Look at me, I chose Jesus … seems unrealistic but He is so real in my life. Today i continue to be a blessing to thousands of young people as i have accepted God’s approval of me and not mans. So i continue to run the race and by the grace of God will finish it strong!

Neil Sylvester

South Africa

email sylves_n@mtn.co.za

neiljsylvester@yahoo.com

“On the subject of homosexuality in the church, let me add my two cents. Homosexuality is the most easily identifiable sin, because of the extreme social dynamic that is involved. But it is only one of several sins that exemplify rebellion to God’s design of creation. It is called an abhorration because, in the Book of Genesis, we see God design of creation and it’s function , around two seperate genders. This includes the birds of the air, the fish in the sea, and humans.”

But not starfish.

Have a nice day.

Until you have met me and know me, please don’t throw your baseless assumptions this way. What is more offensive, me telling you the truth on this whole issue, or me remaining silent only to know you as yet another sad statistic of young men who have chosen your lifestyle only to find themselves either diseased or caught in a never-ending string of relationships that still leave you unfulfilled at the end of the day? You may not like what I have to say, but time will prove me right.

Someone once said “hurt people Hurt people”. Who was the one that just resorted to the name-calling here? In this piece, never once did I use any kind of derogatory language to describe gays, but yet you have done so freely towards me.

And you are offended?

I challenge you to follow the links I have provided above that will prove to you over and over again with the lives of real men that homosexuality is not natural–it is only a sexual choice. What you do in private is YOUR CHOICE. All I am simply doing is showing you the effects of YOUR CHOICE on society.

You are always welcome to come back to continue this conversation. All I ask is that you would refrain from the name – calling. Respect is a two-way street here.

You seem to think of yourself as some kind of friend to black gays and lesbians. You are not. When you promote any kind of reparative therapy you imply that homosexuality is a pathology. That is deeply offensive.

I consider your rhetoric much more of a threat and a more pernicious kind of evil than anything Rev. Wilson has to say. Your a 21st century ************************

1. How come the phenomenon of homophobia is so pervassive in the Black church?

2. Why do our families denie that we are apart of the family and the congregation?

3. Why do LGBT individuals sit by silently and allow themselves to be degraded in such a public manner.

4. Do you think LGBT individulas are accpeted in the church or tolerated and why?

5. Do you think LGBT individuals are exploted for the social purpose of economic gain via the music ministries?

I would appreciate your repsonse and you can also e-mail your responses to me at: Bryantklmsw@yahoo.com

I briefly read over the comments and was pleased with the writer’s responses.

I too believe that homosexuality is a sin just like any other, but we Christians need to address this issue with boldness. Sins are addressed from the pulpit all the time but there aren’t enough preachers addressing this issue(homosexuality) from a standpoint of love. That is why a lot of preachers are said to be homophobes and gay bashers.

The homosexual needs to know that God loves him/her but He detests that lifestyle. In order for deliverance to take place, the person must desire it.

God gives each of us free will and we can either live as he commands or we can live like hell and suffer the consequences. Some of these consequences are AIDS, HPV, Hepatitis, Syphillis and the list goes on.

Each one of us has a conscience and that conscience is bred in us by the Almighty God. It’s when that conscience becomes seered that we face the danger of continuing to live outside of God’s will. We turn a deaf ear and heart to the things of God.

My prayer is that all who read this article are both convicted and charged to do what God desires.

My Pastor has written an awesome and timely book which addresses the Down Low from a biblical perspective. He presents the book in love for those who desire deliverance. The title of the book is Deliverance from the Down Low. The author is G. L. Williams.

If you know anyone who is interested in pleasing God, tell them about the book. It is also a good read for those seeking education on the subject.

God Bless you all in your quest for knowledge

No point to further continue.

One of the main problems that I have with the homosexual movement (which is fueled by activists)

I make no implication here that ALL homosexuals are activists and think alike. That is why I took the extra step to put that line in brackets.

I think that you are still hanging on to some preconcieved notions about my stance against the homosexual lifestyle simply because I do not agree with it. It was easy for you to pick that distinction w/boykin, but not with me. I have been making that distiction throughout this whole piece.

you said it right. its the homosexual movement –activist driven– which is the face America sees all the time. Although they try to pretend that they are not. Its unfortunate that ryhthm brought up Keith Boykin because he has issued so many extreme anti-Bible statements on his website, I dont see how anyone can believe that he is any different from the so-called white “glbt” activists he attempts to distance himself from. That’s just posturing to sell his gay snake oil to the black community.

Quite frankly, there are some aspects of your code of morality that I disagree with. But morality in itself is relative and varies from person to person and community to community — that’s only expected.

What I was aruging against was proselytizing specifically. I guess i didn’t make that very clear.

Of course you have the right to voice your own beliefs just as I do. I only experience problems when people try to proselytize me and attempt to get me to act strictly in accordance with their world view, when I apparently hold differing beliefs. Basically what I’m saying is that I don’t feel obligated to live my life by Christian values especially when i’m not Christian. If Christian values and ideology go along with your personal experiences and truly deeply move your soul, then by all means, embrace your theology. I encourage that. It’s just that I feel that religion itself is a PERSONAL SUBJECTIVE matter. Religion seeks to explain the unexplainable, and clearly when we start getting into concepts of omnipresent, omnipotent beings or forces, we run into dead ends in terms of conventional, objective logic. So thus, when it comes to religion, “truth” whatever that may be, in my opinion, is only subjective (or spiritual, which are really under the same umbrella). What moves your soul may not move my soul. We all have different experiences or come from different backgrounds that influence the way we percieve the world.

But I guess when I argue against proselytizing, I’m actually arguing against one of the tenets of your beliefs, because to my knowledge you are to preach the gospel to every living creature. I really dont know what to say with regard to that. You do your thing and I’ll do mine.

Once again I apologize for coming off as hostile. It’s just that I’m as eager to defend my way of life for myself as you are for yourselves.

the main problem I have with pagan’s is they think truth is subjective.

I would nevenr shove my beliefs down your throat or the throat of any other.

However, it seems you might be willing to shove your beliefs down the throats of others.

That is, while you find our world-view unacceptable and reason that we should not voice our beliefs it seems that it is demanded by non-Christians that we keep our beliefs to ourselves while making plenty of room for the world-views of others.

I believe you all are afraid to engage in the exchange of thoughts, ideas and world-views.

For starters, thanks for your comments. It is always good to read a full array of thoughts on this subject.

How are Christians “shoving” down their beliefs down your throat? Apparently you have made up your mind on how you want to live your life–that is your choice. What you do in the privacy of your own home is not anybody’s business but yours. One of the main problems that I have with the homosexual movement (which is fueled by activists) is that it equates itself to the status of “racial minority”. You may get all the wonderful feelings when you are with your significant other, but in the end it is all about sexual preference–that’s it. You enjoy the fact that your friendship with another woman is not just limited to “good conversation”. Again, if that is how you want to live, that is your decision (no protest here). However, at the end of my day, I am still black.

Hopefully, we can continue this discussion. Thanks again for taking the time to express your feelings.

I’m sure there are more people like me in the world. Who belong to other religious traditions where homosexuality is not eschewed. Like in certain pagan traditions, the headfasting ritual (the pagan equvalent of “marriage”) is not restricted to heterosexual couples. That’s why I think that marriage act violates my rights to religious freedom and the separation of church and state. If my partner dies unexpectedly, I have no rights to inherit her possessions.

I really dont think it’s fair for Christians to shove their beliefs down the throats of other people, especially when there is really no objective obligation on my part to believe in your doctrine. The teachings of Taoism, Buddhism, and New Age (and even some of the more gnostic teachings of Christ) perfectly explain the world around me in terms that make sense. I see no contradictions or discrepancies. In many cases it seems as if science itself draws off of my beliefs. Where science is uncertain, my spiritual traditions take over. And so, I don’t feel a “void” that would lead me to seek out other religions. If Christians want to eradicate homosexuality, please keep it in your own religious community. As a pagan and objectivist, I dont feel obligated to abide by your biblical laws and i’m sure many other people like me would appreciate it if you dont approach us with the intent to make “these ‘heathens’ realize their sin and come to Christ.” Hmmm… who ever said I believed in the concept of “sin?” I’m not objectively or spiritually obligated to do so.

And to my understanding of Jesus, if he really came to enforce “the law” (Torah)…. then he would have killed the adulterer brought to him. But instead he said “let he who is sinless throw the first stone.” Clearly that advocates some type of depature from the old laws. The scientific community today no longer labels homosexuality as a mental illness, and in america we are thankfully no longer subjugated by barbaric sodomy laws. In nature, homosexual behavior occurs quite often among Chimps, our closest primate relatives.

So this whole condemnation of homosexuality is still something I dont understand, really at all. I mean, i’m perfectly happy in the long-term homosexual relationship i’m in right now. My girlfriend is EVERYTHING anyone could possibly look for in a person. And no, it’s not lust at all. Yes I find her physically attractive, but that’s really only a small part of it. I experience such a joy whenver I am in her presence — blythe overcomes me. To invoke Christian jargon, it’s as if i’m “filled with the Holy Ghost.” And for “God” to turn around and say that these mutual emotions of love, admiration, and joy are “abominations?!!” I think that’s just horrible….

If anything, such condemnations only evoke images of Hitler and the Holocaust in my mind, and that’s really disturbing and heart shattering.

And to the extent of the quality or worth of a person, I would have to say the functioning of their sexual organs is irrelevant, as it would be in the case of a woman whose womb was barren, or a man who is a parapelegic and unable to exercise his designed sexuality. God reveals His handiwork in the person first spiritually, then physically.

My point was not to condemn homosexulity as the ultimate sin, because 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (NIV) states: “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters, nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”

Homosexuality was not the only sexual sin I saw in that indictment. And to be sure I do not come off as “holier than thou”, 10 charges are listed in that indictment, and if not for the sacrifice of Jesus, I would be guilty as charged on about 6-7 of them for my past deeds. I don’t think Christianity is all about a list of do’s and don’ts, as it is about a person willfully submitting to what God had intended in the first place when he created us.

Even at that, living in a sinful world will not always equal a Good Input:Good Output result. At the very least, if we really believe God (as described in the Bible) is real, then we can eliminate what we choose to do…or choose not to do. If I’m straight, that includes being with women I’m not married to. If I struggle with homosexual desires, the same applies regardless of gender.

As not to takeup all of Duane’s bandwidth, feel free to e-mail me. I would be happy to correspond.