[net.religion] Gay Christians???

stassen@spp2.UUCP (01/22/85)

> I do not understand the purpose of the article by "whatshisname" on proving
> that I Cor. and a couple other passages were not against homosexuality.

	He simply showed that a verse which modern-day Christians use
to "show" that God denounces homosexuality had nothing to do with such
when it was originally written.
	Some verses in the Bible show the biases of the translators, not
the word of God.

> Look if you want to be gay, fine.  But don't try to put God's stamp
> of approval on it.  There are many other verses in the Bible clearly
> denouncing homosexuality.

	Please "enlighten" me and show me *just one* from the New
Testament.  You *assume* that such verses exist; you *assume* that their
original meaning is still intact.  You use these *assumptions* to put
"God's stamp of disapproval" on homosexuals.

> I do not understand, why would someone want to be a Christian and
> a homosexual.  That is the same as saying, Hi, I am a Christian rapist,
> or Christian murderer, or a Christian adulterer.  You can't follow Jesus
> and still remain in sin.

	Jesus didn't say who could believe in him and who couldn't.  Who
are you that you can?  Besides, you still have to prove that homosexuality
is a sin.  Immediately afterwards, you'll have to show me a Christian who
does not sin.

> "This is the message we have heard from Him and proclaim to you, that God
>  is light and in Him is no darkness at all.  If we say we have fellowship
>  with Him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not live according
>  to the truth."  
> 
>  I John 1:5-6

	This is completely irrelevant; it still relies on your assumption
that homosexuality is a sin.

> It is not right to treat a gay person as a non-human being.  A Christian
> is required to deal with all people in love whether we agree with what
> they do or not.  I accept people but not necessarily their lifestyle.

	Perhaps the most important thing in the Bible is Jesus' insistence
that we do not judge others.  We are to decide what is right *for us*, and
what is wrong *for us*, and live accordingly.  Nowhere does Christ sanction
our "right" to decide on values for others.
	You have presented an argument based on the "fact" that homosexuality
is a sin.  I challenge that.  YOU have used this argument to put "God's
stamp of disapproval" on others -- I am sure that Jesus would not approve.

	Perhaps the second most important thing in the Bible is the
discussion of rules by which we are to live.  For the most part, these rules
break down to: You shall do nothing to cause harm or bring pain to your
fellow man.
	Does your intolerant/judgemental attitude follow those guidelines?
Does a homosexual break those guidelines somehow?  To whom does he bring
pain?

	I am neither a christian nor a homosexual, so perhaps I don't belong
in this argument.  However, I can't sit still at (or believe) the hypocrisy
I see here.  Nor can I quietly agree with those who would so pervert Jesus'
teachings of tolerance and brotherhood into a crutch to suppport their
intolerance.

> karen alias larryg

-------------------------------
"... 2000 years after a man had been
nailed to a tree for saying how great			-- Chris
it would be if we would all be nice	     (my opinions, not my employer's)
to each other for a change."  - D. Adams      ihnp4!trwrb!trwspp!spp2!stassen