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My Partner's Reply to the 1st Attack...

My HusBear replied, after I could see him deeply troubled by this attack. I instructed him to make sure it was in love and without hate in the tone he used...

Dear XXXXX,

I know I said I would not reply to your email, but I feel that it needs a reply in full. Please take the time to read the whole message.

Fortunately my email software told me your name as you had forgotten to sign it at the bottom. I do hate receiving anonymous email, especially if its intent is to vilify me, however I'm sure it was not your intent to remain anonymous.

I have been advised to answer this email in love and I have no intention ofentering into a long, drawn-out argument over this issue.

> How dare you call yourself a Christian, you hypocrite and demoniac. If
> you were truly a Christian you would know the scriptures well and would
> not lead the life you lead.

1. How dare I call myself a Christian? By the grace and love of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who redeemed me by His blood, and HIS blood alone. July 30th 1988 is a date etched in stone in my memory as it was on that day that I gave my life to Christ.

2. Your assertion that I am a hypocrite and demoniac is one I find most amusing. To the best of my knowledge we have never met and therefore I do not know what you base this claim on. I don't think that anyone who knows me in Kalgoorlie could ever state that I have shown the slightest sign of demon-possession.

I am not and never have been a demoniac. As you will doubtless know from your extensive reading of the Scripture, no one who is possessed by a demon can say "Jesus is Lord". Therefore that allegation is easily refuted by my ability to say and sing in praise and wonder that "Jesus is LORD".

I may be guilty of some hypocrisy, but which of us isn't. If you are that perfect person then I will gladly hand you the stones to cast at me.

3. In addition, I would hasten to point out that under UK and quite probably Australian law email is considered a written communication and as such is covered by the Libel regulations. Therefore your comments are, in law, libellous and I have forwarded a copy to my solicitor under advisement and will take action should any similar comments be received.

4. Again, your assertion that were I truly a Christian I "would know the scriptures well and would not lead the life you lead" brought a smile to my face. How well you seem to think you know me from your position of utter ignorance of my whole being. My knowledge of the Scripture has been gained over a period of 9 years following Christ. This period has involved intense Bible study - alone, in church, in housegroups etc.

In addition some churches are obviously confident enough of my Scriptural knowledge to ask me time and again to minister at their services and lead them in worshipping the Lord.

> Let me quote you and Adrian a few in regards to your "sexuality".

With regard to this, please let me know which version of the Bible you are quoting from in order to enable us to check the interpretation against the original texts (Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic). From the writing style and language used I would hazard a guess that you are using the New King James Version?

Also, in quoting texts I notice that you skirt around the context of each verse and also ignore the other teachings of the apostle, adopting the "pick and mix" attitude of so many in the church. However, thank you for not quoting from Leviticus and using the words of the now-defunct Law.

> St. Paul wrote very strongly against homosexuals and here they are:

Paul also wrote very strongly against marriage, women preaching etc. Do you follow his teachings on these issues with equal vehemence? If so may I ask why you are married? 1 Cor. 7:8-9 If you feel this is being flippant and quoting out of context then I rest my case!

> 1 Corinthians 6,9: Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit
> the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor
> idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites.

In context, these verses refer to the overwhelming level of sexual immorality in the church and in the city of Corinth. The term "homosexuals" in Paul's letter refers to homosexual offenders - or male prostitutes, men who sold their sexual services to anyone, male or female, and that the disapproval was of prescribed lifestyles, not a condemnation of homosexual relationships as we understand them today.

> Romans 1,27: Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the
> woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing
> what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error
> which was due.

To attempt to put this verse into context, verses 22-27 speak of all kinds of immorality practiced by those who created idols and worshipped them.

"because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful..............and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man.........therefore God gave them up to uncleanness......."

The phrasing clearly indicates that the "them" referred to are those who created the idols.

> 1 Corinthians 5,11: But now I have written to you not to keep company
> with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an
> idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner, not even to eat
> with such a person.

Sexual immorality - how would you define this? To me it is defined as sleeping around, breaking your marriage vows and so on - would you write a letter such as this to someone who had an affair or who you knew was promiscuous? If you ever do, please send me a copy.

> Open your eyes and turn away from your disgusting ways.

XXXXXXX, you are being very subjective here. Where in the Bible do you find one word of condemnation from Jesus on this issue? His attitude was of love and acceptance, an attitude which many in the church would do well to copy.

> I also object to you revealing such repulsive material on your homepage
> for the whole world to see.

Repulsive material? Obviously your definition of repulsive is rather out of synch with the rest of the world - and in particular with those who categorise the Internet. My homepage is classified as "normal, boring even" in terms of repulsiveness.

My homepage is an expression of myself. Were I to change it I would be untrue to myself. As a homosexual I have suffered - suffered the pain of rejection by father and brother, suffered humiliation at school and University, suffered the loneliness of a heterosexist society and I am still here. Why? Because Jesus Loves Me - this I know, for the Bible tells me so and until He tells me otherwise, I will live for HIM.

Maybe you will find this impossible to believe, but as a gay man, I have been used mightily by God. As a result of the way I was treated while growing up I have rebelled against society. This rebellion manifests itself in a refusal to abandon people because they are different, to love people for who they are, to accept, love and help. I have a gentle nature which some may mistake for effeminacy (at least at first)- but they are those who refuse to look beneath the surface at the person within - a common failing in society today.

God has brought people to me who have been hurt by life and running from Him. I have met them where they are and picked them up in His strength. My ministry is based on Ezekiel 34 - to be a good shepherd, to seek the lost, to bind the broken-hearted. If God uses me in this way as I am - does not that say something? I know for a fact that had I not been gay then many of the people I have helped would not have felt able to accept my help. This is especially true of many women who could talk to me knowing I was "safe" and not likely to try anything.

> You both will be responsible for the people that will follow your
> devious ways.

Our devious ways include reaching out to the broken-hearted, helping friends with tasks, teaching others on our own time, being there for people 24 hours a day. I am proud of being a deviant.

Obviously you have a great insight into our relationship and know in detail what goes on in private so I will not try to contradict you.

God challenges us to deviate from the ways of this world and not to conform to what the world sees as normal.

> We heterosexuals do not publish our sexual life publicly and march
> ridicously down the road during a Mardi Gras etc.

Ah but you do! Society as a whole is geared to "normal" heterosexual indoctrination - look at adverts on the TV - happy families with mother, father and 2.4 children. Obviously the sexual life of those parents is being published for all to see. If you walk down Hannan St with <name witheld> and your son you are doing the same thing - proclaiming to the world "I am a heterosexual woman and this is what I have produced".

Were heterosexuals to march down the road proclaiming their existence they would be ridiculed for sheer exhibitionism. What gay men and women strive to achieve in these marches is to demonstrate that we exist.

For years gays have been ignored by society - the thousands of lesbians and gay men who died in the Nazi concentration camp have long been regarded as mere statistics, not human beings, created by a loving God in His image. Their crime? Being different.

> I really despise everything that the gays have done to our society and
> they will be held responsible.

Gays such as:-

• Alan Turing - father of modern computing
• Peter Tchaikovsky - one of the greatest composers the world has known
• Coward, Wilde and many other of the English-speaking world's greatest playwrights
• Myriad poets, authors, dancers, musicians, composers who have brought pleasure to millions
• Thousands of doctors, nurses, scientists who have aided society immeasurably and many, many more.

If you despise everything that gay men and women have done to your society then you will live in a very boring world if you ignored all their achievements, accomplishments and the benefits they have wrought for mankind.

> Believe me you all will. My heart goes out to the poor parents
> especially mothers that you have crucified.

My mother will be most amused to read your email, your reaction is far worse than anything she ever said or did. She accepts me for who I am, sees God at work in me and is proud of the person I have become. She may not fully understand my sexuality, but as a mother she loves me as only a mother can.

> Remember, "You will knock on the door, and it will not be opened to
> you".

Could you give me a reference for this "verse"? I have searched through my Bibles, concordances and commentaries and can find no reference to it.

The only thing I found of interest was a verse in Revelation 22:18 - where God states that anyone who adds to his word will have all the plagues added to him.

> Also, why is it that you have the word demon in your e-mail address.

This is a simple fact of life in the UK and has NO satanic overtones. Demon were one of the first Internet Service Providers in the UK. While I object on a personal level to their choice of name, this name is NOT to be taken as a sign that they are Satan-worshipping, demon-possessed wierdos - they are not, and again, any suggestion otherwise would be looked at with interest by their lawyers.

That's all for now - please feel free to write again and continue the discussion if you are prepared to discuss with an open heart.

Yours in Christ
Gareth

As you can see, my HusBear was very cool on his reply... I sat amazed as he carefully and lovingly replied to the attack... he did more than I did. I simply did not reply to this lady's husband.

• Onto the reply to this attack...
• Onto next attack...