Subject: Re: Homosexuality and Salvation
Date: Sat, 22 Jun 2002 22:19:21 -0500
From: Jack Barr <yourcomm@vol.com>
To: xxxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx

Hi xxxxx,

You have an interesting letter about you and Leviticus 18:22, The laying with mankind, as with womankind.

I can see that the Holy Spirit is bringing conviction upon you about this. And that is good. And I can also see that you are hurting.

Let me quote two additional verses from the bible and comment on these verses, and this may help you.

The Apostle Paul when writing to the Corinthians made note that there were many who had become Christians who had lived many different lifestyles that would have kept them from entering heaven, including homosexuality of both male and female (abusers of themselves with mankind). But Paul also shows us that this was in the past, by using the word "were", (past tense) and that they had been cleansed of these lifestyles by the Holy Spirit of God. (And such WERE some of you). They were no longer living these lifestyles. So by this we can be positive that homosexuality can be healed or cleansed from the behavior of anyone with the help of God, if you ask Him to help you stop this practice. It is not a lifestyle of which you can not get out of, for God can lead you out of it. How do I know that verse 11 shows that you can be healed of this? I know that this verse is speaking truth of it's healing because I saw my brother healed of living a homosexual lifestyle. And I do not mean just a few encounters. He was married with a daughter and divorced his wife and took up living the homosexual lifestyle with another man. They lived that way for 15 years. I hate the sin, but I loved the men, and never hesitated to invite both of them to visit with and join me and my wife when I was in their town. My brother justified his lifestyle by saying that there was no God. But God finally manifested Himself to my brother and struck my brother down, after which my brother repented and turned to The Lord Jesus when God showed him a vision of hell. Yes, It is All Real.

But you should also be aware that just one, or a few encounters, does not make you a homosexual!! There are so very many who have had some encounters this way when they were young and never took up this lifestyle. I know that it can be a very enjoyable experience, but at what price. Terrible sicknesses, revolting illnesses, bodies wasting away, Guilt, eternity in hell. It is by Choice that one becomes a homosexual and lives that lifestyle. And by Choice, with the help of God you can leave it. This is not to say that you will never be tempted, For Satan will always temp you, and you may even fall once in a while, but God will forgive, when you ask for forgiveness, and try to stay away from the act.

Those who practice this lifestyle will use any excuse to justify their Choice to live this lifestyle. They will try to tell you that they were born this way. This is a lie, for the bible says that no man was born this way. Some try to take a couple of bible verses and attempt to twist them to justify a homosexual lifestyle, even to claiming that Jesus and His Apostles were all homosexuals. May Satan have mercy on their souls, for God will not, unless they repent

I agree with the first part, we should not hate those who practice homosexuality. But I disagree with the second part. I will not, and can not, agree with their ways, for their ways are against God. Would you agree with the ways of a man who rapes a baby? Would you agree with the ways of a man who murders your family? Would you agree with the ways of a man who steals everything that you own? Would you agree with the ways of a man who burns down your home that you just paid for? You say that it is not the same, but is the same in the eyes of God. I will not and do not condemn anyone who practices this sin of homosexuality, for they have already been condemned by God. I will treat them with respect just as I do with every other human being. As I said, hate the sin, but love the sinner, regardless of what sin it is. I will tell them what God's Word says, then it is their choice. And their blood is not on my hands for not telling them. (Ezek. 3:18-19 "When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turns not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul."

There are two words in verse 9 which may apply here in regards to your letter. They are shown below. I show you so that you may have understanding, and not to put you down. For I believe God is calling you to repentance and that if you give all of yourself to Our Lord God that God will heal you of this desire, and then will shower blessings upon you which you can not even imagine..

_________________________________

1) one who lies with a male as with a female, sodomite, homosexual

____________________________

From Strong's Greek/English dictionary
Word #3120
Translated as:
AV-soft 3, effeminate 1; 4 (This word used 4 times in the bible. three times as soft, referring to soft clothes, the 4th as shown in #2 below, basically a male prostitute)

1) soft, soft to the touch  
2) metaph. in a bad sense  
   2a) effeminate 
      2a1) of a catamite  
      2a2) of a boy kept for homosexual relations with a man  
      2a3) of a male who submits his body to unnatural lewdness  
      2a4) of a male prostitute  

_______________________________

Right now you are at a very awkward stage of your life. Not your fault, it just happens to all of us at about that age. You would be really shocked if you knew just how much change there will be in your life in the next 5 years. I will bet that all of it will be for the better. Most of the macho posturing by the boys around you is only to cover up the same insecurities that you are feeling.

As for not having much to do with girls right now, some mature sooner than others. but you will get there. I have a son who didn't start going out with girls until he was almost 30 years of age. But now he has a lovely wife and a 14 year old daughter that he adores. I guess what I am trying to say is to not sweat the girl relationships until later in life, you will be suprised how much even 6 months can have on that subject. At 15 I wasn't ready, at 16 I was, at 17 I went into the Navy and was looking for a wife, and married at 21.

I give you this answer with the Love of Jesus, for I can feel your pain over everything that is happening to you right now.

I do not know if you attend any church now, or if you had in the past. I assume that you either have or are being raised in a Christian home. I base this judgment on your writing and the reference to scripture. I will suggest that you ask God to direct you to attend a church of His choice, if you are not already attending a church. This will help in all phases of your life.

Yes, you may write at any time.

With the Love of Jesus Christ

Rev. Jack Barr