The Good Book and Gay Marriage

Garey

K, however we disagree on the whole point of gays and their marriage rights in relation to marriage. The country and a lot of government forums consider Homosexuals as a group of people, which in fact they are. So your going to physically deny the right of that group of people to be happy and instead be looked upon on as lesser-beings then I or you? They're people just like you and me, but have different feelings of love, I'm sorry but no matter how many times you say it, being gay is not a choice, its not hereditary, so just like you and me have the choice to be or not to be married happy and successfully to a woman, they should be given the right to marry if they please, is it really going to affect you? I didn't think so. If these so called "sinners" are accountable in the same group and rapists, murderers, and adulterers then I'm glad I have nothing to do with these ideals.

And in reply to your "whinnying" scenario, I'm not whinnying, just tired of religious intolerance.

I'm sensing some resentment that's been harbored for awhile.
We, as Christians, understand that the government cannot be based on our religion, nor can its values. I think you, amaciej, are quite mistaken in your belief that we believe that. The freedoms that America offers to its citizens are what makes it a great nation, and we understand that. However, it saddens us to see how far our country is straying from the morals that God has designated, and I myself do not feel that I can vote for a politician or support a movement that contradicts these morals. This does not mean that I dislike homosexuals, nor does it mean that I view them as less than human in any way. On the contrary, I have several gay friends, and although I do not agree with their behavior, they are absolutely wonderful people.
You are right in saying that God is not the One who hands out marriage licenses, but I think that perhaps you might take a step back and examine your statements. Referring to other citizens as 'acting like the Taliban' does not seem to me to be showing much of an open mind, which is apparently where you stand. I think that arguments on topics such as these are meaningless. Words do not change anything, nor can a good defense...or offense, for that matter. I'm convinced that enlightenment comes only from God, and Jesus Himself warned us not to 'cast our pearls before swine'. I believe that in order to have a truly open mind in this society, one must consider all sides of a discussion, not just that of the stance they personally prefer. I can honestly say that I have done this, that the whole of this issue is very complicated. There are many things I have taken into account while deciding where I will stand in regards to gay marriage, and I would like to make it quite clear that this is not a conclusion I have thrown together on a whim. Thanks for understanding.

None of this Bible talk matters anyway, because God is not the one who hands out marriage licenses at City Hall. A clerk does, after you pay a fee and fill out a form. There is no religious standard or requirement for a marriage license (if there was atheists could not get married either) so denying gays on religious grounds is bull.

Those of you wanting to limit the civil rights of gay people sound like the Taliban. The Christian American Taliban. We'll just call you CATs.

Your religion isn't serving you very well if it has you acting like the Taliban.

It is not illegal to be gay or to have gay sex. Because of that, all you folks who bristle at being called a bigot need to think about this: if you advocate limiting civil rights for gay people, based only on personal moral judgments that result from your personal religious convictions, then you are indeed a bigiot.

We don't do things that way in America.

If you want to use your religion against people who are breaking no laws (you simply don't like, understand, or approve of them), then please move to Iran. They love that crap. We don't need you.

I have been reading these comments for the past ten minutes, and I'm fairly convinced that this whole discussion is almost laughable. I was especially interested in those that spoke of God creating individuals to be homosexual, and how the contributors of these comments did not believe that God would tell His creation to be anything different than how He created them to be. I do not know if all homosexuals choose to be gay, but I highly doubt it as no one would choose such a thing when it is so contraversial in today's society. However, I do believe that in some cases, homosexuality is the result of experiences and environmental factors during one's lifetime. In any case, the Bible is very clear that homosexuality is wrong, and I believe that any attempt to contradict this fact can be considered a misinterpretation of Scripture. Therefore, even if humans are born 'gay', I believe that homosexual behavior is still a sin in God's sight and that this must just be their cross to bear. No one can know why God chooses these things, but we can only trust that He knows best. As anyone who has read the Bible will agree, Man has failed utterly in its attempt to be the creations that God initially created us to be, and I believe that these problems we are facing are a result of the sin that has entered the world.
It's hard for me to understand why our society insists on such a separation of church and state. I think we should ask ourselves when, if ever, any good has come from removing God from a situation. I cannot think of any situations that have improved by removing God and His Word.
I don't mean to offend anyone, and I am by no means stating that everyone should agree with me. I know that everyone has their own set of beliefs. That's fine. Yes, I am a Christian, but I have also discussed this with one of my very close Orthodos Jewish friends, and she, too, decided that much of the Scripture in this article was taken out of context. This was Newsweek's first mistake in publishing such a story.

God's design for marriage is for a man and a woman: not a man and a man. "For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh" -Gen:24. Homosexuality is a sin in God's eyes and a perversion of his plan. Christians however should try and help homosexuals and their problems. We are called to be a light to all people.

Disapproval of sexual depravity (homosexuality) does not a bigot make.

Quote joe 6pack: "Bonnie, I'm a child of a homosexual and have never seen anything that would make be believe that anyone is born into this behavior. But, I have seen examples of homosexual recruitment of the young. In my opinion it's you who are the ignorant one. As for calling me a bigot, disapproval of sexual depravity does not a bigot make."

I am the sister of a homosexual and the friend of several others, so I am hardly ignorant. I believe absolutely that gay people are born that way. What they choose to do with their lives is another matter. Experimentation is not unusual, but one does not convert to homosexuality by "recruitment."

And you still sound like a bigot to me.

Wow there is a lot of hate in this debate. You guys should note that you are sinning by hating other people. Anyway about the subject, god clearly disapproves homosexuality as previously pointed out by other people also there sint a single reference to man and man or woman and woman marriage. To me it is clear that homosexual are as result of sin in this world, their body is a a result of sin and that only god can change them. If they arent willing to let god change them then the only way is to live their life without letting that element of their life overwhelm them. The porblem is that with you western people is that you run your life by your genitals and that is where you go wrong(not to eb offensive or anything).

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The Bible contains no less than sixteen separate passages dealing directly with this particular sin and several more which refer to it indirectly.
Genesis 19:5, Leviticus 18:22, Leviticus 20:13, Deuteronomy 23:17-18, Judges 19:22, I Kings 14:24, I Kings 15:11-12, II Kings 23:7, Ezekiel 16:49-50, Hosea 9:9, Hosea 10:9, Romans 1:26-27, I Corinthians 6:9, I Timothy 1:9-10, II Peter 2:6 and Jude 1:7
The events referenced in Genesis 19 took place within the city of Sodom which was destroyed by God because of its wickedness. Homosexual behavior played such a prominent role in Sodom???s destruction that the city???s name has become a synonym for homosexuality.
The two passages in Leviticus are undoubtedly two of the most direct condemnations of homosexual behavior to be found in the Bible, and Ms. Miller was quick to present her belief that these are ???throwaway lines??? from a ???peculiar book??? and that her ???modern understanding of the world has surpassed its prescriptions.??? What she has neglected to mention is that these same ???throwaway??? passages also condemn adultery, bestiality, incest, and child sacrifice. I do not know if Ms. Miller has a family of her own, but I would imagine that if she did she would strongly disapprove of their involvement in any of these behaviors. However, Ms. Miller???s opinion on the application of these verses to today???s society really doesn???t prove her case at all. The simple fact still remains that, in spite of her desires to the contrary, the Bible does indeed condemn homosexuality as sin.
In Deuteronomy 23:17-18, the Bible once again condemns homosexuality as an abomination.
The men of Gibeah mentioned in Judges 19 and Hosea 9 and 10 were known for their homosexual behavior just like the men of Sodom. The Bible refers to these men as being deeply corrupted and warns that God will judge those who likewise corrupt themselves.
The passages in first and second Kings further condemn homosexuality in referring to that behavior once again as an abomination and in praising those who removed that sin from the nation of Israel.
In Ezekiel chapter 16, God said that he saw the destruction of Sodom as a good thing because of the abomination which they had committed.
The passage in Romans chapter 1 is, in fact, dealing directly with the topic of ???gay love,??? (Paul refers to it as ???vile affections???). That this is not simply a reference to the Roman emperors is evidenced by the statement in verse 18 that Paul is referring to all the ungodliness and unrighteousness of men. It???s also rather obvious that the condemnation of lesbianism found in verse 26 could not be a reference to the actions of Rome???s male emperors.
I Corinthians 6 and I Timothy 1 both state very plainly that homosexuals (abusers of themselves with mankind) are unrighteous and lawless.
II Peter 2:6 and Jude 1:7 both explain that the people of Sodom were destroyed because of their homosexual behavior as an example to the rest

Well marriage isnt for the same sex. But let them do what they want.. If they love eachother its not my problem. Yet, to me its nasty but God will still love them and forgive them. So, we have to as well.

Well, Ibeing a Christian its a sin to be married to the same sex. Yet, it is a forgivable sin. That doesn't mean go out and be gay, that God will forgive you. Its up to that person, they know its wrong. And if they want to live their life like that then so be it. I dont think that the sociaty should say its okay. But thats what it comes to when we live in a sinful world.

"Bonnie_Half-Elven, the answers to this do come from the gay community, but those of us who are not gay, have absolutely no interest in being brainwashed by your perverted and delusional choice.... personally, I would have all homosexuals exiled to the afore mentioned states. Sincerely, a True Man."

"True Man," you prefer instead to live within the confines of your comfortable, happy, little place and remain ignorant of a segment of humanity. I can just feel the love eminating from you. You HAVE been brainwashed. Just because you're uncomforatable with something does not mean it's wrong. If your faith in your beliefs is so strong, why are you afraid of the gay community? Do you think they're contagious or so powerful that you willl not be able to resist?

If people really "chose" to be gay, "true men" like you could easily make me wish I was.