Rex
There are more important things to worry about (imo) than another persons sexual orientation. I have my religious stance, however, my opinion is not shared by everyone. If someone wants my view, then I will share it with them. My neighbor a few houses down from mine is an openly gay guy and is also a good friend of our family. The only major difference between us is his sexual preference (BFD). I would much rather have him over to my home instead of thieves or swindlers that you mentioned. If an openly gay person showed up at your congregation to attend church, how would that person be received? Warm welcome or condemnation? This is not meant as a personal attack but rather an honest question. I feel highly confident that an openly gay person would receive a warm welcome at the church I attend regardless of their lifestyle.
Thank you for "imo" --
Not everyone joined to the teachings of Jesus (
he shared, but they rejected) ;
Jesus is the chief cornerstone, and here is what Jesus said (i.e. mankind is made / born male and female = the wife is female and the husband is a male)
4And He answered and said, “Have you not read that He who created
them from the beginning MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE,
5and said, ‘FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND HIS MOTHER AND BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH’?
Note 1, re families: many families have a thief or liar in their family << the family is right in attempting to explain to their family members that thievery and lying are sin ( << the family tells them this truth (not as personal attack but) out of love and concern)
Note 2, re church:
obviously, the church is commissioned to teach / teaches persons to recognize sin and to repent and to turn from that sin / to walk another way << we know this, according to Paul's words = "but such were some of you" ( 1 Cor 6: Do not be deceived: ...
10nor
thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor
swindlers, ...
^^
11And
that is what some of you were. ...")