You are absolutely right Preacher in training.
Crystal, I am simply pointing out the misinterpretation that is the basis for most anti-gay theological discussion. The many loopholes and the out of context scriptures that have been so evilly and judgementally twisted into God's word by some people here are a sad indicator of a dying breed.
Society has essentially become pro-gay, you can see it on TV you can see it in your everyday living. As the church slowly becomes pro-gay, the dying breed of people who twist God's word will soon be silenced. Look at the progress of the Episcopal, Methodist, Lutheran and Presbyterian Churches.
To clarify for you even more Crystal,
I am a homosexual male, aged 19, I am in college studying psychology. I have done extensive research and studies in the Bible, ancient Rome, Hebrew and Old Testament. My father is a Lutheran Pastor and has been for 33 years. My significant other is 18, his father is a Methodist minister and has been for 26 years.
We met when we were 13 and 14 at an interdenominational youth gathering in the community, and discovered our feelings for one another when we were 15 and 16. Through discussion with our respective Bishops, fathers, and other pastors, we have come to the realization that not only is it ok to be Christian and homosexual, but it is ok to be a practicing homosexual in a Christian relationship.
Both of us were presidents of our church youth groups and both plan to enter seminary after college. I have discussed the idea of seminary with my statewide Bishop (Lutheran) and they plan to admit me as an open homosexual as soon as I finish a 4 year degree.
Our parents, churches, and friends are in full support of our decision to be homosexual. This is a sign of the times, showing that not only is God comfortable with people being homosexual, but he also commands us to love Him and love one another. Just because one is born homosexual, does not mean they deserve to live a miserable life with no close comforting loving relationship with another homosexual.
Does this mean that we go run around with rainbow flags, and have rainbow tags on our cars and shove it in peoples' faces...ABSOLUTEY NOT!
Both of us are extremely devoted to the advancement of our lifestyle however we would NEVER EVER participate in any sort of activity that MAKES us different. Gay day, gay pride marches, gay clubs, rainbow stickers...all of that is part of the "fad" of the gay community. We have never and would never participate in such displays of perversion.
Unfortunately, the gay lifestyle has come to mean a life involving promiscuity, serial monogamy, prostitution, child molestation, degradation, baths, bookstores, golden showers, brown scenes, orgies, drugs, alcohol, etc. The gay "lifestyle" has but one purpose: to search for something to satisfy a never ending hunger. Just look at most of the ads in our gay publications. Actually, this is not a lifestyle at all. It's more like a DEATH-style. We don't live by it, we die by it. God hates it. He hates it because He loves us. You see, this death-style degrades us, hurts us, and makes us feel bad about ourselves deep down inside. If you really think about it you will find that it's a prison.
Please notice that everything associated with this "lifestyle" is also found in the heterosexual world as well...promiscuity, serial monogamy, prostitution, child molestation, degradation, baths, bookstores, golden showers, brown scenes, orgies, drugs, alcohol etc. The only difference is that heterosexuals do these things with people of the opposite sex and homosexuals do them with people of the same sex. Also note that just as all heterosexuals do not participate in this type of life, neither do all homosexuals.
If homosexuality is all wrong in God's eyes because some homosexuals live like this does that mean heterosexuality is wrong because some heterosexuals do likewise? Of course not!! God hates these things no matter who does them. After all, don't you hate it when someone you deeply care about is hurting themselves and others you care about? Think about it. God's love is greater than we can ever imagine much less express to another! That's why He hates the things that hurt us.
Just because a person is gay does not mean they have to buy into this gay stereotype. We are who we are and God knew it from our mothers' womb. We were made wonderfully complex!
Psalms 139:13-18
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you. (NIV)
A homosexual is different from a heterosexual in one way: a homosexual is attracted to people of the same sex and a heterosexual is attracted to people of the opposite sex. Otherwise we are all the people of God's creation with similar yet unique complexities of heart, mind and soul. Certainly, well all do better to devote our whole hearts, minds and souls to loving God.
Matthew 22:36-40
"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
I hope this will help you Crystal. You keep saying that we are in a debate on here. There IS NO debate. People can conjur up 6 or 7 lines of scripture, take them out of context and base God's teaching around those lines. However, it takes someone who has an inner relationship with God and the Bible to create a true argument. See my response to Leviticus below.