September 10, 1998
James 2:19 says, "You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that and shudder!"So, "believe" must carry on a deeper connotation than simply to acknowledge that there is a God. Demons "believe" in God...so according to your interpretation of John 3:16...the demons of hell will have eternal life in Heaven.
The question of belief is often brought up by critics who write to this magazine. They see our title of "Whosoever" as simply connoting a belief in God, but not a true following of the Christian life. Their reason if obvious: if we truly acted on our belief we would not longer be gay or lesbian or bisexual or transgendered.
I'm always mystified by this assertion. Why, just because I remain a lesbian, am I any less of a believing and, yes, practicing Christian? The judgment of the people that write these sorts of letters is astounding. I have tried to express the profound changes that God has brought into my life through the person and message of Jesus Christ. We did an entire issue on Becoming A New Creation In Christ which shows plainly that gay and lesbian Christians not only believe, but obey as well.
Jesus tells us that "whosoever believes" is saved. Let us examine belief for a moment. We cannot examine this concept without getting into the faith vs. works debate. How are we saved by our belief in God? The answer is grace.
We are saved by grace through faith. A seemingly contradictory statement is made in James 2:17 where we are told that faith without works is dead. But Paul sheds more light on the subject in Ephesians 2:10:
We are made for the purpose of doing good works through Jesus Christ. Our good works will not save us, but because we are saved by grace, we should have a want, a desire, to do good works in Christ's name. So, in a way, our faith is dead if it doesn't prompt us to want to obey the commands of God.
So, where does the homosexual question come in? That's the heart of the controversy between me and Vicki. I see nothing sinful about being a homosexual, per se, just as there is no sin in being heterosexual. We were created for good works. There are sinful ways to use your sexuality, whether you are straight or gay. When our sexual orientation is used in a right and holy manner, there is no sin in our acts.
Vicki will disagree with me and that is fine. For grace covers her sins just as it does mine.
Blessings, "For grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God -- not because of works, lest anyone boast."
Ephesians 2:8-9
"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prpeared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
Candace