Plenary 1 : Christian
Response to Homosexuality
a) Convicted
·
Homosexual is not the worst sin
·
Our sin is just as odious可憎的
We feel disgusted about 2 men together but
is not this a fraction of how God looks at my sins? We need to be more
disgusted towards our own sins.
b) Consistent
·
Regarding relationship: Marriage is a gift,
singleness is a gift
Spiritual gifts are given by
God not what we choose
Marriage is a blessing but not
at the expense of singleness.
Until we reclaim the biblical singleness,
we aren’t ready to address the issue of homosexuality
·
Regarding sexuality: Holy sexuality
God’s standard of sexuality is
not heterosexuality but holy.
·
Regarding change:
Change is not the absence of struggles, but change is the freedom to choose
holiness in the midst of our struggles
c) Compassionate
·
Expect this is present in our churches (We all
suffer and struggle with our sins so we journey together)
·
Know our position
·
Assurance of friendship (anything you say won’t
change our friendship, then it will foster safe place and security)
·
Zero-tolerance for bullying (words are powerful
to build up and to tear down)
d) Complete
·
Focus on Truth
1 Corinthians 6
11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed,
you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ
and by the Spirit of our God.
·
Be redemptive
·
Christian with homosexual feelings
o
Thank them to open up to share their struggles
o
Not alone
o
Identity in Christ
o
Be realistic
If you still struggle, you don’t
have enough faith. This is unbiblical. Actually when you really submit to God,
things get more difficult.
o
Don’t focus too much on externals
o
Encourage God honoring same-sex friendships
·
LGBT friends
o
DO NOT compare to addiction, pedophilia, murder
and etc.
o
DO NOT say “lifestyle” or “choice”
Morality issue VS Identity issue. They view this as who
they are (identity)
o
DO NOT say “love the sinner hate the sin”
Live out. Just love them, do not need to tell.
o
DO NOT debate, “defend truth”
Christians are more ready to debate than to share Christ.
o
DO pray (and fast)
o
DO listen
o
DO be intentional
o
DO be patient and persistent
o
DO be transparent
Words of
reminder/encouragement
·
Q: Do you think this is a sin?
·
A: I value our friendship more than debating.
·
I wouldn’t have considered the gospel if I didn’t
see the gospel lived out in my parents’ lives! I left homosexual relationship
not because this is bad but I found something that is better – the relationship
with Jesus.
Source: Dignity Redeemed 尊严得赎金研习会by Dr CY, 13 & 14 March
2015
No comments:
Post a Comment