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From: tbare@tsca.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.singles
Subject: Re: faggots and dykes
Message-ID: <6900001@tsca.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 9-Jun-84 12:49:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: tsca.6900001
Posted: Sat Jun  9 12:49:00 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 21-Jun-84 02:53:47 EDT
References: <2560@harpo.UUCP>
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Nf-ID: #R:harpo:-256000:tsca:6900001:000:2831
Nf-From: tsca!tbare    Jun 14 09:49:00 1984

i have to disagree with the idea that God gave us genitals only for
pro-creation.  i do agree that that is one function for them (and a
very important one at that), but you're overlooking the unity factor; i
believe that the pleasure resulting from the sexual union and relationship
in general binds people together.  moses says in genesis that men and
women were set apart to be married, and that the two would cleave to
become one flesh -- the idea implies that a man and a woman sharing
one life should share all things (including their bodies).

as an evangelical Christian, i do believe that there is something wrong
about homosexuality -- i know i'll probably catch some heat for that, but
the Bible is fairly clear about it (the few times that it is mentioned).
this has been a difficult topic for me to deal with, since i have some
homosexual friends, and it is difficult for me to call it sin.  on the
other hand, where God is clear, i need to be clear too.  don't get me
wrong -- i don't hold out homosexuality as a more grave sin than any of
my own sins -- lust, pride, impatience.  but sin is still sin.

frankly, i don't appreciate the disparaging remarks about homosexuals.
i don't appreciate those kinds of remarks about all people.  Jesus died
for them just as much as He died for you and me.  we need to recognize
sin where we see it, but we also need to be moving forward in an attitude
of love.  Jesus didn't go around calling people perverts to put them down;
He came to give us new life, to show us that we didn't have to be satisfied
with our sinful nature, to forgive us, and to bring us into a relationship
with God.  To call other people perverts (while implying that you're okay)
is ridiculous.  it reminds me of the parable of the pharisee and the 
publican, where the pharisee is praying to himself (not God) about what
a great guy he is, while the other man asks for mercy; the publican went
home justified, while the pharisee did not.  the Lord wants us to 
recognize who we are in His sight, and if we believe that we are good
enough for God, then we have a wrong view of who we are in His sight.
Jesus said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom
of heaven.  Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted."
we need to realize that we are poor in spirit -- telling other people
what "perverts" they are doesn't seem to recognize our own poorness of
spirit.  do we mourn our own sinfulness, even as Christians?  we need
to.  i'm not trying to water it down -- as i said before, sin is still
sin.  but i suggest that we work on taking the log out of our own eyes
before we work on the speck in someone else's.

					tbare@sri-nic

ps:  sorry about the long flame, but i get really wound up when people
misrepresent who our Lord is and what He is trying to do... -bare