Iowa Gay Marriage Ruling Spurs Calls for Marriage Amendment

crowinghorse »

Tue Apr 07, 2009 2:40 pm Agree: 1   Disagree: 2

"It's a spiritual thing. Homosexuality is a sin, and to allow sin to rule in a nation brings destruction."

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Maybe I'm ignorant, but WHERE does Jesus say homosexuality is a sin?

I know how Leviticus reads, but - from my understanding - because of Jesus and his good word, God no longer required us to live by Levitical law.

And if you DO believe we should obey Levitical law, why are some deemed acceptable and some not? Again, this makes no sense. And who are you (or anyone!) to pick and choose which of these Levitical laws are followed today?

I believe there's a difference between the letter of the law and the spirit of the law (Pretty sure Jesus talked about this one in Luke 10: 25 - 37) and love - real love - between a man and woman, a woman and a woman, or a man and a man shouldn't be punished or disowned.

Iowa Gay Marriage Ruling Spurs Calls for Marriage Amendment

crowinghorse »

Tue Apr 07, 2009 2:14 pm Agree: 2   Disagree: 1

I've never understood why some people feel threatened by gay marriage. How does the marriage of two women or two men to one another negate or negatively affect the commitment I made to MY wife and MY God when I became married?

If two men or two women living in a monogamous and loving relationship want to show their commitment to one another and gain legal benefits for each other, who am I to judge them wrong?

I believe it was Jesus Christ who said "Judge not, lest ye be judged." (Matt 7:1) So who am I (or YOU!!) to judge gays as having any less right to marry than heterosexuals?

If it's a "family values" issue, let's examine a real problem: divorce. Considering 41% of first marriages, 60% of second marriages, and 73% of third marriages end in divorce, why isn't there an outrage about divorcee - which we know - for a fact - is harming families in the USA.

If we know the odds are stacked against second and third marriages, we should ban those too, right? After all, it only makes sense because they've already broken their commitment to another (made before God no less!)

So divorce is acceptable, second and third marriages (and divorces!) are acceptable, but gay marriage isn't?

HUH? Really?

Wow...that's dumb...and not at all with my understanding of the spirit of Christ's teachings of tolerance and love.

Teen Birth Rate Up Again; Fuels Sex Ed Debate

crowinghorse »

Fri Mar 20, 2009 11:36 am Agree: 4   Disagree: 0

My simple opinion: until parents begin PARENTING and adults begin acting as responsible, positive role models to our youth, nothing will change. The first step in this long road is to teach the PARENTS and ADULTS who are supposed to be leaders that it's unacceptable to have sex out of wedlock and/or allow it.

Youth have to have positive role models instead of the never ending assault of sex on TV and in music. Simple as that.

To say "Abstinence only" doesn't work is wrong as obviously it works for some, and to say "comprehensive sex education" doesn't work is wrong as this too works for some. I graduated in the late 1990s and my high school sweetheart and I have been married 8 years. We never had sex before we were married. That said, we were NOT the norm, but we were taught by our parents what was "right" and what was "wrong" and we made up our minds - together - to wait and give one another the amazing gift that Christ wanted to be shared between us after we were married.

Most of the problems with teen sex today have to do with parents and adults turning a blind eye or allowing it to happen. Thus, it has become "more acceptable" to the youth when it's "more acceptable" to the adults around them. In a world where 1/2 of marriages end in divorce and almost 40% of births in the USA are to unmarried mothers, what else do you expect but increased teen sex?

Personally, I say if YOU want to contribute to the SOLUTION and not the problem, live as an example, demonstrate the positive values Christians uphold and be vocal to the teens you know about the problems of teen sex and pregnancy. If everyone did that, I think a lot of this wouldn't be an issue.

After all, the young judge what's acceptable and unacceptable by what they see happening around them and by what their family and friends find OK.

Youth Pastors Encouraged to Learn Self-Defense

crowinghorse »

Fri Mar 06, 2009 1:27 pm Agree: 1   Disagree: 0

I can appreciate the idea of laying down my life for my beliefs and would gladly do it (I was a US Marine for 4 years and served in Iraq). However, we also have to remember our jobs in youth ministry aren't *just* about spreading the love, good works and words of Christ, but ensuring our youth - under our charge and in our care - are safe and secure. If my learning self defense to keep myself and/or my youth safe helps me do this, I'm all for it.

Maybe it's sad we have to make our number one priority "safety" (and not discipleship and building better Christians), but it's important to remember for all youth ministers that we've been entrusted by parents and other adults to not only minister, but keep safe the next generation of Christians. Just my .02 worth...