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From: hutch@shark.UUCP (Stephen Hutchison)
Newsgroups: net.religion.christian
Subject: Re: modern Christianity's lack of responses to Boswell
Message-ID: <1262@shark.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 22-Feb-85 01:26:00 EST
Article-I.D.: shark.1262
Posted: Fri Feb 22 01:26:00 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 27-Feb-85 07:05:48 EST
References: <4935@fortune.UUCP> <4720@cbscc.UUCP> <278@bbnccv.UUCP> <343@teklds.UUCP>
Reply-To: hutch@shark.UUCP (Stephen Hutchison)
Organization: Tektronix, Wilsonville OR
Lines: 62
Summary: 

In article <343@teklds.UUCP> larryg@teklds.UUCP (Karen Clark) writes:
>
>Well Steve,
>
>(and anyone else interested)
>
>It is almost pointless to respond to Boswell's book.  If someone insists
>on justifying what they want to do, they will.  Anyone really seeking
>God's heart knows right from wrong.  Boswell has taken straightforward
>scripture and come to his own conclusions.  Leviticus and Romans and all
>the rest are pretty plain (IN THE ENGLISH AND ORIGINAL LANGUAGE).  I 
>guess people want to think whatever they do is right, even if it is
>wrong.  Why the push to get the Bible to approve?
>
>Jesus doesn't condemn us, we have already condemned ourselves but 
>we have freedom by His blood if we accept HIS WAY and life.
>
>If God wanted homosexual relationships then why do people have to
>change their body surgically.  This is an obvious statement that
>God didn't do it right.  To men and two women physically are
>not made for each other.
>
>karen


I must protest.  Karen, you demonstrate an amazing insensitivity and
an even more amazing naivete.  Surgical modifications are NOT required
for homosexual relationships.

We are talking about HUMAN BEINGS here, Karen.  We are also talking about
salvation by grace.  Do you ever gossip?  Do you ever find yourself
hating someone who hurts you?  These things are mentioned in the same
context as murder, in the admonitions Paul makes against sexual immorality.
If you do these things, it does not invalidate your salvation.  Jesus'
death on the cross was complete and perfect absolution for ALL your sins.
Note that the Apostles were constantly, humbly confessing that they
continued to sin, in thought and deed.  They repented.  They tried to change
with the Lord's help.  They sometimes managed.  These were men and women
who had SEEN the Lord, who had SPOKEN with Him and who had been taught by
Him in the flesh.  Even if we hold Homosexuality to be sinful, we cannot
and must not drive those we call sinners from the Lord.

Boswell's book IS important.  We need to make certain that we are not
imposing our own legalism where it ought not be.  We are warned against
the legalism which Jesus called the Sin of the Pharisee.  If Boswell
has found a place where we have been inventing laws and by them, driving
away those whom the Lord has called, then we MUST make certain that we
do not continue to interpose our legalism between sinners and their
salvation.  It is important because we need to determine for certain
whether or not that authority of Scripture does indeed explicitly
prohibit homosexuality.

As a final note.  We are enabled to obey the Law which the Lord has written
in our hearts, by His grace and the power of the Holy Spirit.  How can we
expect those who are NOT saved and do not have that power to help them,
to obey the Law which we ourselves cannot consistently follow?  I do not
mean that we should condone immorality.  However, the best proof we can
make is to be an example.  What kind of example do we make of love when
it consists of shouting at people that they are damned, for something which
they do not consider to be wrong.

Hutch