Scripture and gay marriage (churches, beliefs, evolve, sinned)

[Easybreezy]

Ok, this is yet ANOTHER gay marriage thread. (Groan...)

Yesterday's discussion of gay marriage got me thinking and generally pondering about the homosexuality, gay marriage, and Christian scripture. I have a reasonably good grasp of the reasons from Scripture against homosexual behavior. (Sorry, I cannot quote Scripture. Paraphrase concepts yes. General idea where it's located maybe. Actual quotes, no. But I am working on it. )

What I am looking for is some of religious justification from the proponents of gay marriage that can utilize Scriptural references. I've heard much from the opponents of gay marriage. Now I'm looking to give the proponents their opportunity to support their position from a Biblical viewpoint.

In the years to come, it is my belief that churches could easily become a battleground for the gay marriage question, so this could be a bit of a preview. I tend to be a thoughtful, fair minded person who likes to hear out all sides of a topic.

I'm not trying to start a war here, but rather an open, civil discussion. No personal attacks, or fingerpointing please. I don't live on my computer, so I might not be back around until much later today/tonight. But I will be back.

[RobinD69]

This is going to be interesting.

[carolina_guy]

Originally Posted by Easybreezy

What I am looking for is some of religious justification from the proponents of gay marriage that can utilize Scriptural references. I've heard much from the opponents of gay marriage. Now I'm looking to give the proponents their opportunity to support their position from a Biblical viewpoint.

As a Christian, I am very much looking forward to these attempts.

[Fundamentalist]

Originally Posted by Easybreezy

Ok, this is yet ANOTHER gay marriage thread. (Groan...)

Yesterday's discussion of gay marriage got me thinking and generally pondering about the homosexuality, gay marriage, and Christian scripture. I have a reasonably good grasp of the reasons from Scripture against homosexual behavior. (Sorry, I cannot quote Scripture. Paraphrase concepts yes. General idea where it's located maybe. Actual quotes, no. But I am working on it. )

What I am looking for is some of religious justification from the proponents of gay marriage that can utilize Scriptural references. I've heard much from the opponents of gay marriage. Now I'm looking to give the proponents their opportunity to support their position from a Biblical viewpoint.

In the years to come, it is my belief that churches could easily become a battleground for the gay marriage question, so this could be a bit of a preview. I tend to be a thoughtful, fair minded person who likes to hear out all sides of a topic.

I'm not trying to start a war here, but rather an open, civil discussion. No personal attacks, or fingerpointing please. I don't live on my computer, so I might not be back around until much later today/tonight. But I will be back.

I don't believe so, it will eventually pass in all states and we Christians must obey the Law but before that happens it does not mean we can't exercise our rights as citizens and give our opinion on the matter. After all is that not democracy?

[carolina_guy]

hhhmmmm.....an impossible task?

[RobinD69]

Maybe someone needs to draw attention to certain "Christian" gays.

[Goodpasture]

Let me attempt to engage discussion.

I understand that the bible is telling me that being gay is not right. Fortunately for me I have NO inclinations that way....not even "curiosity."

I also believe the Bible is speaking to each of us. Because I don't have an inclination towards homosexuality, I have no need for "instruction" about homosexuality.....being gay is not a concern for me. I do have other issues that need to be addressed. We all do. And we deal with those issues that impact OUR lives. Some of us smoke. that is a defilement of the temple known as your body. Some of us drink too much or eat too much or watch too much porn or cuss too much or abuse our family, or spend too much, or any number of issues, all EQUALLY reprehensible.....equally sinful.....but all have sinned. All seek forgiveness for those sins. All "backslide" from those sins.

Should a church sanctify a gay marriage? Among the traditional churches, I think not. Should they condone "shacking up" either as a hetero or homo sexual couple (or group), I don't think so. But before I condemn such an act, I must look at what marriage entails, and as a social institution it goes way beyond the merging of two into one. It includes certain rights such as inheritance, rights of access, certain ownership benefits, certain tax benefits, insurance benefits. Where I find the greatest tragedy in gay couples is when one or the other is dying or ill and the life partner of decades is excluded from their partners side because a "next of kin" that has not been involved in their life has a bias against the lifestyle being lived by the partner that is ill or dying. That is just not right.

So, if you look at the "benefits" of marriage, they all revolve around civil matters. It is my belief that such definitions of marriages should be handled in civil venues such as the courts or the JP. If the couple wanting to merge their lives want the sanctification of a church, then it is up to that church to decide if they want to recognize the relationship or not. When I was pastoring I refused to marry a young man of 17 and his bride of 15. They married anyway elsewhere. But I would not sanctify, with my blessing, the marriage that brought two children into the world before they divorced.....before either of them were 20. That is a churches responsibility. It is the courts responsibility to adhere to the legal and civil matters. It is the Church that should shepherd their spiritual matters and spiritual growth.

As far as I am concerned I should be able to have anyone I choose, male or female, act as next of kin, be the beneficiary of my inheritance, act as power of attorney, and make life and death decisions if I am incapacitated. I should also be able, at any given time, provided I am of sound mind, to revoke that agreement.

As far as the sin factor is concerned, it is more work than I can handle to deal with all my own sins without going out of my way to deal with someone elses. I will let God deal with any conviction that needs to be made and allow God to forgive or not forgive according to His measure of sin. All I know about sin is that forgiveness is the only way to come to God clean, and a speck of sin, left unforgiven, is worse than a heinous sin that Jesus took to the cross.

[Miss Martha]

I personally have nothing against gay marriages. I have nothing against hetero marriages, etc. I will say that I do not believe that the Church as a whole will perform gay marriages in church buildings because they do not agree with the practice of homosexuality (there are some exceptions, but the general consensus is that it is wrong). I wasn't able to marry my husband in the church because we have different beliefs. The Church does not endorse marriages between two people with different belief systems, therefore they will not lend their building to any such union.

[carolina_guy]

I'm still waiting for actual Scripture to support gay marriage.

[I LOVE NORTH CAROLINA]

Originally Posted by carolina_guy

I'm still waiting for actual Scripture to support gay marriage.

You've got a long wait, there is none.