It is disturbing to hear some Christian leaders today claim that they have no choice but to regard homosexuality as a sin. They do have a choice and should be held accountable for the ones they are making.This one's been up on the CNN religion blog for awhile ... a month, anyway ... but I just saw it today because Kendall Harmon linked it up from Titusonenine. (Thanks, Kendall.) ANYWAY ... I thought it was a great, concise summary of what the Bible actually says -- and doesn't say -- about sexuality. And it was written by a Baptist. Woman. Bibical Scholar.
Check it out:
The Bible's surprisingly mixed message on sexuality
by Jennifer Wright Knust
We often hears that Christians have no choice but to regard homosexuality as a sin - that Scripture simply demands it. As a Bible scholar and pastor myself, I say that Scripture does no such thing.
"I love gay people, but the Bible forces me to condemn them" is a poor excuse that attempts to avoid accountability by wrapping a very particular and narrow interpretation of a few biblical passages in a cloak of divinely inspired respectability.
Truth is, Scripture can be interpreted in any number of ways. And biblical writers held a much more complicated view of human sexuality than contemporary debates have acknowledged.
Read the rest here.
11 comments:
Read it. Homosexuality isn't the sin, acting on it sexually is the sin.
Oh, what a surprise. First post from MartinT telling the homos how awful they are to dare to love one another.
You said that,IT, not me. It's no greater than any other sin. The greatest sin is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, flat out rejecting the only means of pardon,Jesus Christ. All I was saying was that I read the article and it doesn't convince me. God IS inclusive! Just follow His will for us.
Did you read Robert Gagnon's response?
Of course.
Dear Martin just to clarify; blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is more closely related to a belief that the power to heal by the Holy Spirit is actually the power of the devil.
It is a strong hatred of the healer/healed one which is so great, that the hateful person would rather see the whole thing as a work of demons..then to actually believe that the healer/healed are both blessed by God.
It doesn't have to do with the source of pardon, but rather the source of power
As for your statement about homosexuality be no greater sin than any other sin...why then do you so fixate upon this one sin? Not being snotty, bro..just sayin'
and Dear IT; be strong and sure in you joy. In one of the prayers in the prayer book, there is the prayer that God would 'shield the joyous'. that is my prayer for you.
the Lord be with you all
danielj
Daniel, the source of ALL wisdom, pardon, and healing come from one source. To say that there is another way besides through the blood of our Savior is indeed blasphemy. And I'm not fixated on anything. I just believe that if you are a person that claims to be a minister,pastor,priest or whatever have you, and you are living in public sin (any sin, including saying that Christ isn't the only way to salvation), your authority is nothing. Have you ever heard any of the sermons on the All Saints page,Daniel? No one is more obsessed with LGBT issues than those priests. They can't write a sermon without somehow sneaking something in about it. So who's really obsessed here? And Daniel, I'm not your "bro" so don't refer to me as such.
oh Martin!...so you are not my brother in the Lord?(which is what 'bro' means among Christians) Well, as you wish. What I wish, is that you were not so utterly unteachable...but in this also 'as you wish'. There will be nothing more from me to you...except
the Lord be with you
danielj
"Utterly unteachable" in regards to what,Daniel? And also, don't be so dramatic, I didn't mean it that way. Just call me Martin like you want me to refer to you as Daniel!
I disagree with JW Knust.
God can't give a mixed message. He is only Righteous and True.
No Christian 'condemns' gay people like she says. God alone judges & condemns. He is the utmost High Holy God, that abhors sin, and He will come in Judgment at his 2nd coming. We are in the Last Days.
As a Bible believing Episcopalian, I can tell you that the Bible does not 'force me to condemn them.'
A casual reading of the bible, a moderate reading of the bible, and an in depth reading of the bible... all point to God's perfect plan & design for his Creation. Distinctly, Male & Female, complementary, he made them, each for their own purpose that brings glory to God .
She says... "...truth is, Scripture can be interpreted in any number of ways..."
True enough. Yet, there can only be one true interpretation.
What's important, is FAITH. Those that have faith, are Obedient, and super careful not to grieve God's Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit in us is jealous if we become adulterous.
Fornication [see God's definition] is adulterous to our God.
As for blasphemy, [the only unforgiveable sin.].. it means rejection of Jesus' Holy Spirit.
Please allow me a moment of sarcasm.
According to Scripture, Christians will become the bride of Christ. That means that each of us in Christ's Harem will be dedicated to one and only one man.
This is fine for most women, I suppose.
The men, not so much.
Christian men will be the sex partners with their real love, Jesus Christ, for all eternity. I suppose it is well said that there are many pleasures at the right hand of God. Anyway, Jesus will be every guy's guy and will deeply and completely sexually satisfy each Christian who has made it into the Kingdom of God! Eternity will mean a lot of time for a lot of one on one marital conjugal trysts.
Christian men should have no other lover than Jesus Christ.
I don't know. I'm guessing that guys, especially married Christian guys in a committed relationship with their women might have some sort of problem with this, but, after all, it's in the Bible. Deal with it.
End sarcasm.
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