Are you gay, homosexual,lesbian, bisexual, transexual etc...? Well, I want to welcome you to my personal website from my personal experiences and friendship with people that have a similar background. I honestly never been homosexual, but I have had thoughts about it. They were basically "stuff" that runs in your mind coming out of nowhere. As a Christian (see personal testimony), I want to show my love towards homosexuals through this website. Please let me know how I could be a resource to you through prayer, needs, or just someone to talk with.
Of all my homosexual friends, I've found a common trend. It happened in the past when they were young and was sexually abused by someone they knew. It's very sad that this had to happen. Feel free to share me your stories or what you think about this?
Below is a case study sent to me by e-mail from a christian brother in the Twin Cities with my response:
Case Study 1:
Your longtime friend, Darnell, comes to you one day and wants to talk. He is not a Christian, and has shown little interest in matters of faith. Recently, however, he has begun to ask searching questions about the meaning of his life. He respects your faith, and is willing to listen to you.
�I just heard some preacher on the radio,� he says, �going on about homosexuality. What is it with Christians and homosexuality? Doesn�t the Bible prohibit all sorts of things that we do everyday? I seem to remember that the Bible says you can�t wear clothes made out of two kinds of fabric, or eat shellfish or pork. And doesn�t the Bible also say women can�t wear gold or pearls? Why is homosexuality such a big deal then? You know I�m not a homosexual, but I don�t see why it has to be such a big issue. What�s the difference between that and the other things that are prohibited?�
What would you say to Darnell?
Send your answers to goodnewsumm@hotmail.com
Response #1:
The Bible is more than what is or what isn't prohibited. The Old Testament (before Jesus' time) was a book of laws-on what you can or you can't do. That is why Jesus came, to take place of the law. Below is an argument between Paul and Peter over the Jewish custom/law on "circumsision" that is similar to the list of "prohibition" mentioned in the Old Testament:
11When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong. 12Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. 13The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray. 14When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, "You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs? 15"We who are Jews by birth and not 'Gentile sinners' 16know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified. 17"If, while we seek to be justified in Christ, it becomes evident that we ourselves are sinners, does that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not! 18If I rebuild what I destroyed, I prove that I am a lawbreaker. 19For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. 20I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!"-Galatians 2
As mentioned in verse 14 and 17, we are not entitled to obey what the law says. However, our faith and relationship (see personal relationship) in Jesus Christ is what it all brings down to. From our faith in Him, the "meaning of life" is to totally trust and depend in Him glorifying-worshipping Jesus with all our heart (Romans 12). Our actions is the fruit of all this, and what we do (lifestyle) is the result of all this (see purpose in life).
The Bible (see bible testimony) was written more than as a law, but a "love letter" from our Heavenly Father. He is a "justified" and "loving" God, who just wants to best for us-like how a real father treats his son or children.
The difference between "homosexuality" and the others the Bible prohibits can be answered through Scriptures-what God says is more than what man, religion, or even any particular church (man can't judge, which many Christians tend to do) says. Ask Him yourself (Matthew 7:7)! Below are some Scripture verses that you search for "key words-homosexuality" (other issues in life):
Below are some Scripture verses, but you need the whole context of the Bible instead of taking verse by verse literally. God's greatest commandments is to "love God" and "love neighbor" (sex, gender, race, class, etc...), which if we do just both of these-life issues like homosexuality woldn't be such a big deal.
Past Stories
I went to high school with folks that I had a feeling were "gay", but I really never had the chance to interact with them as I was in my own "clique". Then when I went to school at UMM, I started to meet more and more of them. Over my 4 years, I learned how to be "open" and "compassionate" towards them. One time I was with a friend and he told me "out of the blue" that he was "gay". I was at first shocked, but then I started to absorb the reality as I reflected on some past times of hanging out and notice some "clues". I kind of lied that "I knew that". I'm still friends with him and trying to just be the same friend I was before he told me he was gay.
I have another friend of mine that moved out of state for personal growth with God that was "bisexual". He told me this after a week living with me. I was shocked at first too, but just kept loving him as a friend. He would later leave his bisexual lifestyle as he grew in his loving personal relationship with Jesus. I'm not sure if he completely left, but it's between him and God as I still keep him in my prayers.
Just recently, I met a lesbian couple, which I've met in the past. However, I'm getting to know them more than the others I've met in the past. I'm just going to "keep loving them" as I was reminded by a Christian brother in mind that left that lifestyle. He is part of Exodus Ministries (see down below), which I was referred to this website after chatting with him during a break at City Hills' Regional Leadership Conference awhile back. I'll probably give an update on this story down the road. Till then, I'm just going to keep growing in my personal relationship with God to shine more of Jesus' light to the people He puts in my path day to day!
Below are some links to some resources that might help better understand and love homosexuals, like any other human being.
College
Testimonies
Articles:
Entertainment
Gay Gene?
Books:
Ministries
Eagles' Wings Ministry,Arden Hills-MN based also helping with
homosexuality
Outppost Ministry, Minneapolis based-helping people with homosexuality
Movies
Resources
*Note: I have friends (one of them I met at UMM), relatives, and other people that I interact now and then who are "openly gay", which that doesn't change my relationship with either of them. God loves them and I love them, which what they do is between them and God themselves.
Stories
"Confused Feelings"
-Sports
Football
From the NFL to hell and back...Jesus set him free
Related Sites:
Gay Ex-NFL Player Public Again
Lineman Roy Simmons Breaks His 12-Year Silence
(2006 Update: Simmons on which NFL player he would "do," kill and marry)
Also: Simmons accuses NFL of discrimination)
By Jim Buzinski
Outsports.com
"The article also weaves in the difficulty of being black and gay--the �Down Low� concept where black men live a deeply closeted gay or bisexual life. It also delves into the familiar territory of how hard it is to be a gay professional athlete. "The N.F.L. has a reputation," Simmons said, "and it's not even a verbal thing--it's just known. You are gladiators; you are male; you kick butt."
NFL's Simmons Speaks of Former Gay Lifestyle and New Faith in Christ
By Andrew Knox
The 700 Club
"Roy believed God wouldn�t accept him as he was.
"When you�re out in sin," Simmons explains, "you really feel like you cut yourself off. You�re ashamed that 'oh, look what I�m doing. I can�t go to Him like this. I can�t go to God in prayer.' "
He surfaced briefly, making his appearance on Donahue. A few years later, a doctor gave Roy a grim diagnosis.
"He called me in, and he gave me the results," he remembers. "My knees buckled. He told me that my tests came back positive. I guess the initial thought was I�m going to die. I�ve known people, some of them a month, and then they�re gone."
Upon learning that he was HIV positive, Roy felt hopeless, like he was just waiting around to die. That's when he made a desperate call to best friend Jimmy Hester and decided to move to Martha�s Vineyard. There a remarkable physical and spiritual cleansing took place.
Jimmy Hester is also HIV positive. He went to the Martha�s Vineyard Holistic Retreat because of his HIV. He has made great strides with his physical health, but he also found something he never expected � a relationship with Jesus Christ. That relationship started soon after a Bible study invitation by his doctor, Roni Deluz.
Now Roy is also meeting with Dr. Deluz, and he�s feeling great. He was recently baptized.
Roy's pastor, Marcia Buckley, who quickly notes Roy's hunger for God, says, "One thing that he appreciates is the fact that he�s alive in the Lord and that God has given him a chance to live."
Roy has learned much from his pastor about his former lifestyle.
"We spoke on and learned about homosexuality and the connotations and everything that go along with it. It's really against God�s will," Roy states.
says bluntly.
Roy devotes himself to the Lord and to purity. He has not been sexually active in more than three years.
says bluntly.
"All that lying and cheating and all that backbiting and all that deceitfulness � I don�t practice that," he says bluntly.
Roy is eager to study the Word of God and to grow closer to the Lord."
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