What is the Biblical response to the sins of others?
It is no secret that I interpret the so-called "clobber passages" concerning "homosexual acts" very narrowly (They describe very specific acts under very specific circumstances.) while most other conservative Christians interpret them very broadly (They are merely specific examples of a category of sins.) However, unlike most other conservative Christians I do not think that I've captured the mind of God, and so I acknowledge that I might be mistaken.
So let's pretend that you've convinced me. That I've come around and now agree that all "homosexual acts" are always sinful, regardless of circumstance. Now what? What is the proper Biblical response to sinners?
Please be specific as to circumstances. Tell me, for example that your advice applies to a gay couple moving in next door and wanting to be friends. Or that it applies to them offering to watch your 13 year old son after school because you work late. Or that it applies to their son (the natural son of one by a previous marriage) petitioning the school (public school) to sponsor a Gay-Straight alliance. Or any other reasonable scenario. It is especially effective if you use actual, specific examples from your own life.
Also, please be very specific as to Biblical justification for the specifics of your advice. Chapter and verse. But remember, you are not trying to convince me that they are sinners, you are advising me how to interact with sinners. Repeating the Leviticus 20:13 only applies if your advice is to stone them.
Finally, if your advice is not the same advice that you would give if the sinners were a straight couple living outside of marriage, or a couple who have been divorced and remarried, or if there is domestic abuse in the home, or any other sin, then explain exactly why this case is different, again using Biblical principles, citing chapter and verse.
__________________ Do I claim that I am never wrong in what I've come to believe from my study of the Scriptures? Of course not. Then I would not be open to learning the truth when I still have so much more to learn. If I ever believed I knew all of God's truth, I'd be claiming to know the whole of God's mind -- I'd be, like Eve under the Serpent's influence, and like Nimrod, or whichever early king of Babel ordered the building of the Tower, and like the mad emperor Caligula, trying to become God
This will not be the scholarly treatise you are searching for but to my mind there is only one Christian Response to anything.
Love.
__________________
Rom 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
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Christianity is more than intellectually agreeing with certain principles, it is living a Spirit filled life and following Jesus. Too many people here are content to just condemn those who don't measure up to the perfection in their Christian principles, instead of following Jesus' example, and, indeed, His command. This your chance to step up. Does no one* want to tackle, or even acknowledge the issue?
*I'm not forgetting EC's post (for which I thank him), but his was not one of the voices trying so hard to defend the broad interpretation of the "clobber passages" that the true Gospel message was lost.
Originally Posted by OllieFranz
It is no secret that I interpret the so-called "clobber passages" concerning "homosexual acts" very narrowly (They describe very specific acts under very specific circumstances.) while most other conservative Christians interpret them very broadly (They are merely specific examples of a category of sins.) However, unlike most other conservative Christians I do not think that I've captured the mind of God, and so I acknowledge that I might be mistaken.
So let's pretend that you've convinced me. That I've come around and now agree that all "homosexual acts" are always sinful, regardless of circumstance. Now what? What is the proper Biblical response to sinners?
Please be specific as to circumstances. Tell me, for example that your advice applies to a gay couple moving in next door and wanting to be friends. Or that it applies to them offering to watch your 13 year old son after school because you work late. Or that it applies to their son (the natural son of one by a previous marriage) petitioning the school (public school) to sponsor a Gay-Straight alliance. Or any other reasonable scenario. It is especially effective if you use actual, specific examples from your own life.
Also, please be very specific as to Biblical justification for the specifics of your advice. Chapter and verse. But remember, you are not trying to convince me that they are sinners, you are advising me how to interact with sinners. Repeating the Leviticus 20:13 only applies if your advice is to stone them.
Finally, if your advice is not the same advice that you would give if the sinners were a straight couple living outside of marriage, or a couple who have been divorced and remarried, or if there is domestic abuse in the home, or any other sin, then explain exactly why this case is different, again using Biblical principles, citing chapter and verse.
__________________ Do I claim that I am never wrong in what I've come to believe from my study of the Scriptures? Of course not. Then I would not be open to learning the truth when I still have so much more to learn. If I ever believed I knew all of God's truth, I'd be claiming to know the whole of God's mind -- I'd be, like Eve under the Serpent's influence, and like Nimrod, or whichever early king of Babel ordered the building of the Tower, and like the mad emperor Caligula, trying to become God
I'm not Poe...that's a picture of Edgar Allen Poe.
I was aware of that. I was not confused (unlike Jase).
__________________ Do I claim that I am never wrong in what I've come to believe from my study of the Scriptures? Of course not. Then I would not be open to learning the truth when I still have so much more to learn. If I ever believed I knew all of God's truth, I'd be claiming to know the whole of God's mind -- I'd be, like Eve under the Serpent's influence, and like Nimrod, or whichever early king of Babel ordered the building of the Tower, and like the mad emperor Caligula, trying to become God
Monarchist, Jase, I would like to personally welcome you to the internet, and perhaps help you identify some of its unique local fauna. Much as I hate to bring the curtain down early, Galilean is not a serious poster, it is a joke account. Instead of responding to it, perhaps you could weigh in on the OP's legitimate questions?
bricklayer, why is 'mercy' only possible when someone is right and someone else is wrong? And what form would 'mercy' take in response to friendly homosexual neighbors in your life? What would you actually do in those circumstances?
Mercy is right-wrong related, but it has more to do with sin and punishment. When someone commits sin, or a wrong, justice holds them guilty and punishes them for it. But mercy, which could be more associated with love, spares the guilty from their just punishment.
What I think bricklayer was getting at is we should be kind to sinners (specifically non-believers?), because Jesus said love thy enemy, as well as holding "Love thy neighbor" as the second highest commandment. I think that addresses your situation you presented.
I was not confused (unlike Jase). 
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