THIS article is a perfect example of the kind of misinformation and lies we are up against. What The Church really teaches is that homosexuality – as in the lifestyle – is sinful and disordered. BEING A HOMOSEXUAL is NOT necessarily a sin in itself. Living a homosexual lifestyle where you are engaging in sex with other people of the same gender is deeply sinful, just as it is sinful to live a sexually promiscuous lifestyle as a heterosexual outside of the commitment of marriage (one could argue, and would probably argue correctly in pointing out, that it may be the graver sin to live a homosexual lifestyle in some sense because not only is it promiscuous, but it is also disordered, but that is not a point I’m currently concerned in dealing with in this post). We as Christians need to start doing a better job of making the distinction between the action of engaging in homosexual sex, and the tendency to find the same gender attractive. One is a sin, the other is only a sin if it leads you to fantasize about, or engage in sexual activities.
There is a faction of individuals that try to twist this and say Christians all want to condemn homosexuals to Hell, or that we are asking them to do something they can’t do, to live without love. Nothing could be further from the truth. What the proper course should be for a homosexual that wants to live a faithful Christian life, is the same that it should be for everyone else (at least everyone else that isn’t, or can’t be married). Abstain from sex, and don’t let your mind wander and fantasize about perverse things. Simply having bad thoughts pop into your head is almost inevitable, but it’s not a sin if you push them away, and don’t allow yourself to think about them or dwell on them. Say a prayer. THAT is doable, because that IS a choice. And homosexuals that are Christian need to know that, and take comfort in the fact that they can live as Christians and strive to follow Christ. But they need to stay abstinent and fight the urge of impure thoughts, and with prayer, push them away, and if they do fall and they mess up, they need to know that there is forgiveness; that they need to turn to God, confess their sins and truly repent and try to be better.
This is not something that any Christian is not asked to do if their faith is properly understood. This is why it is so important that we as Christians stop letting atheists, homosexuals that have fallen away from their faith, and other secular individuals attack our faith as Christians by spreading lies, half-truths, and twisting the facts and our words. We need to stop letting people like this set the dialogue for us, and start laying the facts out, speaking the truth, and be the ones to bring a message of hope to others who are struggling with how they can live their faith, especially those that are struggling with it because they are a homosexual. This is something not to be taken lightly, because it does have implications for individual’s souls, so we need to show them that they can still live a Christian lifestyle. But if we let the other side be the only ones who are addressing the issue, then they only thing homosexuals will hear are the lies; that they can’t belong, and they can’t be loved, and they will leave the faith, and you can already see this happening.
This is just something for everyone to think about, and as a Catholic and a Christian; it’s deeply troubling to see a bishop saying these sorts of things. Homosexuals need to know that living that lifestyle IS A SIN, but that doesn’t mean they have to live in sin just because they are homosexual, just as I, or anyone else who is single and heterosexual, don’t have to live a promiscuous life merely because of our orientation. They need to know there is a better way and they can live a Christian life, and know the love and community of living in their Christian faith. This is just something I’ve been thinking about lately, and I hope will give you all something to think about as well. Thank you! God bless!
christiansconcerned4culture 