Path: utzoo!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!mips!dimacs.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: crf@mace.princeton.edu (Charles Ferenbaugh) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Homosexuality and Christianity (was Re: Imposing ...) Message-ID: Date: 8 Mar 91 05:27:25 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: Princeton University Mathematics Department Lines: 24 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In an article which has now expired on my system, the Moderator wrote that most Christians who argue for homosexuality do so on the assumption that homosexuality is a basic character trait which cannot be changed. I've thought about this, and I find it very hard to see how such an assumption can be held consistently with the Bible. I won't list all the relevant Scriptures (I'm sure it's been done before, many times) but several places in the OT God commands that homosexuality is not to be tolerated among the Jews. Leaving aside completely the question of whether those commands apply to us, we're still left asking: wait a minute, how could a just and loving God call for any homosexuals in Israel to be punished for a "basic character trait"? Since this is such a sensitive subject let me emphasize what I said in my previous posting: although God commands us to call sin sin, as much so for homosexuality as for murder, stealing, pride and the like, He loves us in such a radical way to free us from all sins. Likewise we as Christians are called to love the sinner(s) even as we hate the sin(s). In other words nothing I say is to be construed as advocating homophobia or persecution, but rather a call for us to love just as Jesus loved... Grace and peace, Charles Ferenbaugh