Posted on 08/12/2005 12:36:50 PM PDT by claudiustg
And on the homosexuality issue, at least one church is calling the ball on the underlying issue of Scriptural interpretation. Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson, leader of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, called for a global, ecumenical council on the Christian interpretation of Scripture. In his report Aug. 9 at the 2005 Churchwide Assembly of the ELCA Hanson called for the Pope, the Ecumenical Patriarch in Istanbul, and the Anglican and Lutheran Communions to come together to address a church identity crisis due to the dominance of a "fundamentalist-millenialist-apocalypticist reading of Scripture."
Blaming one interpretation or another for the Church identity crisis may not be the point, however. Most Americans have no interpretation of Scripture impacting their lives at all. The latest Barna survey of 1,002 adults nationwide indicates that only 5 percent of Americans claim a biblical worldview. In spite of the fact that most Americans consider themselves to be Christian, very few adults base their moral decisions on the Bible, and surprisingly few believe that absolute moral truth exists.
So if not the Bible, on what do Americans base their moral decisions? According to the study, some 54 percent said they use specific principles or standards they believe in. Another group (24 percent) simply does what feels right or comfortable. The rest are conflict avoiders and base their decisions on pleasing people or on whatever choice will create the best outcome.
(Excerpt) Read more at churchcentral.com ...
For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality.Note that they do not have to define what constitutes immorality because these followers of Christ knew what it meant and did not embrace it, something that still holds true today.
Actually, I believe such a series of Ecumenical Councils have already dealt with this question.
This bunch is just "looking for loopholes."
That is a lame strawman. Paul in his epistles discusses dietary issues for the Christian. There is no requirement in the new testament to be kosher.
In Matthew, Jesus spoke of the punishment that befell the city of Sodom as being "just" so we know how he weighed in on the matter.
Did he ever say the word "homosexuality?" No, he did not. He didn't need to tell those who followed Him what they already knew.
How old are you?
Never spoke of abortion either. Oh, wait . . . you guys believe in THAT too! (I love how you do that "gotcha" with God: "Hey, God, you forgot to tell us not to do that, so here we go . . . ")
It's why I left.
As long as we're here, I'm curious. Do you believe in the afterlife? If so, do you believe you're going to heaven? If so, why?
My parents are still members of the ELCA church of my childhood. I'm curious to see how closely your answers match theirs.
I see no one here saying that. However you are promoting homosexuality as normal behavior that is accepted by the Bible.
No, it's a proper understanding of Leviticus, which you obviously lack. Levitical law is divided into three sections: moral law, cultural law and civil law. Homosexuality is condemned as part of the moral law, while eating shellfish, the mixing of crops, fabrics etc. are cultural laws. In the New Testament God made very plain that the cultural laws of Leviticus were not binding on those in the new covenant, while at the same time reinforcing the moral laws laid down in the same book. Homosexuality is condemned in the strongest of terms by Paul, who also argued for the freedom of Christians from Levitical cultural laws.
I guess you missed the part about kosher not being a restiction on Christians. Peter would later expound upon that further when he described the allow foods being spread before him. But no, I don't eat blood.
Gee, liberals are so dim!
When you get back, you MUST see this thread.
You err by saying that because there is silence then it is right. You then follow up by saying we are to love one another - as if 'love' means permissive homosexual sex. These again are lame strawmen.
The word for love used in the context Jesus said it in is in the greek 'agape' - an unconditional love. Were Jesus to imply a sexual love He would have used 'eros' or 'pornea'(sp). Jesus did explitly state only one kind of relationship as being sanctioned by God - that between a man and a woman. It was understood that homosexual relations were forbidden - hence no need to mention it.
Really interesting thread ping.
Typical liberal. They embrace a lifestyle condemned by God and known to destroy those who practice it and then they accuse those who resist them as being full of hate.
To adapt one from Forrest Gump, "Hateful is as hateful does."
And these people teach death.
Splitting the curch? If they believe in false doctrines they are no church and they will be judged for their split tongues.
Good old Micah and Ezekiel:
12 And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spake to him, saying, Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one assent; let thy word therefore, I pray thee, be like one of theirs, and speak thou good.
13 And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, even what my God saith, that will I speak.
17 And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace.
Ezekiel 22:23 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
24 Son of man, say unto her, Thou art the land that is not cleansed, nor rained upon in the day of indignation.
25 There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey; they have devoured souls; they have taken the treasure and precious things; they have made her many widows in the midst thereof.
26 Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.
27 Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain.
28 And her prophets have daubed them with untempered morter, seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord GOD, when the LORD hath not spoken.
29 The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully.
30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.
31 Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord GOD.
Zechariah 10:2 For the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams; they comfort in vain: therefore they went their way as a flock, they were troubled, because there was no shepherd [NKJV: therefore the people wend their way like sheep; they are in trouble because there is no shepherd].
Drat. I was really just hoping to pick his/her brain.
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