Christian BoyLove Forum #62831
You have received some very good instruction from those who have already written, and I do not know that I can add very much, other than to say: never ever forget that you belong to God. Christ both created you and paid the price to buy from slavery to sin. Therefore '...whatsoever you do, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him' (Col 3:17).
There are two things that I would caution you about: the true child of God is always drawn to the Word of God, and finds his sweetest fellowship with other children of God. Given that, fellowship with mean spirited, self-righteous individuals in the Church is often far more devistating than walking with the world (most of whom I do not consider to be children of God); Christ focused brethren will be ready to forgive and to support you just has Christ has forgiven them. As the apostle Paul said, 'I know both how to be abased and how to abound...' (speaking specifically of finances, but implying all aspects of life - see Phil 4), I also know the horror of unfounded judgment and rejection, and the joy of experiencing the love of an understanding brother who also has shared his sin with me: we pray for one another and keep one another honest with ourselves about our own particular bent to sinning. Be assured that many before us have faced the same temptations as we do now (understand just how prevelent pederasty was in the Greek and Roman world of Jesus' day). Paul included homosexuality and pederasty in his letters to the Corinthians, Ephesians, Colossians and to Titus, when he said "and such were some of you, but you are washed, but you are sanctified, but you are justified..." (1Cor 6:11). I have a copy of the 'Didache', or Teaching of the Apostles from the first century that notes in its second point along with 'thou shalt do no murder, thou shalt not commit adultry, thou shalt not corrupt boys...' The child of God daily draws upon the grace of God to flee temptations. Yes, I struggle with temptations, yes, I've sinned, but my God always has and always will forgive me. "Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing of thy righteousness." (Ps 51:14) |