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Should Gays and Lesbians be Allowed to Minister in Church?In the language used by the LGBT society, and most Americans, 'homosexual', 'gay', 'lesbian' etc. refer to an 'orientation', not necessarily those who perform sexual acts. They treat the orientation as a normal thing, though. Originally, 'homosexual' had to do with the tendency to be attracted to the same sex. A lot of people, baby boomers, some gen-X, and Fundamentalist Christians think it means people who do certain acts.If you say 'gays cannot serve in any capacity in our church', they would think that means forever, for the rest of their life.We don't have to accept their philosophy about orientation, but we should communicate clearly that we believe people can be washed, sanctified, and justified (I Corinthians 6:11) and may minister in the church after that. (I Peter 4:10.) But we are not to keep company with the fornicator who calls himself a brother. If it applies to men who bed with their father's wives, why wouldn't it apply to men who bed men, the softy men who are bedded, and women who engage in same-sex behavior?If we take not keeping company with fornicators, etc. seriously, we would probably have to abandon this idea that we should allow just anyone to come to church. The restriction is not on keeping company with sinners, but one who is called a brother who engages in that list of sins in I Corinthians 5

But it is entirely possible they are already doing so just not out of the closet

That is a very good possibility. I have a cousin who says he is gay and a Christian but not GAY in practice. For the life of me I cannot see a reason for announcing or coming out. He says that is being true to himself. Strange also, he is the only self supporting sibling who gave to his parents rather than leeched off them. Some facts but mostly just my [email protected]/

Cojak, one reason for coming out could be to receive the compassion and support of the church community. I cannot imagine how difficult it must be for a believer who experiences same-sex attraction but chooses to deny his flesh and live in holiness. God help us to recognize the extreme faithfulness and discipline of these brothers, and to join our lives with them in strength and love.

However, being unmarried, I was not a PRACTICING heterosexual.If someone has a homosexual orientation, but lives a celibate life, serving the Lord, then I wouldn't have a problem with them serving. I WOULD have a problem with them announcing it, etc., since that would bring up questions and controversy.Ray Boltz and Kurt Talley have certainly been used of God in singing or composing--all while having a homosexual orientation. Only when Boltz decided to adopt that lifestyle were we forced to break fellowship.It is not the orientation that is the sin, for I think that is beyond the ability of anyone to help. But the ACTIONS that come from that orientation do matter.

Re: I was allowed to minister in church, even though I was a HETEROsexual...

I do not believe we should not accept their underlying philosophy, that some people have a 'heterosexual orientation' or 'bisexual orientation' or 'homosexual orientation.'-- as if this is all just normal stuff. Now, with part of their moving doing away with the concept of fixed genders, it's all more complicated. The B in LGBT implies gender is binary. A believer may struggle with same-sex attraction, but he or she does not need to accept 'homosexual', 'gay',' or 'lesbian as his or her identity. Reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin but alive unto God

Plain & simple ...if they are gay & proud of their lifestyle & involved in a sexual lifestyle dating members of the same sex then they cannot be a member of our church & nor can they be involved in any ministry as a leader.Yes they can attend worship & sing, pray & give in the offering. I wouldn't feel comfortable with them receiving communion but I'm not going to halt the process during the service in order to make sure the gays are not taking crackers & juice. I usually say something along the line of, if you are taking the communion today but have not fully surrendered to God then consider waiting until you have had a time to come to Christ fully in your life. If we had a person in good standing who went sideways for a few days & got all hot & bothered with someone else & then came back & repented I would work with them to help restore them in love w/out outing them publicly as long as it was more like a fling & it happened during a period of weakness.However, if someone was determined to live that way & did not want to receive help or seek forgiveness then it would be a moot point to try & receive them back as a member in good standing. The process for trying to figure out their sins is not for me to deal with, I'm just glad to see them repent & come back to the 99. Sins of lust, drunkenness, porn, gambling, partying or any one of many other types might be a weakness that someone has to deal with & I just want to help them conquer this issue & move forward to maturity in Christ. Empty nest syndrome is for the birds!Email me at: [email protected] planters are focused on just one thing ...introducing people to Jesus!

What if a couple are shacking up, sleep together, have kids, but aren't married? Can they do these things? What if a married couple divorce or separate for no Biblical reason and one of them starts dating. Can they join or be on a ministry team? Is not being a member or being on the ministry team the Biblical standard? Church membership seems to be based on being a Christian in the New Testament. If you get baptized, you are a member. And 'ministry teams'-- that would be quasi-biblical at best.I Corinthians 5 talks about not keeping company with one who is called a brother who does any one of a long list of sins.This is an issue I struggle with since I have a close relative who has a married girlfriend and issues with drugs. But he hasn't been going to church for a long time, so do we count him as a brother or one who is of this world?

What Aaron said. I would only add that I believe God can miraculously deliver someone from a homosexual ‘orientation,’ and that it is likely a demonic stronghold. I say this based on my understanding of Scripture and having seen homosexuals set free by the power of Christ within. It is one of the most difficult strongholds to break, but for the Christian, it is certainly defeat-able. At the very least, Christ will always give anyone the power to resist temptation.