The Daily Iowegian On Gay Marriage
By jimrob | February 15, 2008
Ad-Express and Daily Iowegian, Centerville, IA - Can’t spit with out hitting an abomination
I hope you’re getting as tired of hearing about it as I am. Still, there are some who don’t seem to mind that there have been more than 100,000 civilians killed in Iraq because our president lied to us - or that thousands of children die everyday in Africa from starvation, disease and war - and yet they rail on with their diatribes against gays and lesbians.
Typical start to a Dan Ehl opinion piece. Bush lied, now here’s what I really meant to talk about. This guy could write an operating manual for an air conditioner and find a way to work in an anti-Bush diatribe.
“To power on AC unit, turn switch to ON position. Unit will then begin consuming energy produced from ill-gotten oil obtained when President Bush lied to us and invaded Iraq. To increase level of cooling, turn thermostat to COOL position. You will now be using more coolant and energy, which contributes to global warming, a situation President Bush refuses to address.”
There are only five references to homosexuality in the Bible and hundreds and hundreds about loving thy enemy, feeding the poor and taking care of the helpless. Which ones do they focus on?
This is an inaccurate comparison. If you’re going to talk about one particular sin, don’t compare its number of references in the bible (a faulty means of determining relevance anyway) to a whole group of other references. Why don’t you try comparing the number of references to the sins of sexual immorality as a whole? Homosexuality, adultery, incest, etc., to the others you speak of.
Here is an interesting quote from Episcopalian Bishop John Shelby Spong: “There are few biblical references to homosexuality. The first, the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, is often quoted to prove that the Bible condemns homosexuality. But the real sin of Sodom was the unwillingness of the city’s men to observe the laws of hospitality. The intention was to insult the stranger by forcing him to take the female role in the sex act. The biblical narrative approves Lot’s offer of his virgin daughters to satisfy the sexual demands of the mob. How many would say, ‘This is the word of the Lord?’ When the Bible is quoted literally, it might be well for the one quoting to read the text in its entirety.”
This is an oft-stated, yet highly inaccurate response from the pro-gay community. The bible clearly says “man shall not lie with man.” It does not say “man shall not lie with man without offering the other a reacharound.”
He also wrote; “Thus it appears that Paul would not approve of homosexual behavior. But was Paul’s opinion about homosexuality accurate, or was it limited by the lack of scientific knowledge in his day and infected by prejudice born of ignorance? An examination of some of Paul’s other assumptions and conclusions will help answer this question. Who today would share Paul’s anti-Semitic attitudes, his belief that the authority of the state was not to be challenged, or that all women ought to be veiled? In these attitudes Paul’s thinking has been challenged and transcended even by the church. Is Paul’s commentary on homosexuality more absolute than some of his other antiquated, culturally conditioned ideas?
No. “Man shall not lie with man.”
Since I’m tired of writing about the subject, I’ll just reprint this past column
Gay clergy to defy bishops over no-sex ‘marriages’
The Church of England’s crisis over homosexuality deepened yesterday after gay clergy said that they would defy their bishops over civil partnerships.
Some told The Daily Telegraph that they had no intention of assuring their bishops that they will be sexually abstinent when they “marry” their partners.
One said he was “furious” with the way homosexual clergy were being treated and gay rights activists predicted a widespread revolt.
Well, it certainly won’t be the church you’re revolting against.
You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination.
If there is a man who lies with a male as those who lie with a woman, both of them have committed a detestable act; they shall surely be put to death. Their bloodguiltiness is upon them.
While they were celebrating, behold, the men of the city, certain worthless fellows, surrounded the house, pounding the door; and they spoke to the owner of the house, the old man, saying, “Bring out the man who came into your house that we may have relations with him.”
Then the man, the owner of the house, went out to them and said to them, “No, my fellows, please do not act so wickedly; since this man has come into my house, do not commit this act of folly.
Here is my virgin daughter and his concubine. Please let me bring them out that you may ravish them and do to them whatever you wish. But do not commit such an act of folly against this man.
He also put away the male cult prostitutes from the land and removed all the idols which his fathers had made.
They die in youth, and their life perishes among the cult prostitutes.
Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them.
For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.
But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.
Now after reading that, tell me how this makes sense:
The petition, which was posted on the internet by the Rev Ian Stubbs, said: “Jesus nowhere teaches that same-sex relationships fall short of God’s purposes. To withhold recognition and blessing of committed same-sex covenants, including civil partnerships, is unscriptural, unlawful and dishonest. We therefore openly commit ourselves to providing, as appropriate, public services of blessing for those who seek them.”
Allow me to repeat myself a moment.
If there is a man who lies with a male as those who lie with a woman, both of them have committed a detestable act; they shall surely be put to death.
Perhaps different translations are in order?
Leviticus 20:13 (New Living Translation):
The penalty for homosexual acts is death to both parties. They have committed a detestable act and are guilty of a capital offense.
LLeviticus 20:13 (New International Version)
If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads
If a man has sex with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is abhorrent. They must be put to death; they are responsible for their own deaths.
Leviticus 20:13 (Amplified Bible)
If a man lies with a male as if he were a woman, both men have committed an offense (something perverse, unnatural, abhorrent, and detestable); they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
Leviticus 20:13 (King James Version)
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.
Leviticus 20:13 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
If a man sleeps with a man as with a woman, they have both committed an abomination. They must be put to death; their blood is on their own hands.
So yeah, I guess you’re right. God was just having a bad day when he sent that bit down with Moses. That’s why Jesus never said anything about homosexuality. Oh, wait a minute…
What was the attitude of Jesus towards the Law of Moses? In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus said the following:
“Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them. For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:17-20)
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that every one who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away; it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.” (Matthew 5:27-30)
“It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I say to you that every one who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.” (Matthew 5:31-32)
Thus Jesus invariably upheld the authority and applicability of the teachings and Law of Moses. In fact He interpreted Moses in a manner which intensified the demands of the Law. The Law reveals the moral character and the holiness of God which can not change. The purpose of the Law of Moses is not to produce good moral behavior, but to call all of us to understand our need for God’s mercy and forgiveness:
“…a man is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ, and not by works of the law, because by works of the law shall no one be justified.” (Galatians 2:16)
Now what’s this about God not caring if you’re gay, as long as you love your partner?
Topics: Homosexuality |
3 Responses to “The Daily Iowegian On Gay Marriage”
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February 15th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
Of course he fails to acknowledge the huge amounts of money this country spends on foreign aid, both from the government and individuals, churches and charities.
Problems in Africa can’t be solved with money. If they could, there wouldn’t be a problem as huge sums of money have been spent there already.
He also fails to see how a country that morally deteriorates could see the wrath of God.
February 16th, 2008 at 8:11 am
Moral deterioration? All these poor queer folk want to do is commit themselves to life-long relationships! What’s so unmoral about that?
(sarcasm off)
February 22nd, 2008 at 9:51 am
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