THE BIGGER SIDE?

[Rev. Jim Cunningham]

From: aussiebuddy (Original Message) Sent: 9/25/2003 10:26 AM
I guess i am thinking. Because the majority is straight, most people on both sides, think they are right. It is an important note i think. because its easy to fall into that trap, cause what is right, is not always popular and what is popular is not always right
I am sick of just assuming, that since a lot and lot, well pretty much everyone i know, is against the gay issue, because they themselves dont have an issue with it, and therefore dismiss it. i dont think i would call it "hating" it. but more, dont think twice about it. thats why its hard.
hehe anyways i am babbling
God Bless you guys.

[Rev. Jim Cunningham]

From: jan Sent: 9/25/2003 10:52 AM
good piont...and "babbleling" is often helpful in helping us sort things
out...you'll be ok, buddy. Just stay in the word/prayer...and seek out
brothers/sisters in Christ you can love u with the Truth...which u will find
in this group:-D.You seem both insightful and intelligent, just let the
Spirit lead u....it's going to be ok. love, again, in Christ...j

[Rev. Jim Cunningham]

From: Manager Rev. Jim Sent: 10/3/2003 1:00 PM
Yes, it is true that the majority of the world's population is heterosexual. However, it is also true that the majority of the world's population is right-handed, brown-eyed, black haired, female and Asian. It is true that, as of now, the majority of heterosexual marriages end in divorce. It is true that the majority of American children come from broken homes where the parents are either not married or divorced. It is true that black females have the highest HIV cases.

So, should we outlaw those who are left-handed, blue-eyed, blond-haired, male, non-Asian, in heterosexual marriages, who have children, or who are black females? Nonsense.

Majority and Minority are irrelavent when it comes to inherent and singular identities or lifestyles.

The problem is fear. Fear of everyone and everything that is not identical to the one harboring that fear. With fear comes suspicion, then hatred, then violence. But the fear in the first place comes completely from ignorance. Knowledge destroys fear. If everyone came to the knowledge that, while every person in the world is not necessarily a child of God (as Jesus said), every human being is made in THE IMAGE OF GOD, and therefore none of us, at the human level, are better or worse than anyone else, each one deserving the same respect and that pursuit of live, liberty and happiness.

As Christians we are commanded to do only three things when it comes to our relationship to others:
Love thy neighbor as thyself
Live peaceably with all men
Preach the Gospel unto every creature
However, preaching the Gospel, contrary to the teachings of the churches, is not walking up to someone and telling them that they are going to hell for being gay - or for any other act or identity which they perceive to be sinful. Preaching the Gospel is telling ONLY the details pertaining to the fall and general sinfulness of man and the atoning sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus.

We, as Christians, can't expect the Lost to stop behaving a certain way, because they are not bound to the Law by faith, as a believer is. We are not saved by the Law or by deeds, therefore CEASING any particular behavior will not get ANYONE into heaven if there is no faith.

herein lies the error of the church when it pertains to homosexuals. The church is yelling to the gay community-at-large that if they don't stop being homosexual then they will go to hell.

NEWS FLASH

EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT BELIEVE UPON THE NAME OF JESUS IS GOING TO HELL WHETHER THEY ARE GAY OR STRAIGHT.

To quote a famous preacher, you don't get cleaned up BEFORE you take a bath. In other words, NO ONE can stop sinning until Jesus rules in their hearts. The whole point of the Gospel is that man is utterly unable to save himself. He can not earn God's forgiveness. he cannot buy his way to salvation. He can't DO - or cease to do - any deeds whatsoever. All man can do is admit to God that he is a sinner and receive the gift of life, FREELY (without having worked for it), from Jesus.

But then the Bible warns us, once we have accepted that gift, to beware how we treat others, remembering our own previous fall and need for salvation, and that, because we did nothing whatsoever to earn our salvation, we are unfit judges to condemn anyone else who has not yet received that salvation.

Love in Jesus,

Rev. Jim

[Rev. Jim Cunningham]

From: Luke Sent: 10/3/2003 6:30 PM
Rev Jim your reasoning seems real clear to me.

Luke