paulo75 said:
I may be starting a fire here, but I don't think that homosexuality is wrong. I don't think gays and lesbians choose to be gay anymore than we choose to be straight. I do think that the Bible is misinterpreted here.
I think that those against homosexuality are blinded by their faith.
You didn't start the fire, God did and it will be used to punish the wicked.
It is not Faith that blinds a person it is the lack of faith.
Man is born in sin and he will choose sin without little thought. He is carnal in his thoughts.
Paul most plainly said that homosexuality is turning against the natural use of man and woman. If that is unnatural then straight must be natural. So straight, (although it does not save our soul), is what we will be unless we choose to be otherwise. Even with the computer that you are reading from there is a default in every choice you make on it. The default is the state that the computer will stay in unless you choice to change this state. Anything you change here is changing it from its default, (natural) state. You do this by choice.
Rom 1:26-27
...their women did
change the natural use into that which is against nature:
27 And likewise also the men,
leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another;
Jesus does plainly speak of fornication and sexual sins. Homosexuality is on of these sins.
He was here to proclaim the good news. Jesus also came to fulfill the law and He continued to do so through the comforter, the Holy Spirit even after He was back in heaven. He continued to speak to us through the apostles.
Jesus, spoke of many commandments explaining the thought in the heart was as bad as the act. Lust of the heart was one of these, it is as bad as adultery, and anger with your brother without just cause is as bad as murder.
Homosexuality is a sexual sin, it is lust of the heart, just as fornication and pornography.
Sexual sins affect the entire personality. They affect the emotions, leading to slavery to the sin. It is frightening to see how sensuality can get a hold of a person and defile his entire life, enslaving him to habits that destroy. It also affects a person physically.
1 Cor 6:18
18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
The fornicator and adulterer, as well as the homosexual, may forget their sins', but their sins will not forget them.
1 Cor 5:9-13
I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral peopleâ€â€
10 not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world.
11 But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.
12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?
13 God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you."
NIV
1 Cor 6:9-10
9 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
10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
NIV
1 Cor 6:18-20
Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.
19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;
20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
NIV
In the above scripture note two things. First, the text speaks of "idolaters" rather than idolatry. It says "homosexual offenders" rather than homosexuality. This wording is important, not because it indicates a person rather than a sin, but because it indicates a person who is habitually practicing the sin! Paul is not saying that an individual is to be disciplined by the fellowship for a single act or failure. After all, transformation is not instantaneous; we need to give each other room to grow. But when a person habitually practices sexual immorality or thievery or homosexuality, then the family is to accept its responsibility and is to discipline.
Second, our judgment is limited to those who are professing Christians. Paul makes it very clear that his instruction not to associate with the immoral was given, "not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral," for it is no business of the Christian to "judge those outside the church". But those inside "must" be judged, and the "wicked man" must be expelled from the fellowship.
Faith does not blind it is lack of faith that blinds.
:wink:
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