Good day all,
I am a women of many verbal words, but of very few written words, soooooo i'm going get right to the point.
Last year I went to one of the biggest, international, most awesome-est(yep thats a word) Christian missions conference for college kids called Urbana. It happens every three years, and this conference does not play. The speakers are bold Paul-type people from all over the world. I LOOOOOOVe this conference. The main speakers always speak on all the things the modern Church shys away from speaking about i.e..money, homosexuality, racism, marriage, hatred..list goes on.
I can seriously go on and on about this conference and how both(2006 and 2009) times i went REALLY impacted my life, but this post is on homosexuality, so here goes.
I attended a seminar on homosexuality(there were MANY seminars on this topic) that really opened my eyes as to how God really sees it and how i also should respond. Although i have never been one to look down on homosexual people, this seminar really convicted me.
Is Homosexuality a sin?
Yes, in Romans 1:26-31 it says: For this cause God gave them up into vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet"
Is Homosexuality different from any other sin?
Nope!!!!! A sin is a sin is a sin is a sin in God's eyes.
Can you be a christian who struggles with Homosexuality?
Yes!! We were all born sinners right? Some of us struggle with lying, some with stealing, cheating, lust(homo or hetero), money loving, vanity, evil tongue<-------ME!!. Whatever it is, even after one becomes a Christian, there is still a battle between the flesh and the spirit. A battle that can and must be won, and can only be won through Christ.
Galatians 5:16-26....
16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 2324 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
How do you witness to a (very open or not so very open) Homosexual person?
Same way you witness to anyone else. Because many homosexuals have a distrust of Christians, get on there level. Think about the darkest struggles that you have or are having and share with them how God has helped you over come this struggle or is helping you overcome this struggle. Ask them if they would like to learn more about the God who came to save the hopeless. Invite them to partner with you as you strive to grow closer to Christ.
The guy who taught the homosexual class is a guy that struggled with homosexuality named Christopher Yuan. I had the great opportunity to meet him and his parents. His testimony is on the Vid below:
To watch some speakers from Urbana, check out: Click-here
Oh my Chineke i wrote alot, go meeee!!
Have a blessed day. Chizzy D