Prejiduce in the Church

[Baerly]

It seems as if you really want to discuss another subject . " in the club"

Time ran out for those in Sodom, didn't it. God knows where everyone is at all times.

It is clear in (Gal.6:1,2) That we are our brothers keeper. We must go to our brother if we know he is involved in sin (Luke 17:3,4) (Mt.18:15-17). In love Baerly

 

[sojourner]

It seems as if you really want to discuss another subject . " in the club"

Time ran out for those in Sodom, didn't it. God knows where everyone is at all times.

It is clear in (Gal.6:1,2) That we are our brothers keeper. We must go to our brother if we know he is involved in sin (Luke 17:3,4) (Mt.18:15-17). In love Baerly

What was unclear to you? What "other subject" do you feel I really want to discuss?

Time didn't run out for the Prodigal, did it? Jesus says that the Father waited patiently for the Prodigal to return. Jesus says that the Shepherd leaves the ninety-nine and looks for the one lost sheep until he finds it. The point is that we know where God is at all times, and we are free to run home to God at any time.

Problem is, we really don't know that he's involved in sin. Some of us think we know, but then then others of us present compelling arguments to the contrary.

Let's be real clear here. Most of your posts seem to revolve around the activity of "gatekeeping." I don't think Jesus is as interested in selling admission tickets to the kingdom as you appear to be. Therefore, you're liable to get some strong arguments from me in rebuttal to gatekeeping kinds of statements.

 

[robtex]

Mod Post: This Is A Same-faith Debate Christian Only. Thank You.

 

[sojourner]

To love is one thing, but to justify is quite another. Christ loved, Christ forgave, but He did not legitimize perverse and ungodly behaviour. There is a difference between the moral nature of homosexuality, and our personal feelings towards homosexuals. Am I wrong?

You mean stuff like judging others and throwing stones at them?

To a point. But we have to remember that our sexuality is part of our personal identity, so when we say that homosexuality is abominable, we are, in effect, calling homosexual individuals "abominable."

 

[sandy whitelinger]

In the culture of the ancient Middle East, honor and shame were imbedded in the sexual identity. Men embodied honor, women embodied shame (according to Bruce Malina, in The New Testament World, Insights from Cultural Anthropology). Whenever the Bible talks about homosexual activity, it always talks about men with men -- never women with women. For a man to "take it up the rear" like a woman was to act shamefully -- taking on the woman's role -- thus abrogating his position of honor. thus, the homosexual act was seen to undermine societal norms. Since societal norms and religious ethic were very closely tied, homosexual behavior was seen as abominable to God.

And therin lies your confusion. The Bible transcends any one culture in order to offer God's way not Middle Eastern traditional thought.

 

[sojourner]

And therin lies your confusion. The Bible transcends any one culture in order to offer God's way not Middle Eastern traditional thought.

But we have to remember that the Bible was written from the perspective of the writer, and understood through the cultural lens of the reader. They also said for us not to wear clothing made of mixed cloth. However, we interpret that differently now, don't we, O wearers of 50/50 cotton/poly?

What is "God's way?" The way of love and acceptance, perhaps?

 

[sandy whitelinger]

But we have to remember that the Bible was written from the perspective of the writer, and understood through the cultural lens of the reader. They also said for us not to wear clothing made of mixed cloth. However, we interpret that differently now, don't we, O wearers of 50/50 cotton/poly?

What is "God's way?" The way of love and acceptance, perhaps?

Remember this, the Bible was inspired from the perspective of God.

The mixed clothing, as well as other aspects of the law were given to the nation of Israel and, on a daily living plane, was meant to help remind them to remain apart from the rest of the world. The analogy would relate to things like not marrying outside of Judaism.

 

[sojourner]

Remember this, the Bible was inspired from the perspective of God.

The mixed clothing, as well as other aspects of the law were given to the nation of Israel and on a daily living plane was meant to help remond them to remain apart from the rest of the world. The analogy would relate to things like not marrying outside of Judaism.

Yes, but that inspiration was received from the perspective of the audience.

The Law, as a whole, was given in order to help that people be "set apart" for God. The cultural and societal awareness was that this society was God's society. Therefore, whatever was considered to be a norm for that society was seen as moral.

It's just not the same way in our culture. We're not a closed society, like the ancient Jews. Our world view is different. Being "the people of God" means something for us, other than what it meant for ancient Israel. Our cultural norms are not predicated upon shame and honor being imbedded in one's sexual identity, as it was for them. What was seen as a man acting shamefully in that culture is not true in this culture. In that culture, it was considered an act of shame for a man to not beat his unruly slaves, too. Slavery, and the resultant beating thereof, is illegal in this culture, and therefore shameful acts. We're just not there any more.