Homosexual Christian?

Here is one you will weep over.  It represents the thinking of so many lost in the bondage and lie of homosexuality.  If Jesus made me this way, then I must learn to accept the way I am and be free.  The problem with this of course is that we are all born with a sinful nature and, by nature are destined to hell.  But God loves us enough to confront us with this horrible truth that he might save us from our natural lust filled, sinful ways and make us holy (different) so that we are no longer slaves to our sinful nature. The logic of this precious student represents that of so many! See Flip's response below.

Homosexual Christian?

Liz wrote:

I am a student at South Rowan High School and I am utterly disgusted with you. You have been using the words of our Lord to suit your own purposes. In the brochure you were handing out Friday April 7, 2006 you quoted some of 1 Corinthians 6:9. I would like to draw your attention to 1 Corinthians 6:11 which states, and this a direct quote from bible.com if you want to read it for yourselves, “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God ? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God . 11 And that is what some of you were. 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." This quote also includes what you use to defend your position but the passage which is highlighted in blue tells us that we are saved and we have been sanctified and justified by our belief in the Lord Jesus Christ.

I am a member of the bisexual community as well as a devout Christian and pray every night for the Lord to save me from myself. Yet, everyday I wake and I do not find myself changed. I am also a member of GSA. I support tolerance of all. Even of you. I understand that you are trying to do the Lord's work but, remember, you may be causing more trouble then you know.

As an open bisexual, everyday I am pinned against the wall by "good" Christians trying to "save" me. But, I have already been saved through my belief in our Savior. I am trying to be as diplomatic as possible but, please try to understand that I don't say I don't care about God. This is a battle I have fought my whole life. When I was younger, and I realized what I was, I tried to kill myself. I have tried several times because I have been told again and again that I am going to Hell. However Jesus spoke to me in a dream one night and said, "My daughter, live your life being true to yourself and you will inherit the Kingdom of Heaven because you have put your faith in me." I refuse to let you drag me down with you and I refuse to let you tell me that Jesus is not in my heart. You may one day find me outside your church preaching the real truth. Please, my brothers re-read the passages that you use to defend your position and do it this time with an open heart and mind.
God bless.
Liz

Dear Liz,

Thank you for writing to express your concerns, and Liz, please know that we Christians love you with all of our hearts -- with a true love that cannot help but tell the truth -- God's truth from Holy Scriptures.  We know that our Savior Jesus loves you even better than we, but Liz, you have been deceived by an abominable theology that is teaching a false-Christ, telling you that it is OK for you to remain in your sin.  Liz, at some point, as you have mentioned, this false-Christ (who is not the Jesus of the Bible, but is actually the Devil himself) convinced you that you would be better off dead.  There is no doubt where this lie came from!  It is a lie from the very pit of Hell, and it is not OK for any Christian to remain in their sin.  Jesus exclaimed clearly, "except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:5).  The Greek word for "repent" here is "metanoeo", which means "to change one's mind for better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one's past sins."

A simple profession of faith in Jesus Christ in itself is not necessarily a fruit worthy of repentance.  To truly have faith in Him is to believe Him and to believe every inspired Word in the Holy Scriptures.  Liz, we all must believe Him enough to love and obey Him.  Our obedience is the proof that we really know and love Him.  1 John 5:3 proclaims, "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous." 

Consider Jesus' warning in the book of Matthew chapter 7, "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."  Liz, clearly there are those that call upon the name of Jesus, but they simply are not saved.  Jesus will reject them because of their unrepentant iniquity, and the Greek word for "iniquity" here is "anomia", which means "violation of law."  There is no dispute that homosexuality is a violation of God's law.

It is the hardness of our own hearts that allows us to believe that we can enter the Kingdom of God while we willfully sin and refuse to repent. 

Liz, please realize that you cannot fix yourself.  As difficult as it was to admit, I did not have the power to change myself.  Jesus is the only one strong enough to fix you just as only He was strong enough to break and then fix my sin-hardened heart; but you have got to start by telling the truth, just as all of us must. 

Cry out to Jesus with tears and proclaim the truth, "Lord Jesus, I know that you hate homosexuality just as you hate lying, adultery, and any other sin.  Lord Jesus, I cannot help the way I feel inside, but I KNOW, Jesus, that You are strong enough to change me and give me a new and clean heart, a heart that hates all evil.  I know I can't do this on my own, so I am crying out to you, Jesus.  Please save me.  Place a burning desire in my heart to know the truth, so that I may be set free.  Remove my desire to sin so that I may live the holy life that you desire for me to live, in Jesus' precious name."

May you be encouraged, Liz.  We love you and are praying for you and want you to be encouraged to write to us often!

In Christian love,

Flip Benham