Can you be Christian and gay?

This is something I am still not sure of, what are peoples opinions?

 

It depends on what you mean by Christian and what you mean by gay. If gay means practicing, many Christian churches say No; if gay means orientation only, some, like the Catholics, say no problem. Some Christian denominations even welcome practicing gays. The Disciples of Christ do, and the Episcopaleans even have an openly gay bishop, but he's the subject of a lot of controversy within the church, and some conservatives are talking about leaving. Christians who read the Bible literally have problems with gays because of statements in both the Old and New Testaments, but Jesus himself didn't say a word about the subject. (He had plenty to say against divorce and being rich.)

Christians who condemn homosexuality point to several passages, including Saint Paul's epistle to the Romans 1:18-27, which deals with pagans who reject God and are therefore given over to corrupting lusts and passions. Paul mentions that "their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural" and refers to this as "degrading passions". Then he goes on specifically to condemn male homosexual behavior. The implication is that all homosexuality, male and female alike, violates natural law, which was the leading Greco-Roman moral philosophy that Paul and subsequent religious writers read into the Bible. Some liberal scholars, like gay historian John Boswell, claim that all of this refers to heterosexuals who experiment in homosexuality, but there's nothing in the text to make that clear. It's also possible, in light of modern knowledge, to ask the question: Are lesbianism, homosexuality, and bisexuality "unnatural" functions? The traditional idea was that the natural function of sex is procreation, and the Jews of Paul's time made a big deal about traditional gender roles. So that's where the Christians you run into who condemn lesbianism are coming from.

 

Being gay is just another sin like stealing a pack of gum or having a drinking problem. People, specifically Christians, have blown it far out of proportion to make it more than it really is. The only problem with homosexuality in relation to other sins is that if you want to give it up, it might mean heartbreaking situations like giving up someone you love and an entire group of friends. But yes, you can be Christian and gay just like you can be Christian and an alcoholic or Christian and a thief. God loves all of us, just not what we DO.

 

Yep, it does mean giving up people you love!

But if you compare it to stealing - surely that means being gay is wrong and that we have to repent to say that we have done wrong - which I take as meaning it is something that should be denied.

 

But it doesn't mean you aren't a Christian, if you're gay, which is what the whole thread is about.

 

It does to those who believe it is wrong! I'm just finding it difficult to get my head around.

 

As I stated, homosexuality is considered a sin. And therefore it is wrong. Those are my beliefs. Yet, I still believe that you CAN be Christian and gay at the same time. Other Christians who believe you can't be Christian and gay are wrong, in my opinion. To be honest, I can't get my head around THAT belief. Or why being gay is such a big damned deal to anyone but the gay person him/herself. So they're gay, so what? They KNOW what you believe and what the Bible says, just like you know the Bible says stealing is wrong but we've all stolen stuff as kids. Leave 'em alone once they've heard what you've had to say... it's just gay.

 

Of course you can be gay. The Church of England has gay bishops, many churches do.
A lot of more "progressive" Christan churches don't take EVERYTHING in the Old testament literally (and anyway, wasn't jesus supposed to have created a new covenant with God?) and following the Law of Moses to the letter would involve some trange anachronisms in modern society.

 

Didn't stop one person... http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/news/2007-10-07-jacobs-living-biblically_N.htm

I've flipped through his book. It is funny and a good read too.

 

I have nothing against gay people in the church! Of course you can have faith and believe in God whatever your sexuality, but with so many Christians saying that although you believe in God, you are sinning and therefore not living in God's word and are displeasing him, it seems like it is a choice to made.

I have discussed this with with many vicars, most have said that in their opinion they cannot see what is wrong with it, but then some have practically thrown holy water over me and began exorcisms which I find extremely hard to accept, especially from men of the cloth.

If we are amde in God's image, then surely He made people gay, straight, bi, whatever - so why such a split!! There are so many more serious things happening in this broken world - war, poverty, violence, hate - why is love such a big thing for people to accept?! Would Jesus not have said more about it if it is one of the biggest sins?

 

Well just remember, if someone tells you that if you are gay, you sin and therefore God is displeased with you. Call them a hypocrite. Everyone sins. And leave it at that. most people who denounce homosexuality as an orientation won't concied anything to you.

I think you are right with the gay-bi-straight coming from God comment. God also made people of undertermined sex. It is up to them which gender to pick (if any). You have to be heartless and throw feces at science to say that transgendered people are somehow sinning or whatever. So God also made people who are sexually/romantically attracted to people of the same sex, just as those of the opposite sex.

 

You can be anything you want


I am a very devout Christian, and I am bisexual, and at one time considered myself gay. The only thing that changed when I realized this and came out to God and myself was that I felt a deeper connection with Him.

I am a very liberal Christian, and I attend a Unitarian church, so I suppose many people do not consider me a "real" Christian, but I have read the entire Bible, and I interpret things in my own way, as everyone should. I also take a logical stance and realize that the Bible was written by old men thousands of years ago, and that times and ideas change. If you've ever eaten a cheeseburger, according to Leviticus, you have committed a sin equal to sleeping with someone of the same sex. Both of these laws are ridiculous, as are many in the Bible. Be optimistic and take the positive from what you read. Think for yourself.. you don't have to believe everything it tells you to, but you don't have to throw it out and hate it, either.

 

In the eyes of god, don't you think this is an easy question to answer?

Go back 100 years, its an abomination.

Go back 50 years, keep it in the closet.

Today, be openly gay.

Obviously not as linear... but here is my point:

Who is right? If there was truly one god, one truth, would this question not already be answered? In truth there is no discussion, only learning of its existence... how can we possibly discuss god's word?

If you want to truly believe... you must believe homosexuality is a horrible thing, you have to, the bible says it... that is the word of god.

In the face of so many interpretations, you lose sight of the truth the bible professes itself to be.

Given the original word of god is apparantly up for interpretation now, does that not weaken those words, crumbling them under the weight of their own falsity?

You may say "some" of the bible is right... but given that seed of doubt, what can you believe to be true? The world is realizing this now and re-interpreting what was held as "truth" for a thousand years. The bible is being "rewritten" because people are starting to pay attention to what its actually saying, and realizing how "terrible" some of it is... thus making it obsolete in the eyes of some with faith... but if the bible is obsolete what does that mean for the faith it was based on? The bible didn't come first... but it serves as a tool to teach the word of god to all, the word of GOD... surely the bible must be free from untruth, if nothing else!

The middle east is frowned upon by us westeners... but those are just extremely devoutly religious people. If you truly followed the bible you'd be over there right now kickin some islamic ass

If you are gay you are an abomination and going to hell. If you believe otherwise you are going against the word of god, your going to hell. Any other interpretation is blasphemy. God works in mysterious ways, best not smite him!

 

Jesus preached love and forgiveness - great way of showing it!

 

Read your bible, homosexuality is a sin, an abomination... there is no forgiveness for sins done in vain.

If you don't believe that, you don't believe in the word of god.

Thats fine I guess, but when delving into the unknown world of sin, why not just follow the bible? Any other interpretation is against the bible, therefore a sin by denying god's word, and your going to hell.

It does say to be loving and forgiving, it also says to do whats in your power to eliminate evil... but I suppose as long as you stab someone in the face while praying for forgiveness, its all good?

 

I don't necessarily believe that any of the Bible is true. What I do know is that the stories and parables I have read in the New Testament have saved my life. In that they taught me much about myself and the world around me. Most of the reason I call myself a Christian is because so much of the world wants to put a label on everything. So I said "go ahead", and picked the closest thing that I identify with. I don't believe every single part of any of the religions, rather little pieces of each one. Each religion or philosophy has good points, but that doesn't mean I agree with everything. If you do, I highly doubt you're thinking for yourself..

 

Yes homosexuality may be a sin, but the bible says to hate the sin NOT the sinner. In my opinionsaying if you are gay you are an abomination is saying God hates the gay person!

So that in my opinion is not preaching what Jesus came to do, or what God has told us in the Bible!

 

There are lots of Christians who don't take the Bible literally, going all the way back to the 4th century A.D. In the 16th century, John Calvin, a guy nobody would accuse of being a liberal, said that parts of the Bible, like the creation story in genesis, were written to present ideas to simple folk who couldn't understand complex realities. Most if not all of the Biblical passages dealing with homosexuality could be interpreted to apply to gang rape, temple prostitution, pedophilia, and promiscuity, rather than loving relationships between adults. Jesus, himself, didn't have a word to say about the subject, which Christians should find more than a little odd. The New Testament passages are from Paul. For example, Saint Paul's epistle to the Romans 1:18-27, deals with pagans who reject God and are therefore given over to corrupting lusts and passions. Paul mentions that "their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural" and refers to this as "degrading passions". Then he goes on specifically to condemn male homosexual behavior. The implication is that all homosexuality, male and female alike, violates natural law, which was the leading Greco-Roman moral philosophy that Paul and subsequent religious writers read into the Bible. Some liberal scholars, like gay historian John Boswell, claim that all of this refers to heterosexuals who experiment in homosexuality, but there's nothing in the text to make that clear. It's also possible, in light of modern knowledge, to ask the question: Are lesbianism, homosexuality, and bisexuality "unnatural" functions? The traditional idea was that the natural function of sex is procreation, and the Jews of Paul's time made a big deal about traditional gender roles. So that's where the Christians you run into who condemn lesbianism are coming from.The Bible, as you say, has many inconsistencies resulting from different translations and human error. At best, it can be considered as one source of spiritual insight, together with reason, tradition, intuition, and personal experience.

 

You said it yourself, the bible is a good piece of literature, nothing more. Just as you gained "strength" from that book, you may read frankenstein and feel a renewed sense of being. Good literature is supposed to do that. The strength comes from within, books just remind you its there. You have the power to choose, you are in control of your own destiny... where exactly does god fit in there again?

Christian is not a catch-all. If you don't align perfectly you by definition must be something else, or you must assume yourself to be a sinner.. which I suppose you must assume either way, you must believe you were born in sin.

You know you are in control, you know god is not as he has been professed... that right there should let you know he does not exist... if he existed there would be one truth, there is not.

To improve this world we must stop serving our selfish desire for an afterlife... and we must stop serving our arrogant belief that god created us in his image.

 

Gay people choose to do what they do, and continue it without apologizing, they are living in sin and cannot be forgiven.

God does hate evil, those that live in sin are evil... you can figure it out from here.

Your ignoring the fact that we can even have this discussion... taking the bible literally is taking gods word literally... it is the basis for the christian religion.

Please provide proof of the existence of Jesus, outside of the bible.