Response to Linda and Aineo
To Linda I have already written responses to all you have said if you read the rest of this topic. Aineo and I have been discussing quite a lot.
Aineo let me begin by saying that I dont know you personally and I am in no position to judge you and I have no idea what you have been through. I am truly happy that you are living the life that you want to. I was definately emotional and feel that It sounded like I was attacking you as a man and that is absolutely unaccaptable. I am sorry.
What I am attacking is a form of reactionary Christianity that stands for the church establishment and NOT for Jesus Christ.
"Andconsidering the fact that Paul was one of Jesus's disciples, I do think that it was Christ's message. Remember, the disciples were sent to spread the teachings of Jesus Christ. "
I guess this is what it comes down to. Yes Paul was Jesu's disciple. so was Judas. Judas betrayed Christ. What makes you think that Paul in many ways does not betray Jesu's message. Pauls will is not the will of Christ and frankly (though I dont believe in this ugly idea that sent far too many to the stake) this idea is far more blasphemous than anything I have said. Jesus warned against false teachers, and it is unfortunate that many have failed to heed this warning. The church does not speak for Christ. Anyone with the most basic knowledge of the history of the Catholic church should know this. Ever heard of the inquisition, the crusades these were all started by church leaders like Paul who also claimed to be disciples of Christ. The pharises begin to plan to kill Jesus soon after they watch his blatant assault on the religious establishment. the priestly class could not tolerate the idea of someone who made them superfluous, who shows that everyone must have a direct conection to god. sadly most Christians today emulate the pharises far more than they do Jesus. they are interested in rules and conformity and have no interest in emulating the radical struggle Christ took upon himself.
Aineo if you let the bible be a stagnat piece of literal rules, It does little. Yes the bible does contradict itself in many places if you take it literally. Just tkae the passage you just sited "I come not to bring peace but a sword" Jesus says a little earlier blessed are the peacmakers. This is a literal contradiction. Does it make the overall message weeker? no it just shows that a flat literal reading of scripture is deeply flawed. Jesus' use of parables shows you how the higher truth is deeper than literal language can reflect.
Aineo this is not a diatribe by a pawn of the insidious homosexual left as you would like to believe. I dont even know what you mean by gay theology and am hurt by your unflinching attempt to categorize me so you can write off what I am saying. I am someone who is drawn to Jesus Christ but is reppelled by the church establishment, you seem bent on defending, that has betrayed allmost everything that Jesus actually fought for.
You didnt threaten to censor me because I was acting obnoxious (I have treated you with far more courtesy and respect than you have me)
You threatened to censor me because your current way of viewing the bible is to set in stone to ever be seriously questioned.
I really have no problem with the way you want to live your life. I have a problem with people like you providing false justifacation for the abuse and cruelty that homosexuals have to put up with. Aineo you can speak about what makes you happy and fulfilled but you simply cannot speak to the experiences of all gay, lesbian, and transgendered people and what they want and what they believe their appropriate relationship to god should be. take Christ's advice to refrain from judging them.
Lastly you condemn personal attacks but resort to false ones yourself. I am not regurgitating "gay theology" and all these thoughts are my own. Please have the common sense and respect to believe that someone might have THEIR OWN INDEPENDANT views about Christ that dont conform with the ones you want everyone to have.
-James