Topic : Debating Among Different Religious Beliefs

Not to be combative, but this seems a bit hypocritical in light of using absolute, literal scripture to condemn homosexuality. Why is it okay to believe that God is merciful in a divorce situation despite what the Bible says, but not homosexuality?   

I can understand your thinking here. And I'm not trying to justify divorce by any means.  I have never been divorced, so I have no reason to come at this from my particular viewpoint.  I will ask you if you can find anything in the bible that says divorce is an abomination in the sight of God?  The only passage I can find is Duet. 24: 4: "Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the Lord."  To me that says if you've divorced and the wife goes out fornicating that the husband shouldn't take her back.  Maybe that's why many marriages don't work the second time around because it is an abomination to the Lord.  

There are several passages referring to the act of homosexuality being an abomination.   

  Leviticus 18:  22Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. 23Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion. 24Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you: 25And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants. 26Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations; neither any of your own nation, nor any stranger that sojourneth among you: 27(For all these abominations have the men of the land done, which were before you, and the land is defiled;) 28That the land spue not you out also, when ye defile it, as it spued out the nations that were before you. 29For whosoever shall commit any of these abominations, even the souls that commit them shall be cut off from among their people. 30Therefore shall ye keep mine ordinance, that ye commit not any one of these abominable customs, which were committed before you, and that ye defile not yourselves therein: I am the LORD your God.  

I Kings 14: 23For they also built them high places, and images, and groves, on every high hill, and under every green tree. 24And there were also sodomites in the land: and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.  

Using that logic, we can all intentionally sin as much we want, knowing we can simply ask for forgiveness afterwards.  Can gays have sex, repent, have sex again, repent...?  Can their "marriage" be a one time sin if they ask for forgiveness? 

Good question, and truthfully, I don't know the answer to your question.  I do however believe that if someone keeps sinning over and over again then I would question their relationship with God.  If we love God with all our hearts, souls, and minds, we will do everything in our power to please Him and live the way He wants us to.  You're right, God knows our hearts and if we do slip up and fall back into sin, his grace is there to cover us.  Personally, I think if we intentionally keep on sinning God will eventually turn us over to a reprobate mind.  I Corinthians 1:19-28 

You are right, life is not fair. 

However, of all the other "unfair" situations you mentioned none of them except homosexuality is considered to be a sin!!    You are right, celibacy is a choice some people make, but I believe it is a not a choice they would ever make unless they felt they were being called by God to live that way.  Just like not all are called to marriage, not all will be called to a life a celibacy.  The difference is, those who feel called to this way of life still get to choose and have neither choice be considered a sin! 

I will ask you if you can find anything in the bible that says divorce is an abomination in the sight of God?  

I found several (not specifically using the word abomination, but the intent seems pretty clear). Here are two....I deleted passages that seemed irrelevant (for the sake of space, but it's from Matthew 19).  

Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause whatever?"   

Now someone approached him and said, "Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?"   

and from Corinthians...  

"And unto the married I command, yet not, but the Lord,let not the wife depart from her husband. But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband, and let not the husband put away his wife"  

** I had to include and bold the statement about the rich getting into heaven....I think it's tremendously easy for wealthy, heterosexuals to sit in smug self-satisfaction and throw stones at others while they blow by Jesus' words regarding wealth. I am a financially comfortable heterosexual, but I struggle with this and try to remember that it is WAY easier for me to follow commandments as I have not had any great tests.  

As far as Leviticus, I have read Biblical interpretations that give a context to the whole lie with mankind deal. In those times, it was quite common for heterosexuals, I believe the Canaanites, to force themselves on males from other nations as a sign of dominance. After reading the story of Lot in Genesis, it seems to make sense, as that was pretty clearly a case of attempted gang rape of foreigners rather than a loving homosexual relationship.  

Similarly, I have to question the meaning of Sodomite. I know today it refers to anal sex, but it seems the Sodomites were guilty of a whole host of other sins and violence. I have to wonder if the meaning as written in Kings was a reference to ALL the behaviors of the Sodomites or strictly the anal sex. I don't know for sure...if pressed, I could probably argue it either way. That's why I am not so quick to judge or so certain of God's judgment.  

Given that the Bible DOES condemn divorce (and cases could be made for exceptions and context of the times) and there are also scriptures that seem to condemn homosexuality (although cases can be made for context of the times and translations of the text), I still have to say most Christians (at least the vocal ones) DO consider homosexuality to be the BIG BAD sin.  

Homosexuals make up about 5-10% of the population (?). The divorce rate is greater than 50%. If we are trying to save souls and preserve the sanctity of marriage, where's the great crusade to ban second marriages? It 's clearly a much bigger problem.  

Sorry for the novella - and I didn't include everything I was thinking!!LOL!  

The difference is, those who feel called to this way of life still get to choose and have neither choice be considered a sin!  

Heterosexuals choose not to live in sins, too.  Some probably feel that they need more than one woman to fulfill their needs.  They could go out and follow their natural instincts to fall into all types of immorality.  I know someone on the message boards here who thinks that even though they are married, they can have a partner on the side and it's okay.  If your partner knows about it, it's not adultery - hogwash!  Is that not a choice to commit adultery?  Anyone can choose to be a drunkard, a liar, a thief, and all other things considered sin, or they can choose to live a holy life, acceptable and pleasing to God.  Not saying it is an easy path for any of them, but the choice is ours.  Please God, or please the flesh.  Nothing is impossible to overcome for those who believe.       

You may be right in your assessment of the scriptures.  I believe the church has become lackadaisical when it comes to divorce.  I do know that some denominations will not let Pastors preach in their churches anymore if they have gotten divorce.  Personally, I believe that Christians should be setting the example for the world and the percentage of divorce in the church is outrageous.  If God hates divorce, then we should, too...just as all the other sins that is listed in Proverbs that God hates.  

I agree that some Christians believe homosexuality is a BIG BAD sin, while others that claim that title (of a Christian) think it's okay.  I think we will always have those for and against the topic for as long as the earth is in it's orbit - just as many other topics of debate.  Who's right?....well, I guess if you believe it is and when you get to heaven you find out it isn't, you will be in right standing with God.  Now if you are practicing the behavior and you get to heaven (if you make it, that is) and find out that it is sin, I think you will be out of luck at that point.    

I agree that some Christians believe homosexuality is a BIG BAD sin, while others that claim that title (of a Christian) think it's okay 

Was that deliberate? That people who agree with you on the issue of homosexuality are Christians, while those who don't merely claim the title? What are we, star-bellied sneetches? 

Whether or not someone is a Christian is wholly dependent on his/her personal relationship with Christ. I don't think one person can or should judge another's relationship with God. If only people who absolutely "got" the right meaning of all the Biblical passages and lives their lives to that end could be Christian, there would be very few Christians indeed. 

But don't you see the difference?  

When heterosexuals chose not to sin (by waiting to have sex with the person they commit to) THEY STILL GET TO EVENTUALLY HAVE SEX.  But you are saying for a homosexual to chose not to sin they have to give up the opportunity to EVER have sex and enjoy a fulfilling committed relationship for their whole lives!!!!!!!!   

Why do you think God would do this to the people he loves? 

I don't personally believe God takes any pleasure in bad things happening to good people.  When we grieve or hurt he grieves or hurts with us. 

Bad things happen to people in this world not because God causes them but because of the existence of sin in the world.  He "allows" them because he has given us the gift of free will and accepts that at times that free will causes bad things. 

But none of that has anything to do with the question at hand.  It makes no sense to me that since we are all created in God's image that a homosexual person, born the way GOD made them,  would be committing a sin simply for having sex within the confines of a committed, loving relationship just like any heterosexual person would have.  I still maintain that lust and promiscuity is the real sin - and one which we can all equally be guilty of.