Wow, Foster, that was the best explanation I’ve read in my search. It explains so much, and I actually just posted statements and questions about my own confused search. Thank God that he inspires learned Christians to post what he places on their hearts.

Kevin

Did you see this

http://www.freedom2b.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=3998

Hi avb

Thanks for reposting this link which I hadn’t seen before. I found the article easy to follow and encouraging.

Foster refers to Rom 1:18 – 32, where “Paul is discussing people who deny God for idolatry. The result is foolishness, a perversion of their sexual nature and all kinds of lawlessness and evil.” I like how he points out that when this verse is used to speak against gay people, it doesn’t make sense alongside the argument that we were born this way. Therefore we are not perverting anything unless we knowlingly live a lie to be heterosexual.

Defining the “perversion of their sexual nature” is the part I’m not so sure about however and would like to offer a different view. In one interpretation, I have heard it said that the perversion of sexual nature may not be referring to gay people at all but possibly to the drunken orgies of the time that involved every conceivable excess as well as pedophilia (later referred to in the article as pederasty) and beastiality. And we know that the abuses that went on in Sodom and Gomorrah have nothing to do with homosexuality and everything to do with violence and hate crimes. It annoys me that certain acts or different groups get lumped together (ie. homosexuals and rapists/pedophiles) when this is a ridiculous association.

I agree that it’s all made simpler if we interpret laws according to love and where there are unclear passages or seeming contradictions, that we always put love first rather than the law. I think it also helps to examine the fruits of ours and others’ lives and see if love is the outcome.

Blessings,

Ann Maree

I’m sure that would have been delightful. A real treat … and day of celebration:)