Having read liars_paradox's post again, in particular the final passage from Romans, I do believe that when each of us gives an account of ourselves to God, He will find so much that is "perverse" in everyone of us.
I do believe He will find perversion most in the area of sexuality, as this is the one aspect of our physical bodies that can so easily take hold of us and master our minds and wills. And, I do believe if we are to follow him, we must take these things before God daily.
Having said this, I don't believe the original translations would somehow justify any form of perversion. Not is God's eyes.
__________________ But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23
We were all born in sin and cannot help ourselves which is precisely why Jesus is the only solution to the sin problem.
1 John 1:8, "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins then God is faithful and just to forgive us."
So the real tragedy is that most people are doing everything they can to keep homosexuals from heaven by keeping them from admitting that homosexuality is a sin. In fact, that's one of the biggest tragedies in today's world.
Except, since God created it, homosexuality is not a sin.
Oh yes, we do sin, like everyone does.
But our faithful, monogamous unions are not sin - they reflect the love of God.
__________________ Let the broken ones be healed. Let the lost be found and fed. Let the grace of God roll on, roll on! Let the rivers rise and spread. Step into the stream with me. Let God's gracious purpose be!
For me? Because of this, if I were born homosexual, I would probably choose chastity:
I think chastity is a gift from God - a call for very few, but blessed by those who hear and answer. If you were called to this, I would hope that you would answer faithfully and thankfully.
Often God brings into our lives people who deepen our faith, for whom there is a deep mystical, loving attraction - one that reveals God in profound ways. To those of us who are called to this holy union, we cannot but thank God for this gift as well.
__________________ Let the broken ones be healed. Let the lost be found and fed. Let the grace of God roll on, roll on! Let the rivers rise and spread. Step into the stream with me. Let God's gracious purpose be!
The problem is that gay couples, en masse, lead to a sterile community
That's why all of us gay people were born to straight couples.
Sorry, I don't think that argument holds a drop of water.
Originally Posted by fated
that lacks real respect for children, we can see this in the arguments for gay marriage, in which anytime children are brought up, their societal role is minimized. Actually, any time is not quite accurate, I should just say ussually, which is, nonetheless, unacceptable. It takes a lot of work to get society to take care of its children, without elitists minimizing their role in our policies, and thereby their rights in our society.
To say that gay couples lack respect for children is appalling. Gay couples adopt the "unwanteds" - the ones the straight, white couples won't adopt. I will leave it to you to do your own homework and discover just how committed and loving gay homes are for children. If you don't make the attempt, you will not only be in error, but you will, sadly, be depriving yourself of some valuable information.
Originally Posted by fated
Also, take the military, for instance. Being gay and out could promote sexual activity, this is the opposite of what the military actually wants to encourage. The obvious obstacle, if you will.
Sorry - I am calling you on your stereotyping. Gay men and women who serve in our armed forces ARE NOT THERE TO HAVE SEX! They are there to do a job, and to proudly serve their nation, like any other service member.
Originally Posted by fated
Also, it looks like a promiscuous hard life style when compared to the typical forms.
To those unwilling to see beyond their own small-mindedness, I can imagine this would be so.
__________________ Let the broken ones be healed. Let the lost be found and fed. Let the grace of God roll on, roll on! Let the rivers rise and spread. Step into the stream with me. Let God's gracious purpose be!
Your claim that homosexual relationships are only "fleshy" is completely insulting. They are no different than heterosexual relationships.
Totally agree!
__________________ Let the broken ones be healed. Let the lost be found and fed. Let the grace of God roll on, roll on! Let the rivers rise and spread. Step into the stream with me. Let God's gracious purpose be!
__________________ Let the broken ones be healed. Let the lost be found and fed. Let the grace of God roll on, roll on! Let the rivers rise and spread. Step into the stream with me. Let God's gracious purpose be!
The greastest Love we can show to anyone is the Love of God. And by doing so we need to help them understand what sin is by showing them the word of God how they are able to conquer sin by accepting Christ as savior.
I very much disagree with this statement. I don't want to besmirch your understanding. Yes, the best thing we can do for anyone is to show them the love of God. However, it is not through pointing out ther sin, and then telling them they can conquer it. Christ Jesus destroyed sin once and for all - it's over and done. It is the full, final sacrifice. We can not ransom ourselves. There is nothing that we can do that will ever seperate us from God's love.
Originally Posted by nhisname
The most signifant thing about God is that he is Holy and cannot abide sin....this is the reason for the covering of our sin by Christ's blood.
God is indeed holy. God is also aware that, while sin exists in the world, it is already completely overcome in his Son. What we need to do is accept God's love, and live as if we believed the message of salvation.
Originally Posted by nhisname
When Jesus gave the sermon on the mount he said he did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it. He said not the smallest letter or least stroke of the pen would be removed from the law. In the law are a set of absolutes that we are to live by. Homosexuality is abominable to God.
The law is not a set of absolutes. That is where the message is all too often missed. There is only one law, as Jesus stated it: Love God and love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and prophets.
Homosexuality is abominable only to those who choose to read scripture in a way that satisfies their own prejudice. It is certainly not an abomination to God.
__________________ Let the broken ones be healed. Let the lost be found and fed. Let the grace of God roll on, roll on! Let the rivers rise and spread. Step into the stream with me. Let God's gracious purpose be!
The way I understand it is that they have two choices: Celibacy or marriage to the opposite sex.
Celibacy is a gift and a call from God.
Holy Union with one of the same sex is a gift from God.
Marriage to an opposite sex partner would be a terrible sin.
__________________ Let the broken ones be healed. Let the lost be found and fed. Let the grace of God roll on, roll on! Let the rivers rise and spread. Step into the stream with me. Let God's gracious purpose be!
Often God brings into our lives people who deepen our faith, for whom there is a deep mystical, loving attraction - one that reveals God in profound ways. To those of us who are called to this holy union, we cannot but thank God for this gift as well.
For me though, the only "deep mystical, loving attraction" has been one that supersedes anything of this world. It is a spiritual union with God. For me, I could never share such with another human.
__________________ But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23
For me though, the only "deep mystical, loving attraction" has been one that supersedes anything of this world. It is a spiritual union with God. For me, I could never share such with another human.
I am sorry that is so for you.
For me, my partner is a part of my relationship with God. Of course God is supreme - but my partner is an incarnational "face" of God in my every day world. He is a tiny and wonderful sign of God's love for me and for the rest of the world.
__________________ Let the broken ones be healed. Let the lost be found and fed. Let the grace of God roll on, roll on! Let the rivers rise and spread. Step into the stream with me. Let God's gracious purpose be!
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