Friday 9 December 2016

Bonnie's Opinion // Homosexuality..... and me

(sunset from the Hokitika beach)

This is something I've been thinking about quite a bit recently.

Homosexuality is becoming more and more accepted and condoned in today's society. The rise of the LGBTQ+whatever movement is heralded as a major step towards equality. It is currently politically correct to support gay rights.

I don't think this is a good thing at all.

Since this is an opinion post, I am going to state my opinion here. If you don't like the idea of hearing my opinion, perhaps don't read this post. :P I'm all for sharing opinions in a loving way. If you don't agree with me, feel free to leave me a (preferably nice and rational) comment in the comments section. But please read all I have to say first. :)
Fair enough? Okay, awesome.

I want to begin with a quote from a great article on GotQuestions

"The Bible is consistent through both Old and New Testaments in confirming that homosexuality is sin (Genesis 19:1–13Leviticus 18:2220:13Romans 1:26–271 Corinthians 6:9Jude 1:7). In this matter, the New Testament reinforces what the Old Testament had declared since the Law was given to Moses (Leviticus 20:13). The difference between the Old and New Testaments is that the New Testament offers hope and restoration to those caught up in the sin of homosexuality through the redeeming power of Jesus. It is the same hope that is offered to anyone who chooses to accept it (John 1:123:16–18).

God’s standards of holiness did not change with the coming of Jesus, because God does not change (Malachi 3:6Hebrews 13:8). The New Testament is a continuing revelation of God’s interaction with humanity. God hated idolatry in the Old Testament (Deuteronomy 5:8), and He still hates it in the New (1 John 5:21). What was immoral in the Old Testament is still immoral in the New.

The New Testament says that homosexuality is a “shameful lust” (Romans 1:26), a “shameful act,” an abandonment of “natural relations” (Romans 1:27), a “wrongdoing” (1 Corinthians 6:9), and “sexual immorality and perversion” (Jude 1:7). Homosexuality carries a “due penalty” (Romans 1:27), “is contrary to the sound doctrine” (1 Timothy 1:10), and is listed among the sins that bar people from the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9). Despite the attempts of some to downplay these verses, the Bible could not be clearer that homosexuality is a sin against God...."

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (emphasis added)
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,  nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed,you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

The Bible makes it very clear that homosexuality is immoral and a sin. 

A gay person (or a lesbian or whatever) is living in sin. This is the truth and I don't think that it's helpful to cloak it with "But it's true love!!" and "True love conquers all!" and all those other phrases. There's also quite a lot of name-calling at those people who still hold traditional and Biblical values. We're labeled as homophobic, hateful bigots who just want to ruin everyone's lives.

The cross never makes an ally of sin. I LOVE Rosaria Butterfield's article in response to Jen Hatmaker's recent comments regarding same sex marriage. Read it here.

It's very clear in the Bible that sins can be forgiven through the cleansing blood of Christ. This includes homosexuality. Yes, a gay person is living in sin and the truth is that they are sinning against God and against themselves, but they can be forgiven. Jesus died for everyone. Thieves, liars, gay people. Everyone. 

Now I come to the part of the issue that prompted me to make my title of this post the way I did. "Bonnie's Opinion // Homosexuality..... and me". 

So what about me?

As a Christian, I can't condone homosexuality and laud it as the loveliest thing since sliced bread. I can't follow the public opinion because I follow God's word which clearly says it is a sin. 

But what should my attitude be towards gays and lesbians?

How should I respond when a friend comes out as a lesbian?

I think it's tragic how so many Christians are in one of two camps. Either they applaud homosexuality and condone it because "God is love" (which is utterly and completely true but he still doesn't like sin!!) or they turn away from it and refuse to even look at gay people and shun them completely.

I don't think that gays and lesbians should be treated any differently to how we treat anyone else who sins differently.

Now, treating someone nicely doesn't mean you're condoning what they do. You can try to gently turn them towards the word of God if the opportunity arises. They are living in sin and that's the ultimate truth of it. 

But be careful how you act. Not just because you are acting in front of God, but you are acting in front of the world.

I absolutely believe that gay people should not be allowed to marry and have children, etc (they aren't physically designed for it!). I see nothing wrong with Christians sticking to their guns and refusing to make them wedding cakes or whatever (we've all heard the stories in the media). But be careful in how you go about it. 
These are people too and unless they understand that they are living in sin, they won't see a problem with what they are doing! Does that make sense?

Something else to think about is that there are many different issues in the world. Homosexuality is just one of many! It's easy to get fixated on one thing and think that all the world's problems revolve around that one thing... when there are so many different problems.

Also we should think about what are the most important things for us to fight for. Issues like the transgender bathroom debate and abortion are things where we should be fighting for truth as long as we have breath.

I feel like I'm rambling on a bit here. Probably time to sum up my thoughts.

Homosexuality is a sin.
We are all sinners saved by the grace of God.
Don't treat gay people any differently than how you would treat someone else.
If you are going to treat them differently (e.g. refusing to bake them a wedding cake) then be very careful in how you go about it because the world is watching and you are Christ's ambassador.
Treat everyone with love and respect. There is a difference between loving someone and condoning their actions.
Pray for them and for our countries and the world we live. Society is moving further and further away from God's Word and it truly is tragic.

What are your thoughts? (I'm aware that this is likely to be controversial :P)


18 comments:

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    1. Thank you, Miss Evie! It's wonderful to know there are other people out there who stand for truth.

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  2. You conveyed this amazingly well, Bonnie! I totally agree.

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    1. Oh, Emily, you are very sweet! I am heartened by the knowledge that my friends are standing for truth and not giving way to popular opinion. :)

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  3. Wow Bonnie, this is awesome! Finally someone who has the same opinion about this topic as I do! Thankyou for standing up for what you believe and being brave enough to share your opinion with the world :) It's a topic that I've had to think about a lot with a few gay family members, but this post summed it all up perfectly :) Thankyou xx

    Also great that you use gotquestions - what a fantastic website aye!

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    1. Jennifer, thank you so much for your comment. Wow, good for you for standing up for what's right when you have a tricky situation at home! I must admit it's all quite theoretical for me - I don't know many people who identify as not straight.... but you have had to stand up for what you believe close to home! I admire you, Jennifer. You are amazing.
      It's fantastic!!!

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    2. Within my own home it's fine because we all have the same views regarding this in my immediate family which makes it easier! It's harder at school when for example one time I was asked for my opinion and said pretty much what your post says, then they twisted my words later to say that I hated certain gay people at school, which was not at all what I said! And I generally tried to not bring it up unless I was specifically asked because I knew that I would be ridiculed if I did! But thanks for your encouragement :)

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  4. Bonnie, this was a very well-written post and I agree with you one hundred percent! Thank you for stating your beliefs and sharing your opinions...it is encouraging to know not all Christians condone homosexuality...the answer I am hit with all the time from well meaning believers is that God is forgiving and has forgiven all our sins...past, present and future! Yes, tis wonderfully, amazingly so, but remember what Jesus said to the Samaritan woman...? "Go and sin no more!" Amen!
    Thank you Bonnie!
    Blessings and love to you through Christ our Lord!
    Kelly-Anne

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    1. Oh Kelly-Anne, what you said is so true. "God is forgiving and loving and I don't like the idea that he won't send me to Heaven so I'm going to believe he will overlook my sin" is such a warped yet widely believed opinion. Yet the cross does not make an ally of sin. It never has, never will! We can't change the truth just because we don't like it....
      Thank you for your sweet encouraging comment. You are so right.
      Blessings and love right back at you!

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  5. This was an awesome post, Bonnie! I’ve been thinking about this topic for a while now too, and you laid out the Biblical view of homosexuality really clearly. Its a difficult topic but you summed it up really well! Blessings,
    Laura Xxx

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    1. Oh hey Laura! So nice to see your comment! How are you doing?
      Thanks for your kind words... to be honest I wrote the basis of this post several months ago and have dilly dallied on posting it until now. Thanks for saying that I summed it up well. I dilly dallied because I thought maybe I hadn't written it very well or maybe missed some important things out... so that makes me very happy to hear that! :)

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  6. Good post, Bonnie. I think it's important to mention that being gay in itself (in the sense of having a same sex attraction and temptation) is not, in itself, a sin. Being tempted to do something wrong is not a sin. But it's when someone follows through on these temptations that a sin is committed. Anyway, good post. :)

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    1. Thanks, Matthew! That's a great point you have raised. I completely agree with you - being tempted to do something wrong is not a sin. It's when you cave in to your temptations and ignore those pricklings of your conscience and do the thing anyway, that's when you've sinned... I so agree with you!! Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Blessings.

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  7. I enjoy 'Bonnie's Opinion' posts, and your thoughts here are so on point. I agree. :) I particularly like how you pointed out that we shouldn't treat gays differently to how we treat other sinners - it's easy to get caught up pointing out a particular sin, when God hates sin full stop. Anyway, now I'm the one rambling, but once again - great post!

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    1. Oh thank you for your sweet words, Jessica. Your 'rambling' is great! It really is easy to get caught up in pointing out one particular sin.. we can get fixated on one idea and forget that there are other things going on too! :)
      Anyway, thanks for commenting... God bless.

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  8. I agree completely, Bonnie! Such a great thoughts post, I love the way you went about it. :)

    With love and all joy,
    Allie D.
    www.alliesblogdesigns.blogspot.com
    www.friendlovesatalltimes.blogspot.com
    www.sincerelyallied.blogspot.com
    www.spreadingmyjoy.blogspot.com

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    1. Thanks! :) Hope you are having a great weekend, Allie

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  9. Dear Anonymous, thank you for commenting.
    I'm not quite sure here whether what you are discussing is meant to be pointed at me or pointed at Christians in general... I agree that we are commanded to love our neighbours. But sometimes part of love is showing truth as well. It's not loving to let someone walk in sin without saying something! We aren't judging someone by lovingly pointing them to the cross! We are all sinners, saved by the grace and mercy of our Lord.
    Oh, dear Anonymous, I don't know how to get the words out quite how I want to... but I just want to say, God bless you.
    Also just for next time I quite like having a name to talk to! :)

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