Discerning homosexuality & same sex marriage in the light of the gospel.

[2nd_Adam]

That is the problem with the Gospel - it is terrifyingly radical. Even so, that does not - AFAICS - vindicate the rightness of homosexual practice. The Gospel is not less moral than before (the OT has no concept of morality, rather strikingly) - if anything, it is more moral than the OT; because it goes beyond being a mere external code perhaps.​

Because all are sinful, even apart from orientation, there is no need to devote special attention to homosexuality - although it is wrong, it is only one thing that is wrong; we are all wrong, and not just in sexual matters; which absolutely destroys all basis for any heterosexual “boasting” over the unrighteousness of homosexuals in that area. Homosexuals may well need to repent - but so do their critics. Both are at fault, and only God is in the right. That is how I see the things you mention, anyway; maybe we are looking at the subject in different ways. I do strongly agree that “stone-throwing is not the gospel of God”. Maybe I’m missing something ?

It’s really about same sex marriage between Christians. As you know, churches vary on their answer on this issue. I would not assess the purity, lack of purity, or apostasy on a particular church or denomination’s stated view on same sex marriage. When Christians are able listen to other Christians who stand on the opposite position, we can learn as a family and a body of Christ. I used to be a staunch Fundamentalist with a typical view on homosexuality until God enabled me to listen to other Christians coming from another perspective. Heck, I would not have considered Catholics my brothers and sisters in Christ a few years ago. But my views have changes over the years on many issues. Same sex marriage between Christians or even non-Christians is not that clear since Scripture proof is not really there. For Catholics, all you have to do is adhere to the Magestrieum’s position on same sex marriage and it ends there.

 

[Hisalone]

To put this in 21st century context, when the terrorist attack on Sept 11 occurred, two fundamentalist Christian leaders (Falwell and Robertson) stated that God’s judgment of America occurred in the event of Sept 11 on the basis of abortion and homosexuality. Those are some very large claims by Evangelical leaders which has manifested in a deep hatred for homosexuals found in many Evangelicals. Have you seen the bumper sticker of “God hate fags”? Something right wing American conservative Protestantism can be so evil, drifting further away from the gospel. Abortion is defintely a sin since the Scripture teaching is clear that life begins at conception or even before that in the mind of God.

The sin of America is not homosexuality alone. Greed, abortion are also being judged by God. Greed is a sin no better nor worse than homosexuality all are sins which are condemned. Adam you wish to say you have no sin and that homosexuality is not a sin. It is as if a thief wold say robbery is not a sin or a alcoholic that drinking is not a sin. You love your sin more than God therefore refuse to give up your sin. The gospel is that Christ has died to set us free from sin that includes the sin of homosexuality.

 

[2nd_Adam]

The sin of America is not homosexuality alone. Greed, abortion are also being judged by God. Greed is a sin no better nor worse than homosexuality all are sins which are condemned. Adam you wish to say you have no sin and that homosexuality is not a sin. It is as if a thief wold say robbery is not a sin or a alcoholic that drinking is not a sin. You love your sin more than God therefore refuse to give up your sin. The gospel is that Christ has died to set us free from sin that includes the sin of homosexuality.

Please don’t misquote me. I am a wretched sinner saved by the grace of God… to the praise of His glorious saving, redeeming, transforming amazing grace. Romans chapter 6, Paul’s struggle with sin is the Christian experience. I never said that homosexuality is not a sin. I said all sex outside of marriage is sin. I don’t know if same sex marriage is considered sin. Here is a summary of what I believe to be central:

1 Timothy 1:15
The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.

2 Corinthians 5:21
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

1 John 1:10
If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

1 Peter 1:16
since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

What is your personal view of different churches and Christian denominations who allow same sex marriage? What are you basing your conclusion about those churches?

 

[NotTooSmart]

What is your personal view of different churches and Christian denominations who allow same sex marriage? What are you basing your conclusion about those churches?

These would be close to what is called restorationalist Christian. At least in the sense that they are restoring some truth to the Christian message that has been missing since the beginning.

A restorationalist Christian believes that historic Christianity has departed from God’s truth to some respect and that God’s truth is being restored 2000 years after the fact in this group.

This would be true in this case unless there is evidence that the “truth” that they are proposing has actually been practiced by historic Christianity.

Restorationalist Christian is being kind. Some would say that Restorationalist Christian is not Christian. At any rate…

When faced with a choice between some restorationalist Christian group and historic Christianity, I will go with historic any day of the week.

 

[Dokimas]

I think the issue is way bigger than me and you as individuals. Conservative Fundamental protestantism has drifted from the mission of proclaiming Christ and Him crucified for sinners to a moral political agenda which manifested a very evil attitude toward homosexuals for some or even many Evangelicals. Republican right wing conservative political agenda is really a moral crusade and a moral gospel pushed by groups like the Christian Coalition, Moral Majority, and Focus on the Family. I believe if modern Evangelical Protestants had a higher view of the church, then parachurch groups like I mentioned would not have so much influence over them. You see, Catholic Chrisitans have a valid point with a higher view of the church (even though I do not believe it to be the One True Church).

I believe all sex outside of marriage is sin. I have not come to a conclusion that same sex marriage is a sin or not. Same sex marriage between Christians… those married through civil law and by the church can have God’s blessing. It is a debatable issue within the universal visible church. Because certain Christians or certain denominations embrace same sex marriage does not make them apostate. A person’s view on same sex marriage has nothing to do with the contents of the gospel of God. A Christian first should examine the Scriptures to discern the will of God, all of the Scriptures to come to a conclusion on such an important and contemporary issue regarding same sex marriage. I am definitely an Evangelical by the historical meaning of the word. Did you know Bob Jones University (conservative Evangelical college) did not allow inter-racial dating and marriage just a few years ago? They taught that it was sin for Christians to have inter-racial marriages… according to the Scriptures. You see, there is mishandling of the Scriptures in all areas of Christianity used to hurt and discriminate against others. Did you know conservative bible based churches used the Scriptures to support American slavery through mishandling the Scriptures prior to the Civil War?

Once again you are referring to others that I’m not responsible for. God expects me to understand His Word and apply it to my life and as a result make a contribution to His Kingdom and to help make a dent in the kingdom of darkness.​

In bringing up those other situations in this post, you are way off topic. The topic is gay marriage and the Bible.​

Can you show us just one scripture where same sex marriage is mentioned at all in the Bible, positively or negatively? When the Bible deals with God’s design for marriage, is it ALWAYS one man and one woman or not. I refer you again to Gen 1-3, Matt 19:5, Mark 10:7 and Eph 5:31.

 

[Dokimas]

Please don’t misquote me. I am a wretched sinner saved by the grace of God… to the praise of His glorious saving, redeeming, transforming amazing grace. Romans chapter 6, Paul’s struggle with sin is the Christian experience. I never said that homosexuality is not a sin. I said all sex outside of marriage is sin. I don’t know if same sex marriage is considered sin. Here is a summary of what I believe to be central:

1 Timothy 1:15
The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.

2 Corinthians 5:21
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

1 John 1:10
If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

1 Peter 1:16
since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

QUOTE]

Paul called himself the foremost of sinners. Did he continue in the sin of persecuting the church?​

If Jesus was made sin for us and we are to become the righteousness of God, am I the righteousness of God when I lie, when I steal, when I commit adultery, when I kill another, when I engage in sex with someone of my sex?​

We know God made us to experience sex in a holy way. You agree sex outside marriage in unholy. Do you have any indication from the Bible that same sex marriage is holy?​

God forbid that I should lie in saying (or much worse believing) I have no sin. The beauty of the Lord Jesus Christ is that He doesn’t want us to stay in our sin but wants to free us from the practice of and resulting pain of sin. Too bad too many of us don’t take the help of Jesus throught the Holy Spirit to be set free!!!​

PS you referred to Romans 6. Did you mean Romans 7?

 

[Dokimas]

What is your personal view of different churches and Christian denominations who allow same sex marriage? What are you basing your conclusion about those churches?

I will not stand in judgement of these churches. That’s God’s job. I will say that these churches, as all churches, better make sure their practices are accoding to God’s will.​

1Pe 4:17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?​

I suspect that if judgment doesn’t come upon a church either they are doing the will of God (for the most part) or they are not part of the house of God.​

I dare say you should not judge those like Mr Falwell or Mr Dobson. Remember what Paul said in Romans 14:4.

 

[Dokimas]

2nd Adam,

I noticed the way you ‘sign’ each post: "And you, who were dead…, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. - Paul "​

Do you think sex between same sex Christians is any more thankful to God for canceling the record of debt we have than if I lied regularly, stole regularly, committed adultery? IMO this is an important issue along side what the Bible says about same sex sex.

 

[2nd_Adam]

These would be close to what is called restorationalist Christian. At least in the sense that they are restoring some truth to the Christian message that has been missing since the beginning.

A restorationalist Christian believes that historic Christianity has departed from God’s truth to some respect and that God’s truth is being restored 2000 years after the fact in this group.

This would be true in this case unless there is evidence that the “truth” that they are proposing has actually been practiced by historic Christianity.

Restorationalist Christian is being kind. Some would say that Restorationalist Christian is not Christian. At any rate…

When faced with a choice between some restorationalist Christian group and historic Christianity, I will go with historic any day of the week.

I think you might be confusing the issues my friend. Restoration theology is not really about same sex marriage. A few churches with restoration theology that comes to mind is the Mormon Church and Church of Christ. And we all know the Mormon Church is against same sex marriage. There are various Church of Christs, a very rew are for same sex marriage and most against it. I think you will find mainline denominations with a split on the issue.

 

[2nd_Adam]

Once again you are referring to others that I’m not responsible for. God expects me to understand His Word and apply it to my life and as a result make a contribution to His Kingdom and to help make a dent in the kingdom of darkness.​

In bringing up those other situations in this post, you are way off topic. The topic is gay marriage and the Bible.​

Can you show us just one scripture where same sex marriage is mentioned at all in the Bible, positively or negatively? When the Bible deals with God’s design for marriage, is it ALWAYS one man and one woman or not. I refer you again to Gen 1-3, Matt 19:5, Mark 10:7 and Eph 5:31.

I believe we both worship the God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob, correct? Well, all of these chosen servants of God had marriages consisting of one man and several women. It is not quite the traditional family value agenda pushed as a political agenda by certain Christians, right? I agree, the Bible is completely silent in regards to same sex marriage. That’s why you have various Christian churches with different beliefs and positions on the issue of same sex marriage. We all come to the Bible with our presuppositions, prejudices, biases, and personal opinions. I was just like any other Christian, I thought the Bible clearly condemned all homosexual relationships, and the proof text was the Sodom and Gomorrah account. This is the account that developed the word “sodomy”. But when we go to the Scriptures we find that God judged Sodom and Gomorrah prior to the account with Lot and the Angels… which is not even about homosexuality. In addition, we know through the Holy Bible in Ezekiel, that the sins of Sodom had nothing to do with homosexuality. As a Protestant, our beliefs are driven by all of Scripture. If it’s not in the Scriptures, we are not to go beyond what is written.

 

[2nd_Adam]

PS you referred to Romans 6. Did you mean Romans 7?

Thank you for pointing out my mistake. Yes, I meant Romans 7 as being the Christian experience.:

The Law and Sin

hat then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead. I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died. The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me. For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.

Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure. For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.

So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
Rom 7

Paul’s life and spiritual growth went like this:

Early in life: “least of all Apostles”

Middle of life " least of all Saints"

End of life “Chief sinner”

Paul grew in obedience and personal holiness in life. However, the more he matured in the faith, the more he saw his own sinfulness in greater depth…

 

[Timbothefiveth]

. If it’s not in the Scriptures, we are not to go beyond what is written.

Romans 1:

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.

28And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper,

So how could gay marriage be moral in light of this?

 

[2nd_Adam]

I will not stand in judgement of these churches. That’s God’s job. I will say that these churches, as all churches, better make sure their practices are accoding to God’s will.​

1Pe 4:17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?​

I suspect that if judgment doesn’t come upon a church either they are doing the will of God (for the most part) or they are not part of the house of God.​

I dare say you should not judge those like Mr Falwell or Mr Dobson. Remember what Paul said in Romans 14:4.

Sure we need to discern according to the Word of God, it’s our responsibility as family of God. Nobody is above the Word of God.

 

[2nd_Adam]

Romans 1:
So how could gay marriage be moral in light of this?

Romans 1 is great verse to discuss, but what we cannot do as Christians is take a verse out of context and come to a conclusion on an issue. It’s called Scripture twisting, taking a verse out of context to come to the conclusion apart from it’s proper context. Peter warned us about this abusive practice. I did address Romans 1 in context with the book of Romans in an earlier post. As an exercise, maybe you can tell me what the thesis is in the book of Romans. It is found in chapter 1. Also, please try to understand Romans 1 in context of what Paul is revealing in both Romans 1 and Romans 2 which leads to Romans 3. Actually, the book of Romans is a foundational book for all Christians regardless of being Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, or Anglican. If you want to understand the gospel, the book of Romans is so important. Here is an example of taken a verse out of context:

Psalm 14:1

“There is no God.”

 

[2nd_Adam]

2nd Adam,

I noticed the way you ‘sign’ each post: "And you, who were dead…, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. - Paul "​

Do you think sex between same sex Christians is any more thankful to God for canceling the record of debt we have than if I lied regularly, stole regularly, committed adultery? IMO this is an important issue along side what the Bible says about same sex sex.

Sex between same sex Christians is sin outside of marriage. We grow in personal obedience to the revealed law of God not as a means to gain God’s favor. We grow in obedience to the law of God out of love and gratitude for what God has done for us in Christ. Personal progressive holiness is great assurance of being united to Christ by faith.

Where I am struggling and trying to discern is in the area of same sex marriage within the church. Are same sex Christians who are married in perpetual sin, or do they have God’s blessing in their marriage? The issue is not as simple and clear as it seems, at least for the non-Catholic. Some things in Scirpture is clearer than others. I heard that churches in Europe are more accepting of same sex marriage in the church than America.

 

[Dokimas]

I believe we both worship the God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob, correct? Well, all of these chosen servants of God had marriages consisting of one man and several women. It is not quite the traditional family value agenda pushed as a political agenda by certain Christians, right? I agree, the Bible is completely silent in regards to same sex marriage. That’s why you have various Christian churches with different beliefs and positions on the issue of same sex marriage. We all come to the Bible with our presuppositions, prejudices, biases, and personal opinions. I was just like any other Christian, I thought the Bible clearly condemned all homosexual relationships, and the proof text was the Sodom and Gomorrah account. This is the account that developed the word “sodomy”. But when we go to the Scriptures we find that God judged Sodom and Gomorrah prior to the account with Lot and the Angels… which is not even about homosexuality. In addition, we know through the Holy Bible in Ezekiel, that the sins of Sodom had nothing to do with homosexuality. As a Protestant, our beliefs are driven by all of Scripture. If it’s not in the Scriptures, we are not to go beyond what is written.

The Bible is, in part, wonderful because It honestly tells what the servants of God do, even those things that are sinful. Those you mentioned, the OT saints, did multiply wives and look at the problems. Yes, God used them and their situations, but often their sin caused great pain.​

You’re back on Sodom and Gomorrah. You have not, to my knowledge, answered my question about what the men of these cities wanted to do the the angels that would cause Lot to tell them they could have his daughters.?​

Our beliefs SHOULD be driven by Scriptures. Have you shown any Scripture that suggests same sex sex is acceptable by God? Have you shown any Scripture that reveals that God’s plan for marriage is anything but between men and women, not men and men or women and women?​

What is written, as I’ve said at least twice, is marriage is a man/woman ‘institution. Jesus said it well, "Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female, and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’" Jesus was quoting Gen 2:24. Paul quoted Gen 2:24, also in Eph 5:28.​

It seems very clear what Jesus and Gen meant when He said that God made them male and female and then went on to speak of marriage.​

As far as the Ez passage, could thinking we have the right to have same sex sex be a pride thing? “I’ll have sex the way I what and the way I feel.”

 

[2nd_Adam]

Eze 16:49 "Look, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughter had pride, fullness of food, and abundance of idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.

Traditionally, Christians have used the Sodom account to condemn all homosexual relationships… and at times in a very discriminatory sinful way. The word “sodomy” comes from this account. I think it should be an eye opener for all of us that when you look closer to the Word of God, that the Sodom account is not centered around homosexuality, or is not necessarily a homosexual account. I’m not saying that I have the answers on this difficult topic. I am appealing to all Christians to look at the Scriptures prayerfully and with greater examination. We might learn something together. Jesus also mentioned Sodom’s sins too… which homosexuality is absent from the words of Jesus. Just study the Sodom account in complete context, pray, and let’s discuss later on. BTW… I don’t think you can link the sin of pride with homosexuality as a valid arguement. If you use that line of reasoning, you can link the sin of pride with any law or rule that you want to create.

 

[Dokimas]

Sex between same sex Christians is sin outside of marriage. We grow in personal obedience to the revealed law of God not as a means to gain God’s favor. We grow in obedience to the law of God out of love and gratitude for what God has done for us in Christ. Personal progressive holiness is great assurance of being united to Christ by faith.

Where I am struggling and trying to discern is in the area of same sex marriage within the church. Are same sex Christians who are married in perpetual sin, or do they have God’s blessing in their marriage? The issue is not as simple and clear as it seems, at least for the non-Catholic. Some things in Scirpture is clearer than others. I heard that churches in Europe are more accepting of same sex marriage in the church than America.

In your first Para. sounds like you think same sex sex in of God within marriage.?​

As for the churches in Europe … the children of Israel married outside their nation and when they did so, they ended up worshiping false gods. God condemned them. Just becasue a church does something out of the ‘norm’ doesn’t mean God’s stamp of approval is on it.​

We must remember it only takes a little leaven that leavens the whole lump. A little sin let in can cause GREAT pain and destruction.

 

[2nd_Adam]

In your first Para. sounds like you think same sex sex in of God within marriage.?​

As for the churches in Europe … the children of Israel married outside their nation and when they did so, they ended up worshiping false gods. God condemned them. Just becasue a church does something out of the ‘norm’ doesn’t mean God’s stamp of approval is on it.​

We must remember it only takes a little leaven that leavens the whole lump. A little sin let in can cause GREAT pain and destruction.

I have not come to a conclusion about same sex marriage. Do you mind sharing your denominaton or core beliefs?

 

[Timbothefiveth]

Romans 1 is great verse to discuss, but what we cannot do as Christians is take a verse out of context and come to a conclusion on an issue. It’s called Scripture twisting, taking a verse out of context to come to the conclusion apart from it’s proper context. .

I’m not taking it out of context to come to a different conclusion. When we have complete context, it shows it’s even worse than posting only the relevant verse makes it sound. It counts homosexual acts among all manner of sins.

1Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,
2which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures,

3concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh,

4who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord,

5through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name’s sake,

6among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;

7to all who are beloved of God in Rome, called as saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

8First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, because your faith is being proclaimed throughout the whole world.

9For God, whom I serve in my spirit in the preaching of the gospel of His Son, is my witness as to how unceasingly I make mention of you,

10always in my prayers making request, if perhaps now at last by the will of God I may succeed in coming to you.

11For I long to see you so that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established;

12that is, that I may be encouraged together with you while among you, each of us by the other’s faith, both yours and mine.

13I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that often I have planned to come to you (and have been prevented so far) so that I may obtain some fruit among you also, even as among the rest of the Gentiles.

14I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.

15So, for my part, I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.

16For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

17For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.”

Unbelief and Its Consequences
18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
19because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.

20For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

21For even though they knew God, they did not [c]honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

22Professing to be wise, they became fools,

23and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and [d]crawling creatures.

24Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them.

25For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

26For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural,

27and 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.

28And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper,

29being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips,

30slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,

31without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful;

32and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.

Notice it also doesn’t speak well of those who “give hearty approval” to those.

Now let’s go to Romans chapter 2. Chapter 2 further speaks ill of it.

1Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.
2And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things.

3But do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment on those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God?

4Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?

5But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,

.

However, I still support the rights of homosexuals to engage in civil life. And this includes civil marriage.

So you’re okay with the government pushing acceptance of that lifestyle on to everyone? Even when this happens? boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/06/25/they_cared_for_the_children/

(Continued in next comment)