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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]

Your quotes are from Paul again. Some think Paul was divinely inspired. But he most definitely was not Jesus, in fact he's not even counted as a "prophet" (he called himself a disciple). Taking his every word literally is elevating him to a status that he didn't claim for himself.[/quote]

PS, I think you've missed the point. Jesus lifted most Old Testament bans--yes, including shellfish and blended fabrics. So we're starting over; the ground has totally shifted; and it's not necessarily OK to assume that everything in the Old Testament is still valid. Jesus cared enough about adultery to condemn it, but he never mentioned homosexuality.

Jesus' focus was on peace, loving your enemy, sharing your worldly goods, and so on. That's a focus that's meaningful to me, instead of worrying about who's sleeping with who. As others here have said, Jesus got away from all the bean counting and to a larger message of acceptance and love. [/quote]

OP here.  I don't know, a casual dismissal of the apostle Paul strikes me as more like exploiting some sort of Biblical loophole.  Paul wrote half the New Testament and is largely responsible for Christianity in all of its forms.  Paul is elevated, at least in my church, as equal to the disciples.  Paul is a big deal.

Further, I'm not engaging in bean counting or being judgmental.  I don't personally feel strongly about homosexuality, which is why I posted.  But I do believe that is it is a serious matter to accept something that has been unaccepted by the church for 2000 years.  A sin is something that misses the mark, that pulls you farther away from God.  Christians are not supposed to condemn others, but they also cannot accept sin in their midst.  You can love a person and accept that person but you cannot accept sin.  For example, if homosexual behavior is a sin, then the church cannot legitimize it by having gay weddings, or a gay pastor/priest who is not celibate.  No, Jesus did not mention homosexuality, but he also did not condone it, or any other sexual behavior that is considered "impure" by the church.  It is not like homosexuality was a completely foreign concept to people at that time, the Romans engaged in homosexual acts in their society.  So... yeah, this is where I struggle.  I don't really think it is right to dismiss Paul or be like "aw everybody sins but Jesus is about acceptance."  Yes, of course we love and accept people as they are, but we cannot accept sins.[/quote]

TL; DR, but it sounds like you are trying really hard to justify homophobia even though you know in your heart that it's okay to be gay. Good luck with that. I recommend visiting an Episcopalian or Presbyterian church and talking with their priest or pastor. They are usually more highly educated in theology than conservative evangelical ministers, too. [/quote]

I think it is really sad that you threw in homophobia in what has otherwise been a completely civil discussion.  I made clear I have absolutely no animus towards gay people, what makes me homophobic?  Deal with your bugaboos before you call other people names.[/quote]

If you try to convince yourself and other people that being gay is a sin, that's homophobia. If that word makes you react, maybe you want to reconsider trying so hard to justify your church's position. [/quote]

I disagree.  Homophobia is when you are afraid of and hate gay people, hence the term "phobia" in homophobia.

As a christian, you know that being an alcoholic and drug abuser is a sin, that's not called something-phobia.

In all cases, you can still love and care about the person.[/quote]

What do you think homophobia is based on? The whole reason homophobia exists is because people call it a sin. Gay children [i]kill themselves[/i] because they hear that they are sinners. That how they're made is wrong. That they should deny their true selves because to do otherwise is sinful. This is homophobia and it is [i]dangerous[/i]. [/quote]

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