If we are made in the image of God, where does homosexuality fit?

[Nadiine]

In regards to that pedofile question

Its not that they are sexually attracted to children, thats just a symptom of their sickness.

Where as Gay people arent just sexuall y attracted to the same sex, they have that capability to love them deeply in a partner way.

I'm a little confused as to why you claim 1 is "sickness" yet
the other perversion isn't??

And I also take issue with the capability to "love" you mention here.
Biblically, what is against God's moral law is not "LOVE" of another,
it's the abuse of another.

In fact one of the definitions in 1 Cor 6:9 for the homosexual is
"abuser of mankind".
So I question that gay lovers are "loving" one another - I believe
they are literally abusing one another's bodies thru sin.

Fornication is also misuse and using another for personal gratification
when we are not committing maritally with that person.
It's a defilement of one another for selfish pleasures outside God's
boundaries.

So even this ideal of "love" that we claim they have is warped -
it's not a true love when it violates God's standard of morality.

The moral law of God IS fulfilling the Law of loving neighbor as self.
When we violate the moral law, we are not LOVING another, we're
doing wrong against them (and ourselves).
This includes ALL sexual sin - straight or gay.

 

[Nadiine]

This reminds me of the scripture in the Book of Acts"We must obey God as ruler than that man" Whose thoughts should we be interested in,Mens or Gods?

Due to worldly propaganda even some among God’s people have been influenced so as to view homosexuality and similar sexual perversions as ‘not so bad. Such views are so pervasive that Newsweek magazine reports: “Spurred by media images and a new climate of acceptance, teenagers are experimenting more openly with gay and bi-sexuality.” Whereas in times past teenagers overwhelmingly disapproved of same-sex liaisons, it is no exaggeration to say that growing numbers of youths now view it as “fashionable.

Many would perhaps respond to this by saying that the Bible’s viewpoint is simply archaic, outmoded. But when you think about it, who knows our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual makeup better than our Creator? God made man and woman, and he put within them the great attraction they have for each other. (Genesis 1:27, 28) He did not make them to have a sexual attraction for someone of the same sex. Furthermore, God has determined that sexual relations between a man and a woman should take place only within the marriage arrangement.—Hebrews 13:4.

It really doesnt help when certain men of God claim that Homosexuality is ok, and I even heard the other day a priest saying that Homosexuality was a Gift from God" Are these men reading their bible? It seems to me that they like to tickle peoples ears with what people want to hear. They should not be speaking for God.

This is a good post. This is prophetical tho, many are apostacizing
from the faith & 'giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of
demons" and "not enduring sound doctrine" anymore.

Also that false teachers/prophets abound and decieve while being
decieved.
Interesting times we live in. And according to scripture, it's going
to get alot worse.

I take God's word to heart about losing our salt:
Matthew 5:13
[ Disciples and the World ] "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again?
It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.
Matthew 5:12-14 (in Context) Matthew 5

The times are here when standing for God is now bad and we
ARE suffering consequences in our culture today if we don't
go along with the world's ways.
But notice the parable of the soils - look at one of the reasons
people fall away:
Matt. 13
20The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.
21But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.

It hasn't been popular to follow God for a good decade now and we'll
continue to see more fall away. They care more about pleasing man
and being loved by the world.

18"Listen then to what the parable of the sower means:
19When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path.
20The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.
21But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.
22The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.
23But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."

 

[YHP]

no it is an accurate if uncomfortable question. The fact you do not like it and are unwilling to answer it says as much
If one is going to say that it is OK for one minority to should not fall in love, marry and raise families then it should be just as applicable to any other minority.

If you are going to try to claim it is unnatural then you are left to explain why it is found in nature and why it is natural for gays and lesbians to be gays and lesbians

We have yet to see a reason why something inborn is wrong
That is incredible. Can you provide actual evidence to back this up?
Please list these conclusive studies
Can you provide actual evidence to substantiate this claim?
So gays and lesbians are comparable to murderers and rapists?

I have very little time to post, but I will address all your questions and post you links to studies, when I get home from work, after 8:00 p.m.,

 

[OllieFranz]

I dont think race and eyes and freckles can be compared to homosexuality, because in certain groups, it is deemed controversial and sickening.

In some countries homosexuality is punishable by death. I will not be put to death because of the colour of my eyes.

People put these views and consequences in place because they fear it and do not understand it

But people have been put to death because of the color of their skin or the color of their eyes. (In some cultures blue eyes -- "the evil eye" -- was considered the mark of the devil.) And less than fifty years ago, left-handed children were marked for the equivalent of "reparative therapy" and their lives made miserable to no concrete effect.

Just because our culture has grown beyond that pettiness does not mean that the comparison is invalid. Hopefully our culture will eventually grow beyond this pettiness as well.

 

[LightHorseman]

In fact one of the definitions in 1 Cor 6:9 for the homosexual is
"abuser of mankind".
So I question that gay lovers are "loving" one another - I believe
they are literally abusing one another's bodies thru sin.

"Abusers of mankind" refers to homosexuals because homosexuals are bad because they are abusers, which we know, because the Bible calls them "abusers of mankind".

With self supporting logic like that, I'm amazed Nadiine hasn't made a mint patenting anti-gravity!

 

[daydreamergurl15]

Romans 1:18-32
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

It is sin in God's eyes. Regardless if you don't agree with it, that is His command to us. But thank God for the Son of Man to die on the cross for us so that we may have salvation and for our lives to be a living sacrifice.

 

[LightHorseman]

It is sin in God's eyes. Regardless if you don't agree with it, that is His command to us. But thank God for the Son of Man to die on the cross for us so that we may have salvation and for our lives to be a living sacrifice.

Why would this be the only command from God to us that doesn't make any sense?

 

[daydreamergurl15]

But people have been put to death because of the color of their skin or the color of their eyes. (In some cultures blue eyes -- "the evil eye" -- was considered the mark of the devil.) And less than fifty years ago, left-handed children were marked for the equivalent of "reparative therapy" and their lives made miserable to no concrete effect.

Just because our culture has grown beyond that pettiness does not mean that the comparison is invalid. Hopefully our culture will eventually grow beyond this pettiness as well.

Culture is not a dictation of God's commandments and if culture outgrown what you call "this pettiness" it still does not dictate what God have asked of us. And on judgment day it is still God's law that we will be held accountable for regardless of what culture says.

Simply because people misuse scripture doesn't mean that the scripture is invalid. There was a time when people thought that deaf individuals were "the devil" yet we have scriptural references in Luke 1:61-63 where they made signs to Zacharias because the angel made him mute
"But they said to her, 'There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.' So they made signs to his father--what he would have him called. And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, "His name is John." So they all marveled."

We also have reference to not hurting the deaf in the Old Law:
Lev 19:14
You shall not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling block before the blind, but shall fear your God: I am the LORD.

Have you ever read the Song of Solomon? I always wondered if it speaks of an interracial relationship, if the race of a person matters. I am going to assume that King Solomon had light or tan skin but we are told that the Shulamite (his beloved) was dark but lovely...
"I am dark, but lovely,
O daughters of Jerusalem,
like the tents of Kedar,
like the curtains of Solomon."
Song of Solomon 1:5
Whatever that "dark" may refer to, it is still called lovely. I guess since the women was from Galilee she would actually be the same ethnicity as King Solomon. This is more to do with skin, but it calls the dark skin, lovely.

But an actual interracial marriage is seen in the story of Ruth, when Boaz (a Jew) married Ruth (a Moab) and through that line we get the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ.

And as for "left-handed" people,
Judges 3:15
"But when the children of Israel cried out to the LORD, the LORD raise up a deliverer for them: Ehud the son of Gera, the Benjamite, a left-handed man. By him the children of Israel sent tribute to Eglon King of Moab." (You should read his story, it is facinating, the Lord delivered the Israelites from Moab through Ehud).

Judges 20:16-17
"Among all this people were seven hundred select men who were left-handed; every one could sling a stone at a hair’s breadth and not miss."
You should read that chapter, it's fascinating, though the Israelites are having a civil war.

We just have to be careful in thinking that culture dictate God's commandments. But we also have to remember, the reason why we keep God's commandments is because the love we have for Him.

 

[daydreamergurl15]

Why would this be the only command from God to us that doesn't make any sense?

Remember commandments tells us what is righteous or unrighteous to God.
So, in God's eyes, why does this commandment not make sense?

 

[tz620q]

It really doesnt help when certain men of God claim that Homosexuality is ok, and I even heard the other day a priest saying that Homosexuality was a Gift from God" Are these men reading their bible? It seems to me that they like to tickle peoples ears with what people want to hear. They should not be speaking for God.

If this was a Catholic priest, there may be a nuance in what he said. I have heard Catholic priest's call homosexuality a cross that people should bear. They mean same-sex attraction, not homosexual sex. They are trying to show that same-sex attraction is a moral choice that does not need to be acted upon.

 

[Nadiine]

"Abusers of mankind" refers to homosexuals because homosexuals are bad because they are abusers, which we know, because the Bible calls them "abusers of mankind".

With self supporting logic like that, I'm amazed Nadiine hasn't made a mint patenting anti-gravity!

GOD defines what pure/true love is, not you, not me, not any
human being.

God is the Moral lawgiver and knows why He sets moral law.

How many times have you thought you "loved" someone, only
to find out later on, it wasn't love at all, it was an infatuation
or even lust/obsession.
Or they weren't who you thought they were, etc.

I've had it happen to me too many times to count. What I
thought was love really wasn't.

If living in moral sin is what we consider "love", then we're
telling God that He's mistaken and wrong to have condemned
it at anytime in history.
Sexual sins are unique in that they defile both parties involved.

 

[Nadiine]

If this was a Catholic priest, there may be a nuance in what he said. I have heard Catholic priest's call homosexuality a cross that people should bear. They mean same-sex attraction, not homosexual sex. They are trying to show that same-sex attraction is a moral choice that does not need to be acted upon.

I would agree with that (if I'm understanding it correctly)
- and if that's what they do mean, I really think they should be
more clear in those details.

Otherwise, it sends a horrible, contradictive message

 

[LightHorseman]

Remember commandments tells us what is righteous or unrighteous to God.
So, in God's eyes, why does this commandment not make sense?

All other commandments we are supposed to live by today, or rather, moral imperatives, if you will, make sense.

Can you explain why murder is bad with out reference to the Bible? Of course. Rape? Sure thing. Stealing? Yep, no problems there, completely understand why stealing is wrong without falling back on "Bible says!" arguments.

I contend homosexuality is the ONLY alleged moral imperative that does not fit this paradigm.

Why?

 

[LightHorseman]

GOD defines what pure/true love is, not you, not me, not any
human being.

God is the Moral lawgiver and knows why He sets moral law.

How many times have you thought you "loved" someone, only
to find out later on, it wasn't love at all, it was an infatuation
or even lust/obsession.
Or they weren't who you thought they were, etc.

I've had it happen to me too many times to count. What I
thought was love really wasn't.

If living in moral sin is what we consider "love", then we're
telling God that He's mistaken and wrong to have condemned
it at anytime in history.
Sexual sins are unique in that they defile both parties involved.

Once again Nadiine, with respect, I suspect that you are projecting your personal experiences onto others, and judging by your own standards.

 

[JediMobius]

All other commandments we are supposed to live by today, or rather, moral imperatives, if you will, make sense.

Can you explain why murder is bad with out reference to the Bible? Of course. Rape? Sure thing. Stealing? Yep, no problems there, completely understand why stealing is wrong without falling back on "Bible says!" arguments.

I contend homosexuality is the ONLY alleged moral imperative that does not fit this paradigm.

Why?

Why, because homosexual sex is a 'victimless crime' kind of sin? What about sex with multiple consenting partners, none of whom are married or even intend to be married in their life time? What about stealing coins from a wishing fountain? What about euthanasia? Until today, I didn't even know that euthanasia has been legalized in many countries under the pretext of a victimless crime. True. Abortion is legalized under the same train of thought. Some people can't help but see that abortion has victims, and yet many people don't see a growing human being as a victim, as needing to be protected.

What I'm saying here is that to many many people, abortion, prostitution, and euthanasia don't make sense as transgressions of the moral code. Yet, we as Christians should have a pretty firm grasp on what makes these things morally wrong. If God tells us it's wrong, there's no excuse to ignore that because it doesn't make sense to us why it's wrong.

 

[daydreamergurl15]

All other commandments we are supposed to live by today, or rather, moral imperatives, if you will, make sense.

Can you explain why murder is bad with out reference to the Bible? Of course. Rape? Sure thing. Stealing? Yep, no problems there, completely understand why stealing is wrong without falling back on "Bible says!" arguments.

I contend homosexuality is the ONLY alleged moral imperative that does not fit this paradigm.

Why?

You can explain why murder is wrong without using the bible, but that explanation does not make it sinful, it is the fact that God gave us a command and if we disobey that command, it is then sinful. Man can say or do whatever, but we are under God's law and it is that law that we will be judged by.

And you are searching for a paradigm that fits your understanding of why things are sinful. That does not necessarily mean God is measuring sin that way. He created male and female to be one with each other, and He tells us if we go outside of that, it is sinful to Him. Sin is a disobedience to God's law, or "falling short of the glory of God", if He says something is sinful then we have to understand that from His point of view.

 

[Nadiine]

You can explain why murder is wrong without using the bible, but that explanation does not make it sinful, it is the fact that God gave us a command and if we disobey that command, it is then sinful. Man can say or do whatever, but we are under God's law and it is that law that we will be judged by.

And you are searching for a paradigm that fits your understanding of why things are sinful. That does not necessarily mean God is measuring sin that way. He created male and female to be one with each other, and He tells us if we go outside of that, it is sinful to Him. Sin is a disobedience to God's law, or "falling short of the glory of God", if He says something is sinful then we have to understand that from His point of view.

To use man's understanding to create morality is the very reason
God had to make a moral law.
Man justifies all kinds of evils.
Terrorists who blow up innocent people claim they're fighting for
God and removing evil from the world.
What does our opinion matter to them when we call it wrong?

There is an ultimate authority - GOD. Different people can decide
a moral act is good or bad...
This boils down to relativism and we already know that it's a
failed, circular system where there can be NO moral absolutes
of any kind.

(nevermind that punishment is also disagreed on; we have liberal
judges giving passes to convicted pedophiles as they're allowed to
go free into the public).
Define harm.

God alone sets the moral standards; we either comply and obey
or we tell God He's in error and needs us to tell Him right and wrong.

 

[Nadiine]

Why, because homosexual sex is a 'victimless crime' kind of sin? What about sex with multiple consenting partners, none of whom are married or even intend to be married in their life time? What about stealing coins from a wishing fountain? What about euthanasia? Until today, I didn't even know that euthanasia has been legalized in many countries under the pretext of a victimless crime. True. Abortion is legalized under the same train of thought. Some people can't help but see that abortion has victims, and yet many people don't see a growing human being as a victim, as needing to be protected.

What I'm saying here is that to many many people, abortion, prostitution, and euthanasia don't make sense as transgressions of the moral code. Yet, we as Christians should have a pretty firm grasp on what makes these things morally wrong. If God tells us it's wrong, there's no excuse to ignore that because it doesn't make sense to us why it's wrong.

hey, they claim fornication is "victimless" too - even tho they know
full well how many casualties it leaves in its path.

Emotional, physical & spiritual consequences are everywhere -
unfortunately, alot of people don't see the harm & damage until
years later when it's changed them so drastically or they end
up in the hospital w/ physical problems including pregnancy
& STD's which they say are at epidemic levels.

But it's harmless.

 

[LightHorseman]

Why, because homosexual sex is a 'victimless crime' kind of sin? What about sex with multiple consenting partners, none of whom are married or even intend to be married in their life time? What about stealing coins from a wishing fountain? What about euthanasia? Until today, I didn't even know that euthanasia has been legalized in many countries under the pretext of a victimless crime. True. Abortion is legalized under the same train of thought. Some people can't help but see that abortion has victims, and yet many people don't see a growing human being as a victim, as needing to be protected.

What I'm saying here is that to many many people, abortion, prostitution, and euthanasia don't make sense as transgressions of the moral code. Yet, we as Christians should have a pretty firm grasp on what makes these things morally wrong. If God tells us it's wrong, there's no excuse to ignore that because it doesn't make sense to us why it's wrong.

Its not a matter of homosexuality being a "victimless crime", its a matter of it not being a crime at all because there is no logical reason to consider it thus.

 

[LightHorseman]

You can explain why murder is wrong without using the bible, but that explanation does not make it sinful, it is the fact that God gave us a command and if we disobey that command, it is then sinful. Man can say or do whatever, but we are under God's law and it is that law that we will be judged by.

And you are searching for a paradigm that fits your understanding of why things are sinful. That does not necessarily mean God is measuring sin that way. He created male and female to be one with each other, and He tells us if we go outside of that, it is sinful to Him. Sin is a disobedience to God's law, or "falling short of the glory of God", if He says something is sinful then we have to understand that from His point of view.

So you sin as something seperate to logically determined morality?