Homophobia

[nod2014]

homophobia-  Although sexual attitudes tracing back to Ancient Greece (8th to 6th centuries BC to the end of antiquity (ca. 600 AD)) have been termed homophobia by scholars, the term itself is relatively new.[11] Coined by George Weinberg, a psychologist, in the 1960s,[12] the term homophobia is a blend of (1) the word homosexual, itself a mix of neo-classical morphemes, and (2) phobia from the Greek φόβος, Phóbos, meaning "fear" or "morbid fear".[13][14][15] Weinberg is credited as the first person to have used the term in speech.[11] The word homophobia first appeared in print in an article written for the May 23, 1969, edition of the American pornographic magazine Screw, in which the word was used to refer to heterosexual men's fear that others might think they are gay

[Tiny Sparrow]

in which the word was used to refer to heterosexual men's fear that others might think they are gay

That reminder needs to be refreshed, reiterated, in society today. Because now the term has been corrupted by homosexual activist groups to refer to people who are morally opposed to homosexuality on religious and other grounds.

Great excerpt.

[chosenone]

yes anyone who now says that its wrong for 2 men or 2 women to have sex or get 'married', is apparently doing do because they 'fear' gays which is of course crazy. I feel sorry for them not fear them. Its their word to try and make us feel bad for calling them out, and its used a lot today by gays and politically correct others as well.  Its clearly not even the right meaning of the word anyway.

[Tiny Sparrow]

yes anyone who now says that its wrong for 2 men or 2 women to have sex or get 'married', is apparently doing do because they 'fear' gays which is of course crazy. I feel sorry for them not fear them. Its their word to try and make us feel bad for calling them out, and its used a lot today by gays and politically correct others as well.  Its clearly not even the right meaning of the word anyway.

That's true.
But like the rainbow, and the word "gay", "homophobia" has been appropriated, misappropriated in this case, by the ultra-left homosexual agenda so as to do exactly what they argue should cease against their "community". Bully, and demonstrate intolerance, toward those who are not homosexual. And particularly those who are religiously opposed to their demonstration of unnatural behaviors and immorality.

What I find fascinating is, those who profess to be ex-homosexual, are scorned, treated with intolerance, and bullied by the homosexual community.
It's interesting those who demand tolerance fail to give it to those who are no longer aligned with their understanding of what must be tolerable.

[chosenone]

yes anyone who now says that its wrong for 2 men or 2 women to have sex or get 'married', is apparently doing do because they 'fear' gays which is of course crazy. I feel sorry for them not fear them. Its their word to try and make us feel bad for calling them out, and its used a lot today by gays and politically correct others as well.  Its clearly not even the right meaning of the word anyway.

That's true.
But like the rainbow, and the word "gay", "homophobia" has been appropriated, misappropriated in this case, by the ultra-left homosexual agenda so as to do exactly what they argue should cease against their "community". Bully, and demonstrate intolerance, toward those who are not homosexual. And particularly those who are religiously opposed to their demonstration of unnatural behaviors and immorality.

What I find fascinating is, those who profess to be ex-homosexual, are scorned, treated with intolerance, and bullied by the homosexual community.
It's interesting those who demand tolerance fail to give it to those who are no longer aligned with their understanding of what must be tolerable.

yes they say there must be acceptance and tolerance and free speech, unless its anyone disagreeing with them.

[Tiny Sparrow]

yes they say there must be acceptance and tolerance and free speech, unless its anyone disagreeing with them.

Agreed.
There was a Christian lecturer that reported how someone visited 13 gay bakeries, how they ascertained these were bakeries owned by gays I've no idea, and asked for a traditional, i.e straight, wedding cake. All 13 bakeries refused.

Where's the media?
Where's a civil rights commission that's to make threats against this protected class of persons? Where's the protesters lining up after the press jumped all over the story of sexual discrimination?
What about the straight rights activist group, S...., oh yeah there isn't one.
Because straights lives aren't about who they sleep with. We don't say that and then "come out" in a press junket. 

[Jean74]

As a Christian you may not like their lifestyle but as also one, you need to love the sinner not the sin though. Agree to disagree. Praying for them!

[Tiny Sparrow]

As a Christian you may not like their lifestyle but as also one, you need to love the sinner not the sin though. Agree to disagree. Praying for them!

Love the sin hate the sinner is a quote by Shakespeare. It's not actually verbatim in Bible scripture.
That being said, I don't know any Christian, and by that I mean those who are baptized in the Holy Spirit, who does not love the homosexual. And as such that is why they do not tolerate the behavior that let to remain as sin damns the sinner.
Love saves. It doesn't tolerate watching the damn parade with pride straight to Hell.   

[chosenone]

As a Christian you may not like their lifestyle but as also one, you need to love the sinner not the sin though. Agree to disagree. Praying for them!

Yes, they need to know the One who can save and heal them.

[nod2014]

As a Christian you may not like their lifestyle but as also one, you need to love the sinner not the sin though. Agree to disagree. Praying for them!

People need to know they are sinning.  If they were really saved they would know that homosexuality is a sin.  I'd tell them that God will forgive them of their sins if they ask forgiveness.

[Falan]

I used to think it was wrong to be gay until I discussed it with an old friend who was a parish priest. My argument was it is unnatural until he pointed out there are many instances of gay relationships in nature. Interestingly this was not widely known about because it was censored in any kind of documentation or reports into the natural world until quite recently. You can find out more by searching about this in Google, apparently they just did not report or write about it until early in the 20th century.

Whatever your own personal opinions on the subject it was an interesting point. As someone pointed out already I think that hate the sin not the sinner would be a good philosophy if you are strongly against homosexuality.

[chosenone]

I used to think it was wrong to be gay until I discussed it with an old friend who was a parish priest. My argument was it is unnatural until he pointed out there are many instances of gay relationships in nature. Interestingly this was not widely known about because it was censored in any kind of documentation or reports into the natural world until quite recently. You can find out more by searching about this in Google, apparently they just did not report or write about it until early in the 20th century.

Whatever your own personal opinions on the subject it was an interesting point. As someone pointed out already I think that hate the sin not the sinner would be a good philosophy if you are strongly against homosexuality.

However we are not animals we are made in the image of God. We know better. Also the whole of creation is skewed in many ways. Did this priest think it was ok to have gay relationships? Not sure if he was RC, but apparently 2/3rd of RC priests in the USA are gay.

[revmitchell]

Whether homosexuality is actually natural or not is irrelevant. Also what animals do does nothing to prop up the argument for this perverted behavior. However scripture is clear on this issue, Paul wrote that these are vile affections. It seems natural to do all sorts of things. Jeffry Dahmer thought it felt natural to do the things he did. Alcoholics think it feels natural to stay drunk. The fact is natural or not God said do not do it. Period.

[Catholica]

I used to think it was wrong to be gay until I discussed it with an old friend who was a parish priest. My argument was it is unnatural until he pointed out there are many instances of gay relationships in nature. Interestingly this was not widely known about because it was censored in any kind of documentation or reports into the natural world until quite recently. You can find out more by searching about this in Google, apparently they just did not report or write about it until early in the 20th century.

Whatever your own personal opinions on the subject it was an interesting point. As someone pointed out already I think that hate the sin not the sinner would be a good philosophy if you are strongly against homosexuality.

Those relationships "in nature" are not of the kind that people who push the homosexual agenda would want to attribute to human relationships.  Typically they are just shows of dominance of one male over another.

There are all kinds of immoral things that are practiced in nature.  Some animals have sex with dead animals.  Other animals are cannibals.  That these things happen natural among animal species shouldn't allow people to rationalize their own practices of necrophilia and/or cannibalism.

Humans have free will, unlike animals, and because they do they have a responsibility to live up to a moral standard that God sets, and that moral standard says that homosexual relations are sinful.

[Hexalpa]

What gets me is the power that has been given to such people nowadays, they rule with a type of Nazi attitude and sadly they are totally happy to use malice to destroy anyone who oppose them.

People have to fear them now in the work place, because if they say one word out of place they could be tossed out of their profession for life.

I have seen such totally radical Nazi like people be it gay or not, become totally full on deranged, barking mad with total malice towards anyone that something somehow could be maybe be interpreted as anti gay.

My buddy who worked with a gay in a bank had to constantly put up with total full on disgusting demented filth talk coming from a gay day in day out, he said that if a man talked such disgusting trash like such about women, their would be hell to pay.

It's a fee for all nowadays if you are Gay, such a one can say and do what ever they want and no one can say one thing against such ! they can have as many so called lovers a day or month and not be judged at all.

Now on the other hand how can I nowadays say to my sons, not go out disrespecting women playing around like a filthy mongrel lowlife dog and be Politically Correct.

Political Correctness is what the Nazi's and communist used to brainwash people, it's the work of Satan the adversary to Salvation.

[OrthodoxSooner]

I used to think it was wrong to be gay until I discussed it with an old friend who was a parish priest. My argument was it is unnatural until he pointed out there are many instances of gay relationships in nature. Interestingly this was not widely known about because it was censored in any kind of documentation or reports into the natural world until quite recently. You can find out more by searching about this in Google, apparently they just did not report or write about it until early in the 20th century.

Whatever your own personal opinions on the subject it was an interesting point. As someone pointed out already I think that hate the sin not the sinner would be a good philosophy if you are strongly against homosexuality.

Ok... Show me the gay animals that engage in sexual intercourse. An adolescent male dog will hump anything, yet they don't have homosexual penetration with another male dog. There is a big difference in what gay sex is for humans and what the GLBT would try to have you think is gay behavior in animals.

[onfire4christ]

As a Christian you may not like their lifestyle but as also one, you need to love the sinner not the sin though. Agree to disagree. Praying for them!

Love the sin hate the sinner is a quote by Shakespeare. It's not actually verbatim in Bible scripture.
That being said, I don't know any Christian, and by that I mean those who are baptized in the Holy Spirit, who does not love the homosexual. And as such that is why they do not tolerate the behavior that let to remain as sin damns the sinner.
Love saves. It doesn't tolerate watching the damn parade with pride straight to Hell.

First, Hate the sin, love the sinner. Isn't even biblical. Matter of fact, it's contrary to the Word, completely.

It's logically untenable. At one time it may have been used to make a point that we are not to completely remove ourselves from the world. As a result from this teaching, many Christians have become worldly, lost their passion for God, and can identify with the sinners better than the church.

Remember, the bible often gets on to us and reminds us to guard our hearts with all diligence and not be unequally yoked with unbelievers.

There have been other teachings that are not biblical also, or have been Christianized
Be careful what you pray for Coined by Confusious
Unconditional love taught by many new-age circles and pop-psychology before it made it's way into church.
hate the sin and love the sinner can be found in Gandhi's writings.

Many of the church leaders including God Himself teaches that we are to hate the sin and the sinner.

How can we or God separate the sin from the sinner? We can't, sin has no existence apart from the sinner, sin is an extension and representation of the soul and thoughts of the sinner. Sin and the sinner share a metaphysical union similar to the body and soul or the man and his heart. Jesus said that a man acts and speaks from the abundance of his heart, in other words, sin is the heart of man and the two cannot be separated in order that we love one and hate the other.

Too often Christians attempt to describe God in terms that are overly simple and in so doing, describe His love in a monolithic sense. The bible tells us in John 3:16 that "God so loved the world that He sent His Son into the world that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life". But this benevolence for mankind doesn't begin to describe the manifold nature or love of God. Yet this is what most would use as a proof text for "unconditional love". There are other scriptures similar to John 3:16 which say that while we were enemies of God, Christ died for the ungodly. God's love for mankind as a group does not entail that He loves each and every human being.

John 14:21 Jesus said "He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father and I will love him and I will manifest Myself to him". Here we have a counter-example to "unconditional love", one which is conditional. Theologically and logically speaking, if we can show one proof text such as John 14:21, then we can disprove the theory of unconditional love. This and one other scripture in John are the only two verses where Jesus preached on God's love towards man. The other five scriptures where Jesus talks of love is strictly regarding how we are to love God and our neighbors. The word love is not even in the book of Acts. This is the book where we can read and know what the Apostles preached and model the ways we present the gospel to the sinner as well.

The Old Testament is a rich source of knowledge when it comes to learning about the nature of God. Psalms 5:5 speaking of God "You hate all workers of iniquity" and Psalm 7:11 "God is a just judge and God is angry with the wicked everyday"; Psalm 11:5 says this of the Lord "The Lord tests the righteous, but the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates". And Psalm 97:10 instructs Christians how they should feel towards the sinner "You who love the Lord, hate evil (or evildoer)". The workers of iniquity would be those who continually sin despite knowing the truth of God, they are lawless and have no respect for God and His moral law and Christian who loves God will hate sin and love righteousness.

Even Jesus hated evil. Hebrews 1:9 was speaking of Jesus "You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness, therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness..." (Understand this verse could be amplified to read workers of righteousness and workers of lawlessness. Righteousness and lawlessness have no existence apart from the moral agent committing such acts.). This can also apply to the Sermon on the Mount; where Jesus says "Blessed are those who seek righteousness". What He is saying is blessed are those who seek to live and do righteous acts.

I think if we take the bible in its proper context and not lift any scriptures out of context we will see that God has a general benevolence for mankind but does indeed hate the workers of iniquity as well as the iniquity – additionally the concept of "unconditional love" is not a biblical concept. God's love and mercy are great, but not unconditional, Paul tells us to preach the full counsel of God which includes His hatred of sin and the workers of iniquity as well as His mercy and love towards those who repent and place their faith in Christ.

We Christians are to love the righteous and hate the evildoers; while holding a benevolence towards the evildoers as we attempt to reach them for Christ. But the minute we go beyond this "benevolence" to a love that accepts the evil of the workers of iniquity we become a murky spring and polluted well (proverbs 25:26). We find ourselves as friends of the world; and we know that James said that "Any man who is a friend of the world is an enemy of God"(James 4:4). We can have familial relations whereby we love our unsaved family members while disapproving of their sinful deeds - this is a tight line to walk and if we are not careful; we may find ourselves fighting against God because James also said "friendship with the world is enmity towards God"(James 4:4). Remember Jesus said that "A man's enemies will be the members of his own house, I came to set father against son, daughter against mother..."(Luke 12:49-53). There is a sense in which the members of our own households become our enemies for Christ's sake. The Christian must use great caution with their friendly and family relationships, and the bible gives us ample warning about "bad company corrupting good morals".

We need to "Re-think" this love the sinner and hate the sin in godly terms of having a general benevolence for all men that desires the highest and best for them viz. salvation, while hating the boastful and proud who flaunt their sin and hatred of God. "Open rebuke is better than secret love,"(Proverbs 27:5) we see this kind of love through the ministry of Jesus and His apostles. If we study the ministries of Jesus and the Apostles, we will come to know that preaching to the sinner that God loves them will actually hinder the work of the Holy Spirit, this is why the word love does not appear in the Acts of the Apostles  while they preached repentance and the fear of the Lord. God does desire that all men repent and come to a knowledge of the truth (loving His Son); then based on this condition He will enter a loving relationship with the repentant sinner. God cannot force you to love Him nor can He decree that you love Him because the concept of love logically entails an act of free will.

Do you want the anointing of joy and gladness, are you looking for revival fires to fall? Love the righteous ones and hate the workers of iniquity! Stand for God, find excuses why we should live holy and honor God - break from the pack that defends the enemies of God, the worldly, the sinner, or the Christians that make excuses why they can't live holy. Sadly enough, 99% of every Christian that I speak to would rather make excuses for sin rather than find ways to live holy and defend God.

What some great preachers had to say about "hate the sin, love the sinner"

AUGUSTINE: (354-430, Bishop of Hippo): "For it may be that GOD HATES A PERSON to the degree more mildly, as not to destroy him, but whom He destroys HE HATES THE MORE EXCEEDINGLY, by how much He punisheth more severely. Now HE HATETH ALL WHO WORK INIQUITY: but all who speak lies He also destroys." (Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Vol.3, p.462)

JOHN WESLEY: (1703-1791, founder of Methodism): "But as for the wicked, GOD HATES THEM, and will feverishly punish them." (Explanatory Notes Upon the Old Testament, Vol.2, p.1639)

CHARLES G. FINNEY: "The very thing that God hates and disapproves is not the mere event - the thing done in distinction from the doer; but it is the doer himself. It grieves and displeases God that a rational moral agent under His government should array himself against his own God and Father, against all that is right and just in the universe. This is the thing that offends God. The sinner himself is the direct and only object of His anger." (The Guilt of Sin, pp.84-85)


CHARLES H. SPURGEON: "Verse 5 - Note the singular opposition of the two sentences. GOD HATES THE WICKED, therefore in contrast He loves the righteous..." (The Treasury of David, Vol.2, pp.57-58)

MATTHEW HENRY'S COMMENTARY: "He is a holy God, and therefore HATES THEM (the sinner), and cannot endure to look upon them; the wicked, and him that loveth violence, HIS SOUL HATETH... Their pros-perity is far from being an evidence of God's love...their abuse of it does certainly make them objects of HIS HATRED. He hates nothing that He has made, yet HATES THOSE who have ill-made themselves."

Oh, how we must confront the sinners of this generation with the righteous hatred of God! When we sample most of today's Evangelical preaching, its main theme is love. However, neither Jesus or any of His Apostles ever told the lost multitudes, "God loves you". Never! Rather, they told the multitudes of their duty to love God supremely and love their neighbor equally - this is all the Law of God. The Lord's followers were undoubtedly motivated by love, and so should we. But this does not mean that we should speak of love. The real question for the world today is not "Does God love you?" but "Do you love God?" If sinners would not keep God's Law, they were warned of the righteous judgments of God, so that they would fear Him. In the book of Acts (our first example of Church evangelism), the word "love" is not mentioned even once, while the fear of the Lord is referred to ten times! What is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom? The Bible says it is THE FEAR OF THE LORD! One cannot love God in the Biblical sense - benevolence, good-willing, perfect submission - until He fears God!

Alexander Maclaren cautions, "Let us take care, lest for the sake of seeming to preserve the impartiality of God's love, we have destroyed all in Him that makes His love worth having. If to Him the good and the bad, the men who fear Him and the men who fear Him not, are equally satisfactory, and, in the same manner, the objects of an equal love, then He is not a God that has pleasure in righteousness; and if He is not a God that has pleasure in righteousness, He is not a God for us to trust."

The extra biblical, humanistic gospel that starts with God's love for sinners has quenched the conviction of the Holy Spirit upon so many. Sinning rebels will hear some patty-cake "Christian" telling them that "God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life". The sinner then thinks that it means God accepts them, is pleased with them, or that God has good feelings for them. How far this is from the truth! May the prophets of God begin to speak the truth and define their terms. God is Holy, and does not accept sinners as they are - He righteously hates them as they are! God's "plan" for them is eternal torment in the lake of fire unless they repent and submit to God!

Are we to love gay's? Yes, enough to tell them the truth. That being gay doesn't mean you can't be saved. If you are born with the disposition or proclivity towards being gay, does not justify violating the natural God given gift of sexuality.
Just as race is sacred, we dare not violate it, so is sexuality, we dare not violate that either.
Myself, once living the bi-sexual lifestyle, has renounced my disposition for Christ. I no longer live the lifestyle. Am I tempted, yes. Just as everyone else is tempted by adultery or covetousness. But I place my Trust in Jesus, and He always makes away out.

[Alma1995]

Many of the church leaders including God Himself teaches that we are to hate the sin and the sinner.

John 4:20
If anyone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.
John 2:9
Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness.

You are not to hate. I always thought there was something wrong within gay people until I met a beautiful young lesbian woman who became my friend. We should not judge them.

[LexKnight]

Many of the church leaders including God Himself teaches that we are to hate the sin and the sinner.

John 4:20
If anyone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.
John 2:9
Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness.

You are not to hate. I always thought there was something wrong within gay people until I met a beautiful young lesbian woman who became my friend. We should not judge them.

I don't disagree with you, but for the record those two passages speaks about hating your brother, and those of the world are not your brethren. It's speaking of those among the brethren in the assemblies, not just anyone.

[Jason_NC]

I used to think it was wrong to be gay until I discussed it with an old friend who was a parish priest. My argument was it is unnatural until he pointed out there are many instances of gay relationships in nature. Interestingly this was not widely known about because it was censored in any kind of documentation or reports into the natural world until quite recently. You can find out more by searching about this in Google, apparently they just did not report or write about it until early in the 20th century.

Whatever your own personal opinions on the subject it was an interesting point. As someone pointed out already I think that hate the sin not the sinner would be a good philosophy if you are strongly against homosexuality.

Regardless of what may or may not happen "in nature" (in a fallen world) the fact of the matter is the bible calls homosexuality a sin, therefore it is a sin. 

That said, it is not an unforgivable sin.

One thing I do think Christians are guilty of is over-emphasiszing this sin.  The bible talks a lot less about homosexuality than pride, hate, or adultery.

Our job is to preach the gospel and let the Holy Spirit do His job. 

[Alma1995]

I used to think it was wrong to be gay until I discussed it with an old friend who was a parish priest. My argument was it is unnatural until he pointed out there are many instances of gay relationships in nature. Interestingly this was not widely known about because it was censored in any kind of documentation or reports into the natural world until quite recently. You can find out more by searching about this in Google, apparently they just did not report or write about it until early in the 20th century.

Whatever your own personal opinions on the subject it was an interesting point. As someone pointed out already I think that hate the sin not the sinner would be a good philosophy if you are strongly against homosexuality.

Regardless of what may or may not happen "in nature" (in a fallen world) the fact of the matter is the bible calls homosexuality a sin, therefore it is a sin. 

That said, it is not an unforgivable sin.

One thing I do think Christians are guilty of is over-emphasiszing this sin.  The bible talks a lot less about homosexuality than pride, hate, or adultery.

Our job is to preach the gospel and let the Holy Spirit do His job.

You are right, it's a sin. I can't stand some people that call themselves Christian that constantly harass the LGBT community for "sinning" when what they do it's a sin as well. I've had gay friends and while I didn't support the lifestyle they chose that didn't hold me back from developing a friendship with them.

Matthew 7:1
"Do not judge, or you too will be judged."

[chosenone]

I used to think it was wrong to be gay until I discussed it with an old friend who was a parish priest. My argument was it is unnatural until he pointed out there are many instances of gay relationships in nature. Interestingly this was not widely known about because it was censored in any kind of documentation or reports into the natural world until quite recently. You can find out more by searching about this in Google, apparently they just did not report or write about it until early in the 20th century.

Whatever your own personal opinions on the subject it was an interesting point. As someone pointed out already I think that hate the sin not the sinner would be a good philosophy if you are strongly against homosexuality.

Regardless of what may or may not happen "in nature" (in a fallen world) the fact of the matter is the bible calls homosexuality a sin, therefore it is a sin. 

That said, it is not an unforgivable sin.

One thing I do think Christians are guilty of is over-emphasiszing this sin.  The bible talks a lot less about homosexuality than pride, hate, or adultery.

Our job is to preach the gospel and let the Holy Spirit do His job.

We all know that pride hate and adultery are wrong as well.

[LexKnight]

For me it's not the issue that people do it because they always will, the world will ha e their way. The issue is when a nation fully endorse and promote it, God will not bless sin.

[raggthyme13]

I recently had a discussion with a person who is homosexual and claiming to love Jesus. I have always wondered about so-called gay Christians... I figure the world will do what it will but if you are calling yourself a brother, that's a whole different story. In the end, it was very evident that this person considered the Bible no more than a two thousand year old book written by mere men. He did not consider it to be authoritative as a whole, even though he believed selective portions. He focused on the fact that Christ never specifically condemned homosexual behavior while he walked among us. He focused on the "judge not" parts. He also brought up the homosexual behavior found in nature. Just because the animals do something doesn't mean we should. Our lives must be directed by the word of God. It is clear where God stands on the issue.

[LexKnight]

I recently had a discussion with a person who is homosexual and claiming to love Jesus. I have always wondered about so-called gay Christians... I figure the world will do what it will but if you are calling yourself a brother, that's a whole different story. In the end, it was very evident that this person considered the Bible no more than a two thousand year old book written by mere men. He did not consider it to be authoritative as a whole, even though he believed selective portions. He focused on the fact that Christ never specifically condemned homosexual behavior while he walked among us. He focused on the "judge not" parts. He also brought up the homosexual behavior found in nature. Just because the animals do something doesn't mean we should. Our lives must be directed by the word of God. It is clear where God stands on the issue.

Agreed, we weren't admonished to stay away from the world who practiced such, but the so-called brothers.

[Jason_NC]

I used to think it was wrong to be gay until I discussed it with an old friend who was a parish priest. My argument was it is unnatural until he pointed out there are many instances of gay relationships in nature. Interestingly this was not widely known about because it was censored in any kind of documentation or reports into the natural world until quite recently. You can find out more by searching about this in Google, apparently they just did not report or write about it until early in the 20th century.

Whatever your own personal opinions on the subject it was an interesting point. As someone pointed out already I think that hate the sin not the sinner would be a good philosophy if you are strongly against homosexuality.

Regardless of what may or may not happen "in nature" (in a fallen world) the fact of the matter is the bible calls homosexuality a sin, therefore it is a sin. 

That said, it is not an unforgivable sin.

One thing I do think Christians are guilty of is over-emphasiszing this sin.  The bible talks a lot less about homosexuality than pride, hate, or adultery.

Our job is to preach the gospel and let the Holy Spirit do His job.

You are right, it's a sin. I can't stand some people that call themselves Christian that constantly harass the LGBT community for "sinning" when what they do it's a sin as well. I've had gay friends and while I didn't support the lifestyle they chose that didn't hold me back from developing a friendship with them.

Matthew 7:1
"Do not judge, or you too will be judged."

Do not take that verse out of context.  It is not meant to say we should not judge, but taken in its context it says we should judge rightly and not hypocritically.

[Jason_NC]

I used to think it was wrong to be gay until I discussed it with an old friend who was a parish priest. My argument was it is unnatural until he pointed out there are many instances of gay relationships in nature. Interestingly this was not widely known about because it was censored in any kind of documentation or reports into the natural world until quite recently. You can find out more by searching about this in Google, apparently they just did not report or write about it until early in the 20th century.

Whatever your own personal opinions on the subject it was an interesting point. As someone pointed out already I think that hate the sin not the sinner would be a good philosophy if you are strongly against homosexuality.

Regardless of what may or may not happen "in nature" (in a fallen world) the fact of the matter is the bible calls homosexuality a sin, therefore it is a sin. 

That said, it is not an unforgivable sin.

One thing I do think Christians are guilty of is over-emphasiszing this sin.  The bible talks a lot less about homosexuality than pride, hate, or adultery.

Our job is to preach the gospel and let the Holy Spirit do His job.

We all know that pride hate and adultery are wrong as well.

Yes, we do, but I think you missed my point.  How often do you see Christians condemning people for these sins the way many Christians condemn homosexuals?   

[hoghead1]

I know that Paul took a dim view on homosexuality.  However, he also took a dim view on women. The Bible forbids homosexual behavior.  However, just how many biblical laws are we willing to live with today?  Certainly none of us would want to keep slaves or sell our daughters into slavery, which is sanctified in the OT, not to mention all sorts of dietary restrictions. Divinely inspired as the Bible may be, it is still the product of an ancient racist, sexist, semi-barbaric, pre-scientific culture.

[hoghead1]

Studying other animals enables us to get a clearer picture on sex.  it is apparent that sex exists for many other social purposes than mere reproduction.

[chosenone]

I know that Paul took a dim view on homosexuality.  However, he also took a dim view on women. The Bible forbids homosexual behavior.  However, just how many biblical laws are we willing to live with today?  Certainly none of us would want to keep slaves or sell our daughters into slavery, which is sanctified in the OT, not to mention all sorts of dietary restrictions. Divinely inspired as the Bible may be, it is still the product of an ancient racist, sexist, semi-barbaric, pre-scientific culture.

We are Christians who are no longer subject to OT laws, we are living under the New Covenant and arent Jews anyway.  God, through Paul, didnt just take a 'dim view of homosexuality', he was very clear that its forbidden, sinful, and that those who practise it wont be saved.  I dont agree that Paul took a dim view of women, and Jesus certainly didnt. 

[chosenone]

Studying other animals enables us to get a clearer picture on sex.  it is apparent that sex exists for many other social purposes than mere reproduction.

We can read the Bible to find out that sex in marriage is very important.

[chosenone]

I used to think it was wrong to be gay until I discussed it with an old friend who was a parish priest. My argument was it is unnatural until he pointed out there are many instances of gay relationships in nature. Interestingly this was not widely known about because it was censored in any kind of documentation or reports into the natural world until quite recently. You can find out more by searching about this in Google, apparently they just did not report or write about it until early in the 20th century.

Whatever your own personal opinions on the subject it was an interesting point. As someone pointed out already I think that hate the sin not the sinner would be a good philosophy if you are strongly against homosexuality.

Regardless of what may or may not happen "in nature" (in a fallen world) the fact of the matter is the bible calls homosexuality a sin, therefore it is a sin. 

That said, it is not an unforgivable sin.

One thing I do think Christians are guilty of is over-emphasiszing this sin.  The bible talks a lot less about homosexuality than pride, hate, or adultery.

Our job is to preach the gospel and let the Holy Spirit do His job.

We all know that pride hate and adultery are wrong as well.

Yes, we do, but I think you missed my point.  How often do you see Christians condemning people for these sins the way many Christians condemn homosexuals?   

Quite a lot actually.

[Jason_NC]

I know that Paul took a dim view on homosexuality.  However, he also took a dim view on women. The Bible forbids homosexual behavior.  However, just how many biblical laws are we willing to live with today?  Certainly none of us would want to keep slaves or sell our daughters into slavery, which is sanctified in the OT, not to mention all sorts of dietary restrictions. Divinely inspired as the Bible may be, it is still the product of an ancient racist, sexist, semi-barbaric, pre-scientific culture.

We are Christians who are no longer subject to OT CEREMONIAL laws, we are living under the New Covenant and arent Jews anyway.  God, through Paul, didnt just take a 'dim view of homosexuality', he was very clear that its forbidden, sinful, and that those who practise it wont be saved.  I dont agree that Paul took a dim view of women, and Jesus certainly didnt.

FIFY.   

[bcbsr]

I don't understand where the "phobia" part comes into play. I don't think I've ever met someone who is "afraid" of homosexuals, nor any other category of sexually immoral person. If we call "greed" sinful should the greedy claim we're "greedophobic"?   

Homosexuality is simply yet another category of sin which if people live such a lifestyle indicate that they will not inherit the kingdom of God.

"Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders  nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God." 1Cor 6:9,10

[chosenone]

I don't understand where the "phobia" part comes into play. I don't think I've ever met someone who is "afraid" of homosexuals, nor any other category of sexually immoral person. If we call "greed" sinful should the greedy claim we're "greedophobic"?   

Homosexuality is simply yet another category of sin which if people live such a lifestyle indicate that they will not inherit the kingdom of God.

"Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders  nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God." 1Cor 6:9,10

yes I dont get that phobia part either, nor when we are accused of hating. I dont hate anyone. Surely its far more hateful to let them think that how they live is ok.