How does disobedience not fall under that list? Jesus called himself a good shepherd. He brings wandering (disobedient)sheep back--we can trust him to do this. And disobedience becomes more and more unappealing as he does so. Otherwise he lied about being a good shepherd. My righteousness is as dirty rags. The only righteousness comes from Christ's sacrifice on the cross and that is where I place my hope.
I don't believe Jesus said anything specifically about homosexuality. The Torah did (though not for women) and Paul did, though there was nothing like a commited, monogomous gay relationship in Rome of that day for him to rebuke. He was most likely rebuking straight men (for whom it would be "against their nature") for raping boys and slaves as a power play and a show of control--A LOT of which went on in Rome of that time.
I'm not saying God changed his mind about anything. I'm saying we are frail enough to not be willing to seek out his whole truth. We are too afraid to open our minds to other interpretations of the scripture despite the fact that God loves us and welcomes us to "reason together" with him.
In addition to his command to me to love, he continually says "do not fear, do not fear, do not fear." I have taken him at his word. I trust him with my soul to lead me as a good shepherd. Nothing can snatch me out of his hand.
Tim, I may not continue this line of discussion...it's gone way off topic.
Thank you, Tim. I read God's word in the context of the time it was written--I haven't always done that and it has changed my view on many things. It gives you some insight into the writing and what it meant to people of the day. We have okayed so many things that are forbidden in the New Testament because it is no longer appropriate to our current day. But for some reason, we cannot let a commited, gay couple be called married. I know you have very strong beliefs on the subject of human sexuality, so I won't argue with you about that. I simply believe that each Christian is called (especially today with being able to read the Bible for ourselves) to press in and listen to what God is saying to us individually today. His command to me throughout my life has been LOVE. Love him and love others. I cannot save anyone. But I can be Christ's love. He is the one who transforms. I simply love. I trust his awesome power to draw all people to himself. He earned that right on the cross. Love transforms. Condemnation does not. That is my belief.
And for the record, as I understand our constitution, everyone has the civil right to be themselves, as long as doing so doesn't infringe on others' civil rights. So, yes, Gayle has the civil right to be who she is.
When did it become okay to determine that only certain people could do certain things? When did it become okay for any of us to say that others have to live the way WE live?
Allowing a commited, gay couple to call themselves married HURTS NO ONE. It doesn't hurt your walk with your God. It won't cause you to suddenly and mystically teach your children that homosexuality is okay. You have every right to your beliefs.
And saying that "this is the way it's always been done," is not the best defense for resisting change.
Under God, yes. Under Christianity, no. The founnding fathers made it very clear that there was never to be a state-enforced religion. Therefore, you cannot make laws based on the Bible. Or the Torah. Or the Koran. Or the Wiccan Rede. Laws are made by our representatives or ourselves, voted in by the majority.
Oh, sweet Tim, Christ has already won my heart, he did so when I was 4 years old and I rededicated myself to him at 9. He has never once left me. My soul has already been won...Christ is the one I will meet when I leave this world. I won't have any other human being standing beside me. It will be he and I. And if his promises in the Word are true, I will be saved by his sacrifice on the cross. God and I "reason together" about all of his Word. My walk with him will never be the same as yours.
I truly hear the goodness and heart-brokenness in your words for a world you see as going to Hell. I thank you for caring that deeply. But I am not yours to save. Christ has done that and my soul is in his hands. The best possible hands it could be in. So is yours. So is Gayle's. Christ is transforming each of us, and I will not judge his work.
Vigil sheds light on bullying
This is so sad. It just shouldn't be this way. :(
February 7, 2012 at 10:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
For marriage, change is normal
Senators were getting threats, Jerald. She wasn't saying there were any threats on this board.
February 2, 2012 at 11:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Counties say ‘No’ to 0.2-percent tax measure; new plan emerges
“It is not our responsibility to figure a way out of this mess..."
Despite the fact that the TTC couldn't have been built without the PFD forming. No, you had nothing to do with it. Innocent little darlings, you are.
February 2, 2012 at 5:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
For marriage, change is normal
How does disobedience not fall under that list? Jesus called himself a good shepherd. He brings wandering (disobedient)sheep back--we can trust him to do this. And disobedience becomes more and more unappealing as he does so. Otherwise he lied about being a good shepherd. My righteousness is as dirty rags. The only righteousness comes from Christ's sacrifice on the cross and that is where I place my hope.
I don't believe Jesus said anything specifically about homosexuality. The Torah did (though not for women) and Paul did, though there was nothing like a commited, monogomous gay relationship in Rome of that day for him to rebuke. He was most likely rebuking straight men (for whom it would be "against their nature") for raping boys and slaves as a power play and a show of control--A LOT of which went on in Rome of that time.
I'm not saying God changed his mind about anything. I'm saying we are frail enough to not be willing to seek out his whole truth. We are too afraid to open our minds to other interpretations of the scripture despite the fact that God loves us and welcomes us to "reason together" with him.
In addition to his command to me to love, he continually says "do not fear, do not fear, do not fear." I have taken him at his word. I trust him with my soul to lead me as a good shepherd. Nothing can snatch me out of his hand.
Tim, I may not continue this line of discussion...it's gone way off topic.
February 1, 2012 at 10:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
For marriage, change is normal
Thank you, Tim. I read God's word in the context of the time it was written--I haven't always done that and it has changed my view on many things. It gives you some insight into the writing and what it meant to people of the day. We have okayed so many things that are forbidden in the New Testament because it is no longer appropriate to our current day. But for some reason, we cannot let a commited, gay couple be called married. I know you have very strong beliefs on the subject of human sexuality, so I won't argue with you about that. I simply believe that each Christian is called (especially today with being able to read the Bible for ourselves) to press in and listen to what God is saying to us individually today. His command to me throughout my life has been LOVE. Love him and love others. I cannot save anyone. But I can be Christ's love. He is the one who transforms. I simply love. I trust his awesome power to draw all people to himself. He earned that right on the cross. Love transforms. Condemnation does not. That is my belief.
January 31, 2012 at 11:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
For marriage, change is normal
And for the record, as I understand our constitution, everyone has the civil right to be themselves, as long as doing so doesn't infringe on others' civil rights. So, yes, Gayle has the civil right to be who she is.
January 31, 2012 at 10:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
For marriage, change is normal
When did it become okay to determine that only certain people could do certain things? When did it become okay for any of us to say that others have to live the way WE live?
Allowing a commited, gay couple to call themselves married HURTS NO ONE. It doesn't hurt your walk with your God. It won't cause you to suddenly and mystically teach your children that homosexuality is okay. You have every right to your beliefs.
And saying that "this is the way it's always been done," is not the best defense for resisting change.
January 31, 2012 at 10:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
For marriage, change is normal
Under God, yes. Under Christianity, no. The founnding fathers made it very clear that there was never to be a state-enforced religion. Therefore, you cannot make laws based on the Bible. Or the Torah. Or the Koran. Or the Wiccan Rede. Laws are made by our representatives or ourselves, voted in by the majority.
January 31, 2012 at 10:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
For marriage, change is normal
Gayle, my deep condolences on the loss of your cat. That's a tough one.
January 31, 2012 at 10:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
For marriage, change is normal
Oh, sweet Tim, Christ has already won my heart, he did so when I was 4 years old and I rededicated myself to him at 9. He has never once left me. My soul has already been won...Christ is the one I will meet when I leave this world. I won't have any other human being standing beside me. It will be he and I. And if his promises in the Word are true, I will be saved by his sacrifice on the cross. God and I "reason together" about all of his Word. My walk with him will never be the same as yours.
I truly hear the goodness and heart-brokenness in your words for a world you see as going to Hell. I thank you for caring that deeply. But I am not yours to save. Christ has done that and my soul is in his hands. The best possible hands it could be in. So is yours. So is Gayle's. Christ is transforming each of us, and I will not judge his work.
January 31, 2012 at 1:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )