Concerning homosexuality and Christianity: Would you read this article and comment?

Bottom line, it is not up to any of us to judge anyone for anything. That is left up to a higher power (whether you believe in one or not) IMHO.

The best statement in that whole article was:

“We must weigh all the evidence,” Bakker writes. “The clobber scriptures don’t hold a candle to the raging inferno of grace and love that burns through Paul’s writing and Christ’s teaching. And it’s a love that should be our guiding light.”

It is a breath of fresh air.

It’s a great example of why the Bible is not an accurate guide for morality. Anyone can justify or condemn almost anything using the Bible. I am always amazed at those who claim that religion is needed to be moral. While this article is refreshing, it’s unlikely to have much effect on the frothing pundits who depend on whipping up anti-gay sentiments to please their base.

I am a gay man. I also happen to have been raised in a fundamentalist, evangelical Christian home, going to church 3 times each week. That church, preaching it’s vitriolic hate of homosexuality, raped my soul.

Yes, I read the article. I am happy that a few Christians are now finding it in their hearts to love homosexuals and that a few are even stopping calling it a sin.

Does the article awaken any desire in me to start going back to a Christian church? No.

In my opinion, religion is a control mechanism used by society to regulate the actions of its members. I have no need for it.

Does this mean gays are now no longer safe from proselytizing?

It’s fantastic to hear that point of view from an evangelical Christian.. kind of amazing, actually. I’m not Christian myself, but in countering anti-gay sentiments, I’ve had to learn about the scriptures. That article says, almost word-for-word, how I feel about the interpretation of the Bible in regards to homosexuality.

- A lot of things were equally condemned that are very commonplace now
– Jesus preached love and acceptance of others
– Translating documents can change their meaning, so unless you have a grasp of the original language, you don’t really know what it is the Bible is saying
– And so on.

Such a wobbly platform from which to try and launch missiles.

@MissAnthrope PERFECT !! GA
Ted Haggard, past President of a huge American Evangelical organization was banished not only from the megachurch he pastored in Colorado Springs but from the city itself for having a gay affair with a massage therapist. Recently , he opened a new “church” in a barn on his property. Of this church, Haggard said, “this is a church for sinners; not for the righteous. And yes, all gay people are very welcome here. It will be a love-based church. It is going to get bigger.” He has five children and an adoring wife.

I wouldn’t get too excited, it is the beliefs of one individual who has founded his own church, the Revolution Church. He seems a nice enough guy and while I don’t disagree with his views I won’t be joining his ‘church’.

The article makes it so apparent how strange the bible and religion in general are. I always say any god who has time to worry about sideburns, shellfish, chrome on cars, women wearing hats and who is in a relationship with whom, just has too damned much time on its hands and should instead be ridding the world of cancer, pestilence, etc..

Sounds like a plan to me!

Excellent question. I do believe that Jesus spent a great deal of time telling his followers to love their neighbor as they love themselves, and to judge no lest they be judged. Some of his apostles took a very different tack though, and because of their references to homosexuality as sin, Christians assume that while the rest of the Law from the old testament doesn’t apply to them, the part about Homosexuality does.

Personally, I can’t get my head around the thought that a God who is omniscient and omnipotent would set up laws making loving a same sex partner, wearing clothing with mixed fibers (wash and wear), getting your sideburns trimmed, having a tattoo, planting mixed seeds in your garden and eating shellfish all capital offenses, but permitting polygamy, slavery, sacking and looting of towns not populated by Jewish people and so on. So I don’t much care what Paul may have thought about gay lovers because I think the whole book is a bunch of obvious hooey.

Well my view on the matter is this. When Adam and Eve were placed in the Garden they were commanded to not partake of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. In that commandment he made it clear (at least to me) he did not want us to judge between the two. Good/Evil, Right/Wrong, True/False and so forth. The scriptures constantly talk about not judging that God is the judge we are not. So it is not up to us at all to say something is right/wrong. Our society makes laws so that man can live in more harmony. If we didn’t have laws there would be chaos. So we need a structure to live by but still we as individuals are not to condem anyone. Just my view on the matter.