runner,

I must again applaud you for the respectful and earnest way in which you attempt to explain your belief. I remember you answering my questions quite a while ago in the same way.

If only the non-believers who normally mock you and your religion (not here but on other threads) would show the same good will.

jason84

"But what I'm getting at is how Christians view same-sex marriage differently. It clearly says in the bible that homosexuals should be put to death. So where is the contradiction that tells Christians to accept and love homosexuals?"

As pointed out there are many things a person could be put to death under the old covenant (which was with the nation of Israel). Homosexuality was just one of them. What the law actually revealed was that we are all lawbreakers because of our corrupt natures. Jesus said not only the person who committed adultery was guilty but the man who lusted after a woman other than his wife. That included all.

When we agree with God that we are lawbreakers (which any person with an ounce of honesty would do) then we can ask God for His mercy and grace as Christ paid for our lawbreaking (sin). If we fail to call sin for what it is then there is absolutely no hope for us as we remain in denial and self righteousness showing we know little to nothing about God's nature of holiness.

The bible calls Christians to love all people despite the fact that all are sinners. That is why we can still love liars, adulteries, homosexuals, rebellious etc because all have sinned. The reason Christ came was to save us from this corrupted nature.

welbek, in a single bound you’ve gone from contrarian to confounded.

Take a look at this: http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?article=8656#137191

Do you really want to argue that mild and polite language makes the filthiest prejudice acceptable?

woulfe,

I take people as they come.

runner's always been nice to me, even though I know through his religion he thinks my de-facto arrangement is destructive to children and society. Conversely I think religion is silly and I often mock it, and runner doesn't get personally offended. People even taunt him about paedophile priests as if it has something to do with his beliefs.

runner and I are secure in our world views, hence not threatened by the views of others. I'm not in favour of thought crimes, and runners beliefs are his beliefs, as valid a world view as any other. Prejudiced actions are another matter.

I respect religions that don't bend the rules. If you're going to have a religion, be consistent. It's not for everyone. If the rules are that women aren't allowed, or gays, well, that's the rules of the club. That's how he interprets his texts. Don't like it? Start your own club and read into the Bible your own interpretation. Seems this isn't a new idea since there are many religions.

runner would love that my moral relativism extends to the religious. It's only fair.

@ runner

Nobody I know, even the most conservative, is saying homosexuals should be executed. I think people who think they take the Bible literally don't take it so literally as to want to execute people. Its Leviticus 20:13 which suggests homosexuals should be excuted in the bible, However many people believe that this passage does not refer to all homosexual behavior, but only to a specific form of homosexual prostitution - that performed in a Pagan temple. Your correct in your last paragaph in your post where you mention:

"The bible calls Christians to love all people despite the fact that all are sinners. That is why we can still love liars, adulteries, homosexuals, rebellious etc because all have sinned. The reason Christ came was to save us from this corrupted nature."

Its important to remember that there was more than one person who wrote the bible, thats why there's lots of contradictions. Its allmost as if a liberal wrote one part of the bible and a consertive wrote the other part of the bible. Also Im sure that you know that there is no mention about same-sex marriage in the bible yet.

jason 84

'Also Im sure that you know that there is no mention about same-sex marriage in the bible yet.'

You are right that same sex 'marriage is not mentioned in Scripture. That is because in God's eyes there is and will never be any such thing. Romans 1 makes it quite clear that homosexuality becomes common place in society where men have chosen to worship the creation rather than the Creator. It is only in men and women's eyes who are blinded to common decency that they would even dream up such a perversion of God's intention in marriage.

btw your explanation of Leviticus 20:13 is more what many want to think rather than what is actually says. Thankfully along with those who live in fornication and other immorality there are those who have practiced homosexuality and then turned to the Only One who can forgive their sin. Again if you are in denial that evil is evil then forgiveness in Christ is not possible. Man has a habit of making his own morality. That is why he can kill unborn babies and pretend their is nothing wrong with it or commit adultery and carry on as righteous.