Date: Wed, 1 Mar 1995 21:45:09 -0500 From: CasaCristo@AOL.COM Subject: CHRISTIAN AND GAY! CHRISTIAN AND GAY! by Fred L. Pattison, Senior Pastor Casa de Cristo Evangelical Church We are known by the labels we wear or by those attached to us by others. In this article, two labels are combined that may surprise you: Christian and gay! The label "gay" draws both a positive and negative reaction. The label "Chris tian" draws a similar reaction. To combine these two labels into one - "Christian gay" - creates considerable reaction, again both positive and negative. ------ BORN AGAIN AND HOMOSEXUAL? The majority of evangelical, fundamental, and charismatic Christians reject the premise that it is indeed possible to be both Christian and gay. Most biblical Christians do not believe that a homosexual person can be born again and remain a homosexual. On the other hand, as born again Christian gays, we believe that our homosexuality is God-given, normal, and natural. Prior to our new birth, we were unsaved homosexuals. Now that we have been born again, we are saved homosexuals. We remain homosexuals for that is our nature. The salvation experience does not change one's sexuality. It does change one's eternal destiny and one's living habits. First and foremost to us now is not our sexuality, but rather it is our faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. As Christian gays, we are convinced that we are the people God intended us to be. We are not ashamed to let it be known that we are born again believers in Jesus Christ. Nor do we apologize that we accept the Bible as God's inspired Word, and that we hold to the basics and fundamentals of the historic biblical faith. We do not believe that our homosexuality and our Christianity are in conflict with one another. We refuse to forsake Christianity simply because the majority of biblical Christians do not accept us as fellow believers. We know that God has accepted us! And that's what counts! THE BONDAGE OF RELIGION In Christ, we've been set free from the bondage of religion. We take Galatians 5:1 to mean exactly what it says, that "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm then and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." The apostle Paul was addressing the danger of becoming entangled again to the rules, regulations, and legalism of religion. Real Christianity is not religion, rather it is life in and through Jesus Christ. ANTI-GAY TV MINISTRIES ARE WRONG! Most biblical Christians condemn and judge all aspects of homosexuality. Hence, they condemn all homosexual persons. The tangent issue of the TV and radio preachers of the nineties is lashing out at both homosexuality and homosexuals. They erroneously teach and preach that homosexuality is unnatural, sinful, and immoral, whereas the Bible says, "To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled." (Titus 1:15) BE POSITIVE TOWARD HETERO CHRISTIANS As Christian gays, we need to be positive in our attitude toward heterosexual Christians. They are our brothers and sisters in Christ. We need not develop heterophobia (fear of heterosexuals and fear of heterosexuality.) Such fear is as destructive as homophobia (fear of homosexuals and fear of homosexuality.) Our love as Christian believers must be our motivation in reaching out to fellow believers regardless of their sexuality or particular belief system. We Christians have been called to love. This call has been issued by none other than God. A positive biblical faith can and will eventually overcome the negativism of the organized Church that continues to promote its homophobia. Both the world and the Church need to see the gospel lived out in the lives of all Christians, including Christian gay men and women. POSITIVE STEPS FOR CRISTIAN GAYS The following are some positive steps we Christian gays can take: 1. Display love for God and love for our neighbor as our Lord has commanded us to do. See Mathew 22:37-40. 2. Display Christian love for one another as believers in Jesus Christ. Christians loving one another is the greatest demonstration of the reality of the gospel. See John 13:34-35. 3. Promote and maintain biblical standards in areas of morality, ethics, and sexual behavior. See Galatians 2:20. 5. Establish and maintain relationships that are Christ-centered where faithfulness in a Christian covenant is demonstrated between two people as demonstrated by God to Israel. See Hosea 2:16-20. 6. Make sure that our church continues to teach a sound biblical doctrine that holds firmly to the fundamentals of the historic biblical faith. See Titus 2:1; Jude 3-4. 7. Witness to others the saving power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. See Romans 1:16. 8. Disciple and help equip Christian gay men and women to be effective servants of Jesus Christ. See Matthew 28:18-20. 9. Show to everyone that there is a better way of living life that can be found in Christ: that religion is not the answer, but that Jesus Christ is the answer! See Philippians 1:21, 3:7-14. IS HOMOSEXUALITY SINFUL OR PERVERSE? Homosexuality is not necessarily sinful nor perversive. It can be abused and acted out in a manner displeasing to God even as can happen within heterosexuality. Homosexuality is simply a variation in God's wonderful work and world of creation. God delights in variety. Just take a look around you at the mountains, the desert, the flowers, the heavens, the animal world, and people themselves. God does not delight in clones. Homosexuality is not a mistake that God allowed to happen. WHY ARE SOME PEOPLE HOMOSEXUAL? Why are some people homosexual while the majority of people are heterosexual? No one really knows the answer to this. We just know that homosexuality is natural and normal for some people in this world. Contrary to what the vast majority of churches believe and teach, homosexuality is not a learned behavior. Those who believe that it is a learned behavior are misinformed. People making this claim are seldom homosexuals themselves. We did not become homosexual, but rather one day discovered our homosexuality. Most of us went through a period of time fighting, rejecting, and struggling with who we really are. Remember, God does not make mistakes! Christian gays do not choose to be homosexual anymore than Christian heterosexuals chose to be heterosexuals. All of us, however, did choose to be Christians. We are Christians first, and then we are either homosexual or heterosexual. DO NOT BE DEFEATED BY THE FLESH As Christians, whether homosexual or heterosexual, we must remember that our freedom in Christ is not a license to "do one's own thing." That there are biblical standards spelled out in Scripture cannot and must not be ignored. An area that every Christian must learn to control in his or her life is lust. Lust is a part of each person's fleshly self or nature (See Jeremiah 17:9.) Lust, however, can be controlled, or it can be allowed to rule and eventually ruin one's life. Lust is the craving and acting out of impulses that are triggered in one's mind. Lust is a selfish attitude. It is the "me first, last, and always" attitude. Lust gives little thought for the feelings of others. It is accountable to no one, including God, and is irresponsible. Lust craves power at any cost. The converse of lust is love. Lust can be brought under control by the power of the Holy Spirit in the believer's life. When the Holy Spirit is in control of the believer's life, there is what the Scripture calls the fruit of the Spirit. Part of the fruit of the Spirit is self-control. Christians need not be defeated by the flesh. We are assured victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible declares, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13.) This is not an idle promise. If you are a believer in Christ, it is for you! Claim it today! IN CHRIST, YOU ARE GOD'S CHILD If you are a gay person, don't be ashamed of who you are and who God intended you to be. God has a plan for your life. He loves you with a love that is without limits or reservation. It is an everlasting love. In Christ, you are God's child. God has no orphans, no stepchildren. All believers, gay and non-gay, are full members of the family of God. God Bless! Pastor Fred Casa de Cristo Evangelical Church 1029 E. Turney Phoenix, AZ USA 85014 Voice 602-265-2831 Copyright 1993 by Cristo Press All Rights Reserved.