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This guy is doing everything that MLK JR would have been proud of. He is sticking his neck out for people who are persecuted and discriminated against. He is losing everything he has worked for to stand up for them.
This pastor is a shining example of what Christianity is supposed to be.
He's doing what Jesus would have done....which is the whole point of being a Christian.
There's a difference between ignoring a prohibition, although orthodox Jews still follow this edict, and elevating a sin to equal status of marriage, a sacred sacrament in the Catholic and Christian tradition.
What is 'sinful' about a person being in a loving committed relationship with another person?
Same-sex marriage, like homosexuality itself, is a sin. But, did not Jesus himself tell us to render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's? In other words, didn't He tell us to submit to the law of the land, to be good citizens, to obey the law? Did He not tell us that to do otherwise is sin?
Yes, He did. So, what does "render unto Caesar" mean in a nation which is self-governing and based upon the rule of law, as codified by the Constitution? Does it not mean that we must hold allegiance to that Constitution in order to be good, faithful followers of Christ?
Yes, it does. And, nobody has yet been able to demonstrate how denying gay couples the right to a legal marriage is found in that Constitution. The Declaration of Independence proclaims that we have the unalienable right to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," and the Constitution was written to prevent our government from denying us those rights. It does not GRANT us our liberties, but protects the liberties we already have from our Creator.
Consequently, if a gay couple defines for themselves marriage as a part of their "pursuit of happiness," how can we deny them that pursuit under the rule of law, under the Constitution, under the foundational principles of this country as explained in the Declaration of Independence?
We can't. If we are to be true to the principles of self-government, we cannot deny them a right heterosexual couples enjoy just because we don't like what they do. That would be contrary to both the Constitution and the teachings of Christ about submission to the government.
Granted, The People have the right to curtail someone's pursuit of happiness if that endangers others or good public order. We've done that by outlawing someone's "pursuit of happiness" which involves murdering his neighbor and that's acceptable. However, nobody has yet made a compelling case to show how same-sex marriage threatens either our citizens safety or good public order. If there is such evidence, I'd like to see it. Not opinion, but evidence.
The point is that we must always remember that there are TWO issues involved here. One is moral and the other is legal. One is a matter of right and wrong and the other is a matter of rendering unto Caesar that which is Caesar's. So long as we do not live in a Theocracy, we must yield to the Constitution and allow them the right to marry, even as we pray for their souls, abhor their sin and reach out to them with the Gospel of Jesus Christ as an act of love.
You attempt to distort the meaning of "render unto Caesar". We are instructed to be good citizens and obey the law of the land, to pay taxes and be examples. We are also instructed to have no obedience to any law that contradict God's Laws and commandments.
Further Same sex Marriage is not a sin and never has been. God can not create sin because that is contrary to the nature of God.
God ordained the first Marriage when he took the Rib from Adam and created his help mate/wife Eve.
Marriage to a Christian is more than a simple contract, it is a covenant relationship between a man, a woman and God. Created and Blessed by God as he created a Husband and Wife to be.
This covenant is unchanging and does not sway to peer and societal opinion.
By God's definition it is impossible for a homosexual to be married, so we my call it a "marriage" in a legal manner but it can never be a true marriage.
I have no problems with civil unions because in reality that is what a gay marriage really is.
Apparently not to some of the so-called Christians *cough{Pharisees}* on this thread.
I've talked about this several times over the years on this board, but some theologians actually believe that Christians are divided into two camps that share almost nothing in common except for the name "Christian." They're like completely different religions. One side is "rule of love" based--God is loving, and we're focused on teaching and living kindness and compassion, and growing closer to God by following Christ's teachings. You study the bible to search for meaning and understanding, but it's not meant to be taken literally. It's the living word of God, so it has to be understood with the context of the times it was written, and the time we live in now (for instance, we understand more about science now). Because it's divine, we believe it is presumptuous and arrogant to believe that you can completely and perfectly understand scripture--it unfolds as we understand more.
The other side is "rule of law." They see the bible as a rule book that you follow literally word for word (despite the fact that scriptural interpretations are all over the place) and god is viewed as oriented toward strict order and reward punishment. Current knowledge and discovery isn't part of the formula, SO in their view the world is 6000 years old and cavemen rode dinosaurs.
Like I said--completely different faiths sharing the same name...
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I think Jesus was conflicted within himself. On the one hand as a Jew he felt that "not one jot or tittle" of the law should pass away, but on the other hand he amended OT law in several ways, including gathering food on the Sabbath which was at that time a very serious sin punished by death.
There's no question that men having sex with other men was considered to be a sin also punishable by death in the OT. It was explicitly forbidden in the law: Leviticus 20:13 New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)
13 “‘If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.
However Jesus (like Rabbi Hillel before him) apparently felt that the Law of Moses was a wee bit brutal, and tried to soften it up - generally saying things about how everyone commits sins of lust or from hunger, cut them some slack, the Law was made for the people and not people for the Law. He elevated "love your neighbor as yourself" above the stern commandments in the OT, saying that it together with "love god with all your heart mind and soul" together perfectly summarized Mosaic Law. They didn't really do that, but kudos to him for trying - he influenced many after his time to take that interpretation, people such as the OP rev.
If you are going to make that insane claim, back it up!
Quote:
Originally Posted by mb1547
He's doing what Jesus would have done....which is the whole point of being a Christian.
Please point out exactly where in the Bible that Jesus specifically endorsed same sex marriage. You do understand it is possible to practice love (as in: love thy neighbor) without turning a blind eye to or endorsing sinful behavior don't you?
Please point out exactly where in the Bible that Jesus specifically endorsed same sex marriage. You do understand it is possible to practice love (as in: love thy neighbor) without turning a blind eye to or endorsing sinful behavior don't you?
Show me in the bible Jesus specifically condemned homosexuality.
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If you are going to make that insane claim, back it up!
