'When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die'-Deitrich Bonhoeffer
"My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins."-James 5:19-20, ESV
Being LGBT is increasingly pushed on our society.
'Accept us. We aren't doing wrong. Speak against us, and you are hate filled, evil person.After all, we deserve rights - Now mind your own business!'
This is practically the mantra of the LGBT crowd. And as a Christian, should we accept this? Should we endorse LGBT behavior? Can a Trans/Lesbian/Gay/Bi individual be Christian?
Well, to get things out of the way for that last question, the answer is absolutely 'Yes'!
Anyone can 'Come as you are' to the salvation offered through Christ. But our faith, which is demonstrated by works(1), will prove that we don't 'Stay as we were'.
Upon salvation, the Holy Spirit indwells us(2), and convicts us of sin(3). We die to sin, to be alive with Christ - a truth beautifully demonstrated through an immersion baptism. We are 'dead and buried' to sin upon submergence into the water, and 'resurrected' when we rise from the water.
Sin is an affliction we all struggle with in this life - a persistent struggle between our fallen flesh, and our saved spirit. Every person who follows Christ has sin that must be dealt with(4).
Christians are to be in this world, but not of this world - Sexual perversion has no place in the Christians life. Homosexuality, transgenderism, bisexuality, and other practices outside of the norms of heterosexual marriage or remaining celibate is considered sinful. (5 - See 1 Corinthians 6:9 below)
As such, as Christians, we should try our best to live holy, God honoring lives(6) - practicing the rejection of sin, and teaching others the same(7).
The warning against teaching others to sin is steep, and it is best to be avoided(8).
"But its hard! After all, I was born this way!"
The rejection of ingrained sin can be hard. Actually extremely hard!
We can deal with sin by leaning hard on our savior - Jesus. He understands exactly where we are, our pains, our struggles, and our needs(9).
It is through brutally honest and heartfelt prayer that we can lean on Him. As we draw closer to God through prayer, actively living our faith, and reading scriptures...Sinful desires are pushed further and further away from us.
"Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you" - James 4:8, ESV
We are to be a light to the world(10); The salt of the earth(11). Christians should be making a clear and deliberate effort to reject sin. Sin harms our relationship with God - a relationship that Christ paid for with His own flesh and blood(12). Every time we decide to resist the temptation to sin, we are not only doing to the right thing; but we are also demonstrating to the world the importance and reality of our faith.
The devil is the father of lies and deception(13). He is constantly trying to mislead Christians and humanity in general to prevent us from following God. When we immerse ourselves in reading scripture, we become armed with the truth. This truth is a sharp defense against the lies of the enemy(14).
What gives?!? Being Gay/Lesbian/Trans/Bi isn't a sin! Stop making judgements against us! Jesus said not to judge!
Our faith in Christ, who defines what is sin, is what makes the judgement;
1 Corinthians 6:9 is one verse among others expressly states that homosexuality and the sexually immoral will not inherit the kingdom of God.
"Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality," 1 Corinthians 6:9, ESV, emphasis mine
All Christians are instructed to not judge(15) others...but nowhere are we told to not have sound judgement, and being fully able to identify the sin that separates us from God. Sound judgement is clearly commended by Jesus when He states you will recognize a tree by its fruit (Which you can tell who a person is by their actions)(16).
Galations 6:1(17) actually instructs Christians to gently bring back a brother (or sister) who is living in sin. As a Christian family, we should be building each other up - as iron sharpens iron, one man sharpens another(18).
This post is written to upstage the lies that are being pushed upon our society. God made us male and female - our gender is not an 'identity', but an integral, unchangeable part of us when we are born. No matter what twisted lies are being pushed upon us as a society from the enemy, we can know that we are children of God - A God of peace and order, not confusion(19)!
We all have things that we struggle with in this life, and my prayer is that the reader not only hears this post, but truly understands it. Who the Son sets free, is free indeed(20)!
Interested in Christianity? The Gospel in a nutshell is a great place to start! And Church of course! :)
Cited Verses:
1.) "But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works." James 2:18, ESV
2.)"even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you." John 14:17, ESV
3.)"And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:" John 16:8, ESV
4.)"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," Romans 3:23, ESV
5.)"Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality," 1 Corinthians 6:9, ESV
6.)"since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”" 1 Peter 1:16, ESV
7.)"And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Acts 2:38, ESV
8.)"but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea" Matthew 18:6, ESV
9.)"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28, ESV
10.)"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden." Matthew 5:14, ESV
11.)"“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet." Matthew 5:13, ESV
12.) "for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." 1 Corinthians 6:20, ESV
13.) "You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies." John 8:44, ESV
14.)"and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God," Ephesians 6:17, ESV
15.) "Judge not, that you be not judged" Matthew 7:1, ESV
16.)"By their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, by their fruit you will recognize them." Matthew 7:17-20, ESV
17.)"Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted." Galations 6:1, ESV
18.) "Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another." Proverbs 27:17, ESV
19.)"For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints" 1 Corinthians 14:33, ESV
20.) "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" John 8:36, ESV
