Cherry-Picking The Bible

Author: Willows

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#1
Willows
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Isn't it ironic that homophobes will lean on the Bible to justify their distasteful and primitive views.............

Leviticus 18:22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is an abomination. 

Yet, read a bit further in the Book of all that is wise and we read:
Leviticus 19:27 You shall not round off the side-growth of your heads nor harm the edges of your beard.

Do we see all Christians walking around with long hair and shaggy beards?

No, we don't and just goes to show how bigots will cherry-pick the Bible for their own devious ends.

#2
Mopac
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Christians are not obligated to practice Jewish customs. Some Christians do. Jewish Christians also tend to follow the Jewish customs.

It is understood even in the new testament that homosexuality is a symptom of worshipping the creature rather than the creator. It is a symptom of idolatry.

What is idolatry? That which you let get in the way of being honest about what is true. Making something else more important than God.
Never recognizing that The Truth is God, instead prefering to turn God into created things.. .

"Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them."
 

#3
keithprosser
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Mopac is quoting Romans, chapter 1.  Paul's revision of Chrisitianty relieved gentile Christian converts from many of the strictures of Judaism such as dietary laws and circumcision - no doubt that was crucial in allowing Christianity to grow in popularity.

But while Paul dropped many Judaic features from Christianity, the quoted passage shows he retained its condemnation of homosexuallty, which is not so surprising given Paul appears only grudgingly accepting of marrage and sex in general.

AFAIK there isn't a definitive list in the bible of what aspects of Judaism are binding on Christians; hence differences of theological opinion and interpretation do lead to 'cherry picking'.      

#4
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@keithprosser
One of the major overarching themes of The New Testament is how the letter kills, but the spirit brings life.

The spirit being Truth and charity.


Sodomy is a symptom of idolatry.

If you need any more proof, look at how many people cannot accept God because they prefer the satisfying of their lusts to The Truth.

Sodomy is destructive, inherently flesh driven, and though the people who engage in these things should be shown charity, it would be wrong to lie to them and say that there is nothing wrong with it.

#5
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@Mopac
I would point out that heterosexual sex is also almost always flesh driven.   Married straight couples do sex for fun, not only when they actually want to make baby. 

Anti-homosexuality has two roots; the first is that a proportion of people do seem to find it repulsive.   The other is that in the ancient world rulers wanted as many children born as possible so they discouraged non--reproductive sex in all forms.   The reason was that a large population was the key to strength - it allowed for more soldiers to defend the homeland and to attack neighbours.   

If you screw someone wearing a condom then you are doing lust-drive sex for fun, not reproduction.   In such a case, why would it matter if your partner is male or female?

The Catholics are at least consistent in condemning contraception if sex is indeed for reproduction not satisfying lust.


   

#6
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@keithprosser
You know what else is flesh driven?

Eating.


A Godly marriage between a man and a woman not only perfects love through love of spouse, but it perfects love through love of children. These children, are better prepared to live a godly life than the orphans who are raised by one or no parents or worse yet, people who have unhealthy and perverse attitudes towards sex.


There is no benefit, and only harm from encouraging people to engage in sodomy.
#7
keithprosser
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@Mopac
Surely a homosexual couple can perfect love through love of spouse just as much as a straight couple can.   Gays may not be able to have biologica children to love, but they can adopt just as a childless straught couple can.

#8
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@keithprosser
If a man loves another man, let it be as a brother.
If a woman loves another woman, let it be as a sister.

Men and women are different. It is hard for them to sometimes get along because we are different. Prefering to marry the same sex shows intolerance towards the opposite sex. 

I would not wish for any child to be raised in such a perverse environment.