Wholeness

[InChrist]

I don't believe sexuality is meant to determine one's identity. God doesn't call someone to heterosexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality or whatever. God calls people to (w)holiness.

What are your thoughts?

 

[Spirit of Light]

No need to put a label on it, we are all human beings

 

[Left Coast]

Sexuality is not the entirety of one's identity, but it is a very important component of it.

Think of how different your life would be, if from the earliest age you can remember you had a different orientation than you do now. Would you have had the same relationship with your family members? Would you have had the same friends? Would you have pursued the same interests? The same jobs? Would you have dated and fallen in love with the same people? If you're married, would you be married to the same person? Married at all? Would you have (the same) kids? Grandkids?

Most likely your answer to most of these questions is no. And all these things form part of your identity today. You would have an almost completely different life if you had a different orientation. Whether we like it or not, it's part of us.

 

[Jeremiah Ames]

I couldn’t get the video to work.

But I’m curious, what are YOUR thoughts?

What does God want?

And what is wholiness or even holiness?
And what’s with the ‘wholeness’ in the title vs (w)holiness in the op?

 

[InChrist]

No need to put a label on it, we are all human beings

Yes, we are all human beings and I believe made in the image of God whose desire is wholeness for each of us.

 

[InChrist]

Sexuality is not the entirety of one's identity, but it is a very important component of it.

Think of how different your life would be, if from the earliest age you can remember you had a different orientation than you do now. Would you have had the same relationship with your family members? Would you have had the same friends? Would you have pursued the same interests? The same jobs? Would you have dated and fallen in love with the same people? If you're married, would you be married to the same person? Married at all? Would you have (the same) kids? Grandkids?

Most likely your answer to most of these questions is no. And all these things form part of your identity today. You would have an almost completely different life if you had a different orientation. Whether we like it or not, it's part of us.

Life is influenced and impacted by our desires and decisions. I don't disagree with your thoughts about that, yet I believe all the more reason the importance of lining up our thoughts and desires with God the Creator's desire for our well-being and wholeness and real identity in Him as the account of the person in the video below expresses...

 

[Jeremiah Ames]

Yes, we are all human beings and I believe made in the image of God whose desire is wholeness for each of us.

I still don’t know what you mean by wholeness.
But, I think your statement above is a bit contradictory.

We are made in the image of God.
God cannot desire wholeness for each of us, since we would have already been created whole. (Unless you assume God is NOT whole)
What am I missing?

 

[InChrist]

I couldn’t get the video to work.

But I’m curious, what are YOUR thoughts?

What does God want?

And what is wholiness or even holiness?
And what’s with the ‘wholeness’ in the title vs (w)holiness in the op?

I believe God is perfect, holy, complete and God wants everyone to find love, joy, peace, completeness, and wholeness in His perfect will and design for their life.

 

[InChrist]

I still don’t know what you mean by wholeness.
But, I think your statement above is a bit contradictory.

We are made in the image of God.
God cannot desire wholeness for each of us, since we would have already been created whole. (Unless you assume God is NOT whole)
What am I missing?

I assume you are missing the impact of sin and how it damages wholeness.

 

[oldbadger]

I don't believe sexuality is meant to determine one's identity. God doesn't call someone to heterosexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality or whatever. God calls people to (w)holiness.

What are your thoughts?

What about Mrs Badger's ducks?
Splash the Drake sure got called to bisexuality.

And the only God that calls to anybody is Mother Nature, InChrist. You get called and have to obey every second of every day of your life. And Mother Nature decides upon people's individuality, sexuality included.

But what you believe about sexuality and God's wishes can be very dangerous in my opinion.

 

[InChrist]

I couldn’t get the video to work.

Maybe you can watch the video here, if you like...


'It's not GAY to straight. It's lost to saved.' One lesbian's Journey to Salvation

 

[Jeremiah Ames]

Thanks for the added post.
Ok, I watched the 2nd video you posted.
It’s a nice piece of religious propaganda, but falls quite short of proving that there is any link between finding god and being part of the Christian religion (as it exists in America today).

 

[InChrist]

What about Mrs Badger's ducks?
Splash the Drake sure got called to bisexuality.

And the only God that calls to anybody is Mother Nature, InChrist. You get called and have to obey every second of every day of your life. And Mother Nature decides upon people's individuality, sexuality included.

But what you believe about sexuality and God's wishes can be very dangerous in my opinion.

I am coming from the perspective that God created human beings differently than ducks. Of course, you are entitled to your view, but I think some of the humanistic perspectives concerning sexuality are dangerous.

 

[Jeremiah Ames]

I assume you are missing the impact of sin and how it damages wholeness.

But we are all whole, as far as our earthly bodies are concerned.
And since you’re discussing homosexuality, you seem to be focused on what is earthly.
Further, we are whole as far as our spirit is concerned.
Whether that spirit is in the Lord or not is another matter.
The spirit that is in the Lord will continue as such after bodily death. The one that is not, will continue after death in a place separate from the Lord.

So, I still don’t know why the word wholeness is of importance.

 

[InChrist]

Thanks for the added post.
Ok, I watched the 2nd video you posted.
It’s a nice piece of religious propaganda, but falls quite short of proving that there is any link between finding god and being part of the Christian religion (as it exists in America today).

Well, it is that person's experience and life, so I don't think you can rightly call it propaganda. But you are free to your opinion. Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[Jeremiah Ames]

I am coming from the perspective that God created human beings differently than ducks. Of course, you are entitled to your view, but I think some of the humanistic perspectives concerning sexuality are dangerous.

Absolutely. I cannot agree more. (Regarding human beings and ducks). However, you do see the vast similarities between human beings and ducks, right?
I would be interested to know what your ideas are of exactly what those differences are?

 

[Jeremiah Ames]

Well, it is that person's experience and life, so I don't think you can rightly call it propaganda. But you are free to your opinion. Thanks for your thoughts.

The experience portrayed in the video, I cannot comment on. It may or may not be true.
It’s just that much of the narrative, and the concepts relative to God, don’t quite fit with my reading of the Bible. But does fit quite comfortably with my experience in Christian church settings.

 

[Left Coast]

Life is influenced and impacted by our desires and decisions. I don't disagree with your thoughts about that, yet I believe all the more reason the importance of lining up our thoughts and desires with God the Creator's desire for our well-being and wholeness and real identity in Him as the account of the person in the video below expresses...

I don't believe in God the Creator as I see no credible evidence for his existence. So until I do, I have no reason to "line up" my thoughts and desires with what people tell me a god's opinions are. Nor could I even if I wanted to. I dont control my thoughts and desires, they just happen.

 

[sun rise]

God calls people to (w)holiness.

That seems right to me. And given the vast variety of people and their beliefs, we are called to try to live according to our best understanding. This understanding will vary depending on what we accept, but to me that's not really important. What is important is that we are earnest about our efforts. I am, of course, still working on this.

 

[InChrist]

I don't believe in God the Creator as I see no credible evidence for his existence. So until I do, I have no reason to "line up" my thoughts and desires with what people tell me a god's opinions are. Nor could I even if I wanted to. I dont control my thoughts and desires, they just happen.

Well, I can't understand you're disbelief in a Creator, but do get that you would see no reason to line up your thoughts or desires with a God you do not know or trust. I don't fault you in the least from not lining up with people's opinions.
I agree thoughts and desires do just happen. As one who trust Jesus Christ, I try to remember that reality and take all thoughts captive to Christ so that His wisdom can help me discern which are beneficial and which are detrimental.

Thanks for expressing your thoughts.