mtnlady....
"I do not believe studying through a subject is doing "contortions". Especially when you are dealing with a subject as important as this one."
I agree the subject is important, but the matter is settled by the clear teachings of Scripture - no "debate" is necessary. By "contortions", I was referring your attempts to replace normal usage of the Greek, Aramaic and Hebrew words with a definition that is a massive stretch and goes against the whole of the Bible.
From the beginning until the advent of the so called "gay rights movement," the meaning of neither the words nor of the passages in question were never the subject of debate - the meaning was quite clear to the Jews of the Old Testament, and to Christians. But in order to justify their actions to themselves (certainly not to God) and aided by some liberal theologians who only believe those parts of the bible they agree with (explaining away the rest), they now have come up with novel arguments unsupported by any reasonable exegesis of either the text or context.
I agree with Jar that you are espousing false doctrine that perverts the word of God and denigrates the Holiness of God. I will not debate the matter with you.
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"After all, we ARE discussing roughly 5-10% of the world's population here."
I suspect your percentages are very high, but that does not matter - if it were 95%, the bible gives the correct answer and God does not bend His definitions of what is evil to the please men.
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"Let's suppose for a moment that the Church told you that you could accept Jesus Christ all right. But that to please God (really the Church) you needed to become a homosexual else you would be "sinning". Wouldn't that be bothersome to you?"
Not in the least, for I would know that their message was a lie and the truth was not in them.
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"Remember it is you who are telling THEM to change."
No, I am not telling them anything - God is. That is all that matters for one who wants to be a follower of Jesus. My opinions do not matter, only God's opinions matter and when He speaks, the matter is settled.
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"Studying the Word of God to understand and rightly divide God’s will from man’s doctrine is always a worthwhile “contortion” in my opinion."
Perhaps that is where you are going wrong. Studying the Word of God never calls for contortions and you do not need to give unnatural definitions to words to understand what He is saying - for God never contradicts Himself.
I Thessalonians 5:20-22
20 Do not despise prophetic utterances. (the Bible)
21 Test everything; retain what is good.
22 Refrain from every kind of evil.
I Timothy
4:1 But the Spirit says expressly that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons, 4:2 through the hypocrisy of men who speak lies, branded in their own conscience as with a hot iron
5:20 Those who sin, reprove in the sight of all, that the rest also may be in fear. 5:21 I charge you in the sight of God, and Christ Jesus, and the chosen angels, that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing by partiality. 5:22 Lay hands hastily on no one, neither be a participant in other men's sins. Keep yourself pure.
6:3 If anyone teaches a different doctrine, and doesn't consent to sound words, the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness, 6:4 he is conceited, knowing nothing, but obsessed with arguments, disputes, and word battles, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, 6:5 constant friction of people of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. Withdraw yourself from such.
6:20 Timothy, guard that which is committed to you, turning away from the empty chatter and oppositions of the knowledge which is falsely so called; 6:21 which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with you. Amen.
mlsoft
AI
