Now this was interesting...

[U2democrat]

In my daily scan of various newspaperso online, I went to the website of the Daily Press, the local newspaper in the town of my university. On the front page there is a poll:

Is it possible to be openly gay and Christian?

The options:
Yes, God loves everyone
Yes, if you're celibate
No, they're incompatible


I voted "Yes, God loves everyone"

It also links to several articles about gays as Christians, and Christians accepting gays. Interesting stuff.

If you're interested, www.dailypress.com to vote in the poll, http://www.dailypress.com/features/dp-life-gayforumsg,0,1109682.storygallery for the collection of articles.



Now please, if at all possible, let's see if we can have a productive discussion without getting this thread closed.

 

[DrTeeth]

There are plenty of gay Christians so it's kind of a no brainer. Obviously it's possible.

 

[digsy]

oh its obviously possible (see teeth above)

i think really you're asking if its acceptable and i think that depends on the christian company one keeps, but you'd think those who are openly gay probably attend churches where its not an issue.

 

[U2democrat]

I'm not asking if it's acceptable, I already accept it, I'm just putting the question out there for others to consider. I'm good friends with a gay couple in my church who regularly attend and are active.

 

[nbcrusader]

On what basis would it not be possible?

 

[BVS]

On what basis would it not be possible?

You've been in FYM long enough to know that some believe it to be impossible.

 

[Liesje]

OK, let's go along with this newspaper for a sec and pretend that homosexuality is a sin (which I don't think it is!). Then shouldn't they have about 1000 different polls? Can you be a gambler and a Christian? Can you cheat on your spouse and be a Christian? Can you watch porno every day and be a Christian? Can you wish your boss would get hit by a bus and be a Christian? etc etc etc.... Maybe then they'd see how silly it is to constantly be judging people over things that aren't their damn business.

Now, seeing as I DONT think homosexuality is inherently sinful, at least not any more inherently sinful than heterosexuality, I don't even know how to respond to this poll

 

[Irvine511]

On what basis would it not be possible?

the folks who look at it as a disorder or perversion of sexuality, that there is no homosexuality, nor is there heteroseuxality, just sexuality, and if you truly loved god you wouldn't be afflicted with such an intrinsic disorder.

 

[digsy]

the folks who look at it as a disorder or perversion of sexuality, that there is no homosexuality, nor is there heteroseuxality, just sexuality, and if you truly loved god you wouldn't be afflicted with such an intrinsic disorder.

and once again, thats not a question of possibility its a question of acceptance

u2dem answered her own question when she said she knew an active and openly gay couple in her church - its therefore possible, whether you accept it or not is a different ball game

 

[Irvine511]

u2dem answered her own question when she said she knew an active and openly gay couple in her church - its therefore possible, whether you accept it or not is a different ball game

but taking the point of view of those who would call homosexuality unnatural (which is different than an abomination), the gay couple who participate at their church aren't true Christians for they cannot be if they have same sex attraction.

 

[Angela Harlem]

Can you be a gambler and a Christian? Can you cheat on your spouse and be a Christian? Can you watch porno every day and be a Christian? Can you wish your boss would get hit by a bus and be a Christian?

 

[nbcrusader]

You've been in FYM long enough to know that some believe it to be impossible.

I think there are many who make the assumption that others believe it is not possible. Discussions of theology rarely survive long enough to fully explore the question.

 

[BVS]

I think there are many who make the assumption that others believe it is not possible. Discussions of theology rarely survive long enough to fully explore the question.

No, it's been said in here before by some that it's not possible. Stating that you can't ask for forgiveness for a sin that you live in and don't recognise as a sin.

 

[nbcrusader]

Stating that you can't ask for forgiveness for a sin that you live in and don't recognise as a sin.

That is a separate issue, and one that is faced by everyone.

 

[BVS]

That is a separate issue, and one that is faced by everyone.

I'm just showing some people's logic...

 

[digsy]

No, it's been said in here before by some that it's not possible. Stating that you can't ask for forgiveness for a sin that you live in and don't recognise as a sin.

as a christian or not, whether you believe homosexuality is a sin is a point of perspective. (and if anyone throws a bible quote at me here supporting one side or another, i swear i will hunt you down and slap you! just a warning)

those who don't believe it to be a sin and (heres that word again) ACCEPT it obviously believe it is possible to be christian and gay.

those who do not accept homosexuality and believe it to be a complete abomination and a sin worthy of eternal damnation will obviously feel it's impossible to be christian and gay... i can only presume the very thought of living in sin is alien to these people though

and even then, we're all aware we sin on a daily basis... therefore even if you do believe homosexuality is a sin then i still dont' see why it impossible to live with that sin and still be an active christian... the same way someone who lies or blasphemes or commits any sin on a regular basis while fully aware its a sin would still classify themselves as an christian.
isn't that why that guy - you know the one.... Jesus i think his name was - died for our sins?


so once again, back to the question at hand, its a matter of perspective and acceptance, not possibility

 

[maycocksean]

No, it's been said in here before by some that it's not possible. Stating that you can't ask for forgiveness for a sin that you live in and don't recognise as a sin.

Granted, but it seems to me that God is not going to "punish" you for doing something that you don't believe is wrong. It's the willful choice to reject God, to go against His will, knowing that you are doing so that might more accurately create a situation of "impossibility."

There's a lesbian couple that sometimes attends our church and sends their daughter to Sabbath School (Saturday version of Sunday School) every week. They're both wonderful people and want their child to have a Christian upbringing. I think being a Christian has more to do with what your relationship is to Jesus, rather than relative "sinlessness" of your life. Which is not to say that sin is a non-issue. It is, but positing a situation in which one particular "sin" determines whether you are a Christian or not doesn't make much sense to me.

A few other observations:

I know that this is a very sensitive issue for many of us, but I do wish that people could recognize that fundamentalist Christians who take the Bible seriously can't just dimiss statements in the Bible out of hand. Their faith is based on the authority of Scripture so if they're going to toss something out they're going to have to wrestle with it. I'll grant you must fundamentalist Christians don't do much wrestling on this issue, which I think is a shame.

Presuming, homosexuality is not a sin, IF you're coming from a more orthodox Christian perspective, it still doesn't change the basic fact that all people are sinners in need of grace. This is not a popular concept for anyone in today's culture.