Hey All,
The disciples blamed a man's blindness on sin.
John 9:1-3 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.
And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
Leprosy was thought to be caused by sin as well. People who had it were treated as outcasts of society. They were placed in leper colonies so they would not infect other people. This may have been practical back then. But it made the leper feel like dung (you know the word I want to use) over a condition over which they had no control.
This is the same way most people in the church treat known homosexuals. Some churches, or I should say people in the church, treat homosexuals like lepers; as if homosexuality was an infectious disease. (I find it appalling. Jesus would never treat them that way.) Christians for the most part are not very tolerant. We have to be that way with sin. We should not be that way with the sinner.
Back to the topic:
We know today that leprosy is a medical condition, and it is curable. So it's probably a good thing that somebody said maybe leprosy is not a sin. Maybe it's a condition. What can I do to help?
What if we looked at homosexuality as a condition or a disease. What can the church do to help the people who want help?
I see people coming to this cite who openly admit to being homosexual. Some believe in Christ. They are looking answers on how to live now. (After receiving Jesus)
Some are still practicing.
Some have described a pornography addiction as a gateway to their homosexuality.
Some have adopted celibacy as a cure.
While others are now in a heterosexual condition.
Is there something within this wide range that the condition has, that can help a homosexual who desires change, but is addicted to it.
That is why I find this interesting. If these people (homosexuals) were alcoholics, we (the church) would treat them as people with a disease.
Have you ever thought of homosexuality as a disease? I have not. But it is worth considering.
Is it a brain deformity? (Physical)
Is it an addiction? (Psychological)
Is there a real connection to pornography and homosexuality? (Cause/Effect)
Is it treatable? (Not looking at it just as a sin)
Is it curable? (As leprosy was)
Answers to these questions would go a long way towards helping.
Instead of making homosexuals feel like a great big giant gob of sin on a stick, what can we ( the church) do to help them?
Perhaps we need to change our perspective of what homosexuality is and focus on the cause.
It is easy to say, "Well it's just sin." So is lying and stealing, an the rest of the commandments.
I just thought of something else. If homosexuality is such an awful sin, why is it not on the Ten Commandments?
Maybe God left it off on purpose.
Maybe something can be done to help.
Maybe it is treatable, or even curable.
Yes homosexuality is a sin. Sin is forgivable. So let's forgive and seek a possible way to help. Let's show some of that Agape we talk about.
Please don't let this thread become an argument.
Let's have a discussion. Let's make this thread a safe zone for the participants so we can express ourselves without being bashed for doing it.
Keep walking everybody.
May God bless,
Taz
The disciples blamed a man's blindness on sin.
John 9:1-3 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.
And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
Leprosy was thought to be caused by sin as well. People who had it were treated as outcasts of society. They were placed in leper colonies so they would not infect other people. This may have been practical back then. But it made the leper feel like dung (you know the word I want to use) over a condition over which they had no control.
This is the same way most people in the church treat known homosexuals. Some churches, or I should say people in the church, treat homosexuals like lepers; as if homosexuality was an infectious disease. (I find it appalling. Jesus would never treat them that way.) Christians for the most part are not very tolerant. We have to be that way with sin. We should not be that way with the sinner.
Back to the topic:
We know today that leprosy is a medical condition, and it is curable. So it's probably a good thing that somebody said maybe leprosy is not a sin. Maybe it's a condition. What can I do to help?
What if we looked at homosexuality as a condition or a disease. What can the church do to help the people who want help?
I see people coming to this cite who openly admit to being homosexual. Some believe in Christ. They are looking answers on how to live now. (After receiving Jesus)
Some are still practicing.
Some have described a pornography addiction as a gateway to their homosexuality.
Some have adopted celibacy as a cure.
While others are now in a heterosexual condition.
Is there something within this wide range that the condition has, that can help a homosexual who desires change, but is addicted to it.
That is why I find this interesting. If these people (homosexuals) were alcoholics, we (the church) would treat them as people with a disease.
Have you ever thought of homosexuality as a disease? I have not. But it is worth considering.
Is it a brain deformity? (Physical)
Is it an addiction? (Psychological)
Is there a real connection to pornography and homosexuality? (Cause/Effect)
Is it treatable? (Not looking at it just as a sin)
Is it curable? (As leprosy was)
Answers to these questions would go a long way towards helping.
Instead of making homosexuals feel like a great big giant gob of sin on a stick, what can we ( the church) do to help them?
Perhaps we need to change our perspective of what homosexuality is and focus on the cause.
It is easy to say, "Well it's just sin." So is lying and stealing, an the rest of the commandments.
I just thought of something else. If homosexuality is such an awful sin, why is it not on the Ten Commandments?
Maybe God left it off on purpose.
Maybe something can be done to help.
Maybe it is treatable, or even curable.
Yes homosexuality is a sin. Sin is forgivable. So let's forgive and seek a possible way to help. Let's show some of that Agape we talk about.
Please don't let this thread become an argument.
Let's have a discussion. Let's make this thread a safe zone for the participants so we can express ourselves without being bashed for doing it.
Keep walking everybody.
May God bless,
Taz