Schwarzenegger Vetoes Same-Sex 'Marriage' Bill; Battle Continues

OpenlyGayOpenlyChristian »

Mon Oct 15, 2007 1:04 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 8

Looks like the polls are showing an major increase in support for same-sex marriage in the United States. This is only going to continue as everyone realizes that it important to protect and support ALL families.

As my generation takes over the leadership of this nation, I'm sure we will look back on this time and find it ridiculous that there was ever any issue with allowing mature loving adults to enter into a legal relationship just as we look back on segregation and are disgusted by the fact it ever existed.

I only hope that Pastor Leo will still support the laws of this nation when they aren't exactly what he believes.

Same-Sex 'Marriage' TV Ad Attempts to Sway Calif. Voters

OpenlyGayOpenlyChristian »

Fri Oct 12, 2007 7:43 pm Agree: 2   Disagree: 2

Thank God the Bible is the living word of God and the interpretations can and do change with society...otherwise, as amym14535 says, there are a lot of other things we no longer follow that we should expect to answer for...

DEUTERONOMY 22:13-21
If it is discovered that a bride is not a virgin, the Bible demands that she be executed by stoning immediately.
DEUTERONOMY 22:22
If a married person has sex with someone else's husband or wife, the Bible commands that both adulterers be stoned to death.
MARK 10:1-12
Divorce is strictly forbidden in both Testaments, as is remarriage of anyone who has been divorced.
LEVITICUS 18:19
The Bible forbids a married couple from having sexual intercourse during a woman's period. If they disobey, both shall be executed.
MARK 12:18-27
If a man dies childless, his widow is ordered by biblical law to have intercourse with each of his brothers in turn until she bears her deceased husband a male heir.
DEUTERONOMY 25:11-12
If a man gets into a fight with another man and his wife seeks to rescue her husband by grabbing the enemy's genitals, her hand shall be cut off and no pity shall be shown her.

wbmoore - are you divorced and remarried? Are you willingly committing adultery and living a life of sin or are you celibate? Since you believe that gays should choose a life of celibacy, why not all those divorced as well?

How is it that some are allowed to pick and choose what to follow and others aren't allowed to see a different interpretation of scripture. You are free to find your own truth - I have found mine and that is between myself and Jesus Christ.

Same-Sex 'Marriage' TV Ad Attempts to Sway Calif. Voters

OpenlyGayOpenlyChristian »

Fri Oct 12, 2007 5:37 pm Agree: 1   Disagree: 0

Wbmoore – thanks for bringing up the subject of Eunuchs. Let’s review the history of the word:

Word History: The word eunuch does not derive, as one might think, from the operation that produced a eunuch but rather from one of his functions. Eunuch goes back to the Greek word eunoukhos, "a castrated person employed to take charge of the women of a harem and act as chamberlain." The Greek word is derived from eunē, "bed," and ekhein, "to keep." A eunuch, of course, was ideally suited to guard the bedchamber of women as a Eunuch was incapable of having sex with a woman either because of physical or mental castration (otherwise known as a lack of attraction.)

A Eunuch is one who is incapable of reproduction – is it possible that a Eunuch could be born that way? Most people think of Eunuchs as being castrated males – is it possible that eunuchs could also be incapable of reproduction because they simply lack the sexual desire for women?

As Christ said in Matthew 19:12
"For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother's womb; and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men; and there are also eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. He who is able to accept this, let him accept it."

Christ answers that question right here: “THERE ARE EUNUCHS WHO WERE BORN THAT WAY FROM THEIR MOTHER’S WOMB; AND THERE ARE EUNUCHS WHO WERE MADE THAT WAY BY MEN.”

This answers the age old question – are homosexuals born that way or is it environmental? It’s both – Christ said so himself.

If one is a “Eunuch” and not attracted to someone of the opposite sex, should they be forced to live a life of celibacy?

God answers this question in Isaiah 56:3-5 when he says that a eunuch is not “only a dry tree.”
Let no foreigner who has bound himself to the LORD say, “The LORD will surely exclude me from his people." and let not any eunuch complain, "I am only a dry tree." For this is what the LORD says: "To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose what pleases me and hold fast to my covenant - to them I will give within my temple and its walls a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that will not be cut off.

What if God and Jesus are talking about homosexuals here? That we are promised by him to be given an everlasting name that will not be cut off.

I love how there are always accusations about how we, the “homosexual community,” are distorting and twisting God’s word for our own benefit. Isn’t it possible that you are doing the same simply to mask your own fears and hatred.

The Bible has been used for centuries to justify evil – from witch hunts to crusades to supporting slavery in the United States to trying to ban interracial marriage.

How about we Christians start acting out of love – as our savior would have us do - and place our fear and hatred of others away.

Is gay marriage really that scary?

Same-Sex 'Marriage' TV Ad Attempts to Sway Calif. Voters

OpenlyGayOpenlyChristian »

Thu Oct 11, 2007 9:53 am Agree: 5   Disagree: 12

To bring this to a more personal level...my partner and I have been in a loving and committed relationship for almost 9 years. We are in the process of adopting a child right now and will be starting a family soon. I understand that many of you are disgusted by our relationship and that you would prefer us to not be together - but if you truly believe in family values and supporting children, don't you think it's more important to allow us to be in a legal committed relationship?

The fact of the matter is - Gays exist. Gays have children and families. Shouldn't our priority here be the welfare of the family and the ability to provide a stable supportive environment for these children? My focus in life will soon be on the safety and support of my children. Regardless of whether or not you agree with my "lifestyle," isn't gay marriage more about allowing families the same legal protections that everyone should have?

Same-Sex 'Marriage' TV Ad Attempts to Sway Calif. Voters

OpenlyGayOpenlyChristian »

Thu Oct 11, 2007 9:33 am Agree: 6   Disagree: 12

At the time in history when the Bible was written, gays did not have meaningful, committed, adult relationships - it just didn't exist. Turning to the New Testament, the writings of the Apostle Paul at first lend credence to the notion that homosexuality is a sin, until you consider that Paul most likely is referring to the Roman practice of pederasty, a form of pedophilia common in the ancient world. Successful older men often took boys into their homes as concubines, lovers or sexual slaves. Today, such sexual exploitation of minors is no longer tolerated (and obviously should NOT be). The point is that the sort of long-term, committed, same-sex relationships that are being debated today are not addressed in the New Testament. It distorts the biblical witness to apply verses written in one historical context (i.e. sexual exploitation of children) to contemporary situations between two monogamous partners of the same sex. Sexual promiscuity is condemned by the Bible whether it's between gays or straights. Sexual fidelity is not.

For those who have lingering doubts, dust off your Bibles and take a few hours to reacquaint yourself with the teachings of Jesus. You won't find a single reference to homosexuality. There are teachings on money, lust, revenge, divorce, fasting and a thousand other subjects, but there is nothing on homosexuality. Strange, don't you think, if being gay were such a moral threat? These days, we are facing much bigger moral threats and I just don't understand why everyone is so threatened by homosexuals.

Christ says in Matthew 19:9 I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery."

I find it odd that we spend so much time talking about homosexuality when it's not included in any of Christ's teachings. According to Christ, any man who divorces his wife and marries another is committing adultery - since the adulterers will not inherit the kingdom of God, why are there not more sermons abouth the fact that every divorced and remarried man will be spending eternity in Hell? Divorce is obviously a much bigger problem in our country than the homosexuals - how about we spend some time working on what Christ cared about.

Matthew 7:1-3 Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

Same-Sex 'Marriage' TV Ad Attempts to Sway Calif. Voters

OpenlyGayOpenlyChristian »

Wed Oct 10, 2007 5:15 pm Agree: 4   Disagree: 13

Wow - as someone who has been a Christian for almost 30 years and was baptized in the Holy Spirit more than 15 years ago, I am amazaed at the amount of God's love (or lack of) that is poured out in most of these comments. For those of you quoting Leviticus, I'd take another look at that book. I'm guessing you also eat pork, shrimp and/or lobster - all of them unclean and abominations. Why is it that we can selectively pick and choose what we follow?

I've always asked myself - if homosexuality is so wrong, why did Jesus never, not once, refer to it??? For we, as Christians, pay particular attention to the words of our savior. Jesus said nothing regarding homosexuality, and in his ministry spoke more about the sins of the spirit than the sins of the body.

How often does the Bible refer to helping the poor? How many of us give up our daily Stabucks fix to help those less fortunate? Maybe we should concentrate on the things Christ felt was important and leave mature, loving couples alone.