RE: Homosexual Marriage & Christianity?

[GatorShane]

First, just let me say again, like I did in previous post. I dont aim to criticize anyone or their opinion. I just know from my own personal experience that people opposed to gay marriage cannot cite one particular fact that gay marriage undermines straight marriage in any way. As fo your assertion that my logic is flawed, let me just tell you that if I thought that traditional marriage is alredy flawed or in shambles I dont think so many gay citizens(tax paying, law abiding, legal residents of this country) would like to be afforded the same opportunity as everyone else. My comments arent intended to belittle anyones opinion, I know that this is a very important issue for some people and I am just trying to add some insight into the discussion. Thanks for listening everyone. 

[reednavy]

I'm just going to sit back and watch this show. I made my point clear before, so I'll see what others say. Fair arguements so far from what I've read.

[jacksonvilleconfidential]

i have two friends who choose to be gay and that's it.  i respect them just the same as my other friends.  so - i prove your assertion wrong, don't I? 

And I have a few friends who chose to be black, a few chose to be asian, and (believe it or not) one or two of them even chose to be women! I would like to applaud your 2 friends for being able to choose to be gay. I mean gosh, the gays really love all the ridicule, stigma, and inability to marry. It really is such a wonderful life and easy decision.

I think im going to decide to be gay tomorrow for the Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Florida Theatre, and then Sunday Im going to decide to be straight for the Jags game. Its gonna be an awesome and fabulousssss weekend.

[jbm32206]

i have two friends who choose to be gay and that's it.  i respect them just the same as my other friends.  so - i prove your assertion wrong, don't I? 

And I have a few friends who chose to be black, a few chose to be asian, and (believe it or not) one or two of them even chose to be women! I would like to applaud your 2 friends for being able to choose to be gay. I mean gosh, the gays really love all the ridicule, stigma, and inability to marry. It really is such a wonderful life and easy decision.

I think im going to decide to be gay tomorrow for the Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Florida Theatre, and then Sunday Im going to decide to be straight for the Jags game. Its gonna be an awesome and fabulousssss weekend.

Exactly! and that's the problem, people still think that others make a choice, when it's not one

[jacksonvilleconfidential]

I also wanted to add that IMO by saying that the 2 friends choose to be gay and then in the same breath saying that you respect them is flawed. I would also like to know their (the gay indiduals') opinion on Driven saying they chose that lifestyle.


Discuss.....

[fightingosprey07]

I also wanted to add that IMO buy saying that the 2 friends choose to be gay and then in the same breath saying that you respect them is flawed. I would also like to know their (the gay indiduals') opinion on Driven saying they chose that lifestyle.


Discuss.....

They would probably say "I actually have a friend who believes we chose this lifestyle, and I respect him all the same."

I don't think his logic is flawed, he just looks at things from a different perspective from you and I. We should all be able to respect that.

[GatorShane]

In regards to the question, How do gay people feel about the notion that we choose this lifestyle, I would respond with the following idea. I think part of that is true. We all choose the type of lifestyle we live. But as for the assumption that we choose to be gay. I think that is nonsense. If that were true then all of us would have homosexual tendencies, but only some of us would choose to act upon them. I wonder how straight people feel about that assumption. Anyway, as far as the original idea about homosexual marriage and christianity, I think we all(myself included) sometimes pick and choose what or what not to beleive when it comes to the bible.  Just a thought!

[reednavy]

In regards to the question, How do gay people feel about the notion that we choose this lifestyle, I would respond with the following idea. I think part of that is true. We all choose the type of lifestyle we live. But as for the assumption that we choose to be gay. I think that is nonsense. If that were true then all of us would have homosexual tendencies, but only some of us would choose to act upon them. I wonder how straight people feel about that assumption. Anyway, as far as the original idea about homosexual marriage and christianity, I think we all(myself included) sometimes pick and choose what or what not to beleive when it comes to the bible.  Just a thought!

If anyone thinks we chose this lifestyle for the props and stuff, they're an absolute moron. Seriously, come on now. I am all for gay rights and equality, but marriage is sort of stupid to me. My mom is a Divorce Coordinator in Tennessee, and seeing some of the files that come across her desk, makes me hate marriage some days. I plan on being an activist when I can later on down the road, not just for gays, but everyone. I just think it is funny when people try to bring the Bible into the mix. I was raised Southern Baptist, but now, I think most of it is a book. Chew on that for a little bit.

If you tell me homosexuality is morally wrong, then getting divorces, eating certain foods, and such are sins in the Bible, so please, do not f*cking preach to me. I have better things to learn about and listen to.

[GatorShane]

You are preaching to the choir brother!

[reednavy]

It's just so funny the Amendment 2 is even ehre, when gay marriage is already outlawed in the State Constitution. This won't hurt gays as badly, IMO. I'm just relaly worried about seniors and people that live together domestically to save money or just have a companion around to help and such.

I'm just still baffled by how this became such an issue, when it should be a non-issue right away. Just watch, if DADT is repealed, which may happen with Obama, this could set the tone of things to come. I can honestly see down the road, these bannings being done away with by the Supreme Court, some day. I would love for DADT to be repealed, it is such a stupid law. Only the saltiest sailors and retired ones really like it. Most could care less, which is the new Navy now, the old just needs to go(except for traditions, them gotta stay)

[Ocklawaha]

Quote from: jacksonvilleconfidential on Today at 07:03:14 PM
I also wanted to add that IMO buy saying that the 2 friends choose to be gay and then in the same breath saying that you respect them is flawed. I would also like to know their (the gay indiduals') opinion on Driven saying they chose that lifestyle.


Discuss.....

They would probably say "I actually have a friend who believes we chose this lifestyle, and I respect him all the same."

I don't think his logic is flawed, he just looks at things from a different perspective from you and I. We should all be able to respect that.

As a Christian and "Old Hippie" I have a unique perspective perhaps. I find that the church - meaning the body of believers (not a denomination) - has some repair work to do. But that repair will have more to do with HUMAN PRIDE then with scripture interpretation or translation. For example, for 2,000 years the Christians have been expecting the earth to end in a fireball. Well now science says OMG! It's gonna end in a fireball! Meteors, Comets, NEO's, UFO's, Global Warming, Green house gases, pollution...etc... Yet the very same body of believers are the first to the polls to support those who will do NOTHING about the problems because some liberal scientist made it up. HUH? Guys.... HELLO? Isn't this just what we have been saying? Of course we can't set a date, but based on non-Christian and Christian prophets looks like 2010 and 2012 are going to be ugly years. The end? Maybe, maybe not.

Now back to the Gay question. As a Christian, we are supposed to LOVE THE SINNER yet we are allowed to dislike the sin. Is practicing Gay or Lesbian lifestyle a sin? The Bible says yes. But is "Being Gay" a sin? The Bible is silent, it only says "For all have sinned - and redemption is for all."  Now we have science closing in on a "gay gene" what about the new findings that Gay men (or the reverse in women) are bathed in a womb of the opposite genes before birth. HUH? again the church has been saying this all along and now wants to deny it? Not me.
"In the last days men and women will burn with unnatural desires, men for men, women for women, as in the days of Sodom."  Well, why? Maybe our own poison in the atmosphere or our highly screwed up food sources?
Who knows, but we do know that food can have certain effects on a baby's sex. So isn't this just prophetic?

As I read it there WILL BE GAY AND LESBIAN people, born in ever increasing numbers with a desire that "burns for the same sex." God said it, that's what I believe, why would I try and explain around or judge it? Maybe as an "Old Hippie" I still want to give everyone a hug. Now if I said I don't give a damn about your sexual orientation! (oops am I going to hell now?)  What about the 60+ some hippie chicks I .... uh.... dated? Going to hell for that? NOPE! Forgiven. I believe Gods market is open 24 x 7 x 365.24 days a year, y'all come now ya hear?

OCKLAWAHA

[reednavy]

You are preaching to the choir brother!

I almost started this past weekend at European Street with all of us there. That wouldn't have been pretty.

[Driven1]

In regards to the question, How do gay people feel about the notion that we choose this lifestyle, I would respond with the following idea. I think part of that is true. We all choose the type of lifestyle we live. But as for the assumption that we choose to be gay. I think that is nonsense. If that were true then all of us would have homosexual tendencies, but only some of us would choose to act upon them. I wonder how straight people feel about that assumption. Anyway, as far as the original idea about homosexual marriage and christianity, I think we all(myself included) sometimes pick and choose what or what not to beleive when it comes to the bible.  Just a thought!

Gatorshane...w/ all due respect (it really is due to you, I'm not just saying that), here is how I view the choice of living a homosexual lifestyle. 

I do think that some men and women will wrestle with homosexual tendencies.  I think that this is something that some people in our population will struggle with.  But I also think that some people will struggle - due to their environment or genetics or whatever - with alcoholism.  They will be "naturally" more tempted by that than others.  Others may face a certain deeper struggle/temptation with child or spousal abuse (maybe because they grew up in a home where they witnessed or were victim to the same). 

And someone who gives in and chooses to live life (and not fight those temptations) as an alcoholic, for instance...that person then may even start to DEFINE THEMSELVES as an alcoholic.  That is sad.  Because they have then started to make the core being of their life defined by an addiction and behavior that they have ULTIMATELY chosen.  God will give the strength to overcome EVERY temptation.  It may not be easy.  And it MAY actually even be a life-long struggle for some - but I can tell you that I personally have struggled with a certain set of sins now for 18 years - I have had victories and deep valleys - but I can tell you 3 things:

1) my God has been faithful...just as He said, he has never left me
2) by His grace, I have never given in and defined myself and who I am by those behaviors/choices
3) I NEVER stopped calling my behavior what it clearly was/is - SIN...my willful choosing to give in and disobey...to do so I knew would create a callousness on my heart that becomes extremely difficult to thaw and for God to break through

There are other such examples in additions to the ones I listed above, but you probably start to get my point though and see my parallels. 

So as not to offend, I will refrain from giving my full opinion (which really is quite useless and meaningless) on the subject of homosexuality in the Bible, but I do feel compelled to say that God Himself clearly states that homosexuality is a sin. 

Thank you for allowing me to share my opinion and - in a sense - some of my own personal struggles.

[Driven1]

If you tell me homosexuality is morally wrong, then getting divorces, eating certain foods, and such are sins in the Bible, so please, do not f*cking preach to me. I have better things to learn about and listen to.

Reed...respectfully I submit to you that I have heard these rationalizations many times before (the Bible says you're supposed to shave your head, women can't have braided hair, no dancing, no eating pork, etc...).  You are taking things picking and choosing certain items and twisting them out of context without understanding the bigger picture that the Bible presents of God's plan of redemption of mankind through time.  Now - if you completely reject the Bible and God's plan revealed there, then that is one thing.  Just say so.  But if you sincerely wanted to know ... nevermind...I feel way too much like I'm preaching. 

[Driven1]

Ock...again, I like your post and agree with you.