Andrew Marin Pt 1 and 2- Elevating the Conversation Between the Church and the Gay Community

Andrew Marin wants to change the conversation between straight and gay-between conservative evangelical churches, liberal churches, and the gay and lesbian community. Does the conversation have to be, Im right and youre wrong? asks Spencer Burke, host of ThinkFwd on TheOOZE.TV. Andrew believes both communities are talking past each other instead of loving each other. Progressive Christians and the gay community are focused on finding scientific, academic proof of a gay gene so they can say to conservatives, Now you have to agree, being gay is a God-given thing and I can be a happy, healthy person of faith.

On the flip side, the conservative Christians could be shown 20 gay genes and it wouldnt matter, theyd still believe, Each person, gay or straight, has the ability to choose and to change wrong behavior. Theyll hold up ex-gays or celibates as proof that the traditional interpretation of scripture holds true. And so, each side is fighting for something they hold to be true and regardless of proof one way or another, they are not going to simply change their long-held, ingrained beliefs.

Burke and Marin talk about sin. Its a politically divisive word, and might seem to give us permission to discount or disconnect with people who we call sinners. But Marin says, Jesus never said, Love the sinner, hate the sin. What Jesus says is, Love the sinner, and hate your own sin. (But isnt it always easier to fix someone elses speck that work on our own log!)

Lets approach it a different way, says Andrew. You dont have to change what you believe, just live it out differently. Yes, he says, we are justified by our faith, but faith is nothing if we dont do anything with it. Weve been given the opportunity to do something with our faith-to love (with our actions) a group of people who some might consider our enemies.

Andrew suggests a few ideas for engaging the communities in our own back yard, and encouraging discussion around faith, sexuality and culture. Help your church partner with a secular gay and lesbian group, cleaning up the community or building or cleaning up old homes. Have your youth group partner with the gay-straight alliance at their high school. Andrew believes future generations will judge us on the way we (the Church) work with the gay and lesbian communities. He is seeing churches around the country changing their structure and systems to encourage dialogue and love between their communities. This, he says, is great reason to hope.

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[Dano853]

3.Whatever the causes, whatever the manifestations, we all need a Savior who can give us new life and offer comprehensive soul healing. I am only now learning to trust the Spirit even more than my own (or someone elses) interpretation of scripture. The Spirit gives life with love joy peace, etc. The alternative is bondage.

[Dano853]

The percentage of SGA people would be even less in those with a more balanced upbringing. I fall into the latter category where the absent or abusive parent theory doesnt fit.

Consider also that many dysfunctional heterosexual traits are more acceptable to the general public as well as many Christian/judeo fellowships. They are easier to disguise, and intimately contribute to the failure of approximately half of all marriages whether religious or secular.

[Dano853]

@TheMrpresident07 We all come to Christ as broken people, born into a fallen world. If you ask a random group of people if they suffered sexual or emotional or physical abuse as a child or had an absent or emotionally distant father (or mother), an overwhelming majority would have to admit one or more of these elements. Yet less than 1/4 of those would identify as same gender attracted.

[dinasings]

I LOVE that! "Love the sinner. Hate the sin in our own lives". It is not our job to deal with other peoples sin! It's our responsibility to deal with our own life! We can barely purge ourselves from sin. Why are we so worried about others sin.

[TheMrpresident07]

. Do not be confused It is not genetics or science can prove otherwise The real ROOT of the problem is that many homosexuals suffer from emotional physical abuse, highly curious minds and self esteem issues whichmustbe addressed The blood of Jesus bringsunderstanding the enemy wants you to arrogantly stand in Gods face saying I choose this and wont change my choice. Dont blame God for wrong choices. Confes that 1you are wrong 2you want to change