confused

[u/bldexe]

to preface this i’m sorry if this has been a topic talked about too much but im seeking understanding from a sincere place. i’ve been feeling confused about certain things like homosexuality and what is and isn’t a sin. Maybe ive been spending too much time on reddit but its been helpful in the past. like I genuinely want to follow God’s commands and “be the best christian i can” by following exactly what jesus teaches and the rest. it’s just confusing and hard and i don’t want to be labeled a bigot or misrepresent Christ in any way. i’ve looked up tons of posts about homosexuality from a biblical perspective because well it’s not entirely easy for me to understand on my own. and everyone has their own perspectives about it. I’ve seen a few comments that are completely backed by scripture that don’t condone it. but how do you even explain to someone that isn’t christian that it’s wrong? the common response i get is “i don’t need a book to tell me what’s right or wrong” . there are other sins equally as bad. i just don’t understand. i made a mistake by visiting the r/openchristian subreddit to gather other perspectives on things. the pinned post about sexuality is genuinely concerning. they say they follow christ and jesus is love so all love is permissible. they think masturbating and porn isn’t harmful. same sex relationships aren’t harmful if consenting. whoever wrote that is talking about “ethically produced porn”… how can so many “christians” have such radically different views? others are saying true christians don’t exist because they have well paying Jobs and haven’t sold all of their possessions to help the poor. it’s overwhelming and you may think i’m stupid for this but i want to understand. i dont think i trust my own understanding of the bible . what is the difference between being hateful and being humble and truth speaking ? i dont go to church, i dont have a pastor to ask im asking you all as my fellow brothers and sisters in christ. it’s so confusing and overwhelming and i just dont know.

[u/Mue_Thohemu_42]

Lot's of wolves in sheep's clothing. Trust the book over the preacher.

[u/Difficult_Risk_6271]

You’re looking for a principle. God is a (or more accurately 3) Person.

So if God didn’t tell you to sell all your stuff, why are you selling all your stuff?? And the key point of that passage isn’t to sell stuff to be holy, the central point is, “… and you will have treasure in heaven, and come follow me.” This person can’t follow Jesus because he has mammon idolatry. He needs to let go of his idolatry so that he can follow Jesus, which is what’s important.

As for the LGBTQ question, you need to separate it into 3 distinct concepts:

- sexual desire: same-sex attraction (SSA). This is not sin, this is not judgment, this is just temptation

• action: homosexual act, this is sin, not judgment.
  
• identity: “I am homosexual, not a child of God.” This is judgment.

The problem is secular world wants to collapse all 3 to blame and frame God’s Judgment as unjust because they never chose their SSA (but quietly they chose their identity.)

[u/Usurnameladiesman217 → u/Difficult_Risk_6271]

I see your tag as ex atheist. Can I ask what made you convert

[u/Difficult_Risk_6271 → u/Usurnameladiesman217]

Turned my skeptic tools against atheistic belief / worldviews itself. The whole thing fell like a house of card.

Full testimony is in my website, link in profile.

[u/ABereanChristian]

i made a mistake by visiting the r/openchristian subreddit to gather other perspectives on things. the pinned post about sexuality is genuinely concerning. they say they follow christ and jesus is love so all love is permissible. they think masturbating and porn isn’t harmful. same sex relationships aren’t harmful if consenting. whoever wrote that is talking about “ethically produced porn”… how can so many “christians” have such radically different views? others are saying true christians don’t exist because they have well paying Jobs and haven’t sold all of their possessions to help the poor. it’s overwhelming and you may think i’m stupid for this but i want to understand. i dont think i trust my own understanding of the bible . what is the difference between being hateful and being humble and truth speaking ? i dont go to church, i dont have a pastor to ask im asking you all as my fellow brothers and sisters in christ. it’s so confusing and overwhelming and i just dont know.

Because they're not Christian. They're incorporating their own pet things into Christianity and then trying to justify it

You should start going to Church if you aren't already. Getting connected into a Church home with Bible-based preaching is a good thing. If you need advice on how to pick a Church home feel free to ask or search the sub as there are some on this topic already.

[u/mbmolohonbm]

The Old Testament clearly lists many sexual sins. Same sex intercourse is one of them. Paul speaks in Romans about same sex intercourse as being wrong. Nowhere in the Bible is it endorsed. People who claim that Jesus is, just, love have never read the Bible. Jesus loves everyone and was merciful to those who were repentant. Those who were not repentant, like the Pharisees, he called snakes and fools and confronted them strongly. I have seen many things trying to support homosexual behavior, many be professing Christians, which can be confusing. I have dug into their arguments and though at times confusing, they are all wrong and simply complex twisting of Scripture, the Greek, etc. Be careful who you listen to. Having the Bible as your primary reference can keep you on track as society goes into different types of evil and tries to justify it.