I'm not gay, but it's really starting to get on my last nerve how some "Christians" practically condemn someone who is.
My main question is this: I read up on how Catholics believe in the difference between "Mortal" and "Venial" sin. What are your thoughts on this? Are there truly different "levels" of sin? If so, can you please provide scriptural evidence that would support such a concept?
My second question is this: Why in heavens name do so many "Christians" feel they have the right to judge someone who is gay? Is it just me, or does this not make a bit of sense? The thing is, it's not so much that they look at them as another sinner, I KNOW for a fact that a few of them feel as if they are "less" of a sinner than an individual which is gay.
The hypocrisy is so thick around these parts it almost makes me want to just give up on people and go into hiding for 20 some-odd years - come out in hopes that it'd be just me and the roaches.
Anyway.........your thoughts?
There are some indications in the bible that there are kind of different levels of sin.
For instance the unforgivable sin against the Holy Spirit would I think rightly be called the worst sin.
And we also see the bible talk about sins leading to death and sins not leading to death. As well as several places were certain sins are listed and used as examples of sins that people who aren't going to go to heaven would do.
That said, it's not like there is really a complete list nor should it be well it's not that bad of a sin so go ahead.
Homosexual sex is specifically mentioned in both the Old and New Testaments as sinful. But then so are other sexual sins.
There is little basis to just single out homosexuals and say they are so bad compared to others. Especially since the bible never says being a homosexual is a sin, it talks about homosexual sex being a sin. I think really if we wanted to focus on the greatest mortal sin in America it would be the idolatry of greed.
For some reason not a lot of preachers want to get up and hammer on greed and how the love of money is so evil week after week. I don't know why, must screw up the donations or something.
I would point out too that it is only possible to be a hypocrite if you claim to have a standard and don't live up to it. So people that say do whatever you want really aren't spoken of that way. But the fact that someone might be a hypocrite does not mean that those that they speak about are right either. Calling someone a hypocrite is usually just an ad hominem attack.
Anyway you asked for scripture on levels of sin.
Mar 3:29 NET.
(29) But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, but is guilty of an eternal sin"
1Jo 5:16-17 NET.
(16) If anyone sees his fellow Christian committing a sin not resulting in death, he should ask, and God will grant life to the person who commits a sin not resulting in death. There is a sin resulting in death. I do not say that he should ask about that.
(17) All unrighteousness is sin, but there is sin not resulting in death.
Gal 5:19-21 NET.
(19) Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, depravity,
(20) idolatry, sorcery, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish rivalries, dissensions, factions,
(21) envying, murder, drunkenness, carousing, and similar things. I am warning you, as I had warned you before: Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God!
1Co 6:9-10 NET.
(9) Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! The sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, passive homosexual partners, practicing homosexuals,
(10) thieves, the greedy, drunkards, the verbally abusive, and swindlers will not inherit the kingdom of God.
1Co 6:18 NET.
(18) Flee sexual immorality! "Every sin a person commits is outside of the body" but the immoral person sins against his own body.
Rev 21:8 NET.
(8) But to the cowards, unbelievers, detestable persons, murderers, the sexually immoral, and those who practice magic spells, idol worshipers, and all those who lie, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. That is the second death."
As you can see there really isn't much indication that would set off homosexual sex as so different. People kind of get that from the Old Testament. Lev 18:22 NET.
(22) You must not have sexual intercourse with a male as one has sexual intercourse with a woman; it is a detestable act.
Lev 20:13 NET.
(13) If a man has sexual intercourse with a male as one has sexual intercourse with a woman, the two of them have committed an abomination. They must be put to death; their blood guilt is on themselves.
In the end though I think there is little justification for singling out the homosexuals. I sometimes wonder if it is simply and area that some feel quite safe themselves because they have no desires that way and so they can hammer on it without having to feel guilt themselves.
In general though the gist of the message is that we should first and most intently examine ourselves.
Marv
