There is a long-standing strain of self-proclaimed innocence that has plagued humanity since Adam and Eve. We tend to deflect fault for our actions while accusing the actions of others....I recently posted this on Facebook to which the included discussion ensued. I post it here (with the other name deleted) to make the point of why the Church struggles to engage society....
A few sayings I can't seem to find in the Scriptures.....
"And Jesus said to them, 'I love you just the way you are, keep sinning.'"
"And Jesus said to them, 'I made you that way, so there's no need to repent.'"
or my favorite...
"And Jesus said to them, 'You're not perfect like Me and My Father. Don't bother yourself so much trying to be prefect."
But what He did say was...
"See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you." John 5.14
"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Matthew 4.17
"Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect." Matthew 5.48
READER But you don't think of gay people if
you say this, do you?
READER
Because this argument is always used against people who live
their homosexuality in a partnership.
READER I asked wether you do so. If so, I
would feel disparaged.
READER okay, I see you don't want to
say whether you mean your posting in a homophobic way.
So I suspect that you do so. sorry for annoying you. You can delete my
questians. I will go now. Good bye and God bless you.i
Be
Transfigured - Live a New Life in Christ If you have EVER read my
blog, you would know that my posts are always what they say. You would know
that I believe ALL sin must be repented from, whether sexual sexual sin,
financial sins, health sin. ALL SIN separates us from God. You seem to want to
fight about homosexuality, I'm not......so if you want a discussion, we need to
get things out in the open.
READER All sin must be repented. I have
no problem with that. But I would have a problem with you if you would say
living homolsexuality, even in a devoted partnership, is sinful.
READER Because you can't justify with
the Holy Scripture that love between homosexuals is sin.
Because Christ said that to love God and our neighbor, that's all the law is
about. So love never can be sinful....
See
More
READER you do, yes. Of course.
READER I am gay, yes. And I had a
relationship. But not at the moment.
Be
Transfigured - Live a New Life in Christ I make a HUGE distinction
between the love God calls us to and sexual activity, so let's separate the
points. I am commanded to love my enemies. Does that love equal the love I have
for my wife?
READER I don't want to argue this way.
God made you hetero sexual, and made me gay. He allows you to have a wife and
have sexual activity with her.
Why shouldn't he allow this to me, if he made me as i am?
Be
Transfigured - Live a New Life in Christ I can either eat my way into
a coma, or accept that God desires something BETTER for me than just food. I am
called to repent from gluttony and live without being able to eat whatever or
whenever I desire.
Be
Transfigured - Live a New Life in Christ This is the root of the
"God made me that way" part of my original post. We are ALL made in
the image of God, but we are ALL fallen, and God desires for ALL of us to
repent and draw closer to Him.
READER but now you compare sinful
behaviour or illness with homosexuality. And that is my point. that's unfair.
Be
Transfigured - Live a New Life in Christ We all desire certain things
that God doesn't desire for us. The Orthodox Way of life is about "deny
yourself, take up your cross" and following Christ. That makes each of our
struggle unique. Your cross is your sexuality, mine is over-eating.
READER my cross is to live in a church
that dares to forbid me to love. That is my problem.
Be
Transfigured - Live a New Life in Christ NO. Your Church does NOT
forbid you to love. That is my point. Your Church is here to assist you in your
struggle to deny your passions and unite with God. I think our society has done
you a HUGE disservice if you think the Church said, just because you can't
marry, you are somehow forbidden to love. The society has projected that on the
Church.
READER There can't be a different
criterion for heteros or gay concerning gays.
READER Concsrning seyuality,I meant.
have to struggle to deny my passions, only because I am gay. And you, because
you are hetero can live you passions?
READER to be gay and to love men ist
not fallen passsion. thats church doctrin. but from yesterday.
Be
Transfigured - Live a New Life in Christ Let's look at it from another
direction, which (I presume) neither of us has an interest.....There are
arguably (if you trust social science) members of our society that "were
born" sociopaths or murderers or deceitful. Would we EVER suggest 'they'
don't have to repent?
READER There is no scriptural
background for you sayings, if you do a sorrow exegesis of the handful of texts
that are used against us..
READER Good bye. It is offending to
compare me as gay with sociopaths or murderers.
I won't write anymore and block you. It's unbearable. this homophobia.
Taking time to actually travel to a church for a special
prayer or service has been a long-time tradition of our Holy Orthodox Church.
Within driving distance to your city are at least a dozen day trips to see old
and new churches and even spend time in different monasteries. Imagine the
blessing your family will receive if the next time you wonder what to do for a
Saturday afternoon you say, “How about going to visit the Monastery?”