God never leads anyone to disobey his word. You did not change your position from prayer and study. You did not change it out of obligation to God.Originally posted by Rev. Joshua:
I didn't start the thread to debate homosexuality again. I used to be a fundamentalist - it was prayer and study that led me away from a position condeming homosexuality. It was my strong sense of obligation to God and my call that led me to publically support GLBT Christians. It's very unlikely that you're going to change my mind there.
Jesus and the apostles did not address the social issues in terms of giving a mandate for the church, Joshua. You should know your Bible better than that. He addressed the spiritual needs of people and the focus of the church is primarily on the spiritual needs of people.1 - Jesus did clearly address the social issues of the day (not to the extent that Dominic Crossan might argue - but he still did). He did not address homosexuality, and even Paul only mentioned it in passing.
You pride yourself on being scholarly and then make the most unscholarly statements possible. Paul wrote under the inspiration of God. God breathed out the words that Paul wrote. He constantly affirms this. Your words only show a lack of rudimentary knowledge and acceptance of bibliology.2 - Even Paul did not confuse his own words with the words of God. They do represent the authoritative tradition of the Christian Church, but they are not the words of God.
Right, because he showed that his riches were too important to him to follow Christ in faith.3 - Jesus himself told the rich man that his wealth would keep (Mark 10:21-23) him from inheriting eternal life.
This is simply disobedience to Scripture. You condone what Scripture condemns. That is not the position of a "thinking Baptist." You submit the mandates of Scripture to your own mind. That is far from scholarly and educated. That is spiritual suicide.4 - I agree that we should work to bring all of our desires into obedience to Jesus. However, the way to bring homosexual desire into obedience is the same as with heterosexual desire: by limiting it to a monogamous, committed relationship.
As much as I have talked with you, you ever cease to amaze me with how far out of the orthodoxy of biblical Christianity your positions are. For all of your kindness, you do not show any sensitivity to the words of God in Scripture. That is disappointing for the cornerstone of Baptist thought has always been the authority of the word and rejection of tradition. Oh that Baptists would return to that and abandon this way.
Scott is certianly right on this one. There are other sins that we should be equally strong with, calling for repentance. Joking, derision, and humiliation is not the biblical approach. Consistent loving admonition from God's word is the proper approach.