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This reader who struggles with lesbianism raises
some extremely important questions about the impact our sins have
upon our relationship with Jesus. The following is Part 2 of
her email exchange with Chuck Snyder as she asks if there's still a
possibility for her to go to Heaven. Click here to read her first
letter to Chuck, Is Homosexuality a Birth Defect?,
or her third letter, I Gave in to Temptation
Dear
Chuck,
Thank
you very much for your reply. I still acknowledge God as my Heavenly
Father, Lord and Savior, though I am indulging in lesbianism now.
Everyday, I have to say "sorry" to Father in heaven and I
still see Him bless me in certain ways, though I strongly believe
that I am not getting the best deals since I am sinning.
Can
I continue my act of lesbianism and still get into Heaven but just
as one "escaping from fire?" Is the sin of lesbianism in
the same magnitude of sinfulness as "sexual immorality,
impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and witch craft; hatred ,
discord, jealousy, etc..." [Galatians 5: 19-21] ? Does
inheriting the kingdom of God mean getting into Heaven? I still wish
to get to Heaven.
I
really hate to carry this body of mine around, always having to be
subjected to temptations. I am really tired of it. I felt very
lonely at times because I need physical touch, and yet I could not
have it from a man. I cry each time I think of my situation, as I am
doing now.
Please
help,
Your anxious Sister-in-Christ
Chuck's
Response:
You're on pretty shaky ground when you know what God wants you to do
but disobey anyway. Here's what it says in Romans 6.
"Well
then shall we keep on sinning so that God can keep on showing us
more and more kindness and forgiveness? Of course not. Should we
keep on sinning when we don't have to? For sin's power over us was
broken when we became Christians and were baptized (spiritual) to
become a part of Jesus Christ through his death the power of your
sinful nature was shattered. Your old sin-loving nature was buried
with him by baptism when he died, and when God the Father, with
glorious power, brought him back to life again, you were given his
wonderful new life to enjoy. For you have become a part of him, and
so you died with him, so to speak, when he died, and now you share
his new life and shall rise as he did. Your old evil desires were
nailed to the cross with him; that part of you that loves to sin was
crushed and fatally wounded, so that your sin-loving body is no
longer under sin's control, no longer needs to be a slave to sin,
for when you are deadened to sin you are freed from all its allure
and its power over you."
My
guess is that one of two things has happened. Either you have
accepted God as your Heavenly Father, Lord and Savior in your head
but not in your heart, or you are comfortable shaking your
fist at Him and telling Him to go jump because you are going to do
things your way. Sorry to be harsh but I have to be honest. You can
decide what you want to do.
We
are not saved by what we do or don't do in this age of grace. We
are saved by who we know. And because of our awesome gratitude
to God for sending Jesus to take our place on the cross, we don't want
to disappoint Him by continuing in sin. Sure we make mistakes, but
habitual sin of some sort is a sign that we really don't know God.
God hears your prayers and sees your tears and maybe the Exodus
ministry will be able to help you to run from temptation. At least
it's worth a shot. You can disagree with me for sure. I'm not trying
to tell you what to do. I just grieve for you and pray for you and
ask God to be your comfort. Thanks for getting back to me.
Here's
the address of two Christian organizations that might be able to
help.
- Chuck
Snyder
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