On similarities between the way first century Christians treated Gentiles and the way twenty first century Christians treat Gays and Lesbians:
“The apostle Peter was just such a person - strong in his faith, yet firmly entrenched in his belief that the Messiah had come to offer salvation only to the Jews. This belief appeared to be supported by Scripture as it was interpreted at that time. The Gentiles (non-Jews) were considered so unclean that Jews were forbidden to enter their homes or to eat meals with them.” - p. 148. Gay Christian books.
“Peter and the group of Jews he brought with him were astonished, for they had never seen nor heard that salvation could come to anyone but the Jews.” p. 150.
from Gay Christianity 101
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Monday, April 25, 2011
God Loves Gay People
God Loves Gay People
by R.P. Nettelhorst
The Grand Unified Theory (GUT) of Bible interpretation is twofold: love of God and love of people.
Matthew 22:34-40 reads:
Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question:
"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"
Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (see the parallel account in Mark 12:28-34)
Sunday, April 24, 2011
He is Risen!
Christ has risen indeed!
No longer does death and decay hold power over us, for the tomb is empty and the presence of the risen Christ is all around us
Christ is Alive!
Despair is no longer the final word. Christ lives in us, through us, beyond us in the finest and most horrific circumstances
Christi lives in the crocus that will not bow to winter's late winds offering hope to all who witness its beauty
Christ is alive! Alleluia! Amen!
No longer does death and decay hold power over us, for the tomb is empty and the presence of the risen Christ is all around us
Christ is Alive!
Despair is no longer the final word. Christ lives in us, through us, beyond us in the finest and most horrific circumstances
Christi lives in the crocus that will not bow to winter's late winds offering hope to all who witness its beauty
Christ is alive! Alleluia! Amen!
Saturday, April 23, 2011
True Understanding of the Original Scriptures (Gay Christian Movement)
New Understanding of God, Not New Scripture
Christian leaders frequently use the biblical reference to Sodom in describing homosexuality as "sin." Sodom was a city destroyed by God because God found it wicked. Scripture states, however, that the sins of Sodom were arrogance, excess, and inhospitality to the downtrodden: "This is the sin of Sodom … pride, excess … and prosperous ease, but did not help … the poor and needy. They were arrogant and this was abominable (offensive) in God’s eyes." (Ezekiel 16:48–49) Homosexuality was not what destroyed Sodom.
Classical Greek is the language of the canonical New Testament. Very often Paul wrote his letters to various churches using colloquial terms, such as "malakoi" (temple prostitutes) and "arsenokoitai" (temple worshipers). These terms have baffled scholars and biblical translators since 400 A.D. These prostitutes and worshipers in ancient Greece practiced sex while worshiping fertility gods; i.e. the terms did not carry a subtext for homosexual relationships as understood in our society. In fact, the actual word, "homosexual," was not introduced into New Testament translations until the late 1950s and early 1960s. Translators could not find other modern words to describe these terms. Perhaps if those translators had instead used "temple prostitutes" and "dirty old men" to describe "malakoi" and "arsenokoitai," respectively, there might be no need for this article.
Many theologians point out that the two most clearly described commitments conducted between two people in the Bible are between Niobe and Ruth, two women (Ruth 1:16) and David and Jonathan, two men (1 Samuel 18:1-4 and 2 Samuel 1:26). These two couples loved each other so completely that they committed themselves to each other fully and, in David’s case, created a stronger bond than with a woman. Scripture remains silent concerning what kinds of things a marrying couple says to each other at an actual wedding ceremony.
The Christian Bible does not explicitly denounce same-sex relationships as we understand them in our society and culture. Jesus had nothing to say about same-sex couples. The concept of a homosexual couple living in a home together, working, and making their way in the world was simply not a historical or cultural aspect of Old or New Testament societies.
By comparison, the Old Testament described other acts as offensive or abominable that we in our culture and society consider normal, ignore, or view as unfashionable. For instance, eating pork or shrimp, and playing with pigskin were abominable acts. Adulterers were stoned, unless the adulterer conveniently happened to be the king of Israel. Wearing a garment containing two different fabrics was punishable by death. Moreover, modern society through science understands that sperm together with an ovum results in a baby. The Old Testament frame of mind thought that the man alone delivered life into a woman; women were simply the vessel for the baby when the man had sex with the woman. From that perspective, we understand why women were property, that polygamy and concubines were worthwhile (and even promoted), and why men who masturbated were stoned!
Christian leaders frequently use the biblical reference to Sodom in describing homosexuality as "sin." Sodom was a city destroyed by God because God found it wicked. Scripture states, however, that the sins of Sodom were arrogance, excess, and inhospitality to the downtrodden: "This is the sin of Sodom … pride, excess … and prosperous ease, but did not help … the poor and needy. They were arrogant and this was abominable (offensive) in God’s eyes." (Ezekiel 16:48–49) Homosexuality was not what destroyed Sodom.
Classical Greek is the language of the canonical New Testament. Very often Paul wrote his letters to various churches using colloquial terms, such as "malakoi" (temple prostitutes) and "arsenokoitai" (temple worshipers). These terms have baffled scholars and biblical translators since 400 A.D. These prostitutes and worshipers in ancient Greece practiced sex while worshiping fertility gods; i.e. the terms did not carry a subtext for homosexual relationships as understood in our society. In fact, the actual word, "homosexual," was not introduced into New Testament translations until the late 1950s and early 1960s. Translators could not find other modern words to describe these terms. Perhaps if those translators had instead used "temple prostitutes" and "dirty old men" to describe "malakoi" and "arsenokoitai," respectively, there might be no need for this article.
Many theologians point out that the two most clearly described commitments conducted between two people in the Bible are between Niobe and Ruth, two women (Ruth 1:16) and David and Jonathan, two men (1 Samuel 18:1-4 and 2 Samuel 1:26). These two couples loved each other so completely that they committed themselves to each other fully and, in David’s case, created a stronger bond than with a woman. Scripture remains silent concerning what kinds of things a marrying couple says to each other at an actual wedding ceremony.
The Christian Bible does not explicitly denounce same-sex relationships as we understand them in our society and culture. Jesus had nothing to say about same-sex couples. The concept of a homosexual couple living in a home together, working, and making their way in the world was simply not a historical or cultural aspect of Old or New Testament societies.
By comparison, the Old Testament described other acts as offensive or abominable that we in our culture and society consider normal, ignore, or view as unfashionable. For instance, eating pork or shrimp, and playing with pigskin were abominable acts. Adulterers were stoned, unless the adulterer conveniently happened to be the king of Israel. Wearing a garment containing two different fabrics was punishable by death. Moreover, modern society through science understands that sperm together with an ovum results in a baby. The Old Testament frame of mind thought that the man alone delivered life into a woman; women were simply the vessel for the baby when the man had sex with the woman. From that perspective, we understand why women were property, that polygamy and concubines were worthwhile (and even promoted), and why men who masturbated were stoned!
Friday, April 22, 2011
The Bible In Its Origingal Languages Was Not Anti-Gay
There are not anti-gay passages in the Bible! The facts are that the Bible in its original language does not speak against gay or lesbian people at all. It is only in English mistranslation that this appears to be the case. This book is an essential guide for gay and lesbian Christians as it sets out what the Bible actually says in the original texts. If you want to know what the Bible really says about being gay check out The Bible in Original Langues is not Anti Gay by Dr. A. Nyland.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
The Clark Institute Insight
Hello:
This is my first attempt at the world of blogging. So this is kind of a test to see if I can handle the set up. Please be patient if you are on the edge of your seat for Clark Institute Insight. I actually have to go take my dog outside now so I'm going to work on this again tomorrow.
thanks: Matthew Clark, Psy.D.
This is my first attempt at the world of blogging. So this is kind of a test to see if I can handle the set up. Please be patient if you are on the edge of your seat for Clark Institute Insight. I actually have to go take my dog outside now so I'm going to work on this again tomorrow.
thanks: Matthew Clark, Psy.D.
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