From: djdaneh@pbhyc.pacbell.com (Dan'l DanehyOakes)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian
Subject: Re: Homosexuality and the so-called "Christian biblical stance."
Date: 22 Jul 92 06:37:31 GMT
Reply-To: djdaneh@pacbell.com (Dan'l DanehyOakes)
Organization: Pacific * Bell, San Ramon, CA

In article <Jul.21.02.39.00.1992.27881@dumas.rutgers.edu> onstott@a.cs.okstate.edu (ONSTOTT CHARLES OR) writes:
>Question:  Should a church be expelled form a convention if it
>contains homosexuals in its congregation?
>
>Answer: No.  Although homosexuality can be shown to be an evil from a 
>biblical stance, any supported evil of homosexuality should not
>take precedence over the forgivingness of Christ. . .

[Etc.]

Further:  "All are sinners."  There is not one without sin, not one.  Granting
[for the sake of this argument] that the Bible's condemnation of homosexuality
is an eternal and not a situational rule, nonetheless it is not given any 
special priority over any other sin; indeed, the only sin so "honored" is the
so-called "sin against the Holy Spirit."  To say that a Church should not have
homosexuals in its congregation is in effect to say that a Church should have no
sinners in its congregation:  that is, the only acceptable Church would be an
empty Church.  This is clearly ridiculous.


>Question: Should a church be expelled from a convention if it contains
>a ordinated homosexual minister?

Additional reply:  The above argument is sufficient.  If no sinner is permitted
to be a minister, then there will be no minister.  Yet a flock must have a
shepherd.  Therefore, we must hope that Christ will guide His shepherds to lead
their flocks better than they could do of themselves, and not judge them by 
their particular sins, but by their leadership.  (Indeed:  do not *judge* them 
at all.  "Judge not lest ye be judged."  But judge their leadership, and follow 
a shepherd who leads you in God's paths, as best you understand it.)


>Question:  Which is more spiritually damaging to Christian followers:
>closed minded, dogmatic application of selected lines from the Bible, or,
>the actual teaching of Christ?
>
>Answer:  Christianity is in a decline because of its closed-minded 
>dogmatic approaches to a changing society.  Unless it can open its
>mind and find new ways of interpreting the same text, it is doomed
>to failure.  This is the most spiritually damaging situation conceivable.

Reply to Answer:  Christianity is not now and never has been in decline.  Many 
people who call themselves Christians -- many of whom *are* truly Christians, 
that is, who are men and women of good faith, who have accepted Christ as their 
etc., etc. --  are, sadly, trapped, listening to forces that lead them astray, 
masquerading under the name "Christianity," while actually preaching narrow, 
legalistic interpretations of selected texts while ignoring the big picture, the
whole life-giving and -saving message:  "Love God, Love your Neighbor."  

But Christianity -- the true Church, apart from any sect or denomination but
coexisting within each of them and all of them -- is still alive and healthy, 
and remains so as long as there are people who hear that message.  The Blood of 
Christ continues to flow strong through His mystical Body, and will as long as
this world lasts and beyond.  Praise Him; Amen.


			I cooked your meals, I cleaned your house,
			And this is how you pay me back
			For all my kind unselfish loving deeds?  HA?!?
			Well, you just wait, they'll find you yet,
			And when they do. . .
				-- "Napoleon XIV"

Dan'l Danehy-Oakes, Net.Roach
My opinions do NOT represent Pacific Bell,
Professional Development, or anyone else.
But I'm willing to share.