Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: sri tsc notesfiles V1.1 4/1/84; site tsca.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!floyd!harpo!decvax!decwrl!sun!sri-terra!tsca!tbare 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> Lines: 45 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