Newsgroups: bit.listserv.christia
Date:         Mon, 23 Nov 1992 14:16:11 MST
From:         Madge McBurney <ISPMOM@ASUACAD.BITNET>
Subject:      Re: Being gay is offensive?
              23 Nov 1992 17:04:00 GMT from
              <Z_STAFF_CL@SOUTHAMPTON-INSTITUTE.AC.UK>

On Mon, 23 Nov 1992 17:04:00 GMT CAROL L said:
>
>A few months ago this subject got CHRISTIA in a situation that our listowners
>extracted us from beautifully.

Thank you Carol.

>At that time we went round in a circle like this.
>
>I think the hinge factor is that we all have different ways of seeing what
>the Bible means and what may seem as a direct statement to you may not be
>read like that by someone else.
>
>At that time, no-one produced a Bible passage that could not be read in a
>different but equally valid way by someone else to mean something else.
>There was not convincing arguement that being gay was intrinsically sinful.
>
>You attest homosexuallity to be a sin, others believe it a God given part
>of themselves.  If you keep that in mind, you cannot condemn the being gay
>without condemning the person.  Homosexuallity is not an added extra to gay
>people, it is a very basic part of their makeup/personality/being, whatever
>you call it.  Much the same way as being male/female, left/right handed, tall
>or short.

I agree with you that Christia has had enough of this discussion for awhile.
However, I would not want to leave the impression that an opinion such as
Janie's; (i.e. that homosexual behavior is a sin), cannot be expressed on
this list.  Certainly each can interpret Scripture in a different light,
but Janie's views are as welcomed as anyone's.  I respect that people feel
differently about this, and that to some it's comparable to the left/right
handed example, but many people (including myself) feel that the Bible is
clearly stating this kind of behavior to be a sin.  The listowners will not
forbid this to be expressed, but would hope that all would take care to post
their opinions in love.  Steven and I will continue to request that subjects
be dropped from discussion if and when they begin to dominate the list with
unkindness and/or repetition.

>I was brought up in a family where some older members had the superstition
>that a left-handed person was evil.  Simple country clap trap it may have
>been but I know the damage that was done because of a strong conviction for
>the "right."   Telling someone that being what they know themselves to be
>is "sinful" can produce a lot of nasty side affects pychologically. How much
>damage can we do ?

I was told at a very early age that I had a sin nature; that I was born
with it.  Indeed, I can say in all honesty that I've been this way as far
back as I can remember.  I'm just not sold on the idea that I should let
me be myself.  I want God to remake me.  I want Him to heal those parts
in me (however natural they seem) and make me whole again.  I cannot do
this for myself, but He can.  Jesus said that we must be born again. We
must have a _new_ nature in us.  This is part of the Christian message.
It's not meant to point a finger at any special group because we're all
born with sin.  I should be supportive of you, and you should be equally
supportive of me, and together we should turn to God for help.

May God bless us all,
Madge McBurney