There is nothing I detest more than arrogance and self=righteousness as if some of us here are so smart and strong and were able to acknowledge and repent of our sins all on our own.....have we forgotten that it is GOD Himself who binds people in sin, who blinds them to the truth and does NOT give a person a heart or strength to repent UNTIL the appointed time? God must have a purpose for the existence of gays or they would have already repented! I do believe the act is a sin BECAUSE there are very specific scriptures that state that it is, however, I see no such scripture stating that ATTENDING a wedding ceremony for ANY sinner is a sin. God may have a specific reason for one to attend, such as He may have a person that He wants you to witness to that may also be attending. Who knows what God is doing? There is enough pain, exclusion and oppression in this world without adding to it. I for one will do my best, as God directs me and enables me, to be a light and shine the love of God, AS Christ was our example. Jesus did not just HAPPEN to bump into sinners....it is clear to ME that He actively SOUGHT THEM OUT, so I am assuming that He would have to GO where they were. You don't light a lamp and hide it UNDER a blanket.....Jesus prayed that His elect would NOT be taken out of this world. He said they would be the SALT AND LIGHT of the world.....not withdraw themselves completely......There are so many examples in the bible of people God sent right into the midst of sinful society for a purpose. Do we think God's arm is so short that He can not keep His elect from stumbling in the midst of a sinful society? Jesus was humble in spirit, full of compassion and MOST of His wrath seemed to me to be directed at RELIGIOUS HYPOCRITES, not sinners.
Yes, Jesus certainly did give it to the religious hypocrites. You got that right. But the fact of the matter is, we don't know who God's elect are. I don't claim to be an elect. I could be in the future, but as of now, I'm acutely AWARE of my inability to interact with people in certain situations without stumbling.
I remember going to visit my daughter in Santa Cruz. I drove 8 hours to go see her after having not seen her for about 4 years. She asked me to come up there, and I was really glad to go. And I get there and the first thing she does is open the door to her bedroom where her girlfriend was, laying on queensized mattress on the floor of my daughter's bedroom still groggy from the night before and I said, Hello. She barely looked at me. I didn't want to simply assume that just because there was another woman in her bed that that automatically meant my daughter was gay, but I was in denial.
Later, I took them both out for lunch, and I asked Lauren what her girlfriend wanted for lunch, but her girlfriend didn't want anything. I was kind to both of them. I sat there talking with my daughter and being friendly with both of them at the restaurant while her girlfriend sat in the seat next to me HIDING HERSELF behind the restaurant menu. Wouldn't say a word to me. Barely lifted her voice.
Later on, Lauren made dinner for me and her girlfriend. Same thing. Wouldn't smile, barely spoke to me.
Then Lauren went to change her shirt and it said: "SUPPORT GAY MARRIAGE." And she had her long hair covering over the words, but I could see them. I though she was just someone who was supporting gay marriage. It was only Lauren and I and sat there smoking cigarettes on their back porch, and I noticed she was trying really hard to cover up the words of the T-shirt. I'm sure I was in shock because I was in such denial. But she had no idea how I felt. So, we talked about her adoption and her adoptive parents and this and that, and when I left the next day, I brought her and her girlfriend a gift card from Trader Joe's and Lauren hugged me really hard and said, "You're welcome here anytime!"
When I got back home, I texted her and asked her if she and her girlfriend would like to visit me for thankgsgiving dinner for a little bite to eat if they had the time. No pressure. No response. Texted her again. No response.
We never talked about the fact that she was involved in a gay relationship. I was willing to have her in my home. But looking back, I can clearly see that God had different plans. God doesn't want her in my home. Believe me, I would have totally accepted her and her girlfriend. That's how WEAK I was. God said, No!
And let me tell you, those weren't the only times I've spoken to my daughter or done kind things for her, or invited her to my home, both her and her girlfriend, but Lauren declines, just like Octoberose's son declines. I would have totally accepted her and her girlfriend but God keeps her away from me. I know why this is happening. What fellowship does light have with darkness. Last year, I wished her happy birthday by email, and asked to see some updated pictures. She had a ring on her finger and I asked, jokingly, if there was nice man in her life. And she laughed it off and said, Well, I've been dating my girlfriend for four years so no. And I said, Oh, I'm sorry to hear that, well, I have to get back to work now. Have a nice day. That's all I said, and she goes, THAT WAS UNCALLED FOR. NOW YOU'RE BEING SHORT WITH ME. MY MOTHER HAS TOTALLY ACCEPTED ME AND MY GIRLFRIEND. I'VE BEEN THIS WAY MY WHOLE LIFE. (But I remember when she was crushing on boys and dating them too. That was before her girlfriend laid a kiss on her and she got indoctrinated.)
I said, Oh, I'm not offended. It takes a lot to offend me. And she said, WELL I'M OFFENDED THAT YOU'RE SORRY OVER WHO I LOVE. GET OVER IT! I'M NOT HURTING YOU! I CAN'T BELIEVE WE'RE EVEN HAVING THIS DISCUSSION! DON'T COME INQUIRING ABOUT MY LIFE!
I thought to myself, yeah, you love her about as much as the man in the moon, and I then I said, Well, I just meant that I"m sorry you're involved with a woman seeing how they're not the most kindhearted creatures in the world. ( I meant that seriously. I saw how I was going the same route as her adoptive mother, and God was saying to me You need to grow a pair, Gina. You are spineless and desperate for approval from your daughter and how will you respond to Me when I open your daughter's eyes?!)
And we haven't spoken since. Not because I haven't wanted to. She cut herself off from me or God cut her off -- however you want to look at it. I didn't say anything wrong. Her girlfriend is not a kindhearted person at all, and I didn't make her what she is. She is where she is not by anything I've done on my part. I have ALWAYS been available to my daughter. ALWAYS given her my address and my numbers (work and home) and nothing. So, Laurie, you don't know what you're talking about. But I forgive you.