Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!bcm!dimacs.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: ta00est@unccvax.uncc.edu (elizabeth s tallant) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Imposing Christian morality on nonbelievers Message-ID: Date: 18 Feb 91 04:27:32 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: University of NC at Charlotte Lines: 41 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article , mib@geech.ai.mit.edu (Michael I Bushnell) writes: > In article abvax!iccgcc.DNET!benning@uunet.uu.net writes: > > > I grew up in an environment which did great harm to me, simply because > I am gay. That same environment has hurt thousands of others, and > drives people away from Christ even today. If the issue is "who is > hurting who" (which I don't think it is), then please consider that I > and my brothers and sisters have been immeasurably hurt, by an > environment which claims to represent God's love to the world. > Before I begin, I will state that I believe it is possible for someone who has participated in homosexual activity to be forgiven and to become a Christian. I also believe that it is possible for that same person to backslide into his/her sinful behavior. Even so, that same person is still a Christian. As I have posted from a variety of Bible verses, the Bible shows that homosexuality is a sin. If you participate in homosexual behavior, you are committing a sin. Christ has said that "...you cannot serve God and mammon." Therefore, you simply cannot continue to fill your lustful desires and serve God. You must choose between the two. You cannot be a practicing Christian and committ homosexual acts. The two are contradictory. The Bible also teaches that sin separates you from God. In addition, it tells us that when a member of a church is living a sinful life and refuses to repent and after numerous attempts by Christians, then that person should be excommunicated from the church. So, when you committ sins, you will not only be far away from God, but God has ordered that when the sins reach an extreme, you should be excommunicated. Also, while we are told to leave the judgement of the heathen to God, we are told to rebuke our brother/sister. Therefore, it is the sinner who has cut himself off from God. Do not blame those who are following God's will in rebuking you. Elizabeth