Timothy, thank you very much for the link. That site looks interesting. I shall study what it says.
YW, just remember, the Bible has final Authority in regards to this. I know some disregard Gods litteral word, but doing so skew's the rest of Gods word and supreme nature, man's fall into sin, and Gods promise of salvation.
Full stop!
Admin says this topic is off limits so I respecfully obey
If you have any other questions along this line feel free to send me a private message, and I will do my best to try and help.
On the subject of homosexuality, if we are not to take the old testament to be literally true, how do we know that being gay really is a sin? Sorry to push this point, but I have a couple of gay friends who are really decent people.(One is actually a Christian, although not at my church)
I don't believe I said that the OT should not be taken litterally. I'm sorry if I gave you this impression. What I mean was, that it must be taken in its entirety with all of Gods word. Just to give you an example of how not doing this leads to major problems.
There was group of people who were wittnessed to inside the iron curtain many years ago. Naturally, these christians were very hungry for the word of God. They had gotten a small piece of one of the Gospels where Jesus is teaching ...
Mark 9:47
47 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell,
(NIV)
Only having this, they believed it was necessary to pluck their eyes out in order obtain salvation. So we must be careful to take into account all of Gods word, not just a verse here and there.
About homosexuality. Here are some places in the Bible that speaks to this.
Lev 18:22
22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.
(KJV)
Lev 20:13
13 If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
(KJV)
1 Cor 6:9-10
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, (
strongs dictionary implies sodamites here)
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
(KJV)
Rom 1:26-28
26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones.
27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.
28 Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.
(NIV)
This is pretty strong language about inapropriate sexual behaviour. Something else to consider, is that homosexuals seem to adamantly insist that there must be another explaination for these verses, because it would mean that their lifestyle is wrong. Rather than accepting what Gods word says, they must try to twist the meaning of scripture to allow them to be acceptable by God, rather than admitting they are sinful beings and need Gods plan of salvation, repentance, and justification. Quite a contrast.
Now, just because you have friends that claim to be homosexuals does not mean you cannot love those persons and pray for them. Homosexuality is a sin just like any other sin and must be dealt with according to Gods plan of salvation by laying that sin at the cross, repenting of it, and never doing it again. All people deserve to be treated with dignity as part of Gods creation. Judgment will be served by God in due time. However, this in no way means you should approve of their sin. Don't compromise your wittness in favor of polotical correctness. Gods word is offensive to sin and those who commit it. Without realising one is living in sin, he would never understand the reason for salvation to begin with. You are a light in a dark place. Don't be affraid to let that light shine. Consider this. On judgment day, when God brings your friends before him and points out that they chose not to repent according to his word, will your friends have the chance to ask you why you never showed them where Gods word says this? You are not passing judgment on them, Gods word is. You are showing them love by showing them how to avoid Gods judgment, by accepting his gift of Grace and forgivness now. It will be too late once the time of judgment comes.
I hope you find this helpful.
Grace and Peace!
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