Ask Father Paul 110409

Answers to your questions about life, religion and the Bible

Pastors get some of the most interesting questions from people they meet and people in their congregations. Here are questions that I’ve gotten over the years and for this column.

Dear Father Paul: Can gay people be Christians? — Bob

Dear Bob: This is a huge issue in our culture and in the church in 2009. Several entire denominations have either split apart over this issue or are now in the process of splitting apart. How sad.

Over my years of ministry I have tried to base my answer to any question I might receive as a pastor not on “what I might think,” but on what God’s word, the Bible says. The answer to practically any question we might have about how to live good lives is found in the Bible. The Bible is the “standard ... the rule of faith,” for Christians, and the Bible clearly and unmistakably condemns homosexual acts as sin against God in over a dozen places in both the Old and New Testaments.

Perhaps the best Bible passage on the question you ask is in I Corinthians 6:9-11 ... ”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. 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.” (New Living Translation).

Further, according to Romans 1:26-27, homosexuality is immoral and unnatural. But ... and this is important Bob, in no place does the Bible list homosexuality as an unforgivable sin. And, in no place does the Bible say that homosexuality is a sin that Christians themselves will never struggle against. The wonderful good news is that God loves and forgives all sinners ... including homosexuals.

The major key to your question from God’s view is the idea that I just mentioned ... “struggle against.” You see all people, even Christians, are tempted by at least some of the sins of the flesh mentioned in I Corinthians 6. Understand that the other sins listed there are (to God) just as wrong as homosexuality. To God, sin is sin.

One might think they are righteous because they are not a homosexual, but perhaps they steal from their employer (they are a thief) or abuse their spouse or children (they are an abuser). Again, sin is sin. What differentiates a Christian’s life from that of a non-Christian is that the Christian will “struggle against sin.” The Christian’s life is a journey with God marked by “struggling against” and overcoming sin through confession to God, repentance, forgiveness and the amendment of life.

Therefore, a Christian who is tempted to commit homosexual acts, but does not desire to “be gay” and is contrite, repentant and broken because he knows that such acts offend and sadden his Father in Heaven is by definition a “struggling Christian.” This is what the passage in I Corinthians 6 means when it says, “There was a time when some of you were just like that, but now your sins have been washed away ...”

On the other hand, a person who actively, continuously and unrepentantly lives “the gay lifestyle” including ongoing homosexual acts is not truly a Christian any more than is the thief or the abuser mentioned in I Corinthians 6 who is also unrepentant.

If you disagree, that’s okay. I can’t apologize for what the Bible says. Please take it up directly with God himself ... on your knees.

Dear Father Paul: A lady in our church calls herself, “an intercessor.” What is an intercessor? — Rhonda

Dear Rhonda: Quite simply, intercessory prayer is the act of praying for other people ... kind of like a “mediator” between man and God.

“Intercessors” often spend a great deal of time praying for people. The Bible is full of examples of intercessors ... Abraham, Moses, Samuel, David, Elijah, Paul to name just a few.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the chief intercessor between man and God, and for that reason Christians often address their prayers to Jesus. While it’s okay for your friend to call herself “an intercessor,” God wants all Christians to be intercessors.

Do you have a question? I will try to answer your question in the paper. Email me your question at paulmassey@earthlink.net.

Father Paul Massey is pastor of Church of the Holy Cross Charismatic Episcopal Church in Fayetteville, Georgia. Church of the Holy Cross is Evangelical and Charismatic in the Anglican Tradition. Visitors are most welcome. More info. service times and directions are available at www.holycross

church.wordpress.com.

gay christians

Submitted by Main Stream on Wed, 11/04/2009 - 3:13pm.

"If you disagree, that’s okay. I can’t apologize for what the Bible says. Please take it up directly with God himself ... on your knees."

Wow. Using the phrase "on your knees" when asking for answers related to homosexuality is just too funny.

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Main

Submitted by hutch866 on Wed, 11/04/2009 - 4:55pm.

Maybe like Monica giving oral testimony to congress.

I yam what I yam....Popeye

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Hutch...

Submitted by Main Stream on Thu, 11/05/2009 - 1:21pm.

yup, I thought of Monica and Bill too... and kneepads and all that silliness...

hey, Happy-Bday, oh "bearded-one!" What are you now, 39 (again)?

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The Catholic Point of View

Submitted by Davids mom on Wed, 11/04/2009 - 3:41pm.

. . is respected by many around the world - but not necessarily accepted as 'gospel'. Some understand man to be made in God's image. God is Spirit - not material. Man manifests God through his spirit/actions/deeds. The material body is not the reflection of God. .according to some believers. It is always interesting to know how others understand the Bible. How one treats and respects others is indicative of their understanding of the Word. The Father's answer certainly contains this concept.

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Davids Mom, please note

Submitted by ptcmom678 on Wed, 11/04/2009 - 4:59pm.

Father Epps is a Charismatic Episcopalian priest, not a Catholic priest. Major difference. The original Episcopalians are an American offshoot of the Anglican Church of England, according to both Wikipedia and Answers.com. I am not sure what the Charismatic Episcopalians are exactly, but the USA Episcopal Church has some differing views from Father Epps on homosexuality. Perhaps the Charismatic Episcopalians are a result of the schism caused by these views who have actually been invited back into the Roman Catholic faith by Pope Benedict.

Catholic official view: According to Pope John Paul II, "Catholic doctrine describes homosexuality as a “disorder” even though the Catechism also insists that gays “must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity." This is because sexual activity is supposed to be solely for procreation. Please further note that the Catholic Church has the strictest guidelines I have ever seen regarding appropriate mentoring of children and young adults as a volunteer, religious educator, etc. These were further updated this past summer.

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ptcmom678

Submitted by Davids mom on Wed, 11/04/2009 - 5:07pm.

Thank you so much for that clarification.

the Catechism also insists that gays “must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity.

I find that many Christian churches are following this trend. It is a difficult issue. Thanks again. (and my apologies to Father Epps for not being more informed regarding his religion)

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