Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!bcm!dimacs.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: crf@broccoli.princeton.edu (Charles Ferenbaugh) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Lesbian/Gay PRIDE day, suggestions... Message-ID: Date: 21 Jun 91 08:40:39 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: Princeton University Mathematics Department Lines: 35 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article ipoulin@uavax0.ccit.arizona.edu writes: >In article , benning@iccgcc.decnet.ab.com writes: >> On June 22, The City of CLEVELAND will be celebrating the third annual >> "LESBIAN-GAY PRIDE DAY." >> ... What is the opinion of the S.R.C. folks what the local Christian >> community should do (If Anything) in response to this city function? > > What I would start with is a reflection of what Jesus Christ would have >done.... He would have offered His love, as we should, His forgiveness, as we >should, and His support, as we should. Unfortunately it's not quite that easy. Jesus offered love and forgiveness and support to people who were aware of their sins; he could tell them, "Go and sin no more," in the context of that love. But to people who didn't realize their sins, he couldn't do that; he first had to make them understand how much their sin was hurting them. Hence all the harsh sayings about "broods of vipers" and so forth. In a situation such as "Lesbian-Gay Pride Day", it sounds as if no one involved is saying that there's anything wrong with homosexuality. So if you want people to realize that homosexuality goes against what God created us to be, you'd better say it explicitly. It's sad that so many people nowdays are spreading God's forgiveness to people who don't realize what they need to be forgiven for... To make a parallel, imagine what would have happened if a well-meaning follower of Jesus had said to the woman caught in adultery, "There, there, I understand the sexual frustrations you're going through, and all the abuse you're taking from those nasty Pharisees, but don't worry, I'm not going to condemn you, you go off and do whatever you want and don't worry about them..." Notice the subtle difference from Jesus' words. Grace and peace, Charles Ferenbaugh