"...against nature:" Always a sin?

[Stinker]

People born with more physical appendages than 99.9% of the rest of humanity is 'against nature' . A miracle is 'against nature'. The sun standing still (actually it was the earth) for Joshua to finish off the enemy was 'against nature'. Transgenered people are 'against nature' .

"For this reason God gave them over (Gentiles born after the Flood) unto degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error (venereal diseases). (Romans 1:26-27)

In verses 23-25 we can see in the backround of the Old Testament the Gentile worship of Ashtoroth, which became Aphrodite in the 1st century New Testament backround. The worship practices of the Aphrodite temples and the sub-cults that spawned from this pagan religion, is what is being addressed in Romans chapter one. The things that went on would shock a lot of people even today.

Let us remember, not everytime we read and hear 'against nature' is sin involved.

 

[JunkYardDog]

You have added the words, "Gentiles born after the Flood," yet nothing in the passage suggests that limitation. This is not about Gentile worship forms but refusing to retain God in your knowledge when His presence and character were evident in creation.

 

[fragmentsofdreams]

What do you mean by against nature?

Contrary to something's essence?
Outside the observable world?
Not in the world as it would occur without human intervention?
In opposition to some ideal nature?

 

[JunkYardDog]

Divine intervention is called "supernatural" -- super nature -- the nature of God ABOVE the nature He created below. His decision to intervene is not "against nature" but part of HIS nature.

"Against nature" is deliberately and forcibly abusing the natural order -- using something in a way that is destructive of its natural use (not just an extension of its use).

 

[Sam Gamgee]

Instead of being "against nature", the people you are describing are simply "different"...

When I was young, my teacher showed me a picture of three oranges and a pear and asked me "Which one does not belong?" She taught me that "different" was wrong.

But, being different does not have to be wrong. It's simply different. It has nothing to do with nature and everything to do with society's definition of "normal". "Nature" has nothing to do with it. Nature is all about the trees and the water and the bugs and bunnies that live in the woods...

 

[JunkYardDog]

Instead of being "against nature", the people you are describing are simply "different"...

When I was young, my teacher showed me a picture of three oranges and a pear and asked me "Which one does not belong?" She taught me that "different" was wrong.

But, being different does not have to be wrong. It's simply different. It has nothing to do with nature and everything to do with society's definition of "normal". "Nature" has nothing to do with it. Nature is all about the trees and the water and the bugs and bunnies that live in the woods...

No, I'm not describing different. Jamming something IN past the sphincter and into the tissue inside the anus (which is designed for ONE WAY TRAVEL) is "against nature" not just "different."

 

[intricatic]

We were all designed a certain way, and just as Satan perverted the designs of God for him, we have perverted the designs of nature. All sins are traced back to that idea.

The idea of being 'against nature' is true to a point, there are good modes of going 'against nature' - but they are usually universal laws that are not abstained by it. God dosn't work outside of the universal laws he places on the universe.

 

[Sam Gamgee]

No, I'm not describing different. Jamming something IN past the sphincter and into the tissue inside the anus (which is designed for ONE WAY TRAVEL) is "against nature" not just "different."

hahahahaha... oh my goodness... that's one of the funniest things I've ever read on here...

But, humor me a little more, would you? Please show me exactly where nature is against this... I'm not claiming that nature is "for" this... All I'm saying is that "nature" and "being different" are mutually exclusive.

 

[intricatic]

hahahahaha... oh my goodness... that's one of the funniest things I've ever read on here...

But, humor me a little more, would you? Please show me exactly where nature is against this... I'm not claiming that nature is "for" this... All I'm saying is that "nature" and "being different" are mutually exclusive.

You must have a very strange perception of natural design.

 

[DevotiontoBible]

"against nature" was a term understood by first century greek writers & philosophers such as Plato, Cicero, Xenophon, Aristotle and Philo as homosexuality. That is why Paul used the phrase. Paul is saying here in Rom 1 that homosexuality stems from a corrupt theology or a corrupt concept of God. The homosexual is a fool v.22 who changes God's uncorruptible glory into corrupted, sexually immoral, qualities.

 

[JunkYardDog]

hahahahaha... oh my goodness... that's one of the funniest things I've ever read on here...

But, humor me a little more, would you? Please show me exactly where nature is against this... I'm not claiming that nature is "for" this... All I'm saying is that "nature" and "being different" are mutually exclusive.

Any honest physician will tell you of the damage caused by anal sex. It is not funny.

 

[Sam Gamgee]

Any honest physician will tell you of the damage caused by anal sex. It is not funny.

Agreed.

So, are you implying that physicians determine nature?

 

[Sam Gamgee]

You must have a very strange perception of natural design.

How do you mean?

Things are different in nature, no question... but that doesn't make one thing "unnatural" and one thing "natural"

 

[JunkYardDog]

Agreed.

So, are you implying that physicians determine nature?

Science helps. It helps us to know what the nature of the object is. If the lining inside is designed to be one way and is fragile (compared to, let's say, a vagina -- which is also designed for BOTH WAY) and that the sphincter loses its normal and natural ability due to repeated misuse as an entrance for the wrong objects, then science assists what is an obvious conclusion even without science -- that it is an exit, not an entrance.

 

[AngCath]

A miracle is 'against nature'

how so?

 

[intricatic]

How do you mean?

Things are different in nature, no question... but that doesn't make one thing "unnatural" and one thing "natural"

Sure it does, there is a design for all things in this world. Most of them are rather obvious, as well.

 

[fragmentsofdreams]

Divine intervention is called "supernatural" -- super nature -- the nature of God ABOVE the nature He created below. His decision to intervene is not "against nature" but part of HIS nature.

"Against nature" is deliberately and forcibly abusing the natural order -- using something in a way that is destructive of its natural use (not just an extension of its use).

Again, what do you mean by nature? Are you refering to doing something contrary to a thing's essence or doing something that violates an ideal natural order?

 

[Stinker]

Against nature" is deliberately and forcibly abusing the natural order -- using something in a way that is destructive of its natural use (not just an extension of its use). [JunkYardDog post #4]

This is exactly what we Christians are doing everyday in regards to our carnal nature!

 

[intricatic]

Against nature" is deliberately and forcibly abusing the natural order -- using something in a way that is destructive of its natural use (not just an extension of its use). [JunkYardDog post #4]

This is exactly what we Christians are doing everyday in regards to our carnal nature!

Huh? How so? Morality is a universal law (in a manner of speaking), so depriving our carnal nature is not perverting a natural order, but merely repressing it.

 

[DevotiontoBible]

Against nature" is deliberately and forcibly abusing the natural order -- using something in a way that is destructive of its natural use (not just an extension of its use). [JunkYardDog post #4]

This is exactly what we Christians are doing everyday in regards to our carnal nature!

That is your error. Christians are to have crucified their carnal nature. Homosexuality and Christianity are mutually exclusive.

Galatians 5:24 (NLT)
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.