how do you guys treat gay people?

[mattfivefour]

I also recall decades ago hearing that the gospel is a lifeline. You throw a lifeline out for a drowning person to grab. You don't flog them with it. If our Master did not come to condemn people but that through Him people might be saved (John 3:17), who are we His servants to decide something different?

[ArmyofHeaven777]

BIBLICAL BALANCE is the key - it's when people(including myself) don't see biblical balance, alot of mistakes are made.

For example, at one end of the spectrum, Ted Haggard(before he got into trouble) said alot of biblical things over how homosexuality is not biblical, however, he almost never preached the gospel and what Christ did at the cross for us. At the other end of the spectrum, Rick Warren would profess his love for homosexuals and show compassion for them. But he too wold never preach the gospel and what Christ did at the cross for us.

Mat 25:31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
Mat 25:32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
Mat 25:33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
Mat 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
Mat 25:35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
Mat 25:36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Mat 25:37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
Mat 25:38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
Mat 25:39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
Mat 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Mat 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
Mat 25:42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
Mat 25:43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
Mat 25:44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
Mat 25:45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
Mat 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

It's suffice to say neither Haggard nor Warren have fulfilled any of these requirements, not even 1%.

[mattfivefour]

You said a mouthful with just that one word, Army— BALANCE. Balance is one of the key attributes of the mature Christian. Balance is one of the key manifestations of godliness throughout the Old and New Testaments. HOWEVER, it is often misunderstood and misapplied by those who are not yet mature in Christ.

In Philippians 4:5, the Holy Spirit tells us through Paul to "Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand." The word is ἐπιεικὲς (epieikes, pronounced ep-ee-eye-KESS) and comes from a root compound meaning"fitting, suitable, fair, reasonable, kind, mild, equitable and gentle". It has been said by bible scholar Bruce Hurt that it "describes a person who does not always insist on every right of letter of law or custom. It stands for the spirit or attitude that does not seek to retaliate. It denotes one’s willingness to give and take instead of always standing rigidly on one’s rights. This is the person who is yielding his rights and is therefore gentle, kind, courteous, tolerant or as one has described it exhibits a 'sweet reasonableness' or an ability to extend to others the kindly consideration one would wish to receive themselves. The forbearing person is not spineless but selfless." And it is that latter point over which many young Christians stumble. There is a great difference between being selfless in contending for the faith, and spineless.

I also like what the 19th century Scots theologian wrote in his 1884 Commentary on the Greek Text of Philippians: epieikes " signifies originally what is meet or fitting, or characterizes any object or quality as being what it should be. It also describes what is proper or fair, or what is kind and reasonable, especially in the form of considerateness and as opposed to the harshness of law. That it should at length settle down into the meaning of gentleness, or rather forbearance, was natural; and this is a meaning found in Plato, Polybius, Plutarch, and also in Philo...

"It does not insist on what is its due; it does not stand on etiquette or right, but it descends and complies. It is opposed to that rigor which never bends nor deviates, and which, as it gives the last farthing, uniformly exacts it. It is not facile pliability—a reed in the breeze—but that generous and indulgent feeling that knows what is its right, but recedes from it, is conscious of what is merited, but does not contend for strict proportion. It is, in short, that grace which was defective in one or other, or both of the women, who are charged by the apostle to be of one mind in the Lord. For, slow to take offense, it is swift to forgive it. Let a misunderstanding arise, and no false delicacy will prevent it from taking the first step towards reconciliation or adjustment of opinion. And truly such an element of character well becomes a man who expects a Savior in whom this feeling was so predominant. This grace was to be notorious among them— gnostheto (ginosko), 'let it be known' to all men—not simply to the enemies of the cross, or of the gospel, or to one another, as many allege, but to all without exception. It was so to characterize them, that if any one should describe their behavior, he could not overlook it, but must dwell upon it. Our life is seriously defective without it; and let a man be zealous and enterprising, pure and upright, yet what a rebuke to his Christianity, if he is universally declared to be stiff, impracticable, unamiable, and austere in general deportment! If this joy in the Lord were felt in its fullness, the spirit so cheered and exalted would cease to insist on mere personal right, and practice forbearance."

So thank you for introducing the word balance into this discussion. In truth it should be introduced into EVERY discussion we have on these forums.

[Kist]

Also one thing I'd like to add, how can one claim they love gay people and then let them go on with this devastating sin? It is both incredible harmfull for ones spiritual life, and as we know it is also very harmful for ones health. How can we let someone we claim we love just commit self destruction? We wouldn't just stand there if someone was standing in front of us while pointing a gun at their own head, this isn't much different. Yes confronting someone about this could have a negative effect on your personal relationship with this person, but if you can somewhat help make a difference it is worth it. Just as Armyofheaven777 said keep that balance, make a point of it that you say those things you need to say with love, and the desire for them to have the best they can have.

[Robert]

Also one thing I'd like to add, how can one claim they love gay people and then let them go on with this devastating sin? It is both incredible harmfull for ones spiritual life, and as we know it is also very harmful for ones health. How can we let someone we claim we love just commit self destruction? We wouldn't just stand there if someone was standing in front of us while pointing a gun at their own head, this isn't much different. Yes confronting someone about this could have a negative effect on your personal relationship with this person, but if you can somewhat help make a difference it is worth it. Just as Armyofheaven777 said keep that balance, make a point of it that you say those things you need to say with love, and the desire for them to have the best they can have.

Right, Kist. We love them enough to warn them of their sins and the consequences, but we don't flog them. Armyofheaven777 is right about balance, and it's something many have lost,. they tend to go to one extreme or another.