Why the focus on homosexuality?

[Mike S]

I think Americans used to hate political enemies ( communists) and when that threat ended the focus changed.As soon as Communism was defeated they started hating gays instead.

I don't think any other country hates gays like the Americans. Us Aussies sure don't.

Homosexualtiy is certainly being discussed in America, but - except for a few extremists, and not necessarily Christians - there is nowhere near the "hatred" you mention. The opinions we have as Christians are not about hatred of people, but about rejection of sin in any form. There are countries, however, where hatred of gays is real, and in many, homosexual behavior can be punishable by death.




Where is gay sex illegal? - http://lesbianlife.about.com/od/lesbianactivism/f/IllegalGaySex.htm
The following countries have laws that ban homosexual sex:

• Afghanistan
• Algeria
• Angola
• Antiqua and Barbuda
• *Bangladesh
• Barbados
• Belize
• Bhutan
• Botswana
• *Brunei
• Burundi
• Cameroon
• *Cook Islands
• Djibouti (unknown status)
• Dominica
• Eritrea
• Ethiopia
• *Gambia
• *Gaza
• Ghana
• *Grenada
• Guinea
• *Guyana
• *India
• Iran
• *Iraq
• *Jamaica
• *Kenya
• *Kiribati
• *Kuwait
• Lebanon
• *Lesotho
• Liberia
• Libya
• *Malawi
• *Malaysia
• Maldives
• Mauritania
• *Mauritius
• Morocco
• Mozambique
• *Myanmar
• *Namibia
• *Nauru
• Nicaragua
• *Nigeria
• Oman
• *Pakistan
• *Palau
• *Papua New Guinea
• Qatar
• *Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Saint Lucia
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Sao Tome and Principe
• Saudi-Arabia
• Senegal
• *Seychelles
• *Sierra Leone
• *Singapore
• Solomon Islands
• Somalia
• Sri Lanka
• Sudan
• Swaziland (female/female-unclear)
• Syria (female/female-unclear)
• *Tanzania
• Togo
• *Tonga
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Tunisia
• Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (plans to repeal the law)
• *Turkmesistan
• *Tuvalu
• Uganda
• United Arab Emirates
• *Uzbekistan
• *Western Samoa
• Yemen
• *Zambia
• *Zimbabwe

Countries Whose Laws do not Explicitly ban Same-Sex Behavior, but have some laws which have been used to punish gay and lesbian behavior:

• Costa Rica
• Democratic Republic of Congo
• Egypt
• Indonesia

 

[Elijah674]

Why do we focus so much on homosexuality as opposed to other sins?

These are my theories and opinions.

1. The media has focused on it despite the fact that homosexuals are such a small percentage of the population.

2. Obama......he openly stated he now supports "gay marriage" despite his stance on the subject in 2008. I guess it's hard to buddy up with hollywood celebs if you think that way.

3. Homosexuals have an agenda. Even though their numbers are very small, they seem to be louder than other groups(thanks to popular media). Homosexuals now consider themselves in a civil rights movement.

4. Obama has declared June LBGT pride month....yeehaw......,but then he ended the speech using the Lords name, oh the irony.

We are on a battle front right now as christians. A battle that will not be won easily. Vote with your values, VOTE! Let them know we are not the minority. Let your voices be heard loud and clear.

DO NOT HATE. DO NOT CALL NAMES., but DO NOT fold to he homosexual agenda. Do it with love and conviction with what is right. We're headed rapidly toward Sodom and Gamorrah here in the U.S. If I lived outside the U.S. I would swear the homosexual population here must be more that %50 by watching mainstream media!

Why you ask?? Mostly because the professed Christian understand that S.& G. + like cities were DESTROYED BY FIRE because this sin was singled out, & they think correctly that this DESTRUCTION was because of this, it was open blantant sin & had & has the END right around the corner so to speak. And as Matt. 24:21 finds all hell breaking loose, most are FINALLY AWAKENING!

Does that help answer your question??

--Elijah

PS: And I personally think that many do not want the Lord to come, they think that they are having to much fun??

 

[handy]

Just like the christian protesters at Heath ledgers funeral.

*sigh* When are people going to get it through their heads that Westboro Baptist Church is not a Christian church, nor do Christians attend there?

I don't see these threads as "gay bashing".... rather, people are having discussions about prominent issues in our society today. Important discussions that, hopefully, will have the effect of helping all of us be able to better understand how we can effectively minister to gays and lesbians without condoning their sin.

 

[Chris.]

*sigh* When are people going to get it through their heads that Westboro Baptist Church is not a Christian church, nor do Christians attend there?

I don't see these threads as "gay bashing".... rather, people are having discussions about prominent issues in our society today. Important discussions that, hopefully, will have the effect of helping all of us be able to better understand how we can effectively minister to gays and lesbians without condoning their sin.

I find the whole gay thing very boring handy.

Our entertainers are pseudo gay for credibility now. Il bet soon those who claim it will retract later. Its really nota headline with me its more of a boring nuicance on my TV, like who cares anymore what they do?

If the Lord can create a Universe he can do what he likes with a few people opposing his will. He does any other time. He sure don't need me to do it for him!

i got rthe impression the lord told us to love people and not judge others. I try not to think too much and complicate it.

 

[DarkHorseRising]

i got rthe impression the lord told us to love people and not judge others.

That doesn't apply if they're different from you.

 

[handy]

If you find the subject boring, Chris, there's no need to join in the conversation. But, here in the States it is a vital subject right now, with gay marriage being legalized and just about every media outlet doing it's best to portray homosexuality as not only normal but a positive and fun thing.

The main thing is that we have a wide disparity in how gays and lesbians should be treated within the Church now. While it's wrong for gays and lesbians to feel that the Church treats them with disrespect and not love... it's also wrong that churches such as the Episcopalian Church and the ELCA are ordaining gays and lesbians in open, active sexual relationships...

While I have little interest in how homosexuality is being portrayed in the world, it's being embraced within the church as being OK does concern me, as it should concern all Christians. Loving people and not judging others does not mean that we should embrace openly sinful people and ordain them to be the ministers of our churches.

 

[Elijah674]

If you find the subject boring, Chris, there's no need to join in the conversation. But, here in the States it is a vital subject right now, with gay marriage being legalized and just about every media outlet doing it's best to portray homosexuality as not only normal but a positive and fun thing.

The main thing is that we have a wide disparity in how gays and lesbians should be treated within the Church now. While it's wrong for gays and lesbians to feel that the Church treats them with disrespect and not love... it's also wrong that churches such as the Episcopalian Church and the ELCA are ordaining gays and lesbians in open, active sexual relationships...

While I have little interest in how homosexuality is being portrayed in the world, it's being embraced within the church as being OK does concern me, as it should concern all Christians. Loving people and not judging others does not mean that we should embrace openly sinful people and ordain them to be the ministers of our churches.

Below we see the whole church would be Christless unless 'any sin' was removed.

Joshua 7 (one mans sin caused 36 mens death! ibid 5)
[11] Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff.
[12] Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: [[neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.]]
[13] Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow: for thus saith the LORD God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you.

And false known doctrine taught for truth even today. And Heb. 13:8 has a never changing Jesus! So who is their leader today?? Rev. 17:1-5 + Rev. 3:9

--Elijah

 

[Chris.]

If you find the subject boring, Chris, there's no need to join in the conversation. But, here in the States it is a vital subject right now, with gay marriage being legalized and just about every media outlet doing it's best to portray homosexuality as not only normal but a positive and fun thing.

The main thing is that we have a wide disparity in how gays and lesbians should be treated within the Church now. While it's wrong for gays and lesbians to feel that the Church treats them with disrespect and not love... it's also wrong that churches such as the Episcopalian Church and the ELCA are ordaining gays and lesbians in open, active sexual relationships...

While I have little interest in how homosexuality is being portrayed in the world, it's being embraced within the church as being OK does concern me, as it should concern all Christians. Loving people and not judging others does not mean that we should embrace openly sinful people and ordain them to be the ministers of our churches.

I think you are right handy I might let you guys worry about it. Nobody is trying to be a gay minister in my church or any I know around here. Its a bit of a non event around us (where I live).

Ours can stay in the closet a bit longer. JK

 

[handy]

I'm at the church where I work assembling the bulletins for tomorrow... this is the church that my husband and I left with our kids when they voted to ordain ministers.

Even though this particular church, this local congregation was 100% against the vote, I knew that there would be no way they could escape being drawn into the sin.

Here is an example of what I'm talking about... this is from the ELCA and is printed on the back of every bulletin this week:

United in Jesus

Sometimes in churches,we hear people say, "That's so Lutheran," or "You know us Presbyterians," or "How Episcopalian!" We have a tendency tocreate in-groups, to form affiliations, and to seek out shared rituals and stories. While natural, this tendency can be divisive, causing schisms, duplication of effort, and hurt feelings. Jesus tells his followers: "If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand." Sometimeswe become so focused on our small-group identity that we forget our larger purpose. More important than being a Lutheran is being a Christian. Jesus calls us to serve the poor, to care for the elderly, to show compassion to the marginalized, and to combat injustice. His call to love is interdenominational.

Jesus even refused to give primary place to his blood kin. When told his relatives were seeking him, he responded: "Who are my mother and my brothers?" Looking a tthe diverse and probably motley crowd surrounding him, he answered his own question: "Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother."

Following Jesus stretches our boundaries. Often, we are called beyond our family of origin. We might share a pew or perform a service project with people of different habits, different pastimes, different political affiliations, different sexual orientations, different races. We may even feel awkward or uncomfortable around some of our fellow Christians. We will be fine as long as we remember that what unites us is not who we are but whom we follow. Our identity and focus rest inJesus. We become one through loving service.

...We might share a pew or perform a service project with people of different habits, different pastimes, different political affiliations, different sexual orientations, different races.

Sexual orentation has now become equal with habits, pastimes and political affiliations...with different races thrown in for good measure.

This isn't out in the world, this is within the church...

This is why I can't get into the whole almost hysteria about gay marriage... that's out in the world. Why are we so worried about what's out in the world when this is within our own Body?

 

[Elijah674]

I'm at the church where I work assembling the bulletins for tomorrow... this is the church that my husband and I left with our kids when they voted to ordain ministers.

Even though this particular church, this local congregation was 100% against the vote, I knew that there would be no way they could escape being drawn into the sin.

Here is an example of what I'm talking about... this is from the ELCA and is printed on the back of every bulletin this week:

...We might share a pew or perform a service project with people of different habits, different pastimes, different political affiliations, different sexual orientations, different races.

Sexual orentation has now become equal with habits, pastimes and political affiliations...with different races thrown in for good measure.

This isn't out in the world, this is within the church...

This is why I can't get into the whole almost hysteria about gay marriage... that's out in the world. Why are we so worried about what's out in the world when this is within our own Body?

Good Posting. Thanks! And you are not alone. John 10:16 + Rev. 18:4. How could I rob God in His tithes & Offerings supporting such 'open' stuff with the Lord's money? Let alone stay yoked to the membership??

--Elijah

 

[Mike]

There doesn't need to be. There are far, far more people involved in the sins of lying and gossiping than homosexuality. Probably stealing too. And they already are acceptable to large segments of the population, probably more than homosexuality. The only difference is that the people involved in these sins, even the Christians, can either justify them or simply hide them. They don't need an organized effort to promote or normalize these sins; they're already well established.

I believe you're missing the point. Regardless of what should or shouldn't be, need or needn't be, the fact is we DO have advocates for homosexuality doing all those things. They ARE marching, writing bills, and having parades in public. It is what it is.

The question was raised asking why there is so much focus on homosexuality, and I'm saying why I believe there is. If we had advocate groups for gossiping that were outwardly trying to legitimize it as a lifestyle, I believe we would be spending a lot of time countering that as well. But... we don't.

 

[DarkHorseRising]

I believe you're missing the point. Regardless of what should or shouldn't be, need or needn't be, the fact is we DO have advocates for homosexuality doing all those things. They ARE marching, writing bills, and having parades in public. It is what it is.

The question was raised asking why there is so much focus on homosexuality, and I'm saying why I believe there is. If we had advocate groups for gossiping that were outwardly trying to legitimize it as a lifestyle, I believe we would be spending a lot of time countering that as well. But... we don't.

But it's already legitimized as a lifestyle, far more than homosexuality. Nobody needs to organize any advocacy for gossip; it's already much further along the road to acceptance than homosexuality. It also ensnares far more people.