Orginally appeared on www.youthresouce.com/feat/faith/steve.htm

God's Love

by Steven Payne

Yes, you can proudly say that you "Love Jesus!". God has shown me from his Word that was written to Paul the letter in Romans. That we can be Gay and Christian at the same time. The following will be Parts of Romans Chapter 8 through Chapter 9. We as the gay community have been told that we cannot be gay and Christian. That it is an abomination to God. AS WE look into what Paul wrote this would confirm that God loves us very much and that we are his people. "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose," -(Romans 8:28, NIV) Yes God will help those that love him and that have accepted Jesus as Savior. For Paul wrote, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death."-Romans 8:1,2, NIV. We have no Condemnation if we are in Christ. Amen!!! (Please Compare Romans 8:29)

One thing I know the Lord is doing is using the Gay Community to reach out to those that have been thrown out of there churches because they are gay. I have also started a Ministry of my own. SO that people can know that God loves them. My ministry is call, "Zion Gay Christian Youth Ministries." Paul writes, "And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified." (Romans 8:30, NIV) He has called the Gay Community to be called, and he is justifying us. And at one point we shall be GLORIFIED!

"31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died--more than that, who was raised to life--is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?" (Romans 8:31-35, NIV) Paul connects seven rhetorical questions to lead us to the wonderful truths that: (1) God is for us; (2) He will freely give us all things; (3) He has justified us; (4) He prays for us; and (5) we cannot be separated from His love. All of these precious blessings are granted to those who are in Christ Jesus. With encouragement such as these, the Gay Christian can endure suffering with hope and assurance. And SHAME ON THOSE CHURCHES!

Most Churches are so legalistic meaning legalism. The Microsoft Bookshelf defines these words as: "Legalism-1.Strict, literal adherence to the law or to a particular code, as of religion or morality. A legal word, expression, or rule." Some Churches today are "fundamentalism" which mean: "1.a. Often Fundamentalism. An organized, militant Evangelical movement originating in the United States in 1920 in opposition to Liberalism and secularism. b. Adherence to the theology of this movement. 2. A movement or point of view characterized by rigid adherence to fundamental or basic principles." But it is what Scripture says, not what men say!

" We can be assured that nothing can separate us from the love of God.

As Paul continues in Romans, we know as Christian Witnesses of the only True God (John 17:3) that "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." (Romans 8:36 NIV) Yes we do face death. We are like sheep to be slaughtered. "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us," -Romans 8:37, NIV. Yes, we are conquerors through him who loves us. We have a promise that no one else will have unless they "SURRENDER" all their selves.

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord," - Romans 8:38, 39, NIV. We can be assured that nothing can separate us from the love of God. As long as we are faithful to him he will surely bless us. For Isaiah says: "so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."-Isaiah 55:11. Yes, His word that goes forth will not return to him without result. Amen.

What the Lord has showed the same thing and me that Paul's statement is "I speak the truth in Christ--I am not lying, my conscience confirms it in the Holy Spirit--2 I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart." (Romans 9:1, 2, NIV) Its not what I speak but that of the Lord. And we can be Gay and Christian at the same time. As I quoted before in Romans 8:1: "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." WE are set free in Christ Jesus.

In regard to me being kicked out of my church, it hurt very much. And I took what Paul wrote in the following verses: "For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, 4 the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. 5 Theirs are the patriarchs [church fathers], and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen." ([Romans 9:3-5, NIV) Yes I wish I could die for those who caused pain and disfellowshipped me. But I pray that God will open the pastor's heart and anyone that has gone through the same thing. We don't need to give up our salvation for Paul states at Philippians 4:13: "I can do everything through him who gives me strength." In this verse, we can understand what Paul meant that The fervor of Paul's evangelical heart is displayed in this verse. His Israelite brethren, because of their unbelief, are not the recipients of all the gracious works of God in salvation to which earlier discussions allude. But the apostle is concerned for them to the extent that he could wish himself "accursed" (anathema, Gk.) or "devoted to destruction" in the place of them. Paul has walked so closely with the Lord that a spirit of compassion similar to that, which led Jesus to make atonement for the human family, is now operative in Paul also. The fact that he specifies his "countrymen according to the flesh" prepares us to understand the term "Israel" as a reference to literal Israel in the discussion to follow. We can also apply that to us today. (Compare Romans 9:6- 14)

In the Old Testament Paul states in the book of Romans "For he says to Moses, 'I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." 16 It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy. (Romans 9:15, 16, NIV) Yes the will have mercy on those he wants to have mercy on. "For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: "I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth."-Romans 9:17. The trials we go through the Lord will be there and he will help us. "Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden."(Romans 9:18, NIV) (Compare Romans 9:19-24)

God to many of his prophets called Israel to be his people. And through out Biblical History, Israel was God's chosen people But to day are we His people he is using? As he says in Hosea: "I will call them 'my people' who are not my people; and I will call her 'my loved one' who is not my loved one," and, "it will happen that in the very place where it was said to them, 'You are not my people,' they will be called 'sons of the living God.'" (Romans 9:25-26, NIV) Yes God has said to us that 'you are not my people,' He will say he will call them sons of the living God. Praise the Lord! (Romans 9:27-29)

Since Israel was not faithful we can agree what Paul says at Romans 9:30-32: "What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; 31 but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it. 32 Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the "stumbling stone." Yes we as Gentiles have abstained salvation through Christ Jesus and he loves us not matter what. Nothing can Separate us from the Love of God! (Compare Romans 9:33)

I would like to invite you to attend a church that is gay. They are God's people and he is moving and working. He has blessed me with a wonderful ministry, for those that have been rejected from their churches that they attended most of there life. The Lord has given a Scripture to apply to the Ministry that he has given me. "I have put my words in your mouth and covered you with the shadow of my hand-- I who set the heavens in place, who laid the foundations of the earth, and who say to Zion, 'You are my people.'"-Isaiah 51:16, NIV. I want to start a group of Gay Christian youth that will be able to stand and say I can be Gay and Christian at the same time. WE can do it. The door is open. The Lord is preparing and wants us to prepare. If you can help in anyway please let me know. You can email me at the following below.

Steven Payne
webmaster@rcym.org