At the end of the day…I'm gay…married (to my husband)…have four kids…and your entire argument assumes that God made a mistake when she gave me all these blessings.

To all my brothers and sisters who have also been given the ability to love people of the same gender…may I suggest a visit to the Metropolitan Community Church? It's a church that really welcomes and loves god's gay-lesbian children. And to the musician above who refuses to love a man as his heart is telling him to…cast off the oppression preached by Shaun and other haters, and find love in your life.

Anyway, in reading it over, a few random things stood out to me. I'm not sure first of all why anyone would have an issue with cousin marriages. This is some sort of American cultural taboo (complete with tons of urban legend about mutations and birth defects resulting from cousin marriages) but it is pretty normal in most of the world…including many many couples in the Bible. Even if you want to stick to American laws and culture, the law in the US has no problem with 2nd cousin marriages. But that really doesn't have anything to do with the subject at hand, does it. :)

So, back to the subject at hand, I'm always scratching my head when christians try to prove that people are not born homosexuals. It seems opposite to me of both science AND christian doctrine to teach that. Isn't a core tenet of christianity that all people are born sinners? So, shouldn't we ASSUME that people will be born predisposed to every sin under the sun, and that sin would be even genetic and part of our DNA? (After all, we inherited sin from Adam, right?)

So, people ARE born with predispositions towards rage and anger. People are born with addictive personalities (born alcoholics, as it were.) And people most certainly are born to be homosexuals.
The sooner we quit denying this fact, the sooner homosexuals and everyone else will recognize that we are speaking of something they know within themselves to be true – that this sin is part of their very nature, not a decision they are making. They are in bondage to it for it is who they are, at their very core… And THIS is where the gospel really has punch – THIS is where rebirth really means something. You can be BORN AGAIN. With a new nature! Yes, you were born a homosexual, and you are powerless to free yourself. God wants to make you a new person- not simply make you act like something you are not. This is the gospel! How glorious!

So, let's stop dancing around the issues and instead lets start preaching THE TRUTH! Men and women are powerless sinners, but THE TRUTH shall set them free! Free to live, free to have wholeness, free to have sexually sound and appropriate relationships in accordance with God's original design – man and woman. Oh – and free from addictions…free from rage….free from everything else condemned in God's laws and free to dance in His light! And I say, in an altogether appropriate and nonreligious sense – Hallelujah, man!

http://www.loveisanorientation.com/

http://authentic-light.blogspot.com/2009/12/serio…

Ok. So I grew up "knowing" that homosexuality is SIN. Yet in my experience, many of the men I saw having a great anointing from God (no doubt) were involved in a homosexual lifestyle/practices. Some of them are still alive today and still anointed. I myself have experienced great anointing by God even in my condition. While I am not in a homosexual relationship (and I have only tried that once) I am still lustful in that area. I still am addicted to porn – male porn in particular. And I am considering even as I write, to enter into a relationship with a male friend of mine.

I was never raped or abused in anyway as a child. I have read many articles that have tried to explain my attraction for men. One has said that when a woman have several sons, something about producing antigens to facilitate the male foetus occurs in her body. Hence, the later child (male) will have some amount on female hormones and have gay tendencies/lifestyle. Also, social theorists believe that earlier associations have much to do with behavioural patterns. So again, here am I, analyzing myself. No father-figure in the home, older brothers who were more grouped to themselves, I spent more time with my mother, my grandmother and the women folk at church. Hence, I guess I learned certain behaviours.

Well, after much praying and fasting, after a failed marriage, and many other issues, I am still gay. The interesting thing is that we (the Church, pastors like myself) preach that the blood of Jesus takes away all sin and renews us. We preach that the Holy Spirit regenerates us. Yet, I have struggled for many many years with this issue of being gay. And don't tell me now that my crying out to God was not genuine. Don't tell me that I have not honestly poured out my heart to God…even when I am having these feelings. Been there done that.

I have cleaned my hard drive of porn many times over, destroyed many DVD's, made resolves not to go back there, sought prayer, counseling……I am still gay. And here's the worst part. While struggling with these issues, I still have to preach against something that I believe (whether by upbringing or conviction) is a sin but still struggling with. As one earlier commentator said, no one would readily choose this way and suffer willingly, the abuse and scorn…and even the physical danger (especially in the place I live).

I believe that this gay issue is multi-faceted, and there is no ONE answer to it. I believe there is a physical aspect, a physiological, a social, and also a spiritual aspect to it. Listening to all the arguments here, and others I have listened to, many are plausible…on booth sides. Persons have raised many Biblical points that seem to show how we contradict ourselves. TRUE. Many have pointed to the love of God/Jesus that we need to show. TRUE! Easier to say than to do though. One thing I can unequivocally agree with is this: WE CANNOT CHANGE ANYONE…ONLY GOD BY HIS HOLY SPIRIT CAN. Now, as to why He has not changed me and the many hundreds of thousands who have cried to Him so many times, is another question. Don't tell me that none of these people were genuine in their asking. I have seen young children who are not exposed to homosexuality but yet their behaviour reveals the direction they are headed…and they do.

You know, it;s funny…I have never met anyone who has been homosexual who can truly and honestly tell me that they were "healed" and have not even as much as thought much more desired to have an encounter. Not even a look.

Brother Shaun, you have been far more accommodating and humane than many others, in your responses and in the stance you take. For that I must commend you. We need so much more prayer and heavenly knowledge and wisdom to deal with this issue….it is NOT going away. And more agruments will be thrown out here, there, and everywhere.

Until one has been there, one can say whatever he/she will. It is the people who feel it who really know it.

P.S. In response to the argument of sex for procreation….what an absurd statement. There is enough Biblical text to show that sex was and is meant for pleasure also. So if sex is for procreation ONLY, after a young couple in their twenties have had the two or so children that they planned for, should they withhold sex for the rest of their lives….providing they live together for another 50 years? Ha!

Ok. So I grew up "knowing" that homosexuality is SIN. Yet in my experience, many of the men I saw having a great anointing from God (no doubt) were involved in a homosexual lifestyle/practices. Some of them are still alive today and still anointed. I myself have experienced great anointing by God even in my condition. While I am not in a homosexual relationship (and I have only tried that once) I am still lustful in that area. I still am addicted to porn – male porn in particular. And I am considering even as I write, to enter into a relationship with a male friend of mine.

I was never raped or abused in anyway as a child. I have read many articles that have tried to explain my attraction for men. One has said that when a woman have several sons, something about producing antigens to facilitate the male foetus occurs in her body. Hence, the later child (male) will have some amount on female hormones and have gay tendencies/lifestyle. Also, social theorists believe that earlier associations have much to do with behavioural patterns. So again, here am I, analyzing myself. No father-figure in the home, older brothers who were more grouped to themselves, I spent more time with my mother, my grandmother and the women folk at church. Hence, I guess I learned certain behaviours.

Well, after much praying and fasting, after a failed marriage, and many other issues, I am still gay. The interesting thing is that we (the Church, pastors like myself) preach that the blood of Jesus takes away all sin and renews us. We preach that the Holy Spirit regenerates us. Yet, I have struggled for many many years with this issue of being gay. And don't tell me now that my crying out to God was not genuine. Don't tell me that I have not honestly poured out my heart to God…even when I am having these feelings. Been there done that.

I have cleaned my hard drive of porn many times over, destroyed many DVD's, made resolves not to go back there, sought prayer, counseling……I am still gay. And here's the worst part. While struggling with these issues, I still have to preach against something that I believe (whether by upbringing or conviction) is a sin but still struggling with. As one earlier commentator said, no one would readily choose this way and suffer willingly, the abuse and scorn…and even the physical danger (especially in the place I live).

I believe that this gay issue is multi-faceted, and there is no ONE answer to it. I believe there is a physical aspect, a physiological, a social, and also a spiritual aspect to it. Listening to all the arguments here, and others I have listened to, many are plausible…on booth sides. Persons have raised many Biblical points that seem to show how we contradict ourselves. TRUE. Many have pointed to the love of God/Jesus that we need to show. TRUE! Easier to say than to do though. One thing I can unequivocally agree with is this: WE CANNOT CHANGE ANYONE…ONLY GOD BY HIS HOLY SPIRIT CAN. Now, as to why He has not changed me and the many hundreds of thousands who have cried to Him so many times, is another question. Don't tell me that none of these people were genuine in their asking. I have seen young children who are not exposed to homosexuality but yet their behaviour reveals the direction they are headed…and they do.

You know, it;s funny…I have never met anyone who has been homosexual who can truly and honestly tell me that they were "healed" and have not even as much as thought much more desired to have an encounter. Not even a look.

Brother Shaun, you have been far more accommodating and humane than many others, in your responses and in the stance you take. For that I must commend you. We need so much more prayer and heavenly knowledge and wisdom to deal with this issue….it is NOT going away. And more agruments will be thrown out here, there, and everywhere.

Until one has been there, one can say whatever he/she will. It is the people who feel it who really know it.

P.S. In response to the argument of sex for procreation….what an absurd statement. There is enough Biblical text to show that sex was and is meant for pleasure also. So if sex is for procreation ONLY, after a young couple in their twenties have had the two or so children that they planned for, should they withhold sex for the rest of their lives….providing they live together for another 50 years? Ha!

The Bible says a lot of things–many of them plain insane by today's standards. Christians of all faiths seem to only apply the rules to themselves and others when it suits their needs. I bet many of the Bible's edicts you are guilty of not following. Do you touch pig on Sunday? East shellfish? Touch a woman when it's that time of the month? "Oh, those rules are in the old/new testament, so we don't follow them. We just follow the chapters and verse that let us hate gays!" Oh and calling gays a sin or homosexual acts a sin, is a form of discrimination and hate. Oh the irony of people of color finding some other groups to put down! Dr. King would not be impressed.

The Bible also says God made man in his image and likeness.

So God made me and he made me gay. I was born that way. No choice in the matter. Who would chose to be something that crazy religious people think it's okay to dismiss as a "sin" or a "sinner" as you so easily did.

Truth here. Seems that Christian enjoy having someone to look down on. People used the Bible to justify slavery, prohibit people of different races marrying… none of that is socially acceptable any more So who can Christians hate? Who can they marginalize? Who can they deny the basic civil rights to? Seems they have chosen the gays and lesbians.

I just find it very ironic that a church would open it's doors in the most gay and lesbian positive part of the city of Atlanta, and still spout such archaic, discriminatory beliefs.

"Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice. Justice at its best is love correcting everything that stands against love."
— Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.