- Oct 2, 2011
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According to my current reading of the Bible using First-Order Logic, yes, homosexual acts are sinful. As usual, I could be wrong. FOL isn't the be-all and end-all. I am not a prophet of the Lord.
Leviticus 18:
1 Timothy 1:
For each of the above passages, list the pros and cons factors. Be exhaustive and objective in listing the factors. Then, for each factor, assign a weight between 0 and 10. I would put a higher weight on Bible verses and a lower weight on extra-biblical writings. Try not to let your preconceived notions influence your weighting strategy. Do this for all the pros and cons of all the passages. Sum up the weights for the pros. Sum up the weights for the cons. Decide for yourself probabilistically.
I use Occam's razor hermeneutically when I interpret Bible verses. Some ad-hoc nuance can explain away each of the above passages as referring to a man having sex with a temple prostitute, or a man having sex with a boy, or men having sex with angelic beings, etc. However, there is a simple unifying explanation: it is talking about a man having sex with another man, consented or not. This simple explanation satisfies all seven passages nicely. To me, this simple unifying factor is worthy of a heavyweight.
In any case, a Christian needs to sympathize and empathize with gay people with the love of Christ.
Can a person call himself a Christian if he doesn't believe homosexuality is wrong?
Sure, some denominations don't believe that homosexuality is a sin. I have no authority to decide who is a Christian or not. If a person calls himself a Christian, I'll treat him as a fellow brother.
Will such a person inherit the new earth?
Some will, and some will not, like anyone who calls himself a Christian. God is the final judge, not I.
Are people born homosexuals?
Some are. Everyone is born with a tendency to sin one way or another. E.g., some men are born with the inclination to watch porn. Some like to get drunk. Some take drugs. Some can't control their eating habit. Some like to pray to Mary. Etc.
See also:
Leviticus 18:
Leviticus 20:
Romans 1:
1 Corinthians 6:
NIV Footnotes: [a] The words men who have sex with men translate two Greek words that refer to the passive and active participants in homosexual acts.
1 Timothy 1:
Jude 1:
1 Corinthians 7:
Are homosexual acts sinful?
For each of the above passages, list the pros and cons factors. Be exhaustive and objective in listing the factors. Then, for each factor, assign a weight between 0 and 10. I would put a higher weight on Bible verses and a lower weight on extra-biblical writings. Try not to let your preconceived notions influence your weighting strategy. Do this for all the pros and cons of all the passages. Sum up the weights for the pros. Sum up the weights for the cons. Decide for yourself probabilistically.
I use Occam's razor hermeneutically when I interpret Bible verses. Some ad-hoc nuance can explain away each of the above passages as referring to a man having sex with a temple prostitute, or a man having sex with a boy, or men having sex with angelic beings, etc. However, there is a simple unifying explanation: it is talking about a man having sex with another man, consented or not. This simple explanation satisfies all seven passages nicely. To me, this simple unifying factor is worthy of a heavyweight.
In any case, a Christian needs to sympathize and empathize with gay people with the love of Christ.
Can a person call himself a Christian if he doesn't believe homosexuality is wrong?
Sure, some denominations don't believe that homosexuality is a sin. I have no authority to decide who is a Christian or not. If a person calls himself a Christian, I'll treat him as a fellow brother.
Will such a person inherit the new earth?
Some will, and some will not, like anyone who calls himself a Christian. God is the final judge, not I.
Are people born homosexuals?
Some are. Everyone is born with a tendency to sin one way or another. E.g., some men are born with the inclination to watch porn. Some like to get drunk. Some take drugs. Some can't control their eating habit. Some like to pray to Mary. Etc.
See also: