Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff considers homosexuality to be immoral

I can only hope that lack of sleep is clouding your judgment.

What an ignorant post.

 

Why are people vilified for thinking homosexual acts are wrong?

Here's a little test you can try at home-
How many of these 'righteous' objectors enjoy watching two men have sex?
If you would allow your freedom of thought to imagine the act for about 120 seconds, and then join the mental picture and participate in yourself at some point your own conscience would give you a nudge towards either 'this is right' or 'this is wrong'

I think there is alot of reaction to this idea that homosexual sex acts are wrong for several reasons-

1. We are constantly culturally conditioned that it is not wrong because it is often consentual and only involves adults.
2. There is a media and educational bias that due to #1 above it is biological and normal and increasingly popular.
3. Homosexuals are just as nice people as you will find anywhere.
4. When any one sin is singled out it becomes an abuse. Homosexual sex acts are listed as sins in the bible, but no sin is to be exalted above another sin. Sin is all the same. The sin of falsely judging another or lusting after a woman in your heart, or lying, or hating (for example prejudice or racism), or hypocrisy, or stealing, or gossip, or dishonoring parents- all sins are equally wrong and it is incorrect to single out any one sin. When homosexuality is singled out and a crusade is launched then it is abusive. Everyone sins. That is in the bible.
5. There is a reaction from people who see the hypocrisy of attacking gays while ignoring liars, hypocrites and adulterers. Hypocrisy will always draw a strong reaction. Thus to harp on any one sin is not a good idea.
6. No one who sins should be attacked. Did Jesus attack sinners? Or did he reach out with compassion and love. The bible doesn't say that Jesus was giving his 'OK' to sin, he was sent to save the sinner from sin.
7. Jesus never bashed anyone except hypocrites. If there is one sin to bash it is hypocrisy. Homosexuals are not necessarily hypocrites.

I only posted my opinion because first, this is D&D and second because often times Christians don't have opinions when it comes to the bible. Morals today are in the eye of the beholder. Just because we all fall short doesn't mean that God doesn't know how to judge our hearts.

I will be the first to say I fall more short than any of you on this board, seriously. When I think of what I do understand in the bible and how much I read the words of Jesus I really can't take alot of time judging anyone else, I violate more bible truths every day than I can handle... I really cling to the grace of God that is in Jesus Christ. In other words, it is Jesus mercy to me that humbles my heart and keeps me submitting myself to His words in the bible.

I do not hate homosexuals, I sincerely feel the same compassion for them that I see in Christ towards me. I feel the same towards murderers and thieves and gossips.

There are several former homosexuals in our church. They no longer practice homosexual acts, they are free from the sexual addiction. One is on my church staff and is now married. There are all kind of sinners in our church. Including me.

I just find it odd that it is so wrong for a pastor or Christian to say that homosexual acts are wrong. It is nothing to fight about. I don't bash gays or mug them or spew curses at them. I witness the gospel of Christ's love to them just like I do anyone else. I do not treat them any different than I have been treated.

Is it wrong for two men to do ***** and **** together?

Here is just one scripture in several translations- If someone wants to get a big long sermon (nobody needs that) just email me.

1 Corinthians 6:9 in several bible translations-

Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders (NIV)

9 Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, (NLT)

9Do ye not know that unrighteous [persons] shall not inherit [the] kingdom of God? Do not err: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor those who make women of themselves, nor who abuse themselves with men, (Darby)

9Do you not know that the unrighteous and the wrongdoers will not inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived (misled): neither the impure and immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor those who participate in homosexuality,(Amplified)

9Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, (KJV)


That's only one scripture in the bible. There are many more. It is nothing I care to debate.

As far as what the bible says? I think the bible is simple. If a child cannot understand the main message, the message isn't the bible. I just read it with what I call a child-like faith and I read it to know the God who inspired it. I believe the bible is God's message to me and to you. That is my belief and I don't go around beating people over the head with bible verses. I believe the bible is God's word, it is truth and it is understandable with the help of the Holy Spirit.

I have a conviction that what I read in the bible is to be applied to my life and not used to condemn others. If I am going to live holy, that is for me, not you. So I can love others and not try and 'hold' them to a belief I have taken for myself.

Yes I preach and share the message, but what you do with it is up to you. I find no satisfaction in arguing over the bible. I don't want to legislate it or make anyone obey my interpretation of it. I will live it by God's grace and I will keep telling it's story to anyone who will listen.

When asked my opinion I will honesty give it. That is what I did here.

I certainly could be wrong, but I am being honest.

 

Just a side note- one of my own children is about to be engaged to a former homosexual (probably bi-sexual). I knew this person when they were involved in homosexuality (years). I will be performing their marriage ceremony end of this year (I think).

With their permission I could ask for a paragraph that would describe how I treated them as a homosexual, and how our church treated them; and why they no longer are involved in homosexual sex activity.

They wouldn't want names given but they would share the story to present a real life view of how some Christians treat homosexuals.

If anyone is interested?

 

Sorry rhester

Respectfully when someone starts equating homosexuals with murderers and thieves it's really hard to read the rest of their opinion.

 

Rhester gave his take based on his understanding of scripture. He's not saying this to be difficult...or rude....or whatever else.

I know this guy, personally. He's a prince...he sincerely loves other people. No matter how he views homosexual acts, he loves those he comes in contact with. In short, he's a good man who a few of you have a disagreement with on this issue.

 

Contextually- I don't want to equate anything. Not trying to make homosexual= murderer.
I may be acting in the sin of pride without realizing it. pride=murderer?

My opinion is if you believe something is a sin, it is a sin and there is no reason to bash one over another. Why bash on someone for lying or stealing or murdering or gossiping or being homosexual?

What I stated was that because I believe this is destructive and sinful behavior, because I believe sin damages and destroys people, whether I am thinking of murder, gossip or homosexuality I think in terms of compassion.

I did not say homosexuals and murderers were the same or that thieves and homosexuals are the same. I did not say homosexuals are criminals.

At the level of moral rightness, if I believe homosexual sex is wrong, and I believe gossip is wrong. Then wrong is wrong. No reference to link the people together as criminals, just a moral view of the behavior.

I respect your post alot, but this is typical of the reaction I spoke of, once you say homosexual sex is wrong someone is likely to brand you a hater.

I don't take that as your intention, but I feel your post indicates that I obviously despise the homosexual as others might a murderer.

 

I'm sorry rhester. You are living in la la land. You cant make blue eyed people brown. I know GAY people who were married with children but were living a lie and had to face up to it eventually. People like you help destroy families, not make them.

 

I haven't seen it for myself personally as you have, nor seen any news about it or stuides, etc. so I think we would not be able to agree about this. It isn't the impotant issue anyway, I would have preferred if you had quoted the last part of my post =)

Cultural conflict is always there because of the diverse population we have. If you do something one way, one group will feel infringed upon, and if you did the opposite, another group will feel infringed upon. I think one of the most accurate thing that can be said about government rigtht now is that it's not the majority or minority whose opinions matter the most, it's whoever has the better lobbyists working for them.

I disagree with this because I think, especially quite recently with the amount of silly lawsuits we've seen, the education system has been bending over backwards for the minority (not racially speaking). case in example, the ridiculous decision to stop recess after one child got knocked down and the school got sued. you hear these kinds of stories all the time, and most of the time they have nothing to do with religion.

ah ok I get your meaning. I haven't been a regular churchgoer all my life =) I only recently became a born-again about a year and half ago. When I wasn't attending Church, it was hard for me to sympathize with the feelings of persecution that churchgoers had. Why? It's because they had different values than I did at the time. I thought premarital sex was ok, was the other half of a married woman's affair, and thought it was fine to resolve issues with violence. As a result, I had no problem with the stuff on TV, nor cared much when they would show "sexy" videos on Saturday morning. My attitude was, kids gotta learn sometime.

Point is, I would have serious issues with those now because I've examined my views thoroughly and critically and from a distance from a location other than outside the Church. =D

 

I do realize what I understand about the bible could certainly be wrong.

I am not the authority when it comes to God.

I desire to love Jesus Christ. That is how my life is at this time.

That's it for me.

 

I'll agree with the bolded part, the rest of the stuff though, you're on your own.

 

I don't understand your post. Could you clarify it for me.

Thanks

 

question, is anyone else sick and tired of debating about homosexuality? It's always the same people with the same arguments. aren't there more important stuff in the world to talk about than who is doing who?

 

completely unfair. you have no idea who rhester is or how he spends his days.

 

This whole thread is a hilarious waste of time.


There - now I've contributed too.

 

I agree 100%

And as soon as conservatives stop using it as a wedge issue in elections and trying to divide people libpigs will stop bringing up the hypocrisy.

Deal?

 

I just got it.

I love families, but I understand what you mean.

I think I understand how you feel.

Would love to meet you if you are in the Houston area, I would be willing to listen and learn on a personal level.

I am old and set in my ways, but that is exactly why I need to listen to others.

 

how does that make it different from any other thread here??

 

I am sorry but I don't think you believe that gay people even exist (or you don't want to). You think there are just people who want to have homosexual sex for some unknown reason. You never mention that they are biologically wired that way. People can be born autistic, left handed and so on, but you, and people like you, being born gay is an impossibility. You think you can just change them and you try to encourage them to be something that they are not. That is never good and causes even more problems in their lives.

 

I think the politicians (conservative or liberal) will use any issue that they think will get them some publicity.

wow I am so cynical about the gov't lately. '08 can't come fast enough for me.

 

wasting my time is what I like to do waiting to find out where David Carr is going to play next year, who hates Van Gundy and what Hunter Pence and Roger Clemens will be doing this July.