OK, now I understand what you meant.
You're right that it bugs me. You're wrong about why.
I'm not angry with Ryan--I'm afraid for him. I'm not ready for a fight--like
you said: there is no fight. God doesn't need defenders, He needs witnesses.
I suppose I might be a bit apprehensive about taking a punch from the
world--about being persecuted by those who reject God. I'm afraid for others
who might be tempted or swayed by those who reject God if favor of the values
of this world.
I don't understand why most religious people hold homosexuality to be a sin
greater than other sins that are destructive to life and limb. After we leave
this life, is seems that sexual relationships come to an end anyway (unless
homosexuality is evidence of some deeper spiritual deficiency, but I don't know
what it would be.)
Many Christians tell (most) sinners they will be accepted as they are with the
belief that God will change them over time. But then tell homosexuals they
have to repent before darkening the door of the church. All the while, we have
churches full of people who battle their private sins of the flesh as they live
in the hope that their faith will one day set them completely free of their
fleshly desires.
They still come to church.
I don't believe that the Bible's warning against sexual sin, in general, and
homosexuality in particular was a misinterpretation or just the thoughts of
men. I believe those prescriptions are from God. My father used to say (not
seriously), "I brought you into this world, I can take you out."
As soon as you really believe in a living God who is the creator of all things,
you have to believe that his whims are the definition of goodness by default
and that that definition may approximate humanity's values in some areas but
are hugely different in others. In a world with hurricanes and decay and
disease, you have to believe that death and destruction are part of His plan
just as the leaves die every year and fall from the trees. It is not realistic
to believe that God has the same egalitarian--celebrate
diversity--save-the-wilderness-from-whatever values the world has. (You
watched Mt. St. Helens explode in your back yard, after all.)
If God ends up deciding to take Ryan out (or me for that matter) I don't hold
it against Him.
Lots of people are angry at God for not legitimizing what they are or want to
do. Some people don't have "natural" affections. Their blood gets pumping by
people of the same gender or by animals or children or by sadism or intimate
clothing or other people's feet. We can judge those affections by a hard
standard or by a spongy societal-impact standard. We eventually do have to
pass judgment--lest the offenders will demanding to "do it" in the road or in
your living room. This isn't intended to be a "slippery slope" or a "give them
an inch..." argument. It is to state that if you can't remove the line of
judgement, you can only allow it to shove you around.
"Vengence is mine, saith the Lord." He will take it eventually. We are seen
as intolerant bigots if all we do is respect God's position in the matter. And
especially if we try to warn anyone. The war in this world is over where the
line of tolerance and acceptance is, not whether there is one because everyone
has their own lines drawn.
-DP
I'm not sure what you meant by "this is going to bug you", but you're right.
*It ain't "Me" that's right.. but rather the wisdom I prefer you to embrace.
*Try to look down the road to a time when young Ryan will return to the fold..
*Will God accept him? If God will extend forgiveness of sin, wash it pure as
snow.. Who are we to even condem him in his "sin"? *That's the work of the
convicting power of the Holy Spirit.
We let GOD the "3 in 1" do what heavy lifting there is to do...
*Our duty as Rangers is to stand ready for anything.. Praying that God's work
will stand this test, and that his peace will fill our hearts with LOVE for
young Ryan!
*It's going to bug you.. because your head is not ready to let go of a fight
for percieved injustice to the Gospel message. Let go.. there is no fight.
Duane
-=A=-
_______________________________________________
The Golden Rule is my daily rule.
Are you READY for the return of the LORD?
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