The Plank In Your Own Eye
While having breakfast with my wife on Sunday morning, I received an email notifying me that I had a comment pending to be released onto my blog under “anonymous”. It was a response to my previous post. I decided to blog their comment, instead of releasing it onto the post he or she intended to place it on. I wanted to give it a full response. I do believe the person who put so much time, thought & passion into this comment is a coward since they didn’t even say who they were, not even a pseudo name given. The person did however write from Texas University though.(Copy & pasted.)
“You can't honestly believe you are a christian lesbian is that the same as a christian crackhead? Its like oil and water....they don't mix AT ALL. How can you call yourself a christian and live a lifestyle that is totally against what God ordained? You are obviously unrepentant to your sin, which automatically excludes you from truly knowing God. When you are a true christian who loves God and his word. You obey and believe it as it is. Not what you want it to say to justify your homosexuality. You love your homosexual life more than you do Christ.Otherwise you would turn(repent) from it. I don't hate you, nor am I a bigot. But what I do hate is your blasphemy of calling yourself a "christian" lesbian. As to say God acknowledges that lifestyle, when he and his prophets spoke loudly against it. It is very misleading and deceptive. What you are doing is creating your own Christianity in order to justify your relationship with a same sex partner. If you claimed to be just a lesbian, that would be fine. Eventhough I disagree with that lifestyle. It is YOUR CHOICE. But don't attach Christ to something that is truly unholy. Its extremely disrespectful to the god you say you love, and follow. Reading your post it is doubtful we even serve the same Lord.”
“You can't honestly believe you are a christian lesbian is that the same as a christian crackhead? Its like oil and water....they don't mix AT ALL. How can you call yourself a christian and live a lifestyle that is totally against what God ordained? You are obviously unrepentant to your sin, which automatically excludes you from truly knowing God. When you are a true christian who loves God and his word. You obey and believe it as it is. Not what you want it to say to justify your homosexuality. You love your homosexual life more than you do Christ.Otherwise you would turn(repent) from it. I don't hate you, nor am I a bigot. But what I do hate is your blasphemy of calling yourself a "christian" lesbian. As to say God acknowledges that lifestyle, when he and his prophets spoke loudly against it. It is very misleading and deceptive. What you are doing is creating your own Christianity in order to justify your relationship with a same sex partner. If you claimed to be just a lesbian, that would be fine. Eventhough I disagree with that lifestyle. It is YOUR CHOICE. But don't attach Christ to something that is truly unholy. Its extremely disrespectful to the god you say you love, and follow. Reading your post it is doubtful we even serve the same Lord.”
Dear Anonymous,
Yes, I can and do believe I am a Christian and a lesbian. Thanks for putting “crackhead” into the mix - a nice "Christian" thing to say. You say that I am “unrepentant to my sin” --- there is no sin in loving another person of the same gender. And yes, I do believe that when you are a “true Christian” that you love God and His word. A true Christian is also someone who doesn’t judge another person’s “sin”. I assume the log in your eye is much too large to see this. There is no reference in the Bible that tells us that being in a loving relationship with someone of the same gender is wrong. I do see that being promiscuous and living a dangerous lifestyle is, but then again, I’m not one to judge anyone who lives that lifestyle. I refuse to play the role of God, as many so called Christians try doing. As you said, God’s prophets spoke loudly against this, but let me ask you, what did Jesus say about it while He was here with us on earth? May I also remind you that telling someone to just call themselves “gay” or lesbian” and leave of the Christian part is sinful in itself.
Jesus said, “If anyone should cause one of these little ones to turn away from his faith in me, it would be better for that man to have a large millstone tied around his neck and be drowned in the deep sea." ~Luke 17: 1-2 <----Don’t leave out that minor scripture.
Yes, I can and do believe I am a Christian and a lesbian. Thanks for putting “crackhead” into the mix - a nice "Christian" thing to say. You say that I am “unrepentant to my sin” --- there is no sin in loving another person of the same gender. And yes, I do believe that when you are a “true Christian” that you love God and His word. A true Christian is also someone who doesn’t judge another person’s “sin”. I assume the log in your eye is much too large to see this. There is no reference in the Bible that tells us that being in a loving relationship with someone of the same gender is wrong. I do see that being promiscuous and living a dangerous lifestyle is, but then again, I’m not one to judge anyone who lives that lifestyle. I refuse to play the role of God, as many so called Christians try doing. As you said, God’s prophets spoke loudly against this, but let me ask you, what did Jesus say about it while He was here with us on earth? May I also remind you that telling someone to just call themselves “gay” or lesbian” and leave of the Christian part is sinful in itself.
Jesus said, “If anyone should cause one of these little ones to turn away from his faith in me, it would be better for that man to have a large millstone tied around his neck and be drowned in the deep sea." ~Luke 17: 1-2 <----Don’t leave out that minor scripture.
As in Leviticus, it clearly states that homosexuality is a sin. That’s from the Old Testament. Eating shellfish or shaving your beard is also considered an abomination. Christians are no longer bound by the old law.
In Corinthians it has a mixed interpretation. Interpretation is key. Just as it says in the first Corinthians about sexual immorality:
“Don’t you know that those who do wrong will have no share in the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, who are idol worshippers, adulterers, male prostitutes, homosexuals, thieves, greedy people, drunkards, abusers, and swindlers—none of these will have a share in the Kingdom of God” ~1 Corinthians 6:9-10
Some Christians will fire this off to the gay and lesbian community as a warning that they’re not getting into heaven. But, they fail to read off the next verse:
“There was a time when some of you were just like that, but now your sins have been washed away, and you have been set apart for God. You have been made right with God because of what the Lord Jesus Christ and the Spirit of our God have done for you.” ~1 Corinthians 6-11
If we don’t believe what Jesus did on the cross, (died for our sins) then we truly don’t believe in Him.
Breaking the previous scripture down:
Idol worshippers: {Putting anything before God or worshipping another God} can be seen as many things. Some don’t attend church due to everyday life that gets in the way. In some people’s eyes, that’s “idol worshipping”—even though these people love God with all their heart. Do you think they’re going to hell because of this?
Adulterers: Clearly we all know what this word means. This is having an extramarital affair. This hurts, and it hurts the entire family involved. In the bible, it does state that anyone who marries a divorcee can be considered an adulterer if their ex-spouse is still alive. So then, do they still go to hell? Maybe just a huge sign with a letter “A” may get thrown onto their chest. What year is it?
Male prostitutes: Clearly this is self-explanatory. Making a buck to have sex is not out of love.
Homosexuals: The word itself makes Christian holy rollers shiver with disgust. But, what they are coinciding this with is prostitution as well as sexual immorality—promiscuity. To have sex with absolutely anyone or any gender. Reckless sex.
For instance:
“That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. And the men, instead of having normal sexual relationships with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men and, as a result, suffered within themselves the penalty they so richly deserved.” ~Romans 1: 26-27
All of this is out of promiscuity. It clearly states that they “burned with lust”. Two people who love one another in a monogamous relationship do not burn together in their lust as the foundation of their union. Yes, there are promiscuous homosexuals out there, as well as promiscuous heterosexuals too. So for me, to interpret this “popular scripture” for those who are against homosexuals, I would definitely say that this stems from the lack of self-control of sexual desire. This is not love--- this is lust. Back in the Roman days when they had wild orgies and ran around having sex with anyone and everyone—this tells me they’re referencing the scriptures during that time period.
And yes, I do agree with you - we will not probably serve the same “GOD”, because you’re doing everything Jesus would not do. Remember, WWJD? Are you doing it or are you just trying to ‘control the masses’ by what you don’t like or fear by using your religion as a weapon?
“Don’t you know that those who do wrong will have no share in the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, who are idol worshippers, adulterers, male prostitutes, homosexuals, thieves, greedy people, drunkards, abusers, and swindlers—none of these will have a share in the Kingdom of God” ~1 Corinthians 6:9-10
Some Christians will fire this off to the gay and lesbian community as a warning that they’re not getting into heaven. But, they fail to read off the next verse:
“There was a time when some of you were just like that, but now your sins have been washed away, and you have been set apart for God. You have been made right with God because of what the Lord Jesus Christ and the Spirit of our God have done for you.” ~1 Corinthians 6-11
If we don’t believe what Jesus did on the cross, (died for our sins) then we truly don’t believe in Him.
Breaking the previous scripture down:
Idol worshippers: {Putting anything before God or worshipping another God} can be seen as many things. Some don’t attend church due to everyday life that gets in the way. In some people’s eyes, that’s “idol worshipping”—even though these people love God with all their heart. Do you think they’re going to hell because of this?
Adulterers: Clearly we all know what this word means. This is having an extramarital affair. This hurts, and it hurts the entire family involved. In the bible, it does state that anyone who marries a divorcee can be considered an adulterer if their ex-spouse is still alive. So then, do they still go to hell? Maybe just a huge sign with a letter “A” may get thrown onto their chest. What year is it?
Male prostitutes: Clearly this is self-explanatory. Making a buck to have sex is not out of love.
Homosexuals: The word itself makes Christian holy rollers shiver with disgust. But, what they are coinciding this with is prostitution as well as sexual immorality—promiscuity. To have sex with absolutely anyone or any gender. Reckless sex.
For instance:
“That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. And the men, instead of having normal sexual relationships with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men and, as a result, suffered within themselves the penalty they so richly deserved.” ~Romans 1: 26-27
All of this is out of promiscuity. It clearly states that they “burned with lust”. Two people who love one another in a monogamous relationship do not burn together in their lust as the foundation of their union. Yes, there are promiscuous homosexuals out there, as well as promiscuous heterosexuals too. So for me, to interpret this “popular scripture” for those who are against homosexuals, I would definitely say that this stems from the lack of self-control of sexual desire. This is not love--- this is lust. Back in the Roman days when they had wild orgies and ran around having sex with anyone and everyone—this tells me they’re referencing the scriptures during that time period.
And yes, I do agree with you - we will not probably serve the same “GOD”, because you’re doing everything Jesus would not do. Remember, WWJD? Are you doing it or are you just trying to ‘control the masses’ by what you don’t like or fear by using your religion as a weapon?
I thank you for your time and thought provoking comment. I respect your views and beliefs that you feel homosexuality is wrong, but please do the same for me, as my beliefs are the total opposite. If you'd like to cast the first stone (so cliche), then do so. But as a Christian, I can only hope you gain more understanding, patience and love so you can see past the plank in your own eye.
Warmest regards,
Deb
P.S. Yes, I'm one of those lesbians who did their homework. ;)
For more of Deb's articles, please visit: www.debrapasquella.com