Here's the part I don't understand...b ible preaches acceptance, give to the poor, help the sick, blah blah...but then you classify homosexuality with murderers and rapists? Seem hypocritical or it just me?
And, according to the bible, if any of those people in the sin category defined by you (lying, cheating, stealing, murder, adultery, homosexuality) were to "repent their sins" and confess to jesus, aren't they forgiven? Or is that just catholics who believe that?
Oh, and here's a pointer...IF you are trying to let others know that your religion is the right way and you want them to also believe in God like you do, DON'T tell them the things they believe in right now will send them to hell. It's kind of a put off, it's like telling someone "Ya join the army, it's way fun! Oh, but you might die." See my point?
Wasser..You are great! I can always count on your for a well-thought out debate. Are you Jewish? Just asking.
1. Bible teaches that we are to love each other..but not accept sinful behavior. All through the Bible (old and new) you will find examples of sinful behavior being punished. But God loves the person..always
. Even in the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, God gave the people multiple chances to depart from their sinful ways and be saved. They chose not to and were judged. In the new testament, the story is told of a Samaritan who helps an ailing Jew along the side of the road. The samaritans were considered unclean gentiles. The Jewish man was taken care of and lived to praise the Samaritan for his deeds of kindness despite his supposed low position in society..that is the kind of acceptance you are referring to. To love the sinner but hate the sin is not hypocritical. Having children will teach you this...I will always love my sons..even when they make mistakes. I will not, however, tolerate sinful behavior. Yes, I used corporal punishment, but that is a topic for another day.
2. A sin is a sin is a sin. Homosexuality is classified as a sin: Leviticus 18:22 calls homosexuality detestable, Leviticus 20:13 decrees the death penalty for those who practice homosexuality (old testament law). During Roman control of Israel, Paul wrote the book ROMANS. He defines the inevitable downward spiral into sin. First people reject God, next they make up their own ideas of what a god should be and do, then they fall into sin: sexual sin, greed, hatred, envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice, gossip etc. Finally, they grow to hate God and encourage others to so. When people reject God, He "gives them over to their sin" and allows the natural consequences of their actions. Romans 1:24a, "Therefore God gave them over in their sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another...Vers
e 27: Even the women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. And the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. ...and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.
3. The answer to your forgiveness question is YES. If you repent (meaning turn away from) and ask for forgiveness from God, believing that Jesus' death paid the penalty for your sinfulness, you are granted forgiveness and your sins are forgotten "as far as the east is from the west". It is not a catholic thing....it is a Biblical thing. (again, catholic church is not the standard for Christianity).
4. I would never presume that I could "sway" anyone. I believe that God opens the eyes of a person's soul to reveal himself as he chooses. I just live my life....as unperfect as it is, for I have committed many of the sins listed...(no, i will not go into details) and will continue to sin because I am nor will I ever be perfect as long as I live on this earth. And, when asked about my faith, I give it in the appropriate manner at the appropriate time. I attend Denton Bible Church (dentonbible.or
g) and am a Bible believer. God chooses to make himself known through multiple ways. Each of us was created by Him and as such He has given us an innate sense of who He is. You cannot deny that.
5. Finally, in scripture Jesus said, " I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. NO one comes to the Father (meaning God), except through Me." So, yes..I believe that unless you accept God's provision in Jesus Christ, you will not go to Heaven. Harsh? Difficult? Indeed. But it is the Truth.
IF you read this entire passage ..then you deserve a big huge KISS.
LOVE YA!
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