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ScottA

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I left this forum a few weeks ago because of how disgusted I was at the hate being expressed here towards the LGBTQ community. I can understand how some Christians believe their lifestyles and choices are sinful, but I can't understand the clear hatred behind many of the posts. So I took a break, and now that I come back, what do I see?

Multiple Christians posting blatantly racist and/or white supremacist views, and what's even more shocking, it's all tolerated! No deletions of racist posts (including those using the N-word), no banning of members who post their white supremacist views outright....nothing. Apparently within the Christian community those sorts of things are tolerated.

A few years ago I left another Christian board for the same reason (it had also become a racist hate board) and now I am walking away from this one for the exact same reason. That's led me to wonder about the state of Christianity in the western world. Survey after survey has shown fairly rapid declines in the number of Christians in developed countries, and to be honest with you, given what I've seen from Christians, I say good riddance! The more people who leave (or never become a member of) a faith that tolerates the sort of hatred expressed here, the better for all humanity.

For those Christians here who aren't racist and don't agree with the racism from your fellow Christians, why are you so passive towards the hate from your fellow Christians? Do you not understand the impact this is having on the public image of your faith? Are you in denial of it, or is it that you just don't care?

Either way, from the outside it looks very much like the crazies and haters have taken the stage from you and are increasingly becoming the face of Christianity. And from what I can tell, many of you are fine with that.

So whenever you find yourself lumped in with all the Christians who are racists, bigots, and haters you'll have no one to blame but yourselves.
Your assessment is not accurate.

Most people in our present society, whether of faith or not, do not hate. That would be the exception not the rule.

What you are seeing rather, is one backlash against another backlash about an issue that should be old dead and buried news of long ago, stirred up and used for political advantage, a game of kings and pawns. People using people.

However, from our Christian standpoint, we should not consider it so, for we fight not against flesh and blood, but against powers and principalities in heavenly places. So...if we too are lead down that worldly path of hatred toward our fellow man, we are as much a part of the problem as those users and manipulators. Stop doing that.
 

LC627

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I'd just like to say one thing here...no, there are ONLY 2 genders but, there are a ton of sexual orientations out there...they run the gamut. This is THE most difficult subject for me to speak on, I'm like @Rita on this.

BTW- good post!

I do find it ironic that with the homosexuals they use the rainbow and the word "pride". Romans 1 states why people practice the homosexual lifestyle - pride. They refuse to acknowledge God so He gave them over to a depraved mind. I used the word "practice" because some people may feel tempted with lust towards the same sex but submit those desires to the obedience of Christ.
 

Giuliano

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I do find it ironic that with the homosexuals they use the rainbow and the word "pride". Romans 1 states why people practice the homosexual lifestyle - pride. They refuse to acknowledge God so He gave them over to a depraved mind. I used the word "practice" because some people may feel tempted with lust towards the same sex but submit those desires to the obedience of Christ.
Let us not use gays as the only example when Paul gave several more that are ignored by some people today.

Romans 1:29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Paul also warned against judging others.

Romans 2:1 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.

 
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LC627

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Let us not use gays as the only example when Paul gave several more that are ignored by some people today.

Romans 1:29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Paul also warned against judging others.

Romans 2:1 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.

I used that as the reference as it pertained to the post I replied to. Also, all judging is not wrong. We are to make righteous judgement- sin is sin and it is never judging calling it for what it is.
 

Giuliano

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I used that as the reference as it pertained to the post I replied to. Also, all judging is not wrong. We are to make righteous judgement- sin is sin and it is never judging calling it for what it is.
I find it strange that so many people want to pick out one item from that list. I also tend to think the people who object to homosexuality the loudest are often guilty themselves, "for thou that judgest doest the same things." We all probably have heard of the married preachers who gave loud sermons on the topic but then were discovered to have secret gay sex lives.

What about righteous judgment? When Paul discusses gay sex, he condemns the lust. Lust is selfish. Lust is self-gratification. Lust is not loving. Then the question is if gay sex is wrong if the two men love each other? It's clearly wrong for ministers who are married to women -- and that's what we often see: They get married but then cheat on their wives with men. That's lust at its worst.
 
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Stumpmaster

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I left this forum a few weeks ago because of how disgusted I was at the hate being expressed here towards the LGBTQ community. I can understand how some Christians believe their lifestyles and choices are sinful, but I can't understand the clear hatred behind many of the posts. So I took a break, and now that I come back, what do I see?

Multiple Christians posting blatantly racist and/or white supremacist views, and what's even more shocking, it's all tolerated! No deletions of racist posts (including those using the N-word), no banning of members who post their white supremacist views outright....nothing. Apparently within the Christian community those sorts of things are tolerated.

A few years ago I left another Christian board for the same reason (it had also become a racist hate board) and now I am walking away from this one for the exact same reason. That's led me to wonder about the state of Christianity in the western world. Survey after survey has shown fairly rapid declines in the number of Christians in developed countries, and to be honest with you, given what I've seen from Christians, I say good riddance! The more people who leave (or never become a member of) a faith that tolerates the sort of hatred expressed here, the better for all humanity.

For those Christians here who aren't racist and don't agree with the racism from your fellow Christians, why are you so passive towards the hate from your fellow Christians? Do you not understand the impact this is having on the public image of your faith? Are you in denial of it, or is it that you just don't care?

Either way, from the outside it looks very much like the crazies and haters have taken the stage from you and are increasingly becoming the face of Christianity. And from what I can tell, many of you are fine with that.

So whenever you find yourself lumped in with all the Christians who are racists, bigots, and haters you'll have no one to blame but yourselves.
I hope you don't mind a heart of unbelief being called evil, or sin being associated with deceitfulness, justadude. The Word of God gets right to the point.
Heb 3:12-13 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. (13) But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
 

Addy

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Whatever, I'm old school, eye for an eye. If you hate me, I hate you. I don't believe in the white euro centric interpretation of forgiveness and being nice that is more akin to being someones punching bag like a bad case of stockholm syndrome.
To the NEW BELIEVER, If you are reading this thread, please note that this response is NOT a Christian one. We are not called to hate at any time, for any reason. We are commanded to LOVE, to forgive, and to do good in the world.Sadly, this thread has been hi-jacked by the topic of racism.
 

2 Chr. 34:19

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Whatever, I'm old school, eye for an eye. If you hate me, I hate you. I don't believe in the white euro centric interpretation of forgiveness and being nice that is more akin to being someones punching bag like a bad case of stockholm syndrome.
 
R

Rita

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Whatever, I'm old school, eye for an eye. If you hate me, I hate you. I don't believe in the white euro centric interpretation of forgiveness and being nice that is more akin to being someones punching bag like a bad case of stockholm syndrome.
Forgiveness has never been about just accepting things from another person who has caused you harm, it’s never been about ‘being sweetness and nice ‘ Christian forgiveness is about you yourself being released from all the negatives that can build up from being hurt and angry when someone does something to you. It’s about giving what has happened to the Lord and allowing Him to vindicate and judge, and in his timing act on your behalf.
I do not accept that forgiveness is about just accepting that what happened happened and you move on as if it didn’t. We still have to face the consequences of our choices and actions when we make mistakes and God forgives us , we still have to live with the ripples from those choices.
If you hate because others hate you , then the cycle of hatred will just perpetuate - nothing will change. You just basically become part of the problem rather than part of the solution because that hate is what lies at the root of racism.
Rita
 

Giuliano

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To the NEW BELIEVER, If you are reading this thread, please note that this response is NOT a Christian one. We are not called to hate at any time, for any reason. We are commanded to LOVE, to forgive, and to do good in the world.Sadly, this thread has been hi-jacked by the topic of racism.
This is right.

Matthew 5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
 
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Addy

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Dcopymope said:
Whatever, I'm old school, eye for an eye. If you hate me, I hate you. I don't believe in the white euro centric interpretation of forgiveness and being nice that is more akin to being someones punching bag like a bad case of stockholm syndrome.


You are old school?? meaning living in the Old Testament times ??

You should change the definition of your faith to NON Christian, because you are blatantly REJECTING what Christ commands His children to do. It is one thing to have difficulty with forgiveness (which we all do at times), but it is quite another to publicly state you REFUSE to ACCEPT and/or follow the Christian way.
 
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Nancy

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Forgiveness has never been about just accepting things from another person who has caused you harm, it’s never been about ‘being sweetness and nice ‘ Christian forgiveness is about you yourself being released from all the negatives that can build up from being hurt and angry when someone does something to you. It’s about giving what has happened to the Lord and allowing Him to vindicate and judge, and in his timing act on your behalf.
I do not accept that forgiveness is about just accepting that what happened happened and you move on as if it didn’t. We still have to face the consequences of our choices and actions when we make mistakes and God forgives us , we still have to live with the ripples from those choices.
If you hate because others hate you , then the cycle of hatred will just perpetuate - nothing will change. You just basically become part of the problem rather than part of the solution because that hate is what lies at the root of racism.
Rita

@Rita,
I must say, you have been putting a lot of awesome RATIONAL posts up for awhile now. And, I couldn't agree more nor could I put them as well as you do.
Kudos sister!
 
R

Rita

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@Rita,
I must say, you have been putting a lot of awesome RATIONAL posts up for awhile now. And, I couldn't agree more nor could I put them as well as you do.
Kudos sister!
Thanks Nancy , not sure everyone would agree with you, but I am getting to a point now where I simply have to follow my heart regardless of whether other will agree. The forgiveness side of things I learnt along all the ups and downs of dealing with my own past and the ripples of a broken marriage. I will always be very grateful for those lessons as it taught me a different way forward.
Rita
 

Nancy

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Thanks Nancy , not sure everyone would agree with you, but I am getting to a point now where I simply have to follow my heart regardless of whether other will agree. The forgiveness side of things I learnt along all the ups and downs of dealing with my own past and the ripples of a broken marriage. I will always be very grateful for those lessons as it taught me a different way forward.
Rita

You followed your heart, and I know God has brought you through many trials, especially as of late. I think of your boys...especially your older one who had such a hard time losing hes father, and of course, Dan.
God does allow us to be put through the grinder and it's not pleasant at the time, but then that grain of sand inside an oyster probably irritates the poor oyster but, then it becomes a pearl! You've had some kind of breakthrough it seems, only going by the things you have been posting for awhile now. Recently, I've decided to stop pleasing others in order to keep the peace, no more, just cannot go against my heart and my head just because I might like someone, or to keep the peace. I'm a loner to begin with, with one single travel companion ;)
xo
 
R

Rita

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You followed your heart, and I know God has brought you through many trials, especially as of late. I think of your boys...especially your older one who had such a hard time losing hes father, and of course, Dan.
God does allow us to be put through the grinder and it's not pleasant at the time, but then that grain of sand inside an oyster probably irritates the poor oyster but, then it becomes a pearl! You've had some kind of breakthrough it seems, only going by the things you have been posting for awhile now. Recently, I've decided to stop pleasing others in order to keep the peace, no more, just cannot go against my heart and my head just because I might like someone, or to keep the peace. I'm a loner to begin with, with one single travel companion ;)
xo
Mark is working today, it’s Father’s Day ( is it the same day in the USA? ) He says he would rather be busy, same with my daughter. Not sure about my middle son, think it will hit him as he often saw his dad on Father’s Day. Dan is actually doing ok at the moment, well within his set of circumstances x
I am a loner as well , but having said that I think we get use to walking along the road with the Lord by ourselves. He truly knows and understands us as individuals. Yes, I had a breakthrough a few months ago - still learning, but on more solid ground xx
Would love to share a coffee with you, and a few others xx
Rita
 

LC627

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I find it strange that so many people want to pick out one item from that list. I also tend to think the people who object to homosexuality the loudest are often guilty themselves, "for thou that judgest doest the same things." We all probably have heard of the married preachers who gave loud sermons on the topic but then were discovered to have secret gay sex lives.

What about righteous judgment? When Paul discusses gay sex, he condemns the lust. Lust is selfish. Lust is self-gratification. Lust is not loving. Then the question is if gay sex is wrong if the two men love each other? It's clearly wrong for ministers who are married to women -- and that's what we often see: They get married but then cheat on their wives with men. That's lust at its worst.

I can see this topic is a trigger point for you. No one stated that lust isn't wrong - homosexuality is present because God gave people up to those desires because they refused to acknowledge God. That's not me saying it - the Bible is. Any true Bible believer would reject the practice of homosexuality. You hear / see the focus on it more often now because the LGBT+ agenda is being pushed and accepted by "churches" and not many are not calling it out as sin.

As I stated, homosexuality was "picked" from the list because it was in direct relation to the post I commented on. All sin is a direct refusal to obey God.
 
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LC627

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I find it strange that so many people want to pick out one item from that list. I also tend to think the people who object to homosexuality the loudest are often guilty themselves, "for thou that judgest doest the same things."

I tend to believe that those that are defensive about the topic are the ones who struggle with it. If you read my post I use the word "practice" when referring to homosexuality - the practicing lifestyle. This does not include those who do happen to struggle with temptation because temptation is not a sin.
 

Giuliano

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I can see this topic is a trigger point for you.
You sure it's not a trigger for you?
No one stated that lust isn't wrong - homosexuality is present because God gave people up to those desires because they refused to acknowledge God. That's not me saying it - the Bible is. Any true Bible believer would reject the practice of homosexuality. You hear / see the focus on it more often now because the LGBT+ agenda is being pushed and accepted by "churches" and not many are not calling it out as sin.

As I stated, homosexuality was "picked" from the list because it was in direct relation to the post I commented on. All sin is a direct refusal to obey God.
If God gave them up to it, who are we to complain? Why can't we say, "This is how God wants it?" It is also said that God blinds some people. Again, I say this is how it's supposed to be. If I believe I am in the Light and can see, then I am content to let the blind lead the blind. I do not feel my world is coming apart.

Some people seem to object so much to things, they may be setting themselves up in opposition to God. They may want things their way so much, they are failing to acknowledge what God wants. It is odd then for people who point the finger at gays and say they failed to acknowledge God are resisting what God decreed.
 
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Giuliano

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I tend to believe that those that are defensive about the topic are the ones who struggle with it. If you read my post I use the word "practice" when referring to homosexuality - the practicing lifestyle. This does not include those who do happen to struggle with temptation because temptation is not a sin.
I do not know what a gay lifestyle is. The term doesn't make sense to me.
 

LC627

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You sure it's not a trigger for you?
If God gave them up to it, who are we to complain? Why can't we say, "This is how God wants it?" It is also said that God blinds some people. Again, I say this is how it's supposed to be. If I believe I am in the Light and can see, then I am content to let the blind lead the blind. I do not feel my world is coming apart.

Some people seem to object so much to things, they may be setting themselves up in opposition to God. They may want things their way so much, they are failing to acknowledge what God wants. It is odd then for people who point the finger at gays and say they failed to acknowledge God are resisting what God decreed.

Who are we to complain? It's not complaining but sharing the Gospel with them out of love because we know it is sin. Also, for churches to be in acceptance of homosexuality is a huge danger to the health of the church.

The Scriptures say it is the person - not God - that is at fault. It is the individual that burns with lust and chases what the flesh wants and it is "against nature"