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<blockquote data-quote="aiki" data-source="post: 60447103" data-attributes="member: 178791"><p>Christians are no more homophobic than homosexuals are heterophobic. God condemns homosexuality. It is a plain perversion of God's intended design. Is God homophobic, then, because He condemns homosexuality? Obviously not. </p><p></p><p> This is simply too general an accusation to answer. Are women identical to men? Mounds of research show that on almost every level - hormonally, physiologically, emotionally, etc - men and women differ. God acknowledges this fact in the roles he ordains for the sexes. </p><p> </p><p> Chapter and verse, please. In every instance where this charge has been levelled against my faith, it has turned out that the one making the charge has badly misread the prooftexts used to make the charge. </p><p></p><p> This accusation can only be sustained when the cultural context within which the prooftexts for this accusation exist is ignored. </p><p></p><p> Explanations abound in refutation of the many supposed contradictions. See:</p><p></p><p><a href="http://www.carm.org" target="_blank">CARM - Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry</a></p><p><a href="http://www.str.org" target="_blank">Stand to Reason: Stand to Reason Homepage</a></p><p><a href="http://www.reasonablefaith.org" target="_blank">Defending Biblical Christianity | Reasonable Faith</a> </p><p></p><p> If God exists, it is perfectly rational and appropriate to submit to His omnipotent authority. </p><p></p><p> This emphasizes only a part of the entire picture of the Christian faith. In fact, love, grace, compassion, holiness and justice figure far more prominently in biblical doctrine and theology. You might ask yourself why your friend has emphasized the punishment of sin aspect of what the Bible teaches to such a degree that he/she describes Christianity as a "fear-based religion." This distortion of the facts suggests the nature of the bias from which your friend is approaching his/her view of Christianity - that or your friend is just thoughtlessly regurgitating objections he/she came across on some atheist website... </p><p></p><p> This is called a Strawman Argument. It is a gross mischaracterization of the facts intended to make objecting to Christianty easier. In actuality, the Bible teaches that God purposefully makes each of us, not as an abberation, but with the intent that we all would come into personal relationship with Him. The Bible also teaches that no one has to remain under the power of their sinful inclinations. God has made a way to live righteously before Him and to enjoy fellowship with Him forever. One's birth is not a curse but an opportunity to know and love one's Creator. </p><p></p><p>Again, this is a Strawman Argument - a twisting of the actual teachings of the Bible to justify rejecting it. We are not held responsible for Adam and Eve's sin. God will judge each person for their <em>own</em> sin. </p><p></p><p> This is just raw ignorance on display here. It is so untrue it is laughable. No faith has ever sustained the kind of criticism, and scrutiny, and debate that Christianity has both from without <em>and</em> within. </p><p></p><p> At great cost to Himself, God moved to redeem humanity from the consequences of sin. Satan, however, God will punish in hell for all eternity. He has made no way for Satan ever to escape this fate. Obviously, then, the charge that God has dealt unfairly with Adam and Eve relative to Satan is false. </p><p> </p><p> And He has offered any who will take it the power to be able to resist Satan. As well, God restrains Satan, never allowing him to unleash the full force of his evilness upon the world. </p><p> </p><p> Because God is also holy and just. Because our sin is always ultimately against God Himself. That God renders such a severe penalty upon our sin should alert us to how incredibly awful the sin we so easily commit truly is. </p><p></p><p> No. It seems to me only a person who has made a practice of sexual lusting would say something like this. </p><p></p><p> Says who? </p><p></p><p>LOL! They are His Chosen People but they were not made so because they were something special, because they were such that God found Himself liking them more than all the other humans He had made. In fact, the record of the OT shows that the Israelites were a wayward and disobedient people and suffered the severe judgment of God many times as a result. God showed them no favoritism in judging their sin, that's for sure! </p><p></p><p> This is just silly. There is a terrible error in comparison here. We are <em>not</em> God - no where even close. He gives life and sustains and it is His prerogative as the Giver and Sustainer of Life also to take it in whatever manner suits Him. </p><p></p><p>This is what is known as a prooftext. It is a verse taken out of context in order that it might be used to say something it really does not say. In fact, the command above does not forbid being angry, only anger that leads to sin. Since God is perfect and His anger is never sinful, He does not contravene His own command. This is one of the lamest objections to the faith I have ever come across. </p><p></p><p>More of what has been attempted above. God does in fact love His enemies. But as the Holy Judge of All, those who live in unrepentant, sinful rebellion to Him will eventually experience His holy wrath. </p><p></p><p>Simple-minded protestations. Humans and God are not equal in any way. What applies to us does not apply in the same way, or at all, to Him. </p><p></p><p> A lesson or two in basic Christian doctrine is definitely in order here...Sheesh. </p><p> </p><p> </p><p></p><p>THese questions assume that the questioner has the same perfect, omniscient perspective that God has. But this is obviously not the case. The answers the questioner offers to his questions are not the only possible ones and they arise from a comparatively limited knowledge and perspective. To a great degree, the answer to these questions lies in the matter of our free will. If we are to truly be able to choose to love God, we must be truly able not to choose to love Him. From our choice not to love God evil arises. </p><p></p><p>You would do well to make the effort to better acquaint yourself with the Christian faith. Don't be the ignorant, biased sort your friend appears to be. If the Bible is true, your eternal destiny rests upon what you choose to do in this regard. </p><p></p><p>Selah.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="aiki, post: 60447103, member: 178791"] Christians are no more homophobic than homosexuals are heterophobic. God condemns homosexuality. It is a plain perversion of God's intended design. Is God homophobic, then, because He condemns homosexuality? Obviously not. This is simply too general an accusation to answer. Are women identical to men? Mounds of research show that on almost every level - hormonally, physiologically, emotionally, etc - men and women differ. God acknowledges this fact in the roles he ordains for the sexes. Chapter and verse, please. In every instance where this charge has been levelled against my faith, it has turned out that the one making the charge has badly misread the prooftexts used to make the charge. This accusation can only be sustained when the cultural context within which the prooftexts for this accusation exist is ignored. Explanations abound in refutation of the many supposed contradictions. See: [URL="http://www.carm.org"]CARM - Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry[/URL] [URL="http://www.str.org"]Stand to Reason: Stand to Reason Homepage[/URL] [URL="http://www.reasonablefaith.org"]Defending Biblical Christianity | Reasonable Faith[/URL] If God exists, it is perfectly rational and appropriate to submit to His omnipotent authority. This emphasizes only a part of the entire picture of the Christian faith. In fact, love, grace, compassion, holiness and justice figure far more prominently in biblical doctrine and theology. You might ask yourself why your friend has emphasized the punishment of sin aspect of what the Bible teaches to such a degree that he/she describes Christianity as a "fear-based religion." This distortion of the facts suggests the nature of the bias from which your friend is approaching his/her view of Christianity - that or your friend is just thoughtlessly regurgitating objections he/she came across on some atheist website... This is called a Strawman Argument. It is a gross mischaracterization of the facts intended to make objecting to Christianty easier. In actuality, the Bible teaches that God purposefully makes each of us, not as an abberation, but with the intent that we all would come into personal relationship with Him. The Bible also teaches that no one has to remain under the power of their sinful inclinations. God has made a way to live righteously before Him and to enjoy fellowship with Him forever. One's birth is not a curse but an opportunity to know and love one's Creator. Again, this is a Strawman Argument - a twisting of the actual teachings of the Bible to justify rejecting it. We are not held responsible for Adam and Eve's sin. God will judge each person for their [I]own[/I] sin. This is just raw ignorance on display here. It is so untrue it is laughable. No faith has ever sustained the kind of criticism, and scrutiny, and debate that Christianity has both from without [I]and[/I] within. At great cost to Himself, God moved to redeem humanity from the consequences of sin. Satan, however, God will punish in hell for all eternity. He has made no way for Satan ever to escape this fate. Obviously, then, the charge that God has dealt unfairly with Adam and Eve relative to Satan is false. And He has offered any who will take it the power to be able to resist Satan. As well, God restrains Satan, never allowing him to unleash the full force of his evilness upon the world. Because God is also holy and just. Because our sin is always ultimately against God Himself. That God renders such a severe penalty upon our sin should alert us to how incredibly awful the sin we so easily commit truly is. No. It seems to me only a person who has made a practice of sexual lusting would say something like this. Says who? LOL! They are His Chosen People but they were not made so because they were something special, because they were such that God found Himself liking them more than all the other humans He had made. In fact, the record of the OT shows that the Israelites were a wayward and disobedient people and suffered the severe judgment of God many times as a result. God showed them no favoritism in judging their sin, that's for sure! This is just silly. There is a terrible error in comparison here. We are [I]not[/I] God - no where even close. He gives life and sustains and it is His prerogative as the Giver and Sustainer of Life also to take it in whatever manner suits Him. This is what is known as a prooftext. It is a verse taken out of context in order that it might be used to say something it really does not say. In fact, the command above does not forbid being angry, only anger that leads to sin. Since God is perfect and His anger is never sinful, He does not contravene His own command. This is one of the lamest objections to the faith I have ever come across. More of what has been attempted above. God does in fact love His enemies. But as the Holy Judge of All, those who live in unrepentant, sinful rebellion to Him will eventually experience His holy wrath. Simple-minded protestations. Humans and God are not equal in any way. What applies to us does not apply in the same way, or at all, to Him. A lesson or two in basic Christian doctrine is definitely in order here...Sheesh. THese questions assume that the questioner has the same perfect, omniscient perspective that God has. But this is obviously not the case. The answers the questioner offers to his questions are not the only possible ones and they arise from a comparatively limited knowledge and perspective. To a great degree, the answer to these questions lies in the matter of our free will. If we are to truly be able to choose to love God, we must be truly able not to choose to love Him. From our choice not to love God evil arises. You would do well to make the effort to better acquaint yourself with the Christian faith. Don't be the ignorant, biased sort your friend appears to be. If the Bible is true, your eternal destiny rests upon what you choose to do in this regard. Selah. [/QUOTE]
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