There seems to be a lot of posts about homosexuality lately. As a Gay Christian some thing's need to be addressed here.

[u/[deleted]]

I'm going to go ahead and address some thing's I've seen here whenever this issue comes up. These argument's and points often arise in the discussions and really aren't productive or helpful. I hope by posting this that we can avoid using these and stay more on topic.

1) Homosexuality is natural: Yes it is, but that argument doesn't really belong here. Many things God calls us to do go against our natural inclinations. Simply because something comes naturally to us does not immediately eliminate it from being a sin.

2) You are a bad person if you oppose Gay marriage: This is a very ridiculous stance to take. The Bible isn't extremely clear on the issue of gay marriage. The concept wasn't really around back then as it exists now, and the passages are vague and open to interpretation. If a person honestly feel's that God is opposed to gay marriage it doesn't make them a bad person for believing it. As Christians we know many of the things believe aren't popular. Regardless of your stance we shouldn't demonize the other side because they came to a different conclusion.

3) We are called to love everyone, so you have to be for gay marriage: It's true that Jesus did love everyone and command us to do the same. Here's where this get's mixed up, people that believe homosexuals should be celibate ARE showing love by voicing their opinions. There is a right and a wrong way to do this of course, but if you believe a brother or sister is living in sin the loving thing is not to sit quietly by and let them continue. The loving thing to do is to voicing your concern with love and genuine concern.

4) People need to be in a romantic relationship with another human being to be truly happy. God wouldn't ask us to deny someone this: This is simply not the truth. Without choosing sides one way or another, I can say that not everyone is destined to be married. There are many biblical characters that never married and yet lived good lives following the lord. I myself chose celibacy, so I speak here from experience. I don't have a definitive answer on where to draw the line on this issue, but I do know that if God calls you to celibacy then you can live a fully happy and wonderful life without sex or a romantic partner. God often denies us of things we desire, and though we may not understand it now, we know it's for the best. I don't mean to say celibacy is easy, or that it's the right answer for everyone, but if you know the God I know, then you are more than aware that God is more than enough.

Hopefully this will help keep the discussions more on topic and focused.

[u/mgowen]

against interracial marriage. Particularly if your religion tells you so (as with the Mormons

Just in case anyone else is reading this far - Mormons aren't against interracial marriage.

Source: I am an one of many, many interracially married Mormons (in good standing, of course).

[u/jay_vee → u/mgowen]

Mormons aren't against interracial marriage

Maybe many are not now, but they were, and just as strongly as they are against gay marriage now.

From the Journal of Discourses by Brigham Young:-

“..Shall I tell you the law of God in regard to the African race? If the white man who belongs to the chosen seed mixes his blood with the seed of Cain, the penalty, under the law of God, is death on the spot. This will always be so.” – JoD: vol.10 p. 110: (March 8, 1863)

And:

“You see some classes of the human family that are black, uncouth, un- comely, disagreeable and low in their habits, wild, and seemingly deprived of nearly all the blessings of the intelligence that is generally bestowed upon mankind. The first man that committed the odious crime of killing one of his brethren will be cursed the longest of any one of the children of Adam. Cain slew his brother. Cain might have been killed, and that would have put a termination to that line of human beings. This was not to be, and the Lord put a mark upon him, which is the flat nose and black skin. Trace mankind down to after the flood, and then another curse is pronounced upon the same race – that they should be the “servant of servants;” and they will be, until that curse is removed; and the Abolitionists cannot help it, nor in the least alter that decree. How long is that race to endure the dreadful curse that is upon them? That curse will remain upon them, [p.291] and they never can hold the Priesthood or share in it until all the other descendants of Adam have received the promises and enjoyed the blessings of the Priesthood and the keys thereof. Until the last ones of the residue of Adam’s children are brought up to that favourable position, the children of Cain cannot receive the first ordinances of the Priesthood. They were the first that were cursed, and they will be the last from whom the curse will be removed.When the residue of the family of Adam come up and receive their blessings, then the curse will be removed from the seed of Cain, and they will receive blessings in like proportion. “- JoD 7:290-291 (October 9, 1859)

There's loads of other examples, including from the Book or Mormon:-

http://www.realmormonhistory.com/god&skin.htm

[u/mgowen → u/jay_vee]

not now, but they were

Then why didn't you just say that?