Rodger McFarlane, Who Led AIDS-Related Groups, Dies at 54 (of suicide)

Rodger McFarlane, a leader in the gay rights movement during the early days of the AIDS epidemic and the first executive director of the Gay Men’s Health Crisis, died Friday in Truth or Consequences, N.M. He was 54 and lived in Denver.

He committed suicide, Mr. McFarlane’s brother John confirmed. In a letter that he left, Mr. McFarlane wrote that he was unwilling to become further debilitated by heart and back problems. He had broken his back in 2002.

Mr. McFarlane was director of the Gay Men’s Health Crisis from 1982 through 1985. The organization, which now provides services for more than 15,000 people affected by H.I.V. and AIDS in New York City, was an early and vocal advocate for public and private research to deal with the disease.

Mr. McFarlane went on to lead two other prominent AIDS-related organizations. From 1989 to 1994 he was executive director of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, a partnership of two theater-industry groups that provides grants for AIDS services. He was later president of Bailey House, which provides housing for homeless people with AIDS.

From 2004 to 2008, Mr. McFarlane was executive director of the Gill Foundation in Denver. Founded by the software entrepreneur Tim Gill, the foundation finances programs advocating lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights.

The Gay Men’s Health Crisis was started in 1982 by six men who had lost friends to AIDS and were dismayed by the lack of services for those with the disease.

Among the founders was the playwright and gay rights activist Larry Kramer, who became a close friend of Mr. McFarlane.

What was the one thing the man was lacking? It is a good question.

It is always best when examining scripture to use the entire account in context, so if I may, here it is and I will give you my analysis and opinion.

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The Rich Ruler - Luke 17: 18-29

18A certain ruler asked him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

19"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good—except God alone. 20You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother."

21"All these I have kept since I was a boy," he said.

22When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

23When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth. 24Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! 25Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

26Those who heard this asked, "Who then can be saved?"

27Jesus replied, "What is impossible with men is possible with God."

28Peter said to him, "We have left all we had to follow you!"

29"I tell you the truth," Jesus said to them, "no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God 30will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life."

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A very interesting story. Christ, being God, obviously knew this rich man's heart. I always thought the man approached Jesus in a very public way with the intent of puffing himself up before Christ. First, the rich ruler attempted flattery of Jesus, but calling him "good" and "rabbi (teacher)." Since the account clearly states the man was of authority, as well as being rich, I imagine he tried this public confrontation in order to establish his piety in front of his subjects, and thus increase his standing. Christ quickly waved these ham fisted attempts off by asking him a question, and then going right to the heart of what he believed was a ticket to heaven - adherence to the Law of God.

Next, the rich ruler claimed that he adhered to the entire law 100%, since his youth to the present day. Basically, he was claiming he was sinless, which from scripture we know is false (Romans 3:23). The man was blatantly lying to Jesus (yet another sin).

Christ must have known that the man's greatest obstacle to salvation was his idolatry. His perceived power as a ruler was idolatry. His wealth was idolatry. So was his pride.

Idolatry is one of the sins that keeps us from God - and God hates it. It is in conflict with the Spirit of God.

16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. 19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Galatians 5: 16-21

So, the man broke the law. The wages of sin are death. Case closed - except, Christ came to save. That was His mission. He was ministering directly to this rich ruler who not only tried to trip up Christ in public, but also wanted to exalt himself.

Jesus has a way of getting right to the heart of the matter. In this case - Christ went right to the man's idolatry in wealth (and the power that went with it) and confronted him with it to repent and change.

Christ emphasized this further in Matthew 6: 24 during the Sermon on the Mount:

No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

This is probably the actual site He gave that sermon. I find this amazing that we can see it even today:

The man, however, rejected that offer, and rejected Christ.

It is by accepting Christ that we are saved. Not works of our own doing. Nothing can save us, except accepting by faith Christ.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God."

Ephesians 2:8

Jesus had not yet been crucified, but He was already gathering those sheep who would listen to His voice to Himself.

Even after the man rejected Him, Christ taught His disciples that grace was available to save.

Fascinating, isn't it?

Unfortunately, that Biblical account has been twisted and falsely used by some to justify terrible doctrine and even tyranny in the world, by claiming that Christ was Himself a Marxist since He told the man to sell his wealth. Of course that is rubbish, for Marxism and Communism themselves are spiritual problems in that they are idolatry also. Marxism is the idolatry of the State, of sinful Man, over God and His Word.

Christ knows that we need "things." He said so.

31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Matthew 6: 31-33

Christ has to be accepted to be saved. God has to be first. Sin can be forgiven, but Jesus has this divine way of exposing to each of us what our spiritual problem is.

Do you lack that one thing?

I am not sure what you mean exactly. I lack many things sometimes. I am a sinful man. That is why I need Christ to save me.

Following Jesus is good advice. He gave the same advice to the rich ruler.

What is your interpretation of Luke 17: 18-29?

>>>don’t make idiotic and cruel wisecracks. FreeRepublic is better than that.

No it isn’t, and hasn’t been since around the time of the Rudy purges. Not saying that’s cause and effect regarding the change of the character of this place, but since then the decay has been noticeably accelerating.

>>>Leviticus 20:13 If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.

There is more then the one verse in this book. Buy one, you got to buy them all don’t you ? Other goodies from Leviticus:

11:6 And the hare, because he cheweth the cud , but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.

11:7 And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you.

11:10 And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you

That’s where the Big Man stands on consumers of rabbit stew, bacon, and Long John Silver’s shrimp platter. I’m in as bad trouble as Roger, I had two sausage pattys Saturday morning. But I do avoid lobster so maybe there is some redemption.

And that’s even before getting into Leviticus and the Big Man demanding animal sacrifice, approving slavery, saying grow a beard, and don’t wear mixed threads. Imagine, going to hell for wearing a cotton/wool blend fall sweater to a football game. It’s not easy being righteous.

What is your interpretation of Luke 17: 18-29?

I will put my interpretation in bold.

Luke.18

[18] And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

[19] And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.

[20] Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.

[21] And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.

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I see nothing to justify your characterization of this as ham-fisted

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[22] Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

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This is very straightforward. Jesus said the only thing the ruler lacked was giving his wealth to the poor.

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[23] And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.

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The man was sorrowful, not haughty or defiant. He wanted to follow Jesus, but he couldn't quite take the last step - giving his wealth to the poor. My guess is that neither of us has done this. At least, I haven't.

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[24] And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

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Now he generalizes it to all those with riches. He did not confine his warning to that one ruler.

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[25] For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

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Once again, he generalizes his admonition.

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[26] And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved?

[27] And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

[28] Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee.

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His followers had given up their possessions.

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[29] And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake

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The language is clear. Rich people don't enter the Kingdom. I'll wager that you and I are rich by any world or historic standard. We have luxuries and comforts that Roman emperors couldn't imagine, not to mention IRAs, health insurance and various other secular goodies. If the Bible is indeed inerrant, then I'm afraid we'll both end up as illustrated in your post #22!

You could not be more mistaken. That is not the message of Luke 17, as I stated to you earlier.

You do not end up in Hell because you have not sold everything and given it all away. That is not what Christ was saying.

That is false doctrine, contrary to scripture, and untrue.

I was suspicious that you were trying to take scripture and twist the story of Luke 17 out of context; and give it that un-biblical spin from the beginning by the nature of your question.

That is why I included all that I did in my post #41 to you - to include the truth in Ephesians 2:8 that we are saved from Hell by Grace through faith.

Alas, I am not able to get through to you on this. I am pinging some other Freeper Christians who are more eloquent than I - and I hope they can provide you further scriptual proof of why you are mistaken.

It is a very important topic - and there is no other topic that is more important to your eternal destiny than this one.

Thank you so much for sharing your insights, dear brother in Christ!

Possessions are an illusion.

The earth [is] the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. - Psalms 24:1

They are however a persistent illusion and so a wealthy Christian often has difficulty realizing that all that he is and all he touches or controls or administers in this life is not his, but God's.

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [which is] in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? - I Corinthians 6:19

And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. - Matthew 19:24

It always comes down to "who do you believe?"

The Christian who truly loves God surpassingly above all else, believes Him and trusts Him - does not cling to any thing or any one in this mortal life. He does not see himself as an owner but as a steward and is not at risk should God put many things under his administration.

For [the kingdom of heaven is] as a man travelling into a far country, [who] called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.

And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.

Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made [them] other five talents. And likewise he that [had received] two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.

After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.

And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, [thou] good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, [there] thou hast [that is] thine. His lord answered and said unto him, [Thou] wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and [then] at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.

Take therefore the talent from him, and give [it] unto him which hath ten talents.

For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. - Matthew 25:14-29

To God be the glory!

The male homosexual "lifestyle" is suicidal and barren.

Genesis 13:13 Now the men of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the LORD.

Genesis 18:20-21
20. Then the LORD said, "The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous
21. that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know."

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.

Psalms 12:8 The wicked freely strut about when what is vile is honored among men.

Ain't this just FABULOUS?? More?

Isaiah 3:9 The look on their faces testifies against them; they parade their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it. Woe to them! They have brought disaster upon themselves.

2 Peter 2:13b Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you.

Ezekiel 16:49-50
49. "`Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy.
50. They were haughty and did detestable things before me. Therefore I did away with them as you have seen.

2 Peter 2

1. But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them--bringing swift destruction on themselves.
2. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.
3. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.
4. For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment;
5. if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others;
6. if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly;
7. and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men
8. (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)--
9. if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment.
10. This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature and despise authority. Bold and arrogant, these men are not afraid to slander celestial beings;
11. yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not bring slanderous accusations against such beings in the presence of the Lord.
12. But these men blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like brute beasts, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like beasts they too will perish.
13. They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you.

But there IS hope!!!

1 Corinthians 6:9-11

9. Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived:
Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders
10. nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
11. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

If you could NOT change, you would be in most pitiful shape.....

God doesnt mind us having riches..

He owns the cattle on a thousand hills...

He just want the riches to “own” us...

The rich man didnt end up in Hell because he was rich...Luke 16:20-31

otherwise Jesus would have ended his story right there...

“There was a certain rich man and he died and was “buried”

In Luke 17: 18-29 Jesus knew that the young man was unwilling to part with his riches because he loved his riches more than God...

Mary, Martha, and their brother Lazarus had land and wealth, but Jesus never told them to give everything away...

Why not ???

Because their riches did not “own” them...

John 12:1 Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.

Jhn 12:2 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.

Jhn 12:3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.

Jhn 12:4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him,

Jhn 12:5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? John 12:1-5

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