Here is my probably overly simplistic view of Homosexuals as a Christian. The fact that I don't agree with their lifestyle or the fact that I don't think a marriage is Holy does not mean I don't like them or even love them...it also doesn't mean I hope for the worst for them in their lives.

 

I look at it like this, if one of my family members was out drinking and had a wreck killing someone and ended up in prison. Well, I would not condone what they did or agree with what they were doing...but that doesn't mean that I would stop loving them or stop caring for them or hoping for the best for them.

 

As a Christian I most certainly can Hate the Sin, without Hating the Sinner!

 

After all, we are ALL sinners.

Here is my probably overly simplistic view of Homosexuals as a Christian. The fact that I don't agree with their lifestyle or the fact that I don't think a marriage is Holy does not mean I don't like them or even love them...it also doesn't mean I hope for the worst for them in their lives.

 

I look at it like this, if one of my family members was out drinking and had a wreck killing someone and ended up in prison. Well, I would not condone what they did or agree with what they were doing...but that doesn't mean that I would stop loving them or stop caring for them or hoping for the best for them.

 

As a Christian I most certainly can Hate the Sin, without Hating the Sinner!

 

After all, we are ALL sinners.

 

This is exactly what I have been trying to say.....well said.

Some of my gay friends you know......and even if my own daughters were "gay" I would still love them, but I would tell them just what I have said in here. I have never browbeat not one of my friends for being Gay or being divorced or for being a drunkard or a druggie. I have had them all...and I certainly have not been a Angel either. But that does not answer my question to you? Is this sin? Or is the Bible a fluke?

 

I swore off organized religion a long time ago, so I'm not going to pass myself off as the arbiter of what is or isn't sinful. And even since swearing off organized religion many years ago, I have still read the Bible since then. I believe in God and Jesus, but have many doubts about the liberties man has taken over the years with God's Word. Man has used the Bible as justification for a lot of awful things.

I do not know why it is so hard to understand why one should point out when another is violating God's word. I do know that the person violating the word does not want to hear it, as they enjoy their immorality and do not want to give it up.

 

It's very hard to take it seriously when "Christians" seize on the gay issue but say next to nothing about any other sin, comparatively. Why elevate gaydom to the top of the list and say bupkiss about divorce, when that's long been a far bigger threat to the institution of marriage? I'm sorry, but it just doesn't work for me, and reeks of hypocrisy.

It's very hard to take it seriously when "Christians" seize on the gay issue but say next to nothing about any other sin, comparatively. Why elevate gaydom to the top of the list and say bupkiss about divorce, when that's long been a far bigger threat to the institution of marriage? I'm sorry, but it just doesn't work for me, and reeks of hypocrisy.

 

I believe when the divorce rate sky rocketed 50 or so yrs ago, a lot was said. There is always an issue that stands out, at this time it is homosexuality.

As to the bolded, I honestly don't know, and don't truly care all that much.

 

You lumped being gay in with issues like ISIS....I mean seriously? Even if we say it is a problem, can we agree that it's not anywhere close to the level of the other issues you noted?

 

You are very consistent. I'll give you that every day of the week.

Going back to the original thought of this thread. Many of the problems we face today are because of lowering of values and a decline of morals over the past 50-60 yrs. An older generation has always lamented what young people are doing, whether it was the Flappers of the 1920's, the Zoot Suiters of the late 1930's to the early 40's, beatniks of the 50's or the 60's hippies. Lump them all into youthful indiscretions, but what what we face today goes beyond those indiscretions. Murder in the streets for drug related territory, acceptance of perversion, lack of commitment by couples of all ages, politicians who are willing to sell out on their moral commitment to our Constitution for a vote and power, lack of personal responsibility by a growing number to take care of theirselves or their families. It is because of a decline in society to realize there is a higher power to answer to, because it is hard work to do so.

It's very hard to take it seriously when "Christians" seize on the gay issue but say next to nothing about any other sin, comparatively. Why elevate gaydom to the top of the list and say bupkiss about divorce, when that's long been a far bigger threat to the institution of marriage? I'm sorry, but it just doesn't work for me, and reeks of hypocrisy.

 

I've often wondered about this as well, Jim. It does reek of hypocrisy. I don't know, I guess a lot of Christians are just petrified out of their wits of gays and lesbians. Plus, I think a good number of them probably have homosexual urges that they try to repress but can't and so they speak out harshly against what they don't understand about themselves. Homosexuality seems to stand out as the ultimate perversion for a lot who profess Christianity, that's for sure. It seems to rile them like nothing else.

I swore off organized religion a long time ago, so I'm not going to pass myself off as the arbiter of what is or isn't sinful. And even since swearing off organized religion many years ago, I have still read the Bible since then. I believe in God and Jesus, but have many doubts about the liberties man has taken over the years with God's Word. Man has used the Bible as justification for a lot of awful things.

 

 

You're right on there!!!

Does it appear to others, or is it just me,that maybe our problems inside and outside the country are religious based according to this thread?

 

Religion is the source of most of the world's strife and has been for a long, long time.

Does it appear to others, or is it just me,that maybe our problems inside and outside the country are religious based according to this thread?

 

 

Yes, I agree. I don't know what the Bengals/Steelers main issue is but for most of the world's adversaries it's religion-based.

Going back to the original thought of this thread. Many of the problems we face today are because of lowering of values and a decline of morals over the past 50-60 yrs. An older generation has always lamented what young people are doing, whether it was the Flappers of the 1920's, the Zoot Suiters of the late 1930's to the early 40's, beatniks of the 50's or the 60's hippies. Lump them all into youthful indiscretions, but what what we face today goes beyond those indiscretions. Murder in the streets for drug related territory, acceptance of perversion, lack of commitment by couples of all ages, politicians who are willing to sell out on their moral commitment to our Constitution for a vote and power, lack of personal responsibility by a growing number to take care of theirselves or their families. It is because of a decline in society to realize there is a higher power to answer to, because it is hard work to do so.

 

So where does homosexuality fit into the decline of society?? Is it the perversion part??

I do not know why it is so hard to understand why one should point out when another is violating God's word. I do know that the person violating the word does not want to hear it, as they enjoy their immorality and do not want to give it up.

 

A few answers for you, the last one is the most important imo.

 

1. Pointing out to people when they are violating God's word is kind of a "holier than than you" move.

 

2. Didn't Jesus say to be concerned about the beam in your own eye before addressing the speck in someone else's eye? Even Jesus knew that 1. above is pretty important. You guys litter our public arena with condemnations of others, where are all the threads where you address the beams in your own eyes?.

 

3. A person's sexual preference is part of their identity as a person. To say "hate the sin, love the sinner" does not work because the so-called sin is part of their identity. Telling someone that they are deficient, or not as good, or anything like that on the basis of how they are born is to marginalize them as a human being. I do not think that the condemnations of gays are done with good intent, but to give you the benefit of the doubt, your intent is irrelevant. You can't diminish the humanity of another person and then shrug it off because you claim good intent and then act like "hmmmmm, i don't understand it why they don't like it."

A few answers for you, the last one is the most important imo.

 

1. Pointing out to people when they are violating God's word is kind of a "holier than than you" move.

 

2. Didn't Jesus say to be concerned about the beam in your own eye before addressing the speck in someone else's eye? Even Jesus knew that 1. above is pretty important. You guys litter our public arena with condemnations of others, where are all the threads where you address the beams in your own eyes?.

 

3. A person's sexual preference is part of their identity as a person. To say "hate the sin, love the sinner" does not work because the so-called sin is part of their identity. Telling someone that they are deficient, or not as good, or anything like that on the basis of how they are born is to marginalize them as a human being. I do not think that the condemnations of gays are done with good intent, but to give you the benefit of the doubt, your intent is irrelevant. You can't diminish the humanity of another person and then shrug it off because you claim good intent and then act like "hmmmmm, i don't understand it why they don't like it."

 

Correct. It's who they are and how they came into this world. For those that believe in God, it's how God made 'em.

A few answers for you, the last one is the most important imo.

 

1. Pointing out to people when they are violating God's word is kind of a "holier than than you" move.

 

2. Didn't Jesus say to be concerned about the beam in your own eye before addressing the speck in someone else's eye? Even Jesus knew that 1. above is pretty important. You guys litter our public arena with condemnations of others, where are all the threads where you address the beams in your own eyes?.

 

3. A person's sexual preference is part of their identity as a person. To say "hate the sin, love the sinner" does not work because the so-called sin is part of their identity. Telling someone that they are deficient, or not as good, or anything like that on the basis of how they are born is to marginalize them as a human being. I do not think that the condemnations of gays are done with good intent, but to give you the benefit of the doubt, your intent is irrelevant. You can't diminish the humanity of another person and then shrug it off because you claim good intent and then act like "hmmmmm, i don't understand it why they don't like it."

 

Mayfield, that's much better than my response which was...

 

Mind your own biscuits and life will be gravy. :lol: