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Date:         Sun, 22 Nov 1992 19:14:15 -0600
From:         Noe Torres | ECISD <noe@TENET.EDU>

Regarding Christianity and the gay lifestyle:

I agree with Daniel Brabander regarding sexual perversions among heterosexuals
being a clear problem in Christianity and one that does not get nearly as much
attention at the pulpit and otherwise as does the issue of homosexuality.

In my mind, heterosexual perversity can certainly lead to an individual's
spiritual downfall and is undeniably a statistically larger problem than that
of homosexuality.

Theologically, however, I see a danger in trying to make Biblical admonitions
against homosexuality apply only to limited situations in limited time periods.
I have seen this method used in the past to lesson or nullify what otherwise
seems to be a clear message of Scripture.

"Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman" (Lev. 18:22) seems clear to me,
especially in view of numerous other Bible verses in which the practice of
homosexuality is presented in a negative light.  This evidence, along with the
fact that there are no clear instances of any favorable portrayals of homo-
sexuals in the Bible, to me seems irrefutable.

In Genesis, God instructed that "a man will leave his father and mother and
be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh" (Gen. 2:24).  Jesus
confirmed and expounded on this account when He said, "...at the beginning
of creation God made them male and female.  For this reason a man will
leave his father and mother and be united to his wife....  Therefore what
God has joined together, let man not separate" (Mark 10:6-9).

I harbor no ill feelings toward homosexuals, I believe they are as much God's
children as I am, and I think there is too much anger and hostility being
focused on homosexuals by the Christian right.  But at the same time, I firmly
believe that theologically a homosexual lifestyle cannot be made to square
with the Bible.  In order to do so, one would have to so "water down" the plain
meaning of the Word that many other un-Biblical beliefs could also be
defended.

Finally, I believe that in order to be saved, a gay brother or sister has to
become convicted in their own hearts that God is not pleased with the practice
of homosexual acts, and they must forsake these in the same manner that a
faithful heterosexual Christian should forsake adultery and other sexual
perversions.

As for those of us who feel we are following Christ, it is not
our business to condemn or judge anyone whom we feel is not yet fully complying
with Biblical truth; rather, it is our duty to display the love of Christ to
them and leave the rest to God.

 ______________________________________________________
|                                                      |
|        Noe Torres  (noe@tenet.edu)                   |
|                                                      |
|                          --Revelation 13:6-12        |
|______________________________________________________|
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