An interesting article on gay marriage from a Christian site

[FreedomAngel82]

I thought this was interesting and wanted to share snippette's with you and hear what you think. I don't like what some things they say but all in all it's better than some things I've read.

Link: http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2004/135/22.0.html

Snip: <While working for a conservative interest group in Iowa, I was amazed by the high number of Christian people who would turn out to oppose homosexuals politically. Yet when I presented opportunities to reach out in love to people who identify as LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender), my efforts were often met with apathy and sometimes even hostility. Anger at the homosexuals' political agenda often seemed to overshadow the task of learning how to love homosexuals as Jesus would.

But if God's people are not equipped to give homosexuals the special kind of love they need in order to heal the wounds of their past and move into heterosexuality, do we really have the right to oppose them politically? And if we are to show love, what exactly does that look like within the context of the debate over same-sex marriage?

Certainly, what cannot be loving is an approach to loving lesbian and gay people that stops at opposing same-sex marriage. Today many churches have created an emotional Catch-22 for LGBT people by opposing their right to marry but neglecting to provide them a safe place to heal. From the gay person's perspective, it seems that Christians are demanding that they simply disappear.

EDITED BY ADMIN: COPYRIGHT

[teenagebambam]

1. Feh. I guess it's something....

....but the overwhelming condescension astounds me. What would they do with someone who is gay AND a Christian? They'd be flummoxed, I suppose.

[bonzotex]

2. Jesus' Love as a tool to "fix" homosexuals

Better than what you've heard? Have you been reading Christian tracts that advocate sterilizing and/or putting gays in concentration camps?

Nothing new here... Just a nice way of saying homosexuals are deviants and must be converted and cured as well as prevented from having equal rights.

[FreedomAngel82]

3. Something I don't get

is how someone could be gay and a Christian myself. :shrug: I don't know how I could do it. Especially with all the condeming and what not. But it seems they are trying to not force things or whatever and not preach as mentioned at the end. I didn't like how they said "ex-gay" because I don't think you can be an ex-gay or at least it's not known if you can be or not. How do they know they were really gay at all? How do they know they weren't just a bi-sexual or something? They do still think you can "cure" it through religion. Good luck. At least they are trying to listen and be nice and be inviting and not like some rightwingers who would probably rather see them dead. They did mention this: <This is their chance to show you how to love them, and remember, there are no strings attached. You are not trying to "change" them, you only want to love them.>

I thought that was a good point.

[mitchtv]

12. it's easy for a Gay to be a Christian

follow his teaching ie golden Rule; the Beatitudes. Ignore the heretical sects teaching culture and civics

[KarenInMA]

4. Wow

"From the gay person's perspective, it seems that Christians are demanding that they simply disappear."

I don't agree with the "fixing gays" horseshit, but that's a rather powerful statement for a Christian website to make.


Wow.

[FreedomAngel82]

5. I think so too

They're aware that it's going on. The article the person wrote is called "Banning Gay Marriage is Not the Answer."

[Ian David]

17. My guess is that the guy has "been there" himself.

I detect an "ex-gay" writing that article.

Isn't it amazing that the anti-gay people will come up with any excuse to look at gay porn, think about gay people, or be with gay people?

[bertha katzenengel]

6. It certainly is refreshing to hear someone write this way about us

from the fundamentalist camp. Maybe a few of them honestly do think about what Christ would do.

Still, the preconceived notion of sexual sin is troublesome. They will never get over their opposition to our "lifestyle" until they begin to see how silly the concept of sexual sin is. If fundies were honest, they would admit that they do in fact treat the straight couples of their congregations that "live in sin" or "shack up"* differently than they treat gay people.

* for the youngsters: that means living w/ your BF or GF without being married. :hi:

[FreedomAngel82]

8. Right

I think it will take a long time though (like with interacial marriage) but at least this person is trying to help change how it's being done in this country and how people are acting. Of course the fundies will probably say they're liberal. :eyes:

[mitchtv]

7. I can't say that there was anything in it Iliked

NO ONE is about to listen to "EX homosexuals" that's a laugh! Moving to heterosexuality?:puke: I'm sure the thought was sincere ,but all wrong. They have nothing to offer but LIES.

[FreedomAngel82]

10. Maybe not the fundies

There could be some churches I guess. I still think they have a lot to learn.

[Maraya1969]

9. That really is nicer than what other "Christians" say. But the problem

is this paragraph.

# Ask your church to sponsor a forum on homosexuality. Invite an ex-gay who is willing to share his or her testimony in a humble and compassionate manner. You can advertise this in the local newspaper and even recruit students to pass out flyers in the public school. When gay students and other members of the homosexual community show up, seize the opportunity to show interest in their lives. (Warning: There are a few public figures in the ex-gay community who claim to be compassionate but actually just want to preach at or condemn homosexuals. Be careful about whom you choose to speak at your event.)"


Until Christians(some) and others get off their Holy Band Wagon and stop believing that homosexuality in inherently wrong there really can be no great communication between the two. Some Christians just pound away at the few mentions of homosexuality being an abomination and do not take it in context like they do the abomination of wearing two different types of threads in their garments. Those abominations they just throw away and realize they mean nothing in today's world. But they can't seem to realize that abomination and homosexuality mean nothing in today's world either.

In Biblical days sex was for procreation because the man power of a tribe was essential to its continued existence. Homosexual behavior was not practical for a people who had to fight for their lives on a regular basis. Thus the translation into "abomination". The real word probably meant something more aligned with "practical".

EDITED because I can't spell

[FreedomAngel82]

11. I've never thought about that

But you do make good points about that. I'll have to remember that.

[Ian David]

13. This is to gays what "Jews for Jesus" is to Jews.

Well, i'm interested in knowing just how far this person is willing to go to "love" gay people.

All in the interest of quietly, subtly trying to "cure" them.


See:

<snip>
"As Christians, we know that homosexual feelings can be overcome, but most LGBT people view their attractions as an immutable identity."

<snip>

" Invite an ex-gay who is willing to share his or her testimony in a humble and compassionate manner."



But here is what I think was valuable in that article:


Certainly, what cannot be loving is an approach to loving lesbian and gay people that stops at opposing same-sex marriage. Today many churches have created an emotional Catch-22 for LGBT people by opposing their right to marry but neglecting to provide them a safe place to heal. From the gay person's perspective, it seems that Christians are demanding that they simply disappear.

Knowing how to show love begins with knowing how to communicate, and it's important to understand how people think before trying to communicate with them. Trying to have a discussion about gay marriage with someone who is lesbian or gay is often like trying to play a game of baseball while the opposing team is on a soccer field. Each side is basing their arguments on completely different assumptions about homosexuality. As Christians, we know that homosexual feelings can be overcome, but most LGBT people view their attractions as an immutable identity. If I were a homosexual who honestly believed that my orientation was unchangeable, I would probably view conservative Christians as bigots, just as many of them do.

The heat gets turned up even higher when the subject of gay marriage comes up. The gay and lesbian community will accuse Christians who oppose gay marriage of being "hate mongers," while Christians insist that opposition to gay marriage is actually the loving thing to do.

[Dogmudgeon]

14. It's a step in the right direction ... BUT ...

... the writer is still coming from the position that attraction and love for a member of one's own gender is somehow "wrong".

Although we should encourage any movement toward the acceptance of all people, no matter what their sexual feelings may be, we should understand that this is a first step. It is ironic, but g/l/b/t people may have to be the ones to teach Christians the value of the truly radical nature of Christ's love.

It will be a long struggle, but I believe it will be worth it.

--p!

[nevergiveup]

15. I am still waiting to meet

an "ex-gay" person and I am approaching 60 and have been around the block.....if you know what I mean. There is a certain "pity" attitude here I find unsettling.

[skypilot]

16. Sorry...

...but I don't need their "special kind of love". All I need from them is that they live and let live.

[Ian David]

18. But they want to LOVE you!

They want to invite you into their church.

They want to mentor you.

Get all buddy-buddy with you.

They want to talk to you ALL ABOUT being gay.

They want to know EVERYTHING about being gay so they can learn to LOVE YOU.

They want to talk LONG and HARD, and have DEEP, PENETRATING conversations with you about being gay.

What could be wrong with that?

;-)

[TrogL]

19. They missed one - "offer to debate someone in favour of gay marriage"

My priest has offered to debate the subject. He suspects he'll lose.

[Terran]

20. Ok, you lost me from the 2nd paragraph

I am not some human damaged goods to be fixed by a patronizing Christian's "love" for me (what a f*cking joke). "Opposing homosexuals politically" equals hatred for what we are, not for what we want, because all we want is what everyone else wants and has. There IS NO "politcal" reason for opposing our "agenda"; our agenda is opposed because people hate us. Period.

[GreenPartyVoter]

21. But they still want to CHANGE gay people, whether they are loving them

or not. They refuse to accept that gay is as normal as straight.

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