[shrinkermd]

...If by gay evangelical is meant someone who claims both to abide by the authority of Scripture and to engage in a self-affirming manner in homosexual unions, then the concept gay evangelical is a contradiction,” Robert A. J. Gagnon, associate professor of New Testament at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, said in an e-mail message.

“Scripture clearly, pervasively, strongly, absolutely and counterculturally opposes all homosexual practice,” Dr. Gagnon said. “I trust that gay evangelicals would argue otherwise, but Christian proponents of homosexual practice have not made their case from Scripture.”

In fact, both sides look to Scripture. The debate is largely over seven passages in the Bible about same-sex couplings. Mr. Gagnon and other traditionalists say those passages unequivocally condemn same-sex couplings.

Those who advocate acceptance of gay people assert that the passages have to do with acts in the context of idolatry, prostitution or violence. The Bible, they argue, says nothing about homosexuality as it is largely understood today as an enduring orientation, or about committed long-term, same-sex relationships...

This is a problem and a controversy that conservatives will face regardless of their belief. It is not going away.

[Elsie]

Mr. Gagnon and other traditionalists say those passages unequivocally condemn same-sex couplings.

Ok. But I wonder WHY??

Genesis 19:4-7
 4.  Before they had gone to bed, all the men from every part of the city of Sodom--both young and old--surrounded the house. 
 5.  They called to Lot, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them."
 6.  Lot went outside to meet them and shut the door behind him
 7.  and said, "No, my friends. Don't do this wicked thing.

[Elsie]

The debate is largely over seven passages in the Bible about same-sex couplings.

I've showed more than 7.

I wonder just what 'seven' is refered to by Dr. (or Mr.?) Gagnon...

[DungeonMaster]

Justin Lee believes that the Virgin birth was real, that there is a heaven and a hell, that salvation comes through Christ alone and that he, the 29-year-old son of Southern Baptists, is an evangelical Christian.

Lots of that was probably true of the guy sleeping with his father's wife in 1 Corinthians. Paul never questioned his salvation, but he certainly insisted that he be kicked out of church until he repent.

[MortMan]

Acceptance does not salvation make.

[machman]

In a way, when the homosexual lobby says "everybody is gay", is a warped sense they are right, in that everbody is a sinner, we all have the ability to choose it. It is our actions, or even our thoughts that make the sin. Which is of course why we need grace, because NOBODY can be as perfect as Jesus. The law was given to the Jews, but it could not save them because no one could live the perfect life.

So we are all liars, cheats, and thefts, and adulterors (for even if you have looked at another women with lust in your heart, you have commited adultery), and what other sins you want to list. But we can be saved by his grace, (and as others have said) as long as we repent and ask for forgivness and strive to "go and sin no more".

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apologies to the author:

Justin Lee believes that the Virgin birth was real, that there is a heaven and a hell, that salvation comes through Christ alone and that he, the 29-year-old son of Southern Baptists, is an evangelical Christian.

Just as he is certain about the tenets of his faith, Mr. Lee also knows he is a thief, that he did not choose it and cannot change it.

To many people, Mr. Lee is a walking contradiction, and most evangelicals and theif people alike consider Christians like him horribly deluded about their faith. “I’ve gotten hate mail from both sides,” said Mr. Lee, who runs theifchristian.net, a Web site with 4,700 registered users that mostly attracts theif evangelicals.

[longtermmemmory]

Mr. Lee also knows he is gay, that he did not choose it and cannot change it.


Here is the point of the article, the ANNECDOTE is being used to bolster the myth that behavior has no choice.

The NYT is in propaganda push for 2008.

[AD from SpringBay]

Gays should first seek the path of repentance.