The Bible Says Plainly that Homosexuality is a Sin

I like the idea that you brought up. In the case of killing, for instance, there are some exceptions. One main obstacle lies in the way of this being a valid argument, though, and that is that the sin of homosexuality differs dramatically in nature from the sin of murder. In the Bible there are cases of God commanding people to kill other people, but there is no place where we can find God commanding a person to practice homosexuality. "It saddens me that throughout the history of Christianity, fellow Christians have been attempting to play the role of God with their condemnations of others actions. " I in no way attempt to play God, but rather condemn only that which God has condemned in His Holy Word. ". .. I ask [him] to remember the parable of Jesus and the whore. " You are quite correct in saying that God is the only and final judge. This I will not dispute. You forget, however, that if we see a brother in sin, we are to correct (not judge) him in good faith, using the Bible as our point of reference. "If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. " --Matthew 18:15-17 It is plain from these scriptures that we are not to simply watch a brother commit sin, but are to confront and correct him to walk in the ways of righteousness. I would like to take this time to address what you said concerning the Bible not being a rule book. Upon hearing this it was my turn to be saddened. I am sorry to hear that you take such a light view of scripture. In fact, we can look to scripture itself and see a contradiction to your view. "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;" --2 Timothy 3:16 Not only does this plainly say all scripture is for teaching, but are you saying that the Ten Commandments were simply set up as guidelines and not laws? If the Bible was not written as a rule book, as you claim, then how do we know that any murder is a sin? Of course these are rules! Look, for instance, at Corinthians: "Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor HOMOSEXUALS, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God. " --1 Cor. 6:9-11 This verse is no joke. It is not left up to interpretation. This is out of the mouth of God that homosexuals will not inherit the kingdom of God. Look to Leviticus also, and you will find God VEHEMENTLY condemning sodomites. So vehemently, however, that there is NO QUESTION as to whether or not it is a sin. " 'Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable. '" --Leviticus 18:22 " '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. '" --Leviticus 20:13 God Condemns homosexuals and sodomites to death! ! He does not look lightly upon this sin! You claim that we are not to try and decide what is sin and what is not sin, but how can you possibly live a Christian life not deciding what sin is? God's word is here to direct us as to what sin is, that we might not fall into it, just as the Psalmist wrote: "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not. sin against you. " --Psalms 119:11 Having established that, please counter the verses I presented, and show how they do not condemn homosexuality. If you do not, you are not fulfilling your duty as my opponent in this debate, and I will win by default. However, setting aside the debate, I hope you can see how the Bible does in fact show what exactly is sin, and does in fact strictly condemn homosexuality. Thanks! Renzzy