Posted on 04/30/2005 1:01:34 PM PDT by Mo1
I'll go along with sin as a choice to some extent, although some are tempted far more powerfully and grievously than others, so there is little merit for those not so tempted imo.
Also, I don't buy that homosexuality is always a conscious choice. Sometimes it may be exactly that, but with most it seems to some kind of deep inclination we don't fully understand.
But for the grace of God, I could have been tempted in that direction, so who am I to judge? I can't find it in my heart to hate homosexuals unless they push their lifestyle down my throat. There are just some leadership positions that they are not suited for imo.
Love the sinner, hate the sin.
You almost got it, but not quite.
Homosexuality might be an innate temptation built into the persons psyche, not saying it is, not saying it isn't, but so is alcoholism, habitual stealing, serial killing or any other of a myriad of mental illnesses. It is not the temptation that makes the sin, but the action on temptation.
In other words "There, but for the grace of God go I" translates into 'There, but for my following of God go I"
You didn't say much but didn't have to. Sometimes it is very difficult for me to separate the two.
>>Who knows why people drift in that direction?<<
Sin.
One thing we do know from scripture is that prostitutes and other undesirables will inherit the kingdom before some in the better categories recognized by society. Don't remember ever hearing a sermon about that.
Not if they don't act on the inclination or temptation.
Huh? It's not my way. I didn't write the rules. It's not the "Church Of Tricky".
If I did write the rules I'm not sure I would necessarily make the practice of homosexuality a sin, "Love Your Fellow Man" and all that, but the point of the matter is it's not our choice.
I'm not perfect. I'm a sinner just like everybody else, but I would never expect anyone to condone my sin.
We live and die under God's sufferance. We choose to follow or not to follow. Some of our fellow man need our help and we can choose to help or not, but we do them no good by condoning actions. We can understand their feelings and even their actions on those feelings, but understanding is not and should not be condoning.
We will not help them in their quest towards the Father by telling them that their feelings are perfectly normal and so therefore are their actions.
Free will is a b^tch...
You forgot the most important part "Go and Sin no More".
My father has given many sermons on this topic, and before you say it, neither him nor I are perfect, just ask him about my teenage years, well maybe not ;)
I forget a lot of things lately. Like you said, nobody is perfect.
Independant Baptist.
Nonsense - it's still there, regardless of whether they act upon it or not. Prayer and self-control allow you to conquer the temptations, but sin is what leads someone to it in the first place.
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