Notes

Courtney Johnson
We all need god despite belief, race, gender, etc.
BOOKS: Can you be gay and christian, What does the bible teach about homosexuality, Love into light, Is god anti-gay
Homosexuality is not god's plan
What does the bible actually say about homosexuality?
-Paul says in Philippians 3 that many live as enemies of the cross, their destiny is destruction, and that god is what they feel,what they want god to be (not true), their glory is in their shame-"I don't FEEL like god would be upset with gay/lesbian people"
-Genesis 19 Sodom and Gomorrah: Lot hosted three angels and every male in the town came and asked to make love with the angels (they wanted to because the angels are male, they didn't necessarily know they were angels)-This wasn't 100% about homosexuality-Not a good proof text
-Ezekiel 16:49&50 talks about the sin of Sodom-Had pride, but did not help the poor and needy-The sin was that they were greedy. There was homosexuality there, though.
-Leviticus 18&20-18-All prohibited sexual relationships. No insest, A man should not sleep with a man while he sleeps with a woman. Sex party or gay? No pork is also stated in Leviticus? That is no longer a law. Jesus came to fulfill it. Every law that Jesus fulfilled is repeated in the new testament.
-1 Corinthians 5:1-Insest-Moral law! That was repeated in the new testament, and the laws in Leviticus 18 were moral, therefore, moral laws are still in effect. Food laws are not. Jesus told Paul to go and eat pork and beef, but Paul said no because it was unlawful (Acts 10), but Jesus said that that law was done away with. Ceremonial laws (Sabbath and sacrifice) are gone, too. Galatians 2:16 therefore let no one pass judgement on you with food...
-Romans 1:24-Natural relationships are men and women, unnatural are men and men and women and women. SUPER OBVIOUS! And this is in the NEW TESTAMENT!!!!!!! There is a complimentary nature to our design between male and female-GOD'S DESIGN!!!!
-1 Corinthians 6-Lists of sin-Drunkenness, Greediness, Idolatry, Homosexuality-If you love god's word, you can't just cut out homosexuality.
-1 Timothy 1-Lists of sin-Drunkenness, Greediness, Idolatry, Homosexuality-If you love god's word, you can't just cut out homosexuality.
How are we as a church going to respond to the changes and definition of marriage?
We will not perform gay weddings at our church
We might lose tax exemption if we do not perform gay weddings, so we need to give more.
The church should not panic, nor just watch it happen
The supreme court can do many things but get Jesus back in the tune
The gospel is still as relevant now, as it was before the court ruling-GOD IS STILL WORKING TODAY, AND JESUS IS STILL ALIVE!
Ephesus-Paul said "Husbands, love your wives, be willing to lay down your lives for your wives!" They thought that was crazy because women were subservient to men- Jesus turned the whole thing upside down! The church will need to articulate our views of marriage
We don't need to just talk about biblical marriage, but demonstrate it! We should not have disregard for the marriage inside the church with non-biblical divorce, gay marriage, adultery, etc. We lose our voice when we don't practice what we preach.
Most churches act rudely and in an unloving manor, which has become white noise. We need to embrace it a loving, truthful, compassionate manor. Not just homosexuality, but other sexual sins, like rape, pornography, insest, etc.
How do you best minister to someone who is a homosexual?
This is a legit feeling, and you cannot help it. Sometimes they were born that way.
THIS IS A REAL THING! Just because they have a different temptation from you doesn't mean the temptation it is worse, and neither are they. God gives us power to overcome a temptation, but if we ignore it, or leave them alone, they will find affirmation and help elsewhere and embrace that sinful lifestyle.
REACH OUT WITH COMPASSION!
-John 1:17 The law was give through Moses, but grace and truth were given through Jesus. We have to respond with a combination of those.
They need to know there is a place for them in the church and god's kingdom.
How should Christians treat those who don't agree with them?
Use truth! Truth! Truth! But do it with grace! Grace! Grace! Jesus was truthful, but full of grace, and we, as Christians, need to act like Jesus.
-1 Peter 3:15 "But in your hearts, honor Christ the LORD who is holy, always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason...yet do it with gentleness and respect. Do it with grace, yet truth."
If we have truth, but no grace, then, truth gets distorted. If we are full of grace, but no truth, grace gets distorted.
5 tips to help you interact with others on this topic
1:Don't whine on social media or whine on the victim
2:Don't target less common forms of sin and ignore the more common ones. We are so mad about homosexuality, but divorce is even more of a problem. (Homosexuality is still a problem, but we focus on it more than worse issues because we want to sweep our sins under the rug)
3:Don't expect non-Christ followers to obey biblical principles. People that are not followers of Christ won't care! It's like telling a dead body to smile because non-Christ followers are dead
4:Respond to homosexual sin the same way as heterosexual sin (adultery, divorce, prostitution, premarital sex/housing, etc.) God designed sex for a man and a woman inside marriage.
5:Do choose your words carefully and wisely. It is wrong to be rude, even in the name of biblical morality. Avoid common statements that lose value. It is better to be thought a fool than to speak and prove it.
If you confess and repent, that doesn't mean that the temptation will go away.
"Love the sinner, hate the sin" is dumb. Some people are so convinced of their sin that they believe they are their sin/temptation, so saying that is like saying "I love you and I hate you."