Friday, June 22, 2012
God turning someone straight?
I found myself very puzzled yesterday. There is this guy at one of the Bible studies that I attend that I cannot seem to figure out. I always give people the benefit of the doubt. A lot of times I am more trusting than I should be and give people way too many chances. I am optimistic to a fault. This guy, who we will refer to as one, just boggles my mind. I cannot seem to put my finger on why I do not trust him. It takes a lot for me to not trust someone. It bugs me that I cannot figure him out.
A friend of mine was telling me a little bit of his history. One used to be a party guy. He used to do drugs and I think drink alcohol. My friend said he was gay but when he found God, God made him straight. And there it was! This is what I could not put my finger on. I know God can do anything. I know he can work miracles. I have been a Christian my whole life. However, if one was happy being gay why would God change him?
My church is very traditional but, in general, very liberal. We are accepting to everyone. We do not pass judgement because we know that is not our job. I try to not pass judgement but I am not perfect. Of course sometimes I slip up. Sometimes I sin but that is okay! God loves me enough to forgive me. I have never had a problem with someone being homosexual. I know it is a sin. I also know that God forgives sins. He forgives mine and he forgives theirs.
I am struggling with this. I cannot figure out why God would decide to make someone straight. I have been thinking hard about this and, no matter how hard I try, I cannot make sense of it. I am a hopeless romantic. I believe that you cannot help who you love. I believe that in this world there is that one perfect person for you. I believe in that gushy true love that is in chick flicks. I prayed about this last night asking God why he would just make someone straight. I am seeking an answer because nothing in my breadth of knowledge makes sense. Perhaps someone else can make sense of this?
The only thing that makes sense is that God knew one was not happy. He knew that one was seeking something else. He knew that one could have a better and happier life. He knew that one's party life was contributed by his unhappiness. He also knew that by turning him away from homosexuality he would be able to lead a better life. I guess this makes sense.
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Dana-when we come to know God, we come to Him as sinners, but He does not leave us the way that we are. If you we a chronic liar, God would help you to stop lying. If you hated everyone, God would change your heart to love. Knowing God is like being in a committed relationship. When you love someone, you want to please them. Loving the Lord is the same way-we are to live solely for Him. Homosexuality is not one of the things that God approves of. This is why He would change "One" from being gay, because He is constantly molding us into His image if we let Him.
ReplyDeleteAlso, to address a few points that you made:
God does forgive sin, but we must have a repentant heart. If I ask God for forgiveness, I have to be sorry for my sin. If I am not truly sorry, then I will keep repeating my sin but God wants us to learn and to grow. How can I be sorry for a sin that I live in?
-You said that if he was happy being gay, why would God change him? I challenge you to find a place in the Bible that says that we are to seek happiness. You will not because it's not in there. While God does want us to be happy, He more so will give us joy. The difference? Joy is not based on circumstance. Jesus said that in this world we will have tribulation, but we know that in our trials we are brought closer to God. Life isn't about being happy, it's about bringing glory to God and bringing others to know Him. In this, we find joy and are made happy.
Many times we don't agree with things in the Bible but when you exalt your own ideas of what is ok above God's proclamations, you are claiming that your opinion is more valid and more right than His. This is foolish. It is not wisdom and it is the same sin that Satan fell with and Adam & Eve were tempted with.
I hope this helped....if you'd like to talk more about it, I'd love to sit down and explain.
-Bonnie
No that makes complete sense! Thank you for that. I was struggling with this last night. I could not seem to grasp the concept. What you said makes complete sense. I knew that if I threw it out there that someone would be able to help me figure it out!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I could help. Always remember that God's word is where we find truth. When we lack understanding, turn to Him. I'm glad that you prayed about it last night.
ReplyDeleteHomosexuality is not a sin, at least not according to the Christian Bible. No where in the New Testament does Jesus condemn it, and as we all know, the only reason we have salvation without paying the type of price that people like Moses had to pay is because Jesus had a little sit down with God and said that he would be our liaison to the Lord. After that, God agreed that he would chill out a little on all the stupid little specific rules he made for us (probably just for his own amusement) and let Jesus pay for our mistakes (John 3:16). Then Jesus went ahead and died on the cross and came back three days later after owning Satan, so God agreed to hold up his side of the bargain. Therefore, the Old Testament is null and void and there for historical reference only of how uber angry and vindictive the Lord used to be before Jesus chilled his shit out. Any of this ringing a bell?
ReplyDeleteAnyway, the passage that condemns homosexuality is set alongside such rules such as to not wear cotton and polyester together and to not have sex with anyone but your partner (especially not animals, you know, because that is super gross according to Leviticus 18:23). In the New Testament, Jesus forgives so many prostitutes and adulterers that you lose track (particularly the most famous whore of them all, Ms. Mary Magdalene). Jesus is all about forgiving those who truly believe in him and try to be good people. Is it so difficult to believe that a gay man could truly believe in Jesus yet not think that God wants him to be miserable and deny taking a partner that he truly loves? Jesus was also all about unconditional love, unlike most Christians nowadays. So if it is OK for us to wear cotton and polyester together and not sacrifice a goat every time we pray, how come Christians get to pick and choose what Old Testament rules still apply?