Subject: how can we minister to homosexuals |
Bible Note: Doc- at this point I am hopelessy at a loss in even comprehending where we are missing each other here, seriously. I mean no insult and I mean no disrespect. It is difficult, if not impossible, for me to understand how it is that you are either so incapable of understanding me or I am so incapable of making myself understood. You keep giving responses that insinuate I have taken positions that I haven't even hinted at. After multiple rereads of my own posts, I can't even imagine where I might have suggested that a man can serve two masters, for example. "Stealth Christians"? Never heard of such a critter so we're in agreement for sure on that one brother. You yourself "note the past tense" of "and such were some of you" which is what I pointed out to you so I'm not following. The past tense vs the future is exactly what I have been arguing all along. A homosexual today.... may.... be.... the saved man of tomorrow. So,... judging him... eternally lost....can not be supported by Scripture. Scripture says that "inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment," Hebrews 9:27 (NASB) If we declare they are eternally lost then we are rewriting Scripture. Judgment comes after death. 1 Corinthians 4:1-5 (NASB) 1 Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy. 3 But to me it is a very small thing that I may be examined by you, or by any human court; in fact, I do not even examine myself. 4 For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord. 5 THEREFORE DO NOT GO ON PASSING JUDGMENT BEFORE THE TIME, BUT WAIT UNTIL THE LORD COMES who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men's hearts; and then each man's praise will come to him from God. (emphasis added) I've asked you if your believing I am saying that a person immersed and willfully living in sin is A SAVED PERSON (emphasis not intended as yelling). You didn't address that so I'm not sure if your reading my entire posts. You asked me: "How do you think those folks who ONCE WERE practicing drunkenness, adultery, deception, thievery, sorcery, and idolatry differed in behavior from the lost guys that ARE NOW practicing drunkenness, adultery, deception, thievery, sorcery, and idolatry? :-)" I don't think they were different; do you think they were different? My point, from the very beginning, was that just as "those folks" ONCE WERE; the homosexual or murderer, or theif, or drunkered you meet today may be changed so that it could be said of him (after being called out of his sin by God) that he ONCE WAS, but no longer is. Doc, as long as I've been engaging in bible study, to include my time here on the forum, I can't remember a time where I was so incapable of getting my point across. I do not doubt that this is the case here as evidenced by your apparent belief that I am saying things that I am not saying. For that I offer a sincere apology and beg your patience in spite of my obvious frustration at times. God bless, Jeff |