u/_MasterOfFlames

I honestly can't make up my mind about whether the Bible says homosexuality is sinful. I think the most honest reading would be that it is sin, but it is not sensible to expect celibacy from all gay Christians. I live in Canada and currently attend Lutheran Church of Canada, and I generally agree with the theology of the church I know that there are some Lutherans that are gay affirming although they do not have any churches nearby. Not sure were i would go. Most other denominations have big differences on the atonement and baptism.

Edit: I think I have presented good points, but it has destroyed my faith. I don't think I can continue as a Christian.

I would like to learn about taoism and read the primary texts there are alot of different writings in the canon of taoism and far too many translations I am honestly not really sure were to start. I would happy to hear recommendations. I prefer hardcover. If it is possible, I would rather have these texts compiled together rather than each work separated into different volumes.

Repost from r/Christianity

People cannot, by their own power, choose God or bring themselves to faith. In all other matters free choice exist, and people remain accountable for their actions. By power I mean that due to the fall man's nature is weakened such that he lacks the natural capacity to attain saving faith. Grace can be resisted but all people naturally resist God unless the Holy Spirit works on them to enable conversion. The act of believing genuinely belongs to the person although they do not cause it. Therefore God works through the Holy Spirit to create faith in them so that God alone causes conversion without participation on behalf of the person. God wills all be saved and has not withheld grace from any person and the person can only attain faith in God by the renewal worked in them by the Holy Spirit. Since the grace of God is not withheld from any person and it's a mystery why all are not saved. Hell is always punishment, and no one ever chooses it since conversion itself is without human cooperation. Since man cannot convert himself, God is accountable for those who are punished for eternity in a sense is God, although man is alone is responsible for the evil he does. It therefore may be rightly said God punishes men alone on the basis of the lack of their conversion and repentance which they cannot gain by the powers of their own nature. If God doesn't will that the ungodly and condemned might come to faith and repentance, they would otherwise be forever alienated from God, of course this would be unfitting of God’s character so it is not the most probable outcome. Since God loves all, and wills that all be saved, and wishes to show mercy to all He is not bound to deliver on the threat of eternal punishment.

9 The Lord does not delay his promise, as some regard “delay,” but he is patient with you, not wishing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

- 2 Peter 3:9

"God forbid that I should limit the time of acquiring faith to the present life. In the depth of the Divine mercy there may be opportunity to win it in the future."

- Martin Luther's letter to Hans von Rechenberg, 1522

I am concerned about the future, my intuition is that same sex relationships are completely fine, but after doing a fair amount of research I think scripture is somewhat ambiguous. I'm 23 and I knew I was gay before coverted to Christianity 4 years ago, relationship we not something I had on my mind then, but at this point I really don't see marriage with a woman or celibacy as sensible options. Still, the Bible consistently presents marriage as being exclusively male-female. Paul, at least to me, seems to present the hierarchical difference in roles between husband and wife as an essential characteristic of marriage. He seems to connect this difference in role to back to the order of creation. The verse I'm struggling with most are Ephesians 5:22-33, 1 Corinthians 11:7-12, and Genesis 2:18-24.

Might be my favourite Easter hymn written by Martin Luther