who happen to be homosexual in our God
given nature, we cannot escape the integral parts of our identity; both
as a child of God and of same-gender attraction.
Unfortunately, the emotional and social hell most of us are FORCED to
go through is directly attributed to the negativity of Christians who will
not educate themselves on the subject of sexuality altogether. All the
while, of course, acting as experts in a very heterosexist attitude of
supremacy. This, of course, violates Gods' word as far as being prideful
and arrogant is concerned. While feeling qualified, of course, to tell
us how to live. Although we can find more support and understanding from
unbelievers about our sexual identity, where do we find gay-positive
Christian fellowship? That is, fellowship that is truly Christian and
growth that is grounded in Gods' Word?
As in the process, the critical question is "How do I deal with all
the rightful anger about my church and fellow Christians treatment of me
and my homosexual orientation?
Are you angry??? Are you so hurt and traumatized by the rejection of
family and friends in church that you have decided to dump the church
AND God???? Even without realizing the full extent of your affected
spiritual health? This is a serious and common occurrence for many.
Some of us feel that we MUST deny our sexual identity and happiness
in order to be accepted by God. This is not true. God accepts us AS WE
ARE. Many people cannot accept this truth.
This is where homophobic elements can truly be dangerous. As
Christians, and serious about our growth in Christ, we need to recognize
the deceptive tools of the enemy, Satan. Satan is alive and active in
the effects of modern day homophobia. If he can use this tool to
discourage gay Believers to turn away from Christ, or leave the church
or faith altogether, than he has, through the destructive nature of
homophobia, rendered many gay Believers rather estranged and depleted in
our desire to live for God and to spread the Gospel. If we are so
discouraged by the homophobia in the churches that we hold back on God,
we are only hurting ourselves and not being all that we are created to
be as gay Christians.
Part of the purpose of this message is to emphasize that we are not
only valued, loved, and treasured by God; but we, if we are true
Believers, are entrusted with the command to spread the Gospel. Our
disclosure to other gay people who have an aversion to the Gospel, is
critical as we approach the last days. Lives, Gods' lives hang in the
balance; almost destroyed and wiped out from any spiritual direction.
If we buy the satanic lie that God does not accept us, not
"worthy" to enter the kingdom, etc...then Satan has you where he wants
you! If you believe the scripture about Satan having come to kill, steal
and destroy; this is exactly what he is doing to gay Christians through
homophobia.
The enemy wants to kill our spiritual walk in Christ, because it is
a threat to him, to steal our testimony, disrupt our fellowship, and
destroy our lives. If you do not believe in the existence of Satan, you
are already in trouble. Which is exactly what happens as another crisis
takes place; one that is quite accepted in a lot of gay churches....and
does not feed us spiritually; that is IN Christ. This is a crisis of our
Spiritual Identity. How many people felt forced to turn their back on
their misguided Church and the Lord they love to get out of a church
that hates us for who we are? The damage done to already ruined lives is
immeasurable.
The need for gay Christian evangelism is awesome, and especially as
these days draw closer to the Second Coming of Christ. I have spoken to
pastors of gay-friendly churches who do NOT believe in the Second Coming
of Christ. If we have no future in eternal life, if Christ is not coming
for His own; including His precious gay and lesbian children; then we
may as well close all the churches and die and go to hell. What hope is
there if not for eternal life in Christ? Everything else is sinking
sand. EVERYTHING else is sinking sand.
There is this danger that a lot of us have fallen into, to "throw out"
Jesus as the author and finisher of our faith. To throw out Jesus as if
throwing out the baby with the dirty bath water of an oppressive church.
This can lead to a terrible identity crisis in faith; Even the mention
of the Word of God will turn gay people away from even reading this.
Even the word "Christian" provokes anger in that person. But is God
wholly responsible for your churches' condemnation???? Or homophobia?
Can we really blame Jesus?
You are precious in the eyes of God. He can fill your life to
overflowing if you but TRUST Him. And we can learn to trust Him by
spending personal time alone with Him. Learning to lean on Him for your
every need. Developing a dependence upon God for our every need is why
He created us. To walk in His will, and live for Him.
"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live but
Christ who lives within me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live
by FAITH in the Son of God, who LOVES me, and gave himself {on the
Cross} FOR me." - Galatians 2:20-21
If we can somehow separate the message of the gospel, of which most
homophobic churches do teach the truth of Christ; from the internalized
homophobia so evident there; they will not lose more souls than they
gain due to the WAY they throw in their misguided opinions about gays;
which stains the LIBERATING message of Christ.
"For freedom Christ has set us free; stand fast therefore, and do not
submit again to another yoke of slavery." - Galatians 5:1
Even when the truths of scripture are badly presented, or clouded
with bigotry; the truth of the gospel is still the truth.
Although many of us may not want to hear this, Jesus DID say "I am
the WAY, the Truth and the Life, no one comes to the Father BUT BY
ME! Without Jesus, there is no Cross, no Resurrection, and no hope for
eternal life. For those who die without Christ, their only hope is to
breathe their last.
Jesus is either the biggest liar or counterfeiter that ever lived,
or he is the ONLY way to eternal life. He did not say that this
denomination is the way, or I am one of many ways to the Father.
Jesus said, " He who has the Son has life, he who has not the Son has
not {eternal}life."
It is misdirected anger, my friends, to take your rightful anger from
the oppressive religions and take it out on Jesus Himself. It is true
that Jesus did come down from heaven, bore our sicknesses and diseases,
trials, burdens and sins on that Cross. Doing so he paid for all our
REAL sin, not necessarily because of our expression of our God-given
sexuality; which is not ALWAYS sinful. Jesus made an example of the
adulterer and prostitute, not the homosexual...If the churches can
wake up and realize that, the body of Christ would be in tremendous
shape and much more effective in service, truly setting an example
that unbelievers wouldn't find so much cause to scoff at as they do
today.
He is Risen, He is alive today. The real joy that comes by living for
Jesus is borne through the time we spend alone with God alone in prayer.
Through daily, intimate fellowship with Christ and Him alone. You can't
trust someone you don't know. To learn how to trust God we must get to
know Jesus personally. To know Him is to love Him, as the song goes. You
are not waiting on Him, he is waiting on you. Let's not keep the
source of all life waiting too long. For He cares for you.
Sometimes when a gay person decides to live for God, especially in a
homophobic church, that person is told a homosexual cannot be a
Christian. Then another crisis hits. The gay person may think that in
order to be accepted by God he or she MUST deny their sexual
identity. This can become a crisis of sexual identity. She or He is
somehow convinced they can "give it up for God." We can all give up
certain activities for God; food, drugs, sex, etc... but serious
emotional damage is done when one tries to give up an innate part of
their Created being: sexual orientation. The worst kind of deception is
self-denial. So some see these two kinds of imagined solutions in the
"inherited" homophobia-spawned deceptions of gay Christians. Either
they deny Christ and fall into spiritual deception to accept their
gayness; or try to deny their gayness to be supposedly accepted by God.
If the ways of your first or former church have many heavy memories
that cause you to reject Jesus; or dilute the message of the gospel so
much that you equate Buddha or some other false God as equal with Jesus;
than you are in extreme spiritual danger my friends. Where is your faith,
in what? In 1 John 2:22 we read "Who is the liar but he who denies that
Jesus is the Christ? This is the spirit of the antichrist, he who denies
the Father denies the Son." v. 23: "No one who denies the Son has the
Father also."
For gays, lesbians and bisexuals, the need to focus on Christ is
paramount. Nothing else in life is going to amount to much or have
eternal value. Despite the dangers and abuses of homophobic churches;
the truth of Christ, his redemptive work on the Cross, and the
Resurrection are all timeless reality. But even faithful church
attendance, good works, doing lots of Christian service, giving your
tithes, is not "seeking" the Lord, personally. "Seek the Lord and His
strength, seek His face continually." Psalm 105 v. 4
To truly find Spiritual revival, is to find it through making
personal quiet time with Jesus the number one priority of your day.
Reading the word daily. Letting God speak to your heart. Praying for
others. Trusting Him with thanksgiving for the desires of your heart.
"Restore us to Thyself, O Lord, and WE shall be restored."
-Lamentations 5:21
The answer to the Conflicts and Challenges we face as Gay and
Lesbian Believers is simple: seeking Jesus and Him alone in
prayer. In regular, continual, daily prayer and thanksgiving.
Putting our confidence supremely in the Lord. Just calmly and
confidently abiding in Him. There is no substitute for quality time with
Jesus...He is our Creator, Sustainer, our Living Hope. To grow
spiritually we must do what most churches do not. That is to practice
the PRESENCE of God.
Alone, daily. And with others too.
Jesus wants to become more intimate with us, yes, especially with His
very precious gay and Lesbian children.
Neither Jesus nor the scripture ever says we must change our sexual orientation to be accepted by God. We are not saved by grace or condemned to
hell based on our sexual orientation alone. But by faith in Christ and
Him alone.
Unlike the self-righteous Christian who is considering his or her
hetero-defined sexuality as "superior" to those of us who find some
members of our same gender beautiful; even "spiritually" superior to a
homosexual Christian...Jesus is different.
"I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently will find
me." -Proverbs 8:17
As the words of John 3:16-17 says "Whosoever BELIEVES IN HIM shall
not perish but have eternal life." Are you included in "whosoever?" do
you BELIEVE IN HIM as Savior and Lord? Than you shall have eternal life.
17-"He who believes in him is not condemned; and he who does not believe
is condemned already, because he has not believed in the NAME of the
ONLY Son of God." Now this is what Jesus has said, he and he alone.
Yes, the word 'whosoever' includes gays and lesbians who BELIEVE. Do
you believe in Jesus as Lord, and as your sufficiency for every need?
Yes, it is difficult at times, when the economy or situations look
bad, and that is all the more reason to trust Him and lean on His
Promises.
Of course, we all want to be "comfortable." It may sound attractive to
decide there are many ways to God. However, Jesus defeated death! He is
the only one ever alive to rise from the dead just as He said on the
third day. His Word is that good! So I am going to listen to Him! He
said "I am the Way, the Truth, the Life; no one comes to the Father
but by me."
Although the pain of religious oppression may still be felt when
hearing the name of Jesus, it evaporates when we submit our will to Him,
and trust Him as Savior and Lord. Yet, some pastors and churches that
accept gay people have sacrificed the message of the Cross because some
people aren't "comfortable" with it...They sacrifice the Word of God,
and the critically needed spiritual growth of these precious souls. To
try to "accommodate" the church-damaged." All they really end up
"accommodating" is unbelief.
Thus, no one is Spiritually fed on the Liberating gospel of Christ,
and thus many gay and lesbian Believers do not grow in Christ in these
churches; aiding the destruction of many that could have surrendered
lives to Christ if encouraged to do so....These dangerous churches are
sanctimoniously lukewarm, tranquil. Unable to stand the spiritual
assaults of the enemy, at the cost of gay and lesbian lives.
Although we don't like to admit it, Satan is real and powerful. If
you are a Believer and follower of Jesus, he has a target on your life.
Satan is the master deceiver. Cunning, treacherous, and often disguising
himself as an angel of light. These churches which deny the Deity of
Christ are very dangerous for the gay person who has been alienated from
a traditional Christian church. It is very easy to inadvertently lose
your conviction of faith in Christ in such a church. This is one reason
why personal prayer time is so important! Feelings of unworthiness or
shame may still be lingering, due to perhaps real or imagined sin, or
not re-programming our minds through the Word of God. The lack of that
church group to practice the presence of God through praise and prayer can
suffocate your growth as a Believer. If a person doesn't know what is
theirs in Christ what belongs to you as a child of God. There are over
1800 promises in the Bible that are our possession. They belong to us,
as children of God, given to us by our Holy Father. They are there for
us to stand on and depend on. God has given us these gifts, do you want
to disown them and throw them back?
Sinking sands of doubt, despair and unbelief are waiting for those
who are not in a gay-positive, Christ-centered fellowship. Unless the
relationship of prayer is there on a daily basis, the dangers of
drifting are all too real for the gay or lesbian person facing a
personal Spiritual crisis.
Once you are established in the discipline of daily prayer, and are
dwelling in the Spirit and Presence of God, it is not a duty, it is a
joy. It doesn't matter what time it is, you do not care about time, just
abiding in His Presence. Jesus has given Himself as a sacrifice for your
real sins and mine regardless of how "good" we may seem, all have sinned
and have fallen short of the Glory of God. He bore it all on the Cross,
dying for us, rising to defeat death so that those in Him may have
eternal life.
Some of us have decided to turn our backs on Jesus. Sometimes feeling
perfectly justified due to the misguided way, perhaps a legalistic or
judgmental way that we hear a church or person denounce us due to their
opinion of homosexuality. If it is such a horrible sin, why isn't there
a commandment against it? Why didn't Jesus make an example of it like he
did the adulterer and prostitute? Can we justify sin, no. However, I
cannot understand why people say that they want to "reconcile" their
sexuality and their faith. Only sin needs to be reconciled. Jesus nor
the Bible have ever CLEARLY stated that homosexuality is sin... But such
is the suffering of a Spiritual identity crisis. Yet, some gay and
lesbian Believers who are wrongly convinced that one cannot be gay and
Christian, seek to deny not their belief in Christ; but instead adopt an
inherited attitude that they can deny the reality of their God-given
orientation. My friend Michael has made this decision of denial.
Michael is a natural queen. Very, very obviously gay. He walks "gay"
he talks "gay", he is very obviously gay-to the max. He cannot hide his
flamboyancy. He is OUT by his very nature...without trying to flaunt it.
Not every man with feminine gestures is gay, but Michael is and he
cannot hide it if he wants to.
I asked him if he is a Believer, a Christian. "Well, I'd like to be,
but they say God doesn't accept us, that we are doomed to hell no matter
what, so what can I do????" he sadly replied. Here is a young man with a
desire to live for God, yet he is told he is hopeless even if he
believes. Devastated, he walked away, not convinced by my offer of hope
in Christ.
This is just the trap the enemy, Satan, wants him in. It is not the
work of the Lord, nor the fruit of the Holy Spirit when ANYONE"S faith
in the Lord is clouded by these lies. Especially a homosexual person is
devastated by this, as Michael was. This, of course, is contrary to
Jesus' unconditional love and offer of eternal life to ALL who believe.
Michael believes, regardless of his sexual orientation. But Michael, in
his need for God, somewhere got the notion that he must "choose" between
his orientation or God. So, seeing this as a way of acceptance of God;
he decided not to deny faith in Christ, but to "decide" to deny his
sexual identity instead. Again believing he cannot be both gay and
Christian, he basically switched his identity crisis. What was once a
perceived Spiritual identity crisis, now, in order to "correct" that, he
now has a sexual identity crisis; which can be very severe also. Again,
poisoned with the anti-scriptural notion that one cannot be Christian
and gay. This became evident to me when I had not seen him on campus for
a while, and then met him at a bus stop. He was reading a prayer book of
some kind, and he told me he now goes to a certain church. Unaware of
all this so far, I asked him is the church "accepting" his gayness.
"I've renounced it", he proclaimed, " I don't have to live that
"lifestyle" anymore." I tried to reason with him; "I am not talking
about your "lifestyle," I am talking about who you are. Your sexual
orientation is God-given."
Michael basically said he has "given it up for God." Given what up
for God??? I don't care what anyone says, the truth is he cannot give up
his innate sexual orientation any more that he can give up being
Italian. Sexual feelings just "are". They are not necessarily good or
bad, they just "are". Being in this physical body he cannot give up his
sexual feelings; but has just denied acknowledging them as homosexual.
This can lead to further conflict if he tries to become involved in a
heterosexual relationship, it may come out in the midst of what the
female hopes will lead to marriage, and sometimes such denial
does...then both are hurt when confronted with the truth of hiding one's
natural sexual orientation under the eventually transparent cloak of
religion and denial. What Michael and countless others need to know, is
that we are not acceptable to God based on pronounced heterosexuality.
Jesus said to do the "work" of God. "And this is the work of God, to
BELIEVE in Him who sent Me." According to Jesus, EVERY Believer is
commission by Christ to fulfil the Great Commission. To witness on
behalf of the Lord Jesus Christ.
There are those who say homosexuals {and women} should not be
preaching. So if I am a female or homosexual and someone comes up to me
and asks me who the true God is, what can I say? "Gee, guy I'm sorry but
as a homosexual I'm not suppose to preach, so I can't help you there,
you'll just have to die and go to hell, sorry..." Such is the
ludicrousness of homophobia, and the damage it does to hinder an
otherwise willing vessel that God can use, to reach the lost souls
looking for, or needing the kingdom of God.
If a homosexual is a Believer in the Lord Jesus, and is preaching an
accurate, Spirit-filled message, backed by the Word of God; then this
Believer is COMMANDED by the call of the Great Commission given by
Jesus. Without question every Believer has a responsibility to do her
and his part of the Great Commission.
Jesus did not say "Go, heterosexual men only, and make disciples of
all nations, baptizing them in the name....NO! Jesus just said GO! GO GO
GO! Jesus did not put any restrictions on who can or cannot help fulfill
the Great Commission. Of course it helps that the Believers' witness be
one whose life reflects the Lord. One who has the "aroma" of Christ, as
the scripture says. A Christian homosexual who is walking in the Holy
Spirit, has no less fill of the Holy Spirit within or any less gifts of
God within than any other serious Spirit-filled Believer. Period.
Most importantly we must not compromise nor be hesitant to shake the
truth; out of someone's comfort zone, if necessary. Nor are we to
minimize the integrity of the Gospel due to a gay person's ilk from a
certain religions' oppression upon her or him. That will give the enemy
a foothold to walk all over you. Regardless of how much a person decides
that there are multitude ways to God, now matter how reasonable it
sounds, it is not the message of the Cross and our Savior, Jesus the
Christ. He rose from the grave, He has defeated death, and He is coming
again, He lives within us by the power of the Holy Spirit. I am going to
BELIEVE what HE says. I am going to continue to TRUST Him more and more.
I have time with Him and read His Word every day. He is my only hope for
this life and the life to come. He has made me His child, saved me from
eternal death by his shed blood on the Cross, He has written my name in
the Lambs' book of Life, forever sealing me as a child of God. So I live
for Him and Trust Him for my every need. Praise God from whom all
Blessings Flow!
He IS God. He knew about my sexual orientation before I was ever
born. He created me, as I, and you, are created in His Image.
Regardless of how determined you are to see the sunset, how enthused
and positive you are that you will see it; if you are headed east, you
are going to be disappointed. The same with knowing the true God. That
is just reality. And who is God but the Lord? If you choose to reject
Christ, and that means if you do not choose to Believe in Christ as
Lord, you have no hope. Not in this life, nor for eternity.
There are many, both gay and anti-gay who will attack the truths in
this message, but I welcome that. All the more reason to convince,
rebuke and exhort those who need Christ. For if the Gospel is veiled it
is veiled only to those who are perishing. Without Jesus HIMSELF in your
life, it is easy to be one of those who are still enslaved by the great
sway of real sin. This message of the Gospel is a liferaft to freedom
for this life and for eternity. Not only freedom TO do certain things,
but also freedom FROM certain things, the bondage from sin and eternal
death, my friend. But ONLY if you Believe.
I don't know anyone who if drowning in a river who would refuse to
grab hold of a liferaft if someone threw it to them, trusting that
person to pull them in if they just grab hold of it. It can save your
physical life. But what about your eternal life?
Don't refuse to grab hold of Jesus.
He is your eternal liferaft. Jesus said "I will never leave you nor
forsake you." "Trust in Me, delight in Me, and I will give you the
desires of your heart".
There is such a tremendous need for true Christian evangelism to all
"church-damaged" people, especially in the gay community. Who else but
saved, redeemed, and Holy Spirit-filled gays and lesbians can reach
other gays with love AND acceptance? Those still bound by sin and the
bondage of self-doubt and unbelief? Many of us are sitting idly by,
while those around us in these church-imposed and sometimes self-imposed
spiritual identity and sexual identity traps find no hope. The only way
to find hope in God is to daily cultivate your personal relationship
with the best friend you will ever have. Continual fellowship with the
Lord through prayer and His Word.
He wants you to grow in obedience to Him, because He wants to BLESS
you! In the book of John 15, Jesus said "Apart from me you can do
nothing" {of Godly value}. If you are not open to the Gospel and Love of
Christ, then you are definitely a prisoner of darkness. There are only
two true Spiritual heads in this world. Either your Spiritual head is
Jesus or it Satan. No one likes to hear this, it is not pleasant, but it
it the truth.
"For the word of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing,
but to us who are being saved it is the Power of God." 1 Corinthians 1:18-19
Those of us who know we are here on this earth to glorify God
want to spend quiet time alone with God. If you live a life of prayer,
it is something you look forward to, not an obligation. When we serve
the Lord in what everyday way we can, walking the pathway of faith,
we do not live as victims in this world.
The Holy Spirit within us can attract others to us. Preaching AT
people repels them, alienating lost souls even further.
This happens far too much to gays and lesbians and all sexual
minority people. Great preachers can say a lot, but can YOU actually
REACH people with the gospel, especially other gays and lesbians who are
so far alienated? Who else but Christian gay people can God use {If
you are available to God} to reach so severely abused and
disenfranchised souls?
We should know by now, that since God created our bodies, including
our affections and sexual identity, it is of Him. To deny our sexual
identity, whatever it is, is to deny the Created Power of God within us.
As Gay and Lesbian Believers, and those of us who are secure in our
position in Christ, we have a dual role of responsibility in the
fulfillment of the Great Commission. Who else but you and I as Gay and
Lesbian Believers, can reach the homosexual person already feeling
abused and condemned? As well as not confident to receive the gift of
eternal life? Who else but other homosexual Believers, alive with the
Holy Spirit, will lost gay souls, for whatever reasons, be receptive to?
It is highly unlikely a homophobic Christian can lead a gay person to
Christ; while not appreciating the gift of Gods' created sexual
orientation within that person. This is why there is such critical need
for POSITIVE Christian evangelism in the hearts and ears of most
gay people.
We as Believers, who are called by His Name, and value the gift of
our sexual orientation; have a double cross to bear. The persecution of
our faith in Christ, and persecution of others, especially Christians,
due to their view of our sexual identity within. This can lead to real
discouragement, Satan's most often used, and most effective weapon.
Who else will give an unbeliever the message of Christ himself,
especially a gay unbeliever; except Gay Christians willing to confront
this double persecution? Who else, but gay Believers, will accept,
understand and LOVE enough, as He has loved us; to bring Christ to other
gays and lesbians? Who else but you and I have a chance to be a
Spirit-filled liferaft of eternal life, towards other gays and lesbians
walking in darkness?
The word in the text of John 3:16, "whosoever" does not exclude
ANYONE who BELIEVES in Him. It does however, exclude anyone who does
NOT believe! This is why Christian evangelism, especially to gay people,
is so critical. "Whosoever" doesn't leave anyone out, but among those
who BELIEVE {in Christ as the Savior} that leaves ALOT of people out.
Jesus said "To do the work of God is this: to BELIEVE in the One who
sent Me." Eternal life is offered to no one without Christ living
within, in the Person of the Holy Spirit. Without Christ there is no
payment for our true sin debt on the Cross. No redemption, no
Resurrection, no hope for eternal life. Without Jesus, the scripture
says of the wicked "their only hope, is to breathe their last."
God is all-knowing. He knows all about sexual orientation. He knows
you better than you know yourself, so the Lord isn't worried about
sexual orientation as a lot of people are, the question is are you
surrendered to Jesus in your life? Are you willing to LIVE for HIM?
Why? One reason is His great Love for us. His Holy Spirit is waiting
to be revealed to others through our desire to serve God and help bring
others to Christ.
There are a lot of thrills and enjoyment this world offers. Still,
despite all that, there is no greater joy than to bring someone out of
the domain of darkness into the life of Christ, who for our sake died
and was raised! This is why EVERY Believer is so critical to the call
of the Great Commission. There are gay and lesbian people homophobic
people can't reach. Some of these abused souls we can reach, especially
on a one-to one basis. Individually, some people who are receptive to
you and I, others cannot reach. For example, there are souls that I can
reach that won't be receptive to Susan, and Ellen can reach people not
receptive to Bill, and Bill may reach someone not receptive to Ellen,
and so forth.
Each and every Believer is CRITICAL to Gods' work.
This means, every one reading this now, too.
Although Christ is returning for His church, right
now His physical presence is not on this earth. God,
here on earth, has no hands but ours, no hearts but ours
to work with; unless we make ourselves available to Him.
Are you living for HIM? Are you willing to say "Yes,
Lord I am here to answer your call?"
If not, you might ask yourself, why not? Are you
putting the joy of knowing Jesus first in your life?
Is it your hearts' desire to put aside personal quiet
time each day to hear God speak to you through His Word and
the Holy Spirit?
The leadership of Jesus as Messiah is leadership by example, a
leadership of service. None of us, regardless of our position in
business, in wealth, or pride, are exempt from the call of Christ to
bring others to Him.
In the love of Christ, through the guiding Presence of the Holy Spirit,
without judgement or condemnation, but with the Truth of the Gospel; God
calls us to help save others from the eternal death this world is headed
for.
I hope and pray that you will answer this call and
show others the Way of Jesus, how each one of us can have
the Love that never ends.
We, as children of God, have been given the Promises in Gods' Word
to stand on. The Bible is the Word of truth for all who believe.
Once we see the real power in our life for Christ, we can also see,
through the Bible, that Jesus is the greatest liberator of all. The
reason why many do not believe in Christ is through an aversion to read
the scripture. These "blocks" that can occur; especially to a Gay
Believer, are not from the Bible itself, but from listening to
homophobia regarding the Bible. The enemy has kept Gods' precious
Gay Believers down for centuries due to the undercutting homophobia
Satan so deceitfully uses against us.
However, the scriptures, especially in 1 Corinthians 6:9
are often translated incorrectly, for there is no
Greek or Hebrew word for homosexual. There are two
words rendered by this translation, and according to
Dr. John Boswell, Bible historian of Yale. One of these
words is for "male" and one for "prostitute" or "harlot." Thus a
male homosexual who is not a prostitute, is not what Paul was referring
to here. It is so important to be aware of the correct translations
without allowing it to dismiss or demean the truth of the Word. For
instead of drawing division due to the different interpretations of
scripture, which the enemy wants, Jesus is calling us to Himself, to
draw you into communion with Him, through quiet prayer alone with God.
If you are still not drawn into a personal relationship with
Christ, then it is good to give to God this quiet time, and let Him
through the small, potent voice within, the Holy Spirit, guide you into
all truth.
This truth of God that Jesus refers to is the truth found in the
Word. Let the Spirit direct you, as in Psalm 100 we read in v. 5;
"The Lord is good, and His steadfast love endures
forever, and His truth to ALL generations."
Yes, the Bible is a friend of gays and lesbians. All
Believers can feast on its' treasures. Every day is the best way. Yet
due to what is, in fact, true satanic homophobia from others, some of
us as gay people doubt our place and security in Christ and eternal
life.
In John 10:25, Jesus assures us of the Fathers' sovereign Power. "I told you and you do not Believe" was Jesus' reply to the Jews.
"The
works that I do in My Fathers' Name bear witness to me. But you do
not believe because you do not belong to my fold."
"My sheep hear me voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;
and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, as NO ONE
CAN SNATCH THEM OUT of my Fathers' hand. My Father, who has given
them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out
of the Fathers' hand. I and the Father are One," according to
Jesus in John 10:26-30.
So, all of us can know, by the words of the King,
that even the judgements of the vilest of homosexual
hate-mongers cannot separate us from the Love of God.
God wants each of us to be the very best servant of
The King possible. To be the very best we can be, we
must be free from the bondage of sin in our lives. The
way this freedom from bondage begins to develop is by
giving time and honor to God. Prayer is the doorway,
the precious time we spend before the Lord. In these
times, as we give ourselves to "submit" ourselves to
Him, that He draws us closer to Himself.
"Restore us
to Thyself, O' Lord, and we shall be
restored." -Lamentations
5:21
May God grant us the courage to live as His Created
vessels, made in His image, bringing each creature
the saving message of the Gospel. This is what being
a servant of Christ is, one who helps to bring others
to Christ.
When we talk to God, and pray, we do so with the
reverence due Him, whom we are before in prayer. Although God hears all prayer, even the ones that don't sound too nice;
but while in the spirit of prayer, it's only natural to relate in a
reverent manner to Him who has done it all. Now we pray for this
need, and that need, and for those people who need prayer. Certainly
we must ask God and trust Him to meet our needs, but material answers
to prayer is just the overflow; of the joy and closeness we have as we
spend time seeking HIM and HIM alone, not just things. God wants our
life to grow in Him by cultivating that relationship with Jesus we
call prayer.
As we stick to regular prayer time, and guard that time vigilantly
because Satan is always on the alert to "steal your prayer time", as
many Believers can report... It during this time with God personally
and in His Word, that we grow in our relationship with Him.
"Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and HIS righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you."
-Matt 6:33
If you but treasure intimacy with God, then make
meditation on God and His Word the first priority of
your day, at least one or two set aside times of quiet
and prayer before Him. Although we are to maintain an
attitude of prayer and praise throughout our day, {pray
without ceasing as Paul exhorts} we need that special
time, perhaps in a special place; to listen to Him.
In Him lies the Power; how are we to find strength
for daily living without Him? The Supreme Power of
of Heaven and earth wants to get to know YOU! Will you
give Him some time? He wants us to find Himself. He
who seeks me diligently finds me, and "Abide in Me."
Jesus said in John 15. We can live in the joy and
abundance of the life Jesus offers, if we but surrender
to Him, and listen to that voice within, called the
Holy Spirit. In the reading of His Word, the Bible,
ask the Holy Spirit to guide you.
God will not tell you to do anything contrary to His
Commandments and His Word. He loves you, He created
you; sexual orientation and all. He wants us, especially as Gay and
Lesbian Believers, to throw off the shackles of unbelief and shame
that homophobia has thrown at us; originating at the Father of all
lies, Satan himself. Satan has used homophobia so effectively to
destroy abused gay youth in churches and everywhere.
Homophobia is curable. It starts in the heart. Where
all of us need Jesus. More than ever, we need to reach
those around us for Christ, especially in the gay
community where many are hopeless, without Christ.
Let us bring the Liberating message of Christ's Love
to a lost and hopeless world. Sometimes the most effective way to
show His love is on a one-to-one basis. As Gay-positive Christians,
we need not be suffering in conflict due to those who are not
accepting of our sexuality. Jesus is accepting of it because He
created it. We are called out to bring others to Christ. We are
called by the One who has, for us, a love that never ends.
This, in Christ, my friend, is a love worth sharing with someone
else. The means is up to you. A vessel that is available to God is a
willing servant to his sisters and brothers. Someone who shines with
the "aroma" of Christ.
This comes from spending regular quiet time with our
Lord. For what grows out of it, has eternal weight of Glory.
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for He rewards those who diligently seek Him.
Praise God from whom all Blessings flow!
