Homosexual Discussion ForumLeviticus.If I may make an observation... your quarrel doesn't seem so much to be about either. It seems to be a trainwreck of faith and dogma. Irshad Manji talks about the difference between the two in her book, and on her website. Which one of you is trying to impose and conquer and which one has constuctively sought answers in an effort to grow and understand, I won't say. That's not my point. What I will say is this: we don't have all the answers. Only God is omnipotent, and only He is our judge. He is both just and good, and is kind, including when He punishes - so the fact that He's my judge gives me great comfort and peace. I am secure in my faith as a gay man. The research Ptolemy puts forth here is stuff I came across quite some time ago, but he expounds on it much more (and very effectively and thoughtfully, I might add - thank you for your efforts Ptolemy). I have great hope for the plan God has for my life - I truly hope it includes a husband, but even if it doesnt, I've had the joy of falling in love with one man, who, even though my feeling were not requited, I know one day he and I will be together, in God's presence, forever, and that through Him, we'll be closer than we ever could have been on Earth, in an endless future with no ignorance or pain, or suffering - only God's perfect light. To get back to Ptolemy's points, they are consistent with my faith. The Bible is seemingly vague and confusing at times. That doesnt mean the verses we're discussing have no purpose (although the argument could be made about "not being subject to the law" etc, and just end it there). I believe that those verses are there for a reason. But I know they were written as having a purpose for everyone who reads them. And I believe that purpose is to be found beyond the literal meaning (because when you do come to the conclusion that they seem directed at prostitution, that doesnt mean they were written for prostitutes and their "clients," and people who take a particular interest in railing against them, to the exclusion of all others). Each verse must hold meaning for all people through all time. I derive no pleasure from, say... stealing. I've never done it, and never felt a compulsion to. That doesnt mean that verses in the Bible condemning theft have no meaning for me (and I dont mean "meaning for me" in the "Yay, now I have something to condemn those wicked 'stealers' with" sense). And I dont think my getting meaning from it comes from other people who want to impose their dogma on me, and tell me what my attitudes ought to be toward stealing. Such insight into Scriptural meaning ought to come from the Holy Spirit - and He'll grant me that insight based on the capacity with which He's endowed me with, in His time. For those who insist that I am outside of "proper"/"correct" Christianity... I think you have the basics down... that there is one God, that Jesus is His son, sent to die for our sins, etc... but I think you just dont have the capacity right now to graps the deeper meaning of some of the things in the Bible, and that those deeper meanings come from the Holy Spirit - not by how effectively you can shove your version of things down another person's throat. But, our minds are so limited, and small, and so easily fooled and confused... and ultimately, they arent what's meant to know God - that's what our eternal souls were created for. And once we're face to face with God, each one of the things that confused us, and all the things we could never know... we'll have all eternity to learn about them, to learn about God... and that will never run out.[/quote] |
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