Posted on 07/12/2006 10:43:24 AM PDT by Aussie Dasher
WASHINGTON, D.C., July 12, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Forget about traditional morality—Christianity should focus on eradicating poverty, protecting the environment and ending the war in Iraq, according to the general secretary of the National Council of Churches, Dr. Bob Edgar.
“Jesus never said one word about homosexuality, never said one word about civil marriage or abortion,” said Dr. Edgar to CBS News at a recent gathering of liberal Christian leaders in Washington.
The gathering was the latest effort by the “religious left” to gain back some of the political power the group enjoyed during the 60’s and early 70’s. 30 years ago liberal religious leaders used their political influence to lead demonstrations against social injustices such as civil rights abuses and the Vietnam War. Once those issues left the spotlight, liberal Christianity lost focus and faded to the background.
Now, liberal Christian leaders are attempting to stage a return to power, targeting young voters and concentrating on increasing childcare funding and raising the minimum wage. The group wants to build a strong voter base to counter what it calls the “ground game” of the Christian right—the powerful voting block of traditional Christians that has significant influence on the country’s politics.
Finding a unifying message that will allow the group to achieve political clout has been a struggle, observers have said. The New York Times reported in May on an earlier meeting by liberal Christian activists in Washington, a brainstorming session concentrating on identifying the group’s goals.
During a session on ethical sexual behavior, the meeting bypassed discussion of concrete issues such as abortion and same-sex marriage. Instead, Rev. Ama Zenya of First Congregational Church in Oakland, California, directed the gathering to discuss their spiritual values and “to practice fully our authentic being,” reported the Times.
The results of the gathering were disappointing, said liberal Baptist minister Rev. Tony Campolo, who once acted as spiritual adviser to President Bill Clinton, and attended the conference.
“We didn’t get on the same page with everyone, and it is about getting on the same page. The thing about the left is that they want everybody to feel good.”
Dr. Edgar, who has been general secretary of the NCC since 2000, was applauded by homosexual activist organizations shortly after his election for withdrawing his signature from an ecumenical statement in defence of traditional marriage, “A Christian Declaration on Marriage.”
Dr. Edgar also apologized to members of the homosexual community for originally endorsing the document, which was co-signed by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Southern Baptist Convention, and the National Association of Evangelicals.
The logic of this statement implies that it is impossible for a Christian to know with certainty what God wants and that sin is not real, but only subjective.
In reality, 99% of Christians - Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican and Reformed - agreed on almost every last detail of this question until the 1930s.
(The Palestinian terrorist regime is the crisis and Israel's fist is the answer.)
It's such a shame that they are more interested in a rhetorical game that suits their political beliefs, as opposed to arguing on the points, aka the beliefs expressed in the Gospels.
On grounds for divorce, Jews followed one of two main schools of thought in the time of Christ, Hillel or Shammai. Jesus trumped both schools, going all the way back to God's original intent for the human race:
Matthew 19
3 The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?
4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,
5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?
6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
So, yes, Jesus did address the homosexual issue. In trumping the Pharisees, in the process he also trumped the silly arguments of these defenders of homosexuality.
God instituted marraige between a man and woman, THIS is what "God hath joined together." No "man can put it asunder." No leftist religionist, no ruling of the SCOTUS.
Dr. Bob Edgar is a LIAR and he will pay heavy price for his deception.
"The liberal Christians would point out that Romans was not written by Jesus or can you attribute a direct quotation in Romans to Jesus regarding homosexuality."
Did Jesus ever speak out against shoplifting, child molestation or perjury?
It's beyond myopic. It's completely hollow.
St Paul and St Peter build the Christian church. Any person that rejects their words and acts is rejecting core Christian faith.
Too bad we must rely on Paul, and not an apostle.
(The Palestinian terrorist regime is the crisis and Israel's fist is the answer.)
Excellent way of putting it.
Paul was an Apostle.
The NCC and the DNC sh do have a thing with queers don't they? Fo De Chillins? I think not.
I don't recall the Master ever condemning rape, spousal abuse, child molestation...so they, too, must be ok. Right Dr. Edgar? Come to think of it, I don't recall Him saying much about people being idiots, which is certainly a point in your favor.
Jesus also never said anything about cannibalism, porn, or S&M.
These people are sick.
Your point is such an important one. It frustrates me how few Christians point to this key passage when radicals say Jesus never said anyting about homosexuality. The scriptures contain an even stronger argument for marriage that I also never hear made.
The reason or cause for marriage is the difference of the sexes. The fact that we are different-- male and female is the purpose that drives marriage.
Same sex marriage is immediately and necessarily NOT DIVERSE. The idea that is somehow indicates diversity is absurd. It is the embodiment of sexism-- yet no one ever points this out.
The most sincere experience that the average person will access in regard to diversity is a lifelong relationship with someone of the opposite sex. Same sex marrige is the walling out of the opposite sex and deeming them irrelevant to God's purpose.
I'm not a theologian, but my opinion is that the dietary and ritual laws (washing hands, pork, worship in the Temple, monthly uncleanliness of women, etc) do not apply to Christians, while the ones governing our relationship with our fellow man do.
Care for the poor, for example, does. Thou shalt not steal does also. How, oh how, to reconcile the two?? That is the liberal's dilemman as they do not want to share their own wealth.
Jesus said that that a man was to have one wife:
Matthew 19
3Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?"
4"Haven't you read," he replied, "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,'[a] 5and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'[b]? 6So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate."
7"Why then," they asked, "did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?"
8Jesus replied, "Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. 9I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery."
So I would say sexual immorality: adultery, fornication, sodomy, etc. are still forbidden.
That's my take, anyway.
(The Palestinian terrorist regime is the crisis and Israel's fist is the answer.)
Jesus never told anyone to stop being Jewish. The Last Supper was a Passover Seder. He was observant to the end.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.