Comments on: Can You Be Christian and Gay? http://www.dennyburk.com/video-of-jennifer-knapp-on-larry-king/ A commentary on theology, politics, and culture Sun, 12 Feb 2012 06:07:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jaime http://www.dennyburk.com/video-of-jennifer-knapp-on-larry-king/#comment-59406 Jaime Wed, 04 Aug 2010 04:31:41 +0000 http://www.dennyburk.com/?p=7671#comment-59406 What stands out to me from all of these comments is the impersonal and pretty cold way they are approached and delivered. I read them all, and none of you seem to have had any real conversations with gay people. That is a red flag right there. Forget the red flags that gay people should be noticing in their life of sin, we as a church have grievously separated ourselves from those who make us uncomfortable, those who actually might make us ask God some tough and exposing questions. God wants us to be one people. He didn't say be one only if you agree with each other. He said be one. How can we point out the "sin" of homosexuality without realizing the damage our polarizing finger pointing does to our own faith. Jesus does not make a whole lot very clear. He stirs things up. He breaks rules that people thought were extremely important. He diverts attention. He enters peoples' homes and enters their lives and listens to them. It's much more messy than the law that we want so badly to tell us what is right and wrong and where to draw lines. Love requires much more work and much more faith. I challenge the church to listen rather than speak. To love and live together with people that make things less sure. The only thing that Jesus made truly truly clear is that He is Lord and He died for us that we might know God. The way Jesus lived His life shows us that human beings are complicated and that Love offers its time, its personal comfort, and its own self in order to give dignity to that fact. What stands out to me from all of these comments is the impersonal and pretty cold way they are approached and delivered. I read them all, and none of you seem to have had any real conversations with gay people. That is a red flag right there. Forget the red flags that gay people should be noticing in their life of sin, we as a church have grievously separated ourselves from those who make us uncomfortable, those who actually might make us ask God some tough and exposing questions. God wants us to be one people. He didn’t say be one only if you agree with each other. He said be one. How can we point out the “sin” of homosexuality without realizing the damage our polarizing finger pointing does to our own faith. Jesus does not make a whole lot very clear. He stirs things up. He breaks rules that people thought were extremely important. He diverts attention. He enters peoples’ homes and enters their lives and listens to them. It’s much more messy than the law that we want so badly to tell us what is right and wrong and where to draw lines. Love requires much more work and much more faith. I challenge the church to listen rather than speak. To love and live together with people that make things less sure. The only thing that Jesus made truly truly clear is that He is Lord and He died for us that we might know God. The way Jesus lived His life shows us that human beings are complicated and that Love offers its time, its personal comfort, and its own self in order to give dignity to that fact.

]]> By: Earnestly Contending http://www.dennyburk.com/video-of-jennifer-knapp-on-larry-king/#comment-58057 Earnestly Contending Tue, 08 Jun 2010 02:36:33 +0000 http://www.dennyburk.com/?p=7671#comment-58057 [...] To check out an article and the videos of the Larry King show click the link blow. http://www.dennyburk.com/video-of-jennifer-knapp-on-larry-king/ [...] [...] To check out an article and the videos of the Larry King show click the link blow. http://www.dennyburk.com/video-of-jennifer-knapp-on-larry-king/ [...]

]]> By: Douglas J. Bender http://www.dennyburk.com/video-of-jennifer-knapp-on-larry-king/#comment-57686 Douglas J. Bender Sun, 23 May 2010 11:15:56 +0000 http://www.dennyburk.com/?p=7671#comment-57686 I consider the question, "Can you be Christian and Gay?", to be exactly equivalent to the question, "Can you be Christian and an adulterer?". I consider the question, “Can you be Christian and Gay?”, to be exactly equivalent to the question, “Can you be Christian and an adulterer?”.

]]> By: Paul http://www.dennyburk.com/video-of-jennifer-knapp-on-larry-king/#comment-57520 Paul Tue, 18 May 2010 23:22:32 +0000 http://www.dennyburk.com/?p=7671#comment-57520 The Bible says when we sin our heart becomes hard. Where there is rebellion, or a persistent immoral response of some sort (check the lyrics of jennifer's new songs, such as resentment, hatred vanity, unforgiveness, or abject pride and when that rebellion is deep or protracted for eight years...what do you think is the result? One devastating form of rebellion is chronic sexual misbehaviour. Historic studies by Paul Johnson and E.Michael Jones corroborate Aldous Huxley's claim that the desire to justify one's immoral sexual practices has motivated many people to embrace cultural relativism and religious skepticism. This is a formula if there ever was one, for producing a depraved mind (Romans 1:28) as the apostle Paul puts it, which is capable of even "exchanging the truth for a lie" (Romans 1:25). The Bible says when we sin our heart becomes hard. Where there is rebellion, or a persistent immoral response of some sort (check the lyrics of jennifer’s new songs, such as resentment, hatred vanity, unforgiveness, or abject pride and when that rebellion is deep or protracted for eight years…what do you think is the result? One devastating form of rebellion is chronic sexual misbehaviour. Historic studies by Paul Johnson and E.Michael Jones corroborate Aldous Huxley’s claim that the desire to justify one’s immoral sexual practices has motivated many people to embrace cultural relativism and religious skepticism. This is a formula if there ever was one, for producing a depraved mind (Romans 1:28) as the apostle Paul puts it, which is capable of even “exchanging the truth for a lie” (Romans 1:25).

]]> By: Paul http://www.dennyburk.com/video-of-jennifer-knapp-on-larry-king/#comment-57509 Paul Tue, 18 May 2010 14:02:59 +0000 http://www.dennyburk.com/?p=7671#comment-57509 Gay lifestyle is a sin, so is fornication. My late Uncle Bobby died from AIDS. He lived a homosexual lifestyle. He never told me he was gay. He knew my stand on the gay lifestyle. Jeniffer Knapp has chosen this path. For us in the world and for us who believe in God's message on our own lives as well, we all will be judged by God. Jeniffer Knapp will be judged just like all of us will be judged. Gay lifestyle is a sin, so is fornication. My late Uncle Bobby died from AIDS. He lived a homosexual lifestyle. He never told me he was gay. He knew my stand on the gay lifestyle. Jeniffer Knapp has chosen this path. For us in the world and for us who believe in God’s message on our own lives as well, we all will be judged by God. Jeniffer Knapp will be judged just like all of us will be judged.

]]> By: Ben Neumann http://www.dennyburk.com/video-of-jennifer-knapp-on-larry-king/#comment-57087 Ben Neumann Fri, 30 Apr 2010 16:19:39 +0000 http://www.dennyburk.com/?p=7671#comment-57087 I'm not sure if the ambiguity of some of Jeniffer's replies or the journalistic feast this is for Larry King is more frustrating. Journalists thrive and make their living finding conflict to create story, and it's sad to see, as is normally the case, the loving pastor shot through with constant quick-bang questions from Larry King, i.e. "Do you believe Jeniffer is gonna go to hell?" God is much bigger than televised journalism though, and his love much stronger than any skewed perception of a loving pastor as portrayed by media. I’m not sure if the ambiguity of some of Jeniffer’s replies or the journalistic feast this is for Larry King is more frustrating. Journalists thrive and make their living finding conflict to create story, and it’s sad to see, as is normally the case, the loving pastor shot through with constant quick-bang questions from Larry King, i.e. “Do you believe Jeniffer is gonna go to hell?” God is much bigger than televised journalism though, and his love much stronger than any skewed perception of a loving pastor as portrayed by media.

]]> By: Aly http://www.dennyburk.com/video-of-jennifer-knapp-on-larry-king/#comment-57070 Aly Fri, 30 Apr 2010 05:59:48 +0000 http://www.dennyburk.com/?p=7671#comment-57070 there is nothing wrong with being a gay christian is like saying there is nothing wrong with being a lying christian or there is nothing wrong with being an adulterous christian or there is nothing wrong with being a wife-beating christian. Sin is sin. We all slip, that's why we are so dependent on Christ. But to not acknowledge what God says is sin is....well...yet another sin. adulterouschurch.org anyone? PS i have gay friends, dont get me wrong, i love them very much, and vice versa. They are all struggling with their sin just like i struggle with mine. And the difference here is that they -know- homosexual sex is a sin in God's eyes, unlike Ms Knapp who believes otherwise. there is nothing wrong with being a gay christian is like saying there is nothing wrong with being a lying christian or there is nothing wrong with being an adulterous christian or there is nothing wrong with being a wife-beating christian. Sin is sin. We all slip, that’s why we are so dependent on Christ. But to not acknowledge what God says is sin is….well…yet another sin.

adulterouschurch.org anyone?

PS i have gay friends, dont get me wrong, i love them very much, and vice versa. They are all struggling with their sin just like i struggle with mine. And the difference here is that they -know- homosexual sex is a sin in God’s eyes, unlike Ms Knapp who believes otherwise.

]]> By: Aly http://www.dennyburk.com/video-of-jennifer-knapp-on-larry-king/#comment-57069 Aly Fri, 30 Apr 2010 05:35:59 +0000 http://www.dennyburk.com/?p=7671#comment-57069 It's like me stealing candy from a convenience store and saying, "But it was translated from Greek and Hebrew...maybe God said stealing is not a sin! He was referring to something else!" If a person does not believe that the Bible is the inerrant, infallible word of God, based on that--what God considers sin and what He doesn't, that person should not call himself/herself a Christian. If that person does not struggle against his/her sin, instead defends/justifies/rationalises it, that person is in big trouble. In this case, this person is choosing her desires over God. "I have faith." Faith in what/whom? Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ Matthew 7:13-27 They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen. That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved. Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done. Romans 1:25-28 It’s like me stealing candy from a convenience store and saying, “But it was translated from Greek and Hebrew…maybe God said stealing is not a sin! He was referring to something else!”

If a person does not believe that the Bible is the inerrant, infallible word of God, based on that–what God considers sin and what He doesn’t, that person should not call himself/herself a Christian.

If that person does not struggle against his/her sin, instead defends/justifies/rationalises it, that person is in big trouble. In this case, this person is choosing her desires over God.

“I have faith.” Faith in what/whom?

Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven,
but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name,
cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’
And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ Matthew 7:13-27

They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.
That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other.
And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved.
Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done.
Romans 1:25-28

]]> By: Bethany http://www.dennyburk.com/video-of-jennifer-knapp-on-larry-king/#comment-56934 Bethany Tue, 27 Apr 2010 19:32:51 +0000 http://www.dennyburk.com/?p=7671#comment-56934 Can you be a Christian and Gay? Repentance is what stands out to me as well. Can you be a Christian and have homosexual temptation? (a question raised above) Yes, just like any other sin, you can be tempted. Assuming Jennifer has read Romans (she wrote a song called Romans), I don't see how she could read Romans 1 and not clearly see that homosexuality is wrong. If she chooses to continue in the lifestyle as she is doing right now, she either a) isn't a Christian or b) is a Christian but is really good at hiding the torment of conviction she is having over this sin. Props to Pastor Bob Botsford for saying God is the judge, for acknowledging that all have sinned, and for going on public television to voice these truths. Can you be a Christian and Gay?
Repentance is what stands out to me as well. Can you be a Christian and have homosexual temptation? (a question raised above) Yes, just like any other sin, you can be tempted. Assuming Jennifer has read Romans (she wrote a song called Romans), I don’t see how she could read Romans 1 and not clearly see that homosexuality is wrong. If she chooses to continue in the lifestyle as she is doing right now, she either a) isn’t a Christian or b) is a Christian but is really good at hiding the torment of conviction she is having over this sin. Props to Pastor Bob Botsford for saying God is the judge, for acknowledging that all have sinned, and for going on public television to voice these truths.

]]> By: Donald Johnson http://www.dennyburk.com/video-of-jennifer-knapp-on-larry-king/#comment-56927 Donald Johnson Tue, 27 Apr 2010 17:09:58 +0000 http://www.dennyburk.com/?p=7671#comment-56927 P.S. I DO map arsenokoitai and malakoi to homosexual acts, so I see these are something for a believer to repent from. But that is not my temptation, so I am wary of talking a lot about a non-temptation as it might be a way to avoid talking about a temptation I do have and perhaps thinking I am better than another because I do not have that specific one. I am a sinner saved by grace. P.S. I DO map arsenokoitai and malakoi to homosexual acts, so I see these are something for a believer to repent from. But that is not my temptation, so I am wary of talking a lot about a non-temptation as it might be a way to avoid talking about a temptation I do have and perhaps thinking I am better than another because I do not have that specific one. I am a sinner saved by grace.

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