Jesus said, “And if any man, hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world” (John 12:47). And at the cross Jesus proclaimed, “It is finished” (Jn 19:30). Sadly, just as Esau did, many will throw away the birthright given to them.

Even Christ’s message of homosexuality being sin, it is a message of mercy, not condemnation for the sinner. His message of wrath cannot be a message of condemnation since God is love. Even His wrath is a message of mercy and love.

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness” (Romans 1:18). It does not say, “the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all THE UNGODLY and UNRIGHTEOUS.” God loves the sinner and hates the sin.

“He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words; hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (Jn 12:48).

Let’s be more articulate instead of our broad scope of condemning those who have sins of commission. That’s an easy target. Many will not be heaven because of the Pharisee type of attitude toward sinners and publicans.

When I was young my life style was disgusting and extremely sinful. It was not the message of condemnation that brought me to the cross as so many preached, but a message of reconciliation which is our great commission (2 Cor. 5:14-21).
John covenant-promise@comcast.net

1. I just reread the whole article, and cannot find anywhere that says that “people who are homosexuals are not loved by GOD in the same way which hetersexuals are loved.” Where did that come from?

2. Your arguments about the days when women were considered property and interracial marriage was condemned simply don’t work. The scriptures used to justify these attitudes were vague and taken way out of context. As this article pointed out, the scripture passages against homosexuality are “abundantly clear”. Just because someone wrongly uses scripture in one case does not mean all scripture is used wrongly in all cases.

Far from being bigoted, this article was compassionate, biblical, and hopeful. I believe that, like you, most of us would also feel bad for those who think “that people who are homosexuals are not loved by GOD in the same way which heterosexuals are loved.” Indeed, God’s love for homosexuals–as with all men–is demonstrated by the fact that “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”. (Rom. 5:8)

The constant shaping and re-shaping of onesself to meet the ever-changing standard for acceptance only to be rewarded with abusive intimacy is truly a cruel community. Having said that, I have known some who claim homosexuality who are more asexual and their involvement in this culture is more about a brotherhood of victimhood rather than sexual pursuit.

Even though the citizens of Sodom and Gomorrah were overtly overcome by their base human nature, Jesus warned that it would be more merciful for these citizens than for those who suffered from being a Pharisee.

If anyone has a witness in their heart to extend the invitation of grace to those who are lost in this lifestyle, I pray you are equipped with a clear perspective of love and compassion to deliver the message.

Sin is living apart from God – it is suffering!!! It requires no further scrutiny or punishment from me. If I am of no influence to soften hearts toward grace, then I add no further burden on those who chose to continue to pursue death.

“Why, then, have homosexual interpretations of Scripture been so successful at persuading so many? Simple: people want to be convinced.”

One thing I remember from philosophical studies is that both David Hume and Blaise Pascal both commented on how mankind is NOT a rational being; mankind is ruled by emotions and uses reason to service the justification of his desires.

That’s always exceedingly true with people who seek to justify sin…no matter how crazy it is, people can find a biblical argument for it. I once had a counselling session with a guy who pulled out several Bible verses to “support” his desire to participate in orgies involving intravenous drugs…and that fella had a B.A. in Theology. For some reason, he didn’t like what I had to say about that…

The sad thing is that this, along w/ the ecumenical movement,prevents Christians from identifying who really needs the Gospel and might hesistate to share with them the Glorious news of Christ.

W.H.