Pun intended. Starting today, two of our bloggers--Tony Jones and Rod Dreher--will begin a debate discussion Beliefnet Blogalogue on same sex marriage. They'll post on their respective blogs and link back to one another.
Here's what's unique about this discussion, and why you should tune in:
First, we did a lot of thinking internally about how to set this up, and how to make it more than two talking heads yelling past each other. Same sex marriage is perhaps the single most charged issue in our nation right now in the wake of Proposition 8 and similar measures.
To prevent the usual shouting match, Tony and Rod have decided to be as relational about this as possible. Tony, who lives in Minnesota, is flying to Dallas today, where he and Rod will meet for the first time and have lunch together. (Fortunately, Tony had already planned to be in Dallas this week). They'll get to know one another a bit, believing that presence can steel them against prejudice.
Second, Tony and Rod are both Christians who subscribe, more or less, to the same creed. We aren't pitting Bishop Spong against James Dobson. Tony is politically progressive while Rod is politically conservative, but in terms of theology, these two men share a great deal. The same sex marriage conflict is not a conflict between the faithful and faithless; it's an intra-religious conflict as well.
Third, Tony and Rod aren't setting up a few canned essays that they'll lob at each other in a few rushed days. They will take their time, if need be, in their responses--reading, reflecting, praying as they post.
Tony's first post is up this morning, and it's a nice early effort at merging the personal with the conceptual. Stay tuned for more, and share your own views either below or on Tony and Rod's blogs.
Add to Del.icio.us
Add to Technorati
Add to Digg
Add to Newsvine
Add to Facebook
Add to StumbleUpon
Anyone who insists that being gay is okay and that the Bible is just another book is typical thinking from those who have not read the Bible, or who will not accept the Bible's teachings. They are being controlled by Satan, who desires that they oppose God and do what they want. This is the world view, or human reasoning, which comes from Satan.
Doing God's will is not always easy. God says that one cannot serve two masters, either you will hate the one and love the other, or vice versa. In other words, one cannot be obedient to God and practice a gay lifestyle; the two are incompatible. Further, so many bash the Bible, God and Christianity BECAUSE it is contrary to want they want to do, and their sinful activities are making them feel guilty about what they are doing. So, the result is either bash God and his Word and continue in pleasurable sin, or repent and obey God. Further, the critics of God and his Word set them selves up as superior to God and assert, in their crtiticism, that Christians and Christianity are inferior to them; that, somehow, their viewpoint is superior and should take precedent, because it's what they want, and that it is NOT what God wants for them.
The Bible is a set of rules, a manual for living, that is the inspired word of God. It cannot be interpreted to fit various beliefs and desires. Romans, Chapter one explains fully what God says about what we call homosexuality.
Lastly, homosexuality, or same-sex-attraction, is a NOT normal. It can only be cured by reading God's word and believing, not reasoning with it, and doing what it says. Only then can a person be released from its grasp. The New Testatment is the key to a cure, as well as the key for eternal life.
I believe in Adam & Eve NOT Aam & Steve. I myself as a VERY straight man can fathom that kind of lifestyle .I know beyond the shadow of a doubt that nobody is born that way. Ialso know that Jesus can and will save,deliver and heal them of that perversion. Who in thier right mind would believe God would make such a 'thing' I really and truly feel sorry for those people!! I pray for ALL of them evry time I run into them. I sincerely hope and pray that they will give thier heart to God before they die.
It's so easy to say that someone who doesn't believe what you believe is controlled by satan or possessed. Will you put them to death next? When did Christians become so angry, hateful and not-so-Christ-like? They will know YOU by your fruits.
FRUIT OF THE FLESH
1) sexual immorality 2) impurity 3) extreme sensuality 4) idolatry 5) witchcraft 6) hostility 7) bitter conflicts 8) jealousy 9) outbursts of anger 10) lack of unity 11) dissentions 12) cliquishness 13) envying 14) drunkenness 15) orgies, and things like these.
FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
1) LOVE 2) JOY 3) PEACE 4) PATIENCE 5) KINDNESS 6) GOODNESS 7) FAITHFULNESS 8) GENTLENESS 9) SELF-CONTROL
I am a christian. I believe that the bible is complete and without any errors. I believe that the bible comes from God. Now, to address a previous statement "that Paul was speaking his own opinions in I Tim.1:9-10 and Rom. 1:26-27 and that "he is not the last word on whats right or wrong". I agree that paul is not the last word on whats right or wrong...... but the Lord Jesus is! I Cor. 14:37, Paul says "the things that I write are the commandments of the Lord". Friends, Paul wrote the statements in I Tim.1:9-10 and Rom. 1:26-27.They are the commandment of the Lord!
I agree with everyone's post and I believe God is a god of love and the only thing he hates is the sin not the sinner, on this principle he has allowed us the opportunity to share his love but we have to use our free will to make the choice to continue in the sin that so easily besets us or to do the hard thing and walk the narrow path.
As others have said we all sin and sin is sin and all fall short. Also I would like to add that we as a people have allowed this moral issue to come the point of actual litigation and now we have to subject our kids to alternative lifestyles that otherwise they might not be influenced by. HLTG's only make up 1 percent of our population but it would seem that it is more if you don't like this to be subjected upon us as a whole then you need to vote and litigate and use the law as the do to stop the progress of this behavior. I believe that we forget that our country was founded on principles that were set by God and Godly people took charge in love to make a better life for themselves and we need to follow their example and do the same "TO STAND AND STAND SOME MORE"
GOD BLESS
Post a Comment
By submitting these comments, I agree to the beliefnet.com terms of service, rules of conduct and privacy policy (the "agreements"). I understand and agree that any content I post is licensed to beliefnet.com and may be used by beliefnet.com in accordance with the agreements.