Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!swrinde!mips!dimacs.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: hudson@athena.cs.uga.edu (Paul Hudson Jr) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: PCUSA report on human sexuality Message-ID: Date: 10 May 91 07:24:09 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: University of Georgia, Athens Lines: 39 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu >understanding on all sides of this issue. We are united in affirming >that our churches should welcome gay and lesbian persons into the >membership of the church, providing a safe haven against bigotry, and >offering ministries of love and nurture which take them seriously as >persons. Some of us believe that one day, after we have done this, >and when more of us have come to know some gay and lesbians as real >persons, then the question of ordination will finally be settled, one >way or the other, from the grass roots up, rather than from the >General Asssembly down." There is a statement of Paul in I Corinthians 6 that is not a law. It is stated as a fact. Paul states that fornicators, nor idolators, nor adulterers, nor male prostitutes, nor homosexuals, nor theives, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. This is not stated as a law for us to follow, but it is simply stated as a fact. It is clear that God condemns the acts of forniction, adultery, and homosexuality. In I Corinthians 5, Paul writes of a man who has his father's wife. Paul said to cut this person from fellowship and to "deliver him to Satan." In the Old Testament, sleeping with one's step-mother had the same pnalty as homosexuality.....death. Now let us look at verses 9-11. "I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexualy immoral people- not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat." Should we allow homosexuals or fornicators or adulterers into the church? Certainly not! Should we ordain them? II Peter 2 goes into detail about teachers who teach others to live immorally. I think this would especially fit with one such person as these who teaches that his acts are okay. If we accept people into the church who live lives such as these, and openly admit it, we are profaning the name of Christ. We are dragging Christ through the mud. Thank you.