On other sites when I say something negative about homosexuality or "gay marriage", someone will typically assume that I am basing my entire argument on the Bible. Further, they typically think that I am only referring to :
Leviticus 18:22 - Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.They also always seem to think I use the King James Version. Really, I prefer the NASB.
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.
Thinking it is some kind of argument, these folks also invariably bring up :
Leviticus 11:12 - Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you.They say, "Ha! Silly Bible-man. Your Bible says that shellfish are an abomination! What do you think of that?"
Well, here is the definitive answer. According to the Bible, I guess I would also have to be against two people marrying who claim to be shellfish.
Work to protect society from "shellfish marriage." You'll be glad you did.
Chilling. I know that this does not rise to the level of the very real bodily persecution of believers in truly hostile territories. But it is an insidious manuver that is a sign of things to come. The death knell of religious freedom as we understand it is ringing.
Prepare to be an outlaw.
The following is a quote from a lesbian I know. Out of respect for her, I am not providing a link to the source. She is a private person. We'll call her Susan.
Before now, I have associated physical closeness with fear. I am profoundly afraid of the male body. I fear men's larger size and greater strength. I fear the sexualization of roughness. I fear having no choice about opening the sensitive parts of myself, no equality in giving and receiving. The act of sex with a man as a woman seems brutally invasive, the allowing of a larger, stronger, more dominant partner to satisfy himself by plunging into one's already smaller and more sensitive body. I've never been able to separate it fully from rape in my mind. I've never recovered from seeing a penis as a weapon, unpredictable and injurious, however unfair the perception may be as associated with individuals I've otherwise cared for deeply. This lies at the heart of how I've been so asexual, so reserved. This fear.Susan later goes on to record that she is instead looking to women to fill her emotional and sexual needs.
This quote should remind us (and I am using the opportunity to remind my critics) that Christianity teaches that we are all vulnerable and hurting individuals without Christ. To read words like this of a wounded soul opening up and letting us view the deep anguish of her heart should trouble us and move us to compassion. Yes, we must work against the systemic legitimization of sinful behavior. But, quotes like this should give feet to the notion of "hate the sin, but love the sinner."
This quote also gives anacdotal evidence to something I have claimed here before. Homosexual activity is psychologically hurting behavior. Susan has had a long time fear of men - their size and physical strength. This fear interferes with her ability to function normally with a man in the accepted social and biological ways. There appears to be some fear of normal sexual activity - it is brutal, like rape. She, in fact, identifies the penis as a weapon. Using some models, we might say, with compassion, that Susan may have difficulties with Trust, Autonomy, Identity, and Intimacy issues. We identify these difficulties as problems in other areas of life, but seem to take them as normal with regards to homosexuality. It is Unchristian and Unloving to ignore the psychologically damaging aspects of homosexual behavior and leave beloved souls to a lifetime of emotional pain.
Christians should stand up and call homosexuality a sin. This is attested to in Scripture and is beyond dispute. But if that is all we do, then we have only preached half the gospel (and so really, not preached at all). Jesus Christ offers hope and healing to those who are scared and hurting. Much more than simply "curing Susan's homosexuality," Jesus Christ can heal the deepest and darkest wounds of a frightened young woman and enable her to be all that the Lord designed and destined her to be. To the extent that Christians do not complete the call, we have ourselves sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
Be a source of light and hope to those in dark and troubled times.
If you haven't yet read the Ockhamist's latest short story, take a few moments and do so now. Nicely done, friend.
I love joke lists. This one is hilarious! Be prepared to take the time to read it all the way through. I almost wet myself.
Avalanche Company : 213 Things Skippy can't do in the Army.
I saw the Passion movie last night. I am overwhelmed. Not by the violence, although it was striking. But by the love that motivated Jesus to endure and finish the race set before him. This is why he died...
Sin Makes Us Unacceptable to God
Romans 3:23God Still Loves Us
all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
Romans 5:8Sin Earns Death, but God Gives Eternal Life in Christ
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 6:23Confess, Repent, Believe, Call
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 10:8-13Do You Have Eternal Life?
But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile-- the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
John 3:36
"Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him."
Believe in the Son. Believe in the power of Jesus to save your soul from death.
May God bless you richly. Amen.
Mayors all over the country are flaunting law and tradition and declaring that all citizens must obey the one true God.
A mayor of a city in California said, "The Constitution protects our right to the freedom of religion. We will no longer deny that God is the only ruler of this land – no matter what the laws of California might say!"
Amen, brother, Amen.
A mayor in New York state said, "There are many people who do not want us to acknowledge the true Master of Creation. But, I cannot deny His sovereignty over the lives of our citizens. The Constitution protects religious expression and we will not stop until every citizen bows in submission and expresses their obedience to God.”
Fight the good fight.
Most recently, the mayor of Seattle said, "I have struggled with this issue. But in the last few years I’ve come to the conclusion that we cannot deny that the Christian God is the one true Lord of Heaven and Earth. To deny Him would be to ignore a power that is higher than the laws of Washington or federal law. This is the decision I have come to personally. The rest of America will eventually come around."
Preach it, my friend.
These mayors know that the only way to get something done is to simply declare it to be so and then challenge those who disagree to do something about it. It is time for all people of faith to stand behind them and realize that the Law has no control over us. Seize control of your local power base - Stand for Christian conviction - Demonize your opponents - Fight for Right against those who disagree.
"Through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God"
Today marks an historic event in the life of the Middle East. Iraq's governing council signed an interim constitution today. This was made possible by Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Husseini al-Sistani allowing Shiite members of the council to sign the document despite his own opposition.
Al-Sistani objected to the clause in the draft that gave Iraq’s Kurdish and Sunni Arab minorities the power to veto a permanent constitution even if the Shiite majority approved it in next year’s referendum. He even issued a fatwa on his Web site saying the document “will not gain legitimacy except after it is endorsed by an elected national assembly.”The document is not the real story. The real story is Al-Sistani allowing a process to continue of which he has publicly stated formal religions objections. Adherence to Islam is partially defined as holding Islamic law to be National Law. Each branch of Islam has a different view of exactly what this law is, and so cannot really recognize each other or work together. Democracy will never work in a place where citizens are forbidden by religious law to work in harmony. There is no such thing as a democratic theocracy when there are different theos who do not agree. The ayatollah's moderate decision to work through the difficulties presents hope that there are some conservative Islamic leaders who are willing to try politically moderate measures for national unity. This is the only paradigm that will lead to lasting peace.
Well, some more people decided to legalize gay marriage and redefine a fundamental understanding of reality today. The tide seems inevitable. The new understanding of a “definition” is taking root. A “definition” is whatever we can manage to say it is and is constrained only by the whim of the moment. For some reason however, the institutional entitlements that go with the word being defined remain unchanged. No matter, though I’ve tried to fight it, this new understanding of reality will actually personally benefit me.
You see, even though I appear in form as a 30-something middle class suburban white male I am really a 27 year old black man. I have always known that I was really black inside, but I was scared to come out of the closet. Growing up with all those other white kids around – talking about white things – even participating in some white rituals like listening to rock & roll music while standing around a parked car – I never felt comfortable. I knew I was different.
In school I would look at the black kids with their shaved heads and thought they looked so cool. My own white person hair disgusted me. Oh, how I longed to have close cropped hair with a little design in the back. How I wanted to laugh outrageously and move my body with ecstatic passion and have people think I was cool. My spirit was lifted every time I would pass a soul brother in the halls, but the other white kids were harsh and judgmental and I was scared to share my real feelings.
One semester, an older black student took an interest in me. He sheltered me from the abusive words of others and helped me feel acceptance from a more enlightened community. He helped me realize my appreciation of big bootys, low-hung jeans, and dialogical music. He freed me to be who I was born to become. Yet, even knowing I was really black, I still felt the pressure from society to hide what I really was and act white. I still have never told my parents.
But as the winds of society’s whim are changing I now feel liberated to accept who I truly am. I am a young black man. No one can tell me otherwise. Bigots can step off!
I’m Black! It's a Fact! Get Used to It!
I plan to petition the National Negro College Fund for a scholarship. Not a special scholarship, just one like any other black student may apply for. There may still be some prejudicial attitudes at the NNCF who do not want to award a scholarship to a black man with white skin and European hair, but they are obsessive traditionalists who are stuck in the past. The Constitution gives me the right not to be discriminated against on the basis of skin color. I may have to go into another state where I am not a resident for legal action, but I’ll be able to find me one of these gay progressive types who supports my right not to be denied basic human rights. They’ll rule in my favor and I will find it much easier to pursue my right to a tuition-free education.
I know that some people would doubt my intentions here. You are over-reacting and not paying attention to basic biology. God made me to be black. Why would I choose to become part of a segment of society that is so often oppressed and discriminated against? This is who I am – a young black man.
Power to My People.
The "grad school prize" does not go to the smartest or even most knowledgeable student. The people who come out on top are the ones who have the time and endurance to do the work.
Really, if you are interested enough to go back to school to study some subject, and bright enough to get back in, you probably can handle the intellectual level required. But the intellectual level is not the tough part. Tripling levels of reading, increased rates of papers, longer papers, more research, higher proficiency in daily assignments - all of these things grind and wear you down.
On top of this, a job, a family, maybe a friend or two. There is no time, no time. Only the faithful survive.
Here's to all those who are toughing it out to better themselves to better the world.
Grace and Peace to you.