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 Some Christian denominations have officially welcomed gays and lesbians in recent years.
October 25th, 2011
12:09 PM ET
My Take: Why Christians are embracing their LGBT neighborsEditor’s note: Ross Murray is director of religion, faith and values at GLAAD, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. By Ross Murray, Special to CNN America is embracing its lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender citizens. Don’t believe me? Just look at the progress being made in faith communities. The Christian church was once considered the final holdout for those who oppose equality for LGBT people. Staunch believers could gather in worship with people who thought just like them to hear sermons affirming the anti-LGBT beliefs they held in common. For those of us who identify as LGBT, church was a place of fear and secrets. We had to figure out how to hide ourselves or how to find a more welcoming community. But that is changing. Although there is still a variety of scriptural interpretations, an increasing number of Christians are reading scripture and understanding that God’s design for the world includes LGBT people. It follows, good Christians believe, that if God made them, then I am called to love and support them. Whole Christian denominations have accepted and embraced the reality of LGBT believers within their ranks and in their leadership. Lutherans, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, the United Church of Christ and Unitarians have formally accepted LGBT people within their denominations. Even within denominations and faith groups whose policies don’t fully welcome LGBT people, there are growing numbers of people who have learned to love and accept their lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender brothers and sisters. The Public Religion Research Institute found this year that as many as 71% of Catholics in America support lesbian and gay people, even up to the point of civil marriage, despite the Roman Catholic hierarchy telling them otherwise. Of course, there still are Christian groups who work actively against equal protections for LGBT people and their families. Indeed, as more Americans get to know and love their LGBT neighbors, the messages and vocal misinformation of anti-gay activists become even more shrill. And yet more and more Christians are now living out the message of 1 John 4:18, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.” How did this happen? More Christians now know someone who is LGBT. They probably even know someone from their church. There are countless faithful Christians who identify as LGBT. These are folks who have found their faith in God to be stronger than the opposition of vocal anti-gay activists. These LGBT Christians have shared their lives and their stories that build up love and break down fear, leading to tangible progress, especially with young people. According to the Public Religion Research Institute, there is at least a 20-point gap between those ages 18 to 29 and those ages 65 and older on every public policy measure in the survey concerning equality for gay and lesbian people, with younger Americans gravitating toward equality. Even Christian-identified young people increasingly support protections for lesbian and gay people, the same survey found. Those who oppose equality can call it what they like, but the reality is that we are living in a society that has learned how to value LGBT people as they would others. That attitude doesn’t rely on fear or lies, but on caring relationships and trust. It lives out the apostle Paul’s wish for the Corinthians that someday we will know fully, even as we are fully known. It is a biblically informed reality that is helping to make the world a better place. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Ross Murray.
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I am curious which alternate universe this moron of a so called author lives in where christians are embracing gays. What a dolt.
Spoken like a true Christian.
Uhm, the same alternate universe shown in the image at the beginning of the article. There are plenty of Christians embracing gays. You may live in an area where that may not be true, but your experience is not the whole world.
"Spoken like a true Christian."
Uneducated one at that.
Spoken like a true Christian.
My uncle was a TRUE Christian. He counseled addicts at AA, spent his life devoted to God, made life easier for others – including friends who were dying of aids, and even though I had lost faith in religion – reminded me that Gods sole purpose was to each love and compassion. My uncle was gay...he died last year of lung cancer, and his partner of over 30 years never got the chance to say "I do."
Your universe. You just don't want to admit it yet.
so true, the gays should tell those diseased christians where they can shove their crucifixes
What's next?? Mormons pretending to be Christians??
Haha, YES!
Small time charlatans and fiction-writers making up fake churches that grow at unprecedented rates?
Who is next divorced people claiming to be Christians?
I just find it amusing that people believe stories that were supposedly written a few thousand years ago that star an invisible man who lives in a the sky and a guy who was killed but came back to life are more possible and acceptable than a man loving a man or a women loving a women.
Yeah...makes total sense.
That's original. Enema? How hot do you like it?
What's really funny is that no one believes in a invisible man in the sky.
Enema, spew these pages with your carnal insight about Romans 1:26-28?
Amen.
HeavenSent,
"Enema, spew these pages with your carnal insight about Romans 1:26-28?"
Romans (12:20) also says “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.”
Do you believe EVERYTHING that Romans says?
@D / HS
And givith unto them a little enema if they are full of sh-it, like Heaven Sent. Let me know if you want to schedule an appointment.
@observer
Yes, HS does.
I have no idea what you are saying.
Sure they do, Swain! Nobody claims to actually see their god, so he is invisible. The Abrahamic religions all define it as male, and at least Christianity said man was made in God's image, so "man" is accurate. And the heavens are always referred to as "up", where the sky is.
So God as commonly defined and believed is indeed an invisible man in the sky. You reject it because you don't like the ugly truth of it.
"Nobody claims to actually see their god, so he is invisible."
~The Bible never makes invisible an aspect of God. Considering God is seen in the texts shows that. Not to mention those that believe Jesus as God could point out quite a few parts in the NT where he was seen.
BTW, not actually seeing something doesn't mean it cannot be seen...you realise that right?
"The Abrahamic religions all define it as male, and at least Christianity said man was made in God's image, so "man" is accurate. And the heavens are always referred to as "up", where the sky is."
Are you familiar with the French language? They give gender tenses to things that obviously have no gender. Giving God a male gender does not make him a man. Also..reference Shekhina for the female aspect of God.
"So God as commonly defined and believed is indeed an invisible man in the sky. You reject it because you don't like the ugly truth of it."
So no...no one but some ignorant atheists call God the "invisible man in the sky". You like it because you want to make those you disagree with seem stupid when it is you who appear to be most ignorant.
Observer, you wrote this to Josh and now to me ... Romans (12:20) also says “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.”
Do you believe and practice EVERYTHING that Romans says? Answer please.”
Same Answer: As a Christian we know that Jesus said,
Matthew 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
John 6:53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
Therefore, we are spreading (feeding and watering) the word of God.
Amen.
"Therefore, we are spreading (feeding and watering) the word of God."
Yeah, that's why the church takes it so literally they offer you a sip from a glass of wine.
Let's see, there is The Illinois Enema Bandit, Tommie, Tom, Colin, Reality, and several other handles owned and generated by the same fool who writes throughout this blog under numerous disguises.
Amen.
Huh, you wrote ""Therefore, we are spreading (feeding and watering) the word of God."
Yeah, that's why the church takes it so literally they offer you a sip from a glass of wine."
Answer: Ghee, I was never offered a sip from a glass of wine. I left the church at an early age.
Amen.
@Heaven Sent - "several other handles owned and generated by the same fool who writes throughout this blog under numerous disguises."
I'll bet that when you answer the phone you never recognize whose voice it is on the other end either. You have an abominable capability of discernment. Not surprising.
Swain,
The founders of your religion did believe in that stuff. Maybe YOU don't, but THEY did. Oh how they change, and say it's all the same.
Ahahhahah! I just now read this, having arrived home from work around 5:30. So HS thinks that I'm the same person as the Illinois Enema Bandit, Colin and Reality? That's just astounding.
What can one possibly say about someone so crazy?
I don't post under any other handles on the Faith blogs, HS. But don't let that dissuade you from your delusional thoughts.
Shrinks would have a field day with you.
@No, I'm the best- "The founders of your religion did believe in that stuff. Maybe YOU don't, but THEY did. Oh how they change, and say it's all the same."
What religion..I have yet to state one.
And NO...they didn't. You find me a reference where any of them said they believed in a invisible man in the sky. I bet you can't but good luck anyway.
I don't know about whether or not Christianity is embracing LGBT or not. But there are those that look at it from a US citizen point of view. A Christian may not agree with their lifestyle, but can support their right to live as they wish to as a US citizen.
You don't support someone's rights by voting away their rights and treating them like criminals.
Nor by forgetting the lube!!
Are you kidding? They not only don't support their right to live as they want, they tell them they are going to hell, and do everything they can to ensure they have as few rights as possible.
Not sure what world you live where these bigots moonlight as Patriots.
"You don't support someone's rights by voting away their rights and treating them like criminals."
Sounds like you have a problem with members of Congress. There has never been a ballot where treating LGBTs as criminals was around here.
"Are you kidding? They not only don't support their right to live as they want, they tell them they are going to hell, and do everything they can to ensure they have as few rights as possible. Not sure what world you live where these bigots moonlight as Patriots."
No..I am not kidding. You see, in this nation of ours...we can disagree with others and yet still support their right to live their lives as citizens.
The whole going to hell argument is mute because of the separation of state and church. No US congress will ever make a choice based on that thinking.
The world I live in has it where one can disagree with other citizens over how they conduct their lives but will not take away their rights. I am sure many US atheists out there disagree with religons but wouldn't think about changing the Const_itution to take away any of their rights.
@Uncouth Swain – Pretty much every GOP candidate has stated they will support all legal action banning gay marriage in this country.
You were saying?
You may live in a utopia of tolerance and understanding...but I live in the real world where these real people are trying to stop other real people from living their lives.
"Pretty much every GOP candidate has stated they will support all legal action banning gay marriage in this country."
They are appealing to their very select and conservative Republican base. Of course, every one of them knows that no such legal action will every come across a President's desk so they can say anything they want.
I am sure the Dems suck up to their liberal base in similar fashion.
Sorry that I believe in our system. Maybe you could actually show some recent examples of the Christian majority actually twisting a Congressperson's arm to vote a certain way against LGBT.
Another lame attempt to gloss over the deeply entrenched intolerances of the Christian religion. Just window dressings to hide what they really think or are willing to own up to. I know all Christians aren't this way, but of the numerous fundies I'm aquainted with and know, some things are sadly predictable.
@chuck
But you can never predict when the Illinois Enema Bandit will strike!
Most of the denominations mentioned are fundamentalists.
And the need to loosin' up. I know just the remedy!
Polis, I don't know which denominations you are refering to, but Lutherans, Presbyterians, Episcopalians and the others mentioned in that paragraph are decidedly NOT fundamentalists!
two words: media. pressure.
True.
Satan’s four Hidden Dynasties to ensure Christians don’t follow Jesus’ truth:
Political
Religious
Financial
Education/Media
Amen.
"Satan’s four Hidden Dynasties to ensure Christians don’t follow Jesus’ truth: "
Self righteousness
Prejudice
Bigotry
intolerance
spreading hatred
Not helping the homeless
not feeding the hungry
Greed
laziness
THIS ARTICLE IS REFERRING TO SUPERFICIAL CHRISTIANS (KNOCK OFFS)
"THIS ARTICLE IS REFERRING TO SUPERFICIAL CHRISTIANS (KNOCK OFFS)"
by your reply you are one of them, no love in that post, you bigot.
"Superficial Christian knock off" = code for : "does not agree with ME".
Ho.mose.xual Christians are every bit as deluded about supernatural beings and events as hetero Christians are.
Ross, just check out the comments from the Christians here to see how wrong you are about Christians "embracing" the LGBT community.
Actually many are VERY accepting. Just because this board has a buch of second grade level pseudo intelectual Christain wanna-be preachers, does not mean the majority are like them.
"adults will be allowed to have s e x with minors" Nope, that would the the Catholic priests.
"and men and women will be able to marry 10 others" Nope, that would be the fundamentalist Mormons.
It's only natural to fear progress Gerald. Your mythology has taught you not to. You claim to be educated in science. Wouldn't science over-ride your "faith"?
Religion does not hinder progress anymore or less than any other ent_ity in society.
Thousands of Alter Boys disagree with you.
If h0mophobic Christians really cared about sins, they'd trash their fellow Chistians who remarry thus commiting adultery according to the Bible. It's all hypocrisy for them. They just use the Bible as an excuse for their own prejudices.
what an idiot.....
Observer, you are Quite Correct in what you say and I couldn't agree with you more! For some churchgoers it's "Do as I say, not as I do!" and that's wrong! What kind of example are they trying to set! None, that anyone with good common sense could follow when they see those fools marry, covet their neighbor's wife (or wives), then D I V O R C E. Yet they have the gonads to go out and criticize others whom they know little to nothing about. You are so right - it IS HYPOCRISY! They think they're going to be saved by criticizing others while committing the real sins themselves and God's got NEWS for them, they Aren't!!
There may be many interpretations to passages in the bible but only one is right. The Lutherans, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, UCOC would have you believe that Christianity didn't know what these passages meant for nearly 2000 years. Yes, love is the way but what is love. Is love allowing Johnny to jump off a bridge if he chooses to do so? Is love allowing him to use d r u g s that harm his life or allow him to remain in a l c o h o lism if he chooses to do so. After all it's his choice and who really knows what passages that might be used against these things in the Bible really mean. h m s x was not created by God any more than cancer or diabetes is. It is a part of the fall of man that corrupted his will, understanding, behavior, and even genetics. The natural order is that man and woman were made for each other and compliment each other. A part of being made in the image and likeness of God means being a part of his giving of abundant life. H m s x relationships are sterile, i.e. not life giving.
I hope people who are on the fence on this issue read Gerald's post. This is typical of those who oppose LGTB rights. they are, as you can see, barking mad.
Gerald,
"H m s x relationships are sterile, i.e. not life giving."
Total nonsense. Gays and lesbians can procreate. Read a basic biology book. You certainly can't learn about science from the Bible. Please get a better education.
Ah I see Colin is here for the ad hom and put downs of those who don't agree with him. A real American that Colin. How long is it going to take you to post your 10 distortions of how to know a Catholic.
Observer – Are you talking invirtro or adoption because I don't know any biology book that says that a man can get a man pg or woman vs. woman.
By the way I have a geology and engineering degree. I have had more science by accident than you have had on purpose.
gerald,
A man can't get a man pregnant, so it doesn't matter AT ALL if they are hetero or gay. Same for women.
A man can get a woman pregnant if they agree to, whether they are hetero or gay.
Read something besides the Bible. It stinks when it comes to science.
Thank god (pun intended) that gerald is a dwindling minority in this country. As with those that wanted to use the bible to oppose interracial marriage or support slavery, progress will eventually win out. Its unfortunate that people such as gerald have such a strong need to feel superior to others to the extent that they're willing to deny others the rights that they themselves enjoy.
Definitely a very tough discussion, but in the end we MUST love the sinner and hate the sin.
LGBT is no better, no worse than the rest of the sin that WE ALL engage in (hatred of our neighbor, divorce, po rnography, child abuse, drinking, fighting, slandering, etc, etc, etc, etc..).
WE HAVE ALL fallen (and continue to fall) short, but that doesnt mean we get to redefine what sin is to feel better about ourselves.
EVERYONE is accepted into our church, but OUR sin is not celebrated there.
Keep posting Gerald, you are the greatest advertisement against the poisoning and intellectually stultifying effects of religion that I have seen. Tell the LTGB community how they are immoral, are sinners and deserve to go to hell.
I have read your posts on natural history. Engineering and geology degree my ar$e.
chad,
Does your church say anything to Christians in it who live in adultery by remarrying?
" I have had more science by accident than you have had on purpose."
I assume, then, that you think the RCC position on evolution is beyond ridiculous.
Observer, all the sciences agree with Jesus. Sperm + sperm does not produce nor does egg(s) + egg(s).
Again, true science and Jesus' truth are in agreement.
Amen.
HeavenSent,
"Observer, all the sciences agree with Jesus. Sperm + sperm does not produce nor does egg(s) + egg(s)."
Please pay attention. I never disagreed with that obvious fact. Sperm + egg produces a baby and there is no requirement whether they came from heteros or gays. Try again.
Is the only reason for 2 people to have a relationship to have kids? Why do we need more kids? There are 7 billion people. Why do we need more? Why can't we just let people love who they want and not worry about whether or not they have kids?
Heavensent Jesus did not ever speak against ho.mos.exuality.
"H m s x relationships are sterile, i.e. not life giving."
LOL! You do realize that there are straight people that are sterile and not life giving your argument is moot.
I agree with you until the part where you speak about humanity's will being corrupted.... then you jumped off the deep end again. Come a little bit further next time, you might grasp the larger picture.
Gerald: Despite all the sciences classes you have taken, you believe that cancer is due to the "fall of man"? I suppose that is a testimonial to the power of faith (or indoctrination) over the power of reason.
chad: do you believe orientation to be a choice? if so, at what age did you make yours? if not, what makes you think that others choose theirs?
Please people, Gerald is probably just a Troll who is enjoying making folks jump up and down. He answers are too perfectly imperfect ;-b
Gerald: But here's what I don't understand. Okay, so the "natural" way to keep human survival going is for men and women to procreate. That is true, and the small percentage of people who are LGBT are in no way keeping children from being born. If your logic were to hold true (that being gay is a sin b/c "normal" people are on earth to procreate, and gay people don't), then does that mean Nuns and Priests are sinners? Does that mean married couples with no children are sinners? Does that mean women who cannot have children are sinners? Your argument doesn't make any sense at all. And as a gay man, I resent the implication that I am somehow a societal illness on par with drug abuse and alcoholism. Who I love and go to bed with does not impact your life in the least (unless you allow it to).
It is time to get past the idea that the words of the bible can and should be read literally. Most Christians today (though not all) would agree that the kind of slavery that existed in America is not morally or religiously defensible. However, the bible is VERY clear in its support for slavery. Both the old and new testaments refer to the need for slaves to obey their masters, even "harsh" masters. The KKK was founded as a Christian organization and still sees itself in terms of defending true Christianity. Klansmen openly recruited in churches (white and segregated, of course), attracting members from all strata of society, including the clergy.
In time, most fundamentalists and religious zealots will come to recognize the error of their thinking regarding LGBT issues, just as they have with slavery. It will take them a bit longer b/c they wrap the cloak of righteousness so tightly around them that it is hard to change. But change is coming. It is inevitable. When it does, these religious types will simply move on to the next group they wish to discriminate against.
I agree, Gerald's post would be a good example to provide those belong to a faith that is prejudiced against LGBT persons.
J.W. You're wrong. The Father and Son are one. All scripture is inspired by God. Scripture clearly condemns h0m0s^xuality. Therefore, your statement about Jesus is a lie.
Um, no. Gays have children all the time. Did you think they were all sterile, gerald? Oh, that's right. You're the guy who can't grasp the difference between a circle and a sphere.
@Observer "Does your church say anything to Christians in it who live in adultery by remarrying?"
=>If a church forbids all sinners from entering, it will be empty, at the same time, you dont adjust you Sunday sermon based on worrying about who you're going to offend.
@Rick: "do you believe orientation to be a choice? if so, at what age did you make yours? if not, what makes you think that others choose theirs?"
=>Nature and nurture together produce a human beings character. Studies have examined two identical twins raised in different environments, one will be g ay, another not. We cant deny the fact that a g ay person, had they been raised in a different environment, wouldn't be g ay.
@Chad-
You said-=>Nature and nurture together produce a human beings character. Studies have examined two identical twins raised in different environments, one will be g ay, another not. We cant deny the fact that a g ay person, had they been raised in a different environment, wouldn't be g ay.
How in the HE11 do you come to the conclusion that they woudn't have been gay being raised in a different environment? Who's to say that person wouldn't have been gay either way??? There is NO WAY to know that. That is the absolute most ridiculous argument I have ever heard, and that is a tough feat!!!!! And you people wonder why people laugh at you?
Studies have examined 2 identical twins separated at birth. One gay, the other not.
The conclusion is that had the one that is now gay, grown up in the same environment as the other (not gay), he wouldnt be gay.
"Aug 14, 2005 – They found that, in identical twins, if one twin was gay, the other had about a 50 percent chance of also being gay"
I've always accepted LGBT. All of my life(: I am glad that more people are starting to as well. Come on Christians. Let us modernize. 🙂
Let us support people in their path to eternal hell fire and damnation.
Ah yes, I am sure they will be going to a non-existant place. Good job, Gerald. According to your religion, Not one of you will be going to Heaven. How truly sadistic of your god. If he created them, he accepts them.
Gay Teenager: God, you made me gay. I can no longer deny the urges I am having. Why, oh Lord? I have been a good person all my life. My family and I have kept your commandments and attended church every Sunday.
God: It’s all part of my “grand plan” for you. Your small mind cannot comprehend such matters.
Gay Teen: But God, the Christians are telling me I am a sinner and will burn in hell, but you made me this way. I cannot help it. I think you owe me an explanation. I am truly frightened!
God: I was moving in mysterious ways.
Gay Teen: What the hell does that mean?
God: Well, I make thousands gays every day, just so I can wait until they get to puberty and crush their hopes for a normal life. My Christian followers on Earth complete the misery by tormenting these poor children. Then, when you die, I can send you to burn forever. Pretty mysterious, hey?
Gay Teen. I can’t believe what I’m hearing?
God: Yeah, it’s pretty rare that I speak so frankly. Look, if it makes you feel any better, tell yourself it’s Satan’s work. Satan is trying to tempt you away from me.
Gay Teen: But you’re god!! You can stop Satan.
God: Ok, you’ve got me there. Look kid, the truth is, I don’t exist. I never have. Wasn’t it obvious to you that you made me when I seemed to love all the same things you do and hate all the same things you do? Haven’t you noticed that those who disapprove of you say I disapprove of you and that those who support you say I support you? Every culture that has ever existed has had its own gods and they all seem to favor that particular culture, its hopes, dreams and prejudices. What, do you think we all exist? If not, why only yours?
Gay Teen: That’s a shame, because I intended to give you a free pass. To still believe in you despite hating myself. I have been taught to believe in you and never to question it, and I accepted what they said when they told me it was wrong to doubt.
God: Well, look at it from my perspective. How long would I last if I positively promoted healthy skepticism, independent thought and rational investigation? You people would see right through me in a minute. Haven't you noticed that there are literally hundreds of biblical passages in favor of blind acceptance and zero in praise of intelligence and freethought.
Gay Teen: Ok. I have to go now. My parents, Christian friends and teachers have all disowned me. I need to work out what to do.
God: Good luck. I’ll say a prayer for you. Hey – even I need a god sometimes
Is this the way Christians are called to modernize? Are Christians even called to "modernize", or are they called to find new ways in which to respond to the shifts in cultural models and emphases?
You're asking people who live by a 2000 year old book and believe a fictional being created and controls them.... and you want them to progress? haha.
Ah, a call to "modernize."
As we all know, truth is determined by appeal to the calendar. The later the proposition is uttered the more likely it is to be true.
gerald:
I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do, because I notice it always coincides with their own desires.
Susan B. Anthony
As long as you hate, there will be people to hate.
George Harrison
Petty bitter people find comfort in a petty bitter god
I'm glad to read that progress is being made, but on this blog & in real life I see & hear alot of bigotry being thrown around! It's good to know there are christians (or any religion) who live what the word teaches & don't hide their prejudices in bible verse!!
Ah good old progress. next thing you know adults will be allowed to have s e x with minors and men and women will be able to marry 10 others. Isn't progress grand. Hmsx is against the natural order. Read my post above. When we violate the natural order mankind is harmed. The romans and greeks accepted hmsx and in a very short time their societies went the way of the dinosaur.
Dinosours gerald? You accept dinosours? Oh, that's right, you just think they were contemporaries of humans. So, where exactly did you get that geology degree?
@gerald – the slippery slope arguments are fallacious. Please try again. What harm does gay marriage have directly on you, gerald?
Gerald,
The topic here is h0mos-xuality. Why do so many Christians have attention deficits and want to change the topic to polygamy (like practiced by the ultimate example of wisdom in the Bible King Solomon), etc.?
Speaking of dinosaurs, did they disappear in the last 6,000 years?
Agree with you in a sense i do gerald. There will be unimaginable practices 50 years from now that even an atheist would say "that's just wrong"
@gerald
Why do you hom.ophobes inevitably conflate being gay with pedophilia, beastiality, polygamy etc. ad nauseum?
Just like a lot of rabid Christians equate atheism with communism, fascism, immorality etc.
You need to accept that what happens between consenting adults in private in no way affects you or diminishes your life / beliefs.
"Ah good old progress. next thing you know adults will be allowed to have s e x with minors and men and women will be able to marry 10 others"
gerald
"the sky is falling! the sky is falling!"
chicken little
see the similarity?
gerald: the natural order would dictate that we not live as long as we do. out in "nature", there are no doctors or hospitals. tell me, oh pious one, do you eschew medicine?
"There will be unimaginable practices 50 years from now that even an atheist would say "that's just wrong""
let it be between the person and god, then
For those social conservatives that want to deny basic civils rights to particular segments of society that they disagree with...
"Discrimination is Discrimination"
Just like "illegal is illegal."
And a persons se.cks.ual preference is not chosen... otherwise everyone that is het.er.ose.cksu.al can tell us at which time/moment/day/hour that they decided they were hete.ro.se.cksu.al.
The church was wrong when it came to slavery being ok, which is evidence of fallibility, and calls into question the chris.tian views regarding ho.mo.se.cksu.al.ity.
The "church" embraces them because the "church" is apostate, and therefore not the true church. While their sin is abomination in God's sight, they can be forgiven if they repent and accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. There is no other Way. The apostate "church", on the other hand, that embraces and encourages this sin is going to be in trouble-their teaching is a "doctine of demons".
Does the same go for those churches who do not actively opposed the wearing of cotton blends?
ThinkForYourself, you wrote "Does the same go for those churches who do not actively opposed the wearing of cotton blends?" Posting your lack of knowledge regarding righteous acts is beyond ridiculous and typical. Just proves how non-believers are the true bullies in this discussion.
Amen.
@HS – thank you for proving that you just cherry-pick the commandments in the bible that you want to follow. And want others to follow. That's pretty much what I thought.
Keith & Heaven Sent,
Cut the cr@p. If you met one of these ministers from the picture in their clerical collars and crosses, without their rainbow banners, you would be slobbering Jesus jargon all over the joint with them and you would never know the difference.
Awfully pompous of you claiming to know what god thinks. Petty people find comfort in petty gods. Thankfully, there are fewer and fewer of you knuckle draggers each generation.
HeavenSent: Non believers are the true bullies in the conversation? Non bullies are NOT the ones claiming to know what "god" thinks or issuing EMPTY PROXY THREATS to coerce people into belief.
Rick, the only way to understand what God thinks is to study His written Word-the Bible. There's really no speculation-it's right there in black, white, & red letters-a handbook for the believer. But to obstinent unlbelievers, it won't make much sense.
Keith – you're going to burn in the fires of Hell.
Forever.
I thought you'd want to know, even though there's nothing you can do to stop it.
Sixdegrees, Not a chance. I've admitted to being a sinner, repented, and accepted Jesus Christ's finished work at the cross as payment for my sins. I've passed from death to life everlasting. No one can pluck me from His hand. Just thought you'd like to know that. You can have the same reas$urance, too. I'm curious as to what you base your statement on though?
The broad acceptance of the LGTB community has come despite, not because of religion. Organized religions, such as the Catholic church, Mormons, Baptists and Islam, for example, still have a Dark Ages view of $exual minorities.
The secular World has gotten over the issue and moved on and, as usual, the Bible-cuddlers are a couple of decades behind.
Maybe they just need.....a little enema.....
Typical carnal answer from someone insisting and relishing the stay on the carnal level of life.
Amen.
"Typical carnal answer from someone insisting and relishing the stay on the carnal level of life."
Typical bigoted answer from someone insisting and relishing to stay in the bronze age level of intelligence.
If your religion makes your life better, then don't use it to make someone's life worse.
I forsee some good debates on this article. Dont touch that remote! Stay tuned!
Observer, you wrote "If your religion makes your life better, then don't use it to make someone's life worse."
Answer: Christians can say the same thing in reverse.
Thanks for making OUR point of His truth in this matter.
Amen.
@HS
Same thing in reverse?
"If your religion makes your life worse, then don't use it to make someone's life better"?
What the what?
@Chuckles – I think that fits HS rather well. HS is clearly a miserable wretch who only delights in attempting to look down upon others – not actually trying to make their life better.
HellBent, unlike most of you non-believers that have the hidden gay agenda behind why you are trashing Jesus. I came on this blog to defend Jesus' truth due to the abusive illogical sociopaths in our world.
Keep trashing at Christian even though you are clueless to why the majority of us write to defend Jesus.
P.S. Gay's aren't the only sinners in the world. Last I read His truth, we are all sinners that follow His truth to give up our carnal ways.
I realize this will go over your head just because you want it to.
Amen.