Thanks for the reply ... ok I will do that ... I was under the impression from the set up that some kind of registration was required... if not no problem

And no I am not under the misconception that (a) every one is suffering or (b) that the members haven't found God - it is very evident that they have found God.. I just meant the point in general and to point to healing, and (c) its also pretty evident that desires aren't acted on however it is also evident that many are still struggling with some issues. There are many requests for prayer that show a great deal of pain and hurt. Obviously that doesn't reflect every one ... but that is what I am responding to.

I think I may just copy paste this entire email, including this reply so as to clarify the points you raised. I really don't want to present a point of view that can be misinterpreted.

On 6/20/09,webmaster wrote:

Hi,

Thanks for the email. It's refreshing to see a positive email from a
Christian with no stake in the topic. I think there are a few
misconceptions evident in your email, such as the belief that we are all
suffering because of our orientation, or that we still haven't found
God, or the belief that we physically act upon our desires. But overall,
I really like what you had to say and I believe it would be of benefit
to a lot of our members. I think you are expressing a true Christian
attitude that is rare in this day and age. I am willing to post the
entire email on the forum myself, but I wonder if maybe you wouldn't
like to do that yourself and stick around for a little while to engage
in dialogue with some of the members. We do not require registration in
order to post. Just make up a nickname for yourself and copy and paste
this to the forum.

Thanks,


Hi,

Please bear with me as I relate a rather long story.

Recently I have been burbling on at some length on a Christian forum
about how important it is for Christians to display the Love of God to
all because it is love that draws people to God. It was the Love Of
God that sent Jesus to die on the Cross for us. Jesus said "I have to
come to save the world not to condemn it."

The example that I used to illustrate this point, because it is one on
which Christians show the greatest intolerance IMO, is homosexuality.

I feel quite strongly that homosexuality is, as stated quite clearly
in the Bible, wrong (but then so are many other things and quite
frankly sin is sin. The wages of sin is death. There aren't sins that
lead to just say 6 months in hell and then you are ok. All and any sin
results in death. Unrepented sin, ie no salvation, doesnt matter how
big or small your sins were, you are condemned). However I equally
firmly believe that we are not to condemn people.

Condemnation results in two things. One people feel rejected and two
it makes people defensive. You can't convince any one who is busy
defending and justifying their life that what they are doing is wrong
and most importantly that isn't our job! I will say it again because
it is worth repeating.. IT ISN'T OUR JOB! It is the job of the Holy
Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit that convicts people of their need for
salvation. It is the infilling of the Spirit at the moment of
Salvation that brings life. It is the job of the Holy Spirit
thereafter to lead people into all truth, which includes, the
conviction of sin.

It is our job to show the Love of God to a fallen world. And who will
turn to us for help if we are busy running around condemning people?

Anyway ... this is the (short version) background to why and how I
ended up writing this email.

I was very busy propounding my theory and firmly held belief when I
searched for a Christian forum on Google and this forum showed up in
the search results which was one of those odd things because I had
done the same search just a few hours previously and it wasn't there
then, but I had to go do something else and when I came back and did
the search again there it was. I read the blurb on the forum and WOW
God really just challenged me. There was the question staring me right
in my face. I can talk a good talk but when it comes right down to
it... could I come onto a forum like this one and express the Love of
God and the type of tolerance I proclaim to others?

I have to admit that I had to go and think about it for it a bit, and
let me explain why. I was abused by a child pornographer at the age of
4/5 years. I totally suppressed all memory of the abuse but was left
carrying the scars without ever knowing WHY I felt that way.

It coloured my entire life. Throughout my walk with God my constant
cry was "PLEASE HEAL ME" and eventually the suppressed memories came
to the surface and the process of deep healing could begin. Always
part of any healing is a process of forgiveness, but it's easy to say,
"I have forgiven" but when confronted with people who are doing
something very similar to the acts that scarred my life it wasn't
quite so simple.

But I am healed. So the process I had to go through was this. If I am
healed, if I have forgiven, then I should not be reacting to the
people on this site with anything but the Love and compassion God
feels for them.

I can see the pain in some of the posts. Several have wrenched at my heart at the hurt and pain and desperation in them. I want to say the people
who wrote them.... God has the answer. God IS all you need. If He can
heal and restore me, He can heal and restore you. And I want to say to
them, if they need to hear it, I forgive you. And I want more than
anything to stand before each one that has been rejected and say, I am
also the Body of Christ and on behalf of each and every one who has
rejected you, Please forgive me.

I know that this won't change the way 'Christians' react in any kind
of hurry. But I need to say it. I need to be the one to represent a
position of forgiveness and Love without condemnation. Don't mistake
me however, I do not condone the behaviour, but I can love you enough
to leave it to God to sort out. If I can show you God then the rest is
up to you and Him. And I know I can trust Him.

The thing about forgiveness is, is that it sets you free. I call it
acting in enlightened self-interest. Forgiving those who have sinned
against you frees you. Unforgiveness holds you in bondage to the hurt
and pain, forcing you to relive it over and over. I dont want to be
pain any more. I dont want you to be in pain any more either. So I
forgive those who have hurt me and I ask you, no implore you, find a
way to forgive those who hurt you.

I do not know what effect any of this would have on any of the members
on this forum. If you think it will be helpful to post any or some of
it... Please do so

Yours in Christ