From: ca850@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Steve P. Di Perna)
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.christia
Subject: More on Biblical Interpretations on Homosexuality
Date: 14 Sep 1992 19:26:03 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio (USA)
NNTP-Posting-Host: slc10.ins.cwru.edu


Something bothers me about the recent discussion on homosexuality.
It seems that whenever a controversial subject is discussed, op-
ponents in the debate often resort to vilification and ad hominem 
arguments. For instance, Tim [who's sick of ignorant christians]
Bieling accuses those who disagree with him of being "AFRAID that
they are wrong (in their sincere belief that homosexual relations
are sinful), and they won't admit or accept that fact." [Material
in parentheses was my own interjection.]

Tim, I would be interested in looking at John Boswell's material
(please post some references to his work). But I would not accuse 
people of hypocrisy just because they are concerned with the Old
Testament prohibition in Leviticus 18:22, "Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is an[C
as one lies with a woman; that is an abomination," while not ad-
hering to the prohibition about wearing clothing made of mixed 
fibers.  Old Testament prescriptions and proscriptions do not 
apply today, when they deal primarily with ceremonial cleanness,
or with illustrative prohibitions designed to drive home the need
for the ancient Israelites to be separate from the surrounding 
nations. But there are plenty of Pauline prohibitions regarding
homosexual relations. Many lifestyle prohibitions from the Old
Testament still apply today. Adultry is still sinful, bestiality is 
is still sinful, incest is still sinful, gossip is still sinful,
lying is still sinful, and homosexual relations are still sinful.

I empathize with gays as much as a "straight" can, because I believe
you have honest feelings toward your loverss. But mankind's fallen
nature takes the raw material provided by God and often places it
the wrong context. That's what sin is, "good" taken out of context.
For example, I can sincerely fall in love with another man's wife--
I could truly love her; but adultery is adultery. I'm married--I
could have an affair with a woman at work, and feel strongly that
I love her, but I'm still sinning if I do. The sincerity of one's 
feelings do not, by themselves, validate a relationship. God did,
indeed, program the human heart to be able to generate feelings
of love for others. But, because of the Fall of human nature, the
emotional machine is prone to run wild.  For example, mercy in the 
wrong context could result in a judge allowing a murderer to go 
free, thus perverting justice. Parents can fail to discipline an 
unruly child because they love him and don't want him to be un-
happy.  One can cite examples all day of good feelings and emotions
gone awry (and in the wrong context), resulting in sin.

I agree with Mr. Bieling that this is not a Christian country.
The only theocracies sanctioned by God were ancient Israel and 
the coming millenial kingdom.  So I'm willing to bargain with
believers and unbelievers who don't see eye-to-eye with me on 
everything. We have to share the same planet, so I have no problem
with religious plurality, or gay marriages. But that is a political
tolerance. I would be a liar if I said God says everyone is right.
What I'm trying to say is, we can have a dialogue on societal stan-
dards--we can hammer out something we can all live with. But let's
not resort to bullying one another by vilifying sincere men and 
women as wicked, intolerant bigots just because they disagree with
us. The root of such accusations is a desire to see evil where there
is none, and results in unjust accusations against innocent men and
women.  Remember, Satan in the accuser of the brethren.

In Christ,
Steve Di Perna
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU