Latest / Growing Closer to God with Guided Meditation / Can a Christian be Gay? Exploring Same-Sex Attraction & God's Word with Pastor Robert Young
Transcript
- 0:01Pastor Robert Young: Ever wonder how and if the Bible has relevance for today.
- 0:04Pastor Robert Young: On this podcast we provide biblical answers to today's tough questions.
- 0:09Pastor Robert Young: Hi friends, i'm Pastor Robert Young.
- 0:11Pastor Robert Young: We have 30-plus years of church planting and mentoring other pastors, 30-plus years of training leaders in evangelism and discipleship.
- 0:20Pastor Robert Young: Our team of missionaries go into jails, rehabs, parks, street corners, coffee houses and any place unchurched people gather.
- 0:29Pastor Robert Young: We present the true, untainted gospel.
- 0:32Pastor Robert Young: We ask questions and give answers as we conduct surveys.
- 0:36Pastor Robert Young: We do this so that you can make a true, informed decision about Jesus Christ.
- 0:41Pastor Robert Young: And today our question is, can a Christian be gay?
- 0:46Pastor Robert Young: We will attempt to answer this question next on the podcast.
- 0:52Pastor Robert Young: Hi friends, welcome to the Not Your Parents Religion podcast.
- 1:00Pastor Robert Young: I am your host, pastor Robert Young, and today we are faced with one of the most controversial and divisive topics in our society.
- 1:07Pastor Robert Young: And our question for today is can a Christian be gay?
- 1:13Pastor Robert Young: I know that this is a difficult and painful issue for many of us, but as followers of Christ, it is our duty to examine this issue in the light of God's Word and not just from our own emotions about this issue.
- 1:29Pastor Robert Young: Let me say that again, as a Christian, it is our duty to examine this issue in the light of God's Word and not just from our own emotions about this issue.
- 1:41Pastor Robert Young: First, let me be clear about what I mean by the phrase can a Christian be gay?
- 1:47Pastor Robert Young: Being gay refers to having same sex attraction, while being a Christian refers to being a follower of Jesus Christ.
- 1:56Pastor Robert Young: It is important to understand that same sex attraction in itself is not a sin.
- 2:02Pastor Robert Young: It is simply an attraction that some individuals experience.
- 2:08Pastor Robert Young: However, the Bible clearly teaches that sexual relations between individuals of the same sex is sin.
- 2:16Pastor Robert Young: In Leviticus, our scripture for today, chapter 18, verse 22, it says you shall not lie with a male as with a woman.
- 2:27Pastor Robert Young: It is an abomination.
- 2:28Pastor Robert Young: And in Romans, 1.26 through 27, it states, for this reason, God gave them up to dishonorable passions for their women, exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature, and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.
- 2:55Pastor Robert Young: The Bible is clear that God designed sex to be enjoyed within the context of marriage between one man and one woman.
- 3:06Pastor Robert Young: Any other sexual relations is contrary to God's plan and can be damaging both to the individuals involved and to society as a whole.
- 3:16Pastor Robert Young: Let me throw this little tit bit in there too, so can adultery and fornication within a heterosexual couple can be damaging to both individuals and society as a whole as well.
- 3:30Pastor Robert Young: So, can a Christian be gay?
- 3:33Pastor Robert Young: Yes, a Christian can struggle with same-sex attraction.
- 3:39Pastor Robert Young: But as followers of Christ, we are called to resist temptations and sin.
- 3:45Pastor Robert Young: We are to seek God's forgiveness and to find our identity and self-worth in Him alone.
- 3:51Pastor Robert Young: We are to love our neighbors as ourselves, including those who experience same-sex attractions.
- 3:57Pastor Robert Young: We are to show compassion, kindness and respect to all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation.
- 4:07Pastor Robert Young: As Christian, we must recognize that sexuality is a complex issue.
- 4:11Pastor Robert Young: It is not simply a matter of choosing to be one way or another.
- 4:15Pastor Robert Young: It is influenced by a variety of factors, including genetics, upbringing, life experiences and so on.
- 4:22Pastor Robert Young: It is important that we do not judge or condemn those who experience same-sex attraction, but rather offer them the same love, support and grace we would give to anyone else struggling with sin, regardless of what their sin may be.
- 4:44Pastor Robert Young: So we affirm that a Christian can experience same-sex attraction, but must resist any sexual behavior that is contrary to God's plan for sexuality.
- 4:58Pastor Robert Young: As followers of Christ, we are called to love our neighbors, to show compassion and to extend grace to all individuals, including those who experience same-sex attractions.
- 5:08Pastor Robert Young: So let us pray for guidance and wisdom as we navigate this complex issue and let our lives be a testament to God's love and grace.
- 5:23Pastor Robert Young: Now, friends, if you have any questions or clarification about this topic, I will be happy to talk with you via Zoom or any other modern technological way.
- 5:40Pastor Robert Young: Get in contact with us and we will hash this out.
- 5:44Pastor Robert Young: We will talk about it in depth, whatever you might need.
- 5:48Pastor Robert Young: And if you've been listening to this podcast for any length of time and you have said within yourself, Mr.
- 5:56Pastor Robert Young: Young, Pastor Young, I believe it.
- 5:59Pastor Robert Young: I believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for the forgiveness of my sins and that He loved me so much that He informed us that He would send back the Holy Spirit, the Comforter that would bring me comfort in time of need, because He loves me.
- 6:20Pastor Robert Young: I receive Jesus now as my Savior and my Lord and my guide, and I receive the free gift of the Holy Spirit to empower me to live a righteous life.
- 6:33Pastor Robert Young: Thank you, God.
- 6:35Pastor Robert Young: I repent of my sins and I ask all this in the name of Jesus.
- 6:52Pastor Robert Young: Now, if you've said that with a sincere heart, the Bible lets us know that your name has been written in a book up in heaven called the Lamb's Book of Life.
- 7:01Pastor Robert Young: And, as usual, if you need more information or clarification, contact us in all of the ways to contact us in the description box on this episode below.
- 7:12Pastor Robert Young: So until next time, next week, when we will continue our series on Pride Month, we're going to be talking about transgender and we're going to get into all the complexity, complexities of it.
- 7:25Pastor Robert Young: So, until next time.
- 7:27Pastor Robert Young: I am your host, pastor Robert Young, and may God bless you.