Fellow Christians: why literal about homosexuality but...?

Question

So many Christians read The Bible literally when considering whether of not homosexuality is a sin. Fine. But why don't we do the same when reading ALL the verses in The Bible?

How many of us believe that women need to keep quiet in church?

35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.--1 Corinthians 14:34-35, KJV

Why don't we give up all our possessions and follow Jesus in everything we do?


33(A) So therefore, any one of you who(B) does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.

Are we picking and choosing here? Are most of us more confortable standing up against homosexuality while not giving up all our possessions?

Peace be with you.

Jesus in several passages says being a Christian means making a total commitment, which includes giving up all your possessions. As a Christian, I do not believe I should sell my house and give all the money to the poor. But why don't literal-minded Christians believe this?

But Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” And we read that when the rich man heard these words of Jesus, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions.

Answer 1

Please keep in mind that God does not like the actions that we do, but he still loves the people.

Don't forget, too, that we are all in growth mode - meaning we start our walk with Christ and then we learn and grow. We are all at different stages in our growth at all times. In 1 Cor 8, we are taught that there are those who are considered weaker in belief (and might I say, I am weaker in understanding than many men and women of faith today) are to be taught, not condemned and that those who have more knowledge should be careful that their actions do not make others stumble.

I think, sadly, that many are too caught up in the right and wrong and not caught up enough in the love of God. I really think it is His love that draws others to Him, not our condemnation of their actions. It is His love that brought us our salvation, His love for everyone. It is not His will that any should perish.

I think that we should worry more about our own sins than the sins of others and let God deal with Christians at His own time and in His own way. Encouraging always each other to learn ! For those who are not believers, I think we need to draw them with His love and forgiveness, not rules. It all begins with salvation and if we can't get the world to realize the love it took to make that plan, than we can not get them to begin to understand why God said these things are not the best for them and that He only wants what's best for them and me and you.

Answer 2

The Bible was translated and written by man. The books that are in the bible were writings of the times that scholars of the Hebrew and Greek texts deciphered and came up with the works we now call the Bible. It is a guide, but it is not complete.

We now know that many documents were excluded because they were considered too contradictary to another passage and so on, wars were faught over this, religion as most know it today is not what was when the scriptures were written.

The Old Testament is a story of how God came to be known to the Human Race on Earth. It is not to be taken lightly, some of it defines our moral core, having said that, we must remember that there is good and bad portrayals. Once I read the Bible I didn't understand why we have Christmas, Easter and so on, the Bible mentions feasts and days of reverence but does not go into it explicitly except for the days to be held holy in the Old Testament before Jesus was born.

The Commandments still stand, when you look at each one you realize that what Jesus said is true, love is the one commandment that defines them all, for if you love your neighbor as yourself then you will not steal, lie, covet what your neighbor has, kill, love was Jesus' message, and with love comes compassion and acceptance of others and the realization that we are all free entities even under bondage you have a choice to help each other or destroy one another. Hope this isn't too long.

People who quote the Bible usually do it out of context. Homosexuality is mentioned as not a good thing because we were created like all things to procreate. Beastiality is also mentioned as being repulsive to God. These are all guidelines as to the way you should choose to live your life to have a long and healthy happy life.

Answer 3

Good point, poor example. If you would have done just a bit of research on this issue, you would see in the Jewish synagogues, which the church used as a example in practice, women where not set with the men, in fact in many cases the women where required to stand outside. They could hear only parts, and in some cases they would call out to their husbands "what did he say" Paul was teaching that this should be asked after church, not during the service. Eventually the practice was done away with and families could sit together. But remember homosexuality is condemned whether you like it or not.

Answer 4

Everyone has their own sins, whether or not they acknowledge them as sins. Some cling to possessions over loving God, while some whisper during church rather than hearing the Word of God while still others have other sins of a sexual nature. There is no picking and choosing what is a sin, but, we can learn from the laws of God what is or is not a sin.

Loving possessions in place of loving God is a sin, therefore, Jesus told the rich young man to sell all he had (all he placed above God) to follow the Christ.

Homosexuals likewise violate the laws against adultery as well as the commandment to be fruitful and multiply.

We can't choose what is a sin, we can only choose to repent (turn away from) our sins and turn to God through his Son, Jesus Christ.

Answer 5

I said it last night and I'll say it again -- Christians say follow the 10 commandments but they don't observe the Sabbath (commandment #4). Christians say the OT law is done away with but they want to bash homosexuals and say witchcraft is wrong. You people pick and you choose. God says no shellfish, he says no pork. You go and buy shrimp wrapped in bacon.
YOU PICK AND YOU CHOOSE. And that's sad.
The Messiah said in Matthew 5:17-21 that until ALL is fulfilled, NOTHING WOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE LAW. All is NOT fulfilled; this world is not yet over. Satan still walks the earth seeking whom he will devour.
The Messiah said listen to the pharisees and saducees because they sit in the seat of Moses! The pharisees and saducees were HYPOCRITES -- but we are to listen to them. Why? Because they are the keepers, the educators of God's law. THE MESSIAH TELLS YOU THIS, since you people only believe the NT is in effect, ALL of this is in MATTHEW.
He says he DID NOT come to CHANGE the law, but to clarify it. To clear up certain issues.
When the New Testament speaks against The Law, it is speaking against the Jewish Law, the Talmud. It adds to the law; Deuteronomy says NO ONE is to ADD or to SUBTRACT from the law!

You Christians don't even know the book that you claim to believe. This is all in the book that you people claim is the basis to your religion and yet even IT preaches AGAINST you!!

This is precisely nolonger Christian... I am Messianic.

Answer 6

Rather than read the whole Bible. It is really easy to take a verse or two that fit your thinking. Then you can go beat people over the head with the "word of GOD' . Yes people are picking and choosing..makes them more of a Pharisee than a Christian.

Answer 7

Because Christ taught literally about the destruction (Luke 17:29.) and the judgment (Matthew 11:24.) of Sodom and Gomorrah.
You will notice that Jesus is addressing the apostles in your verses, and Paul is offering advice to stop controversy among the Corinthians. You have to read these verses in context. Sorry to have to tell you about the literal homosexuality thing which Jesus himself taught. If you don't like it, it is still there, and very literal.

Answer 8

You aren't supposed to ask that. Christians like their possessions, but the straight ones can find it quite easy to pick on people who are (sexually speaking) different than them. You won't find that gay/homosexual Christians are quite so literal about any OT stuff, I guess...

Any propaganda will do against homosexuals, I've been on the receiving end of it for nearly 25 years now, so know what I'm talking about.

For instance, the Bible doesn't mention paedophilia, I don't think. Most paedophile attacks are from hetero fathers and men in some kind of position of social or professional authority around kids. Do you see Christians campaigning against fatherhood, heterosexuality, or Priesthood, Scoutmasters etc? No. And of course not. It would be dumb. Consent, force and age are the key moral and ethical issues. Or rather, they should be.

But many of them (sadly with some success) readily equate paedophilia with being homosexual instead. It is a handy equation to make as most of them think of homosexuality as some kind of sickness already. Once being different is criminalized then the propaganda is easy. Ask a Christian in Saudi, or a Tibetan in Chinese-controlled Tibet.

Just like calling us diseased rats, or equivalent to criminals, vermin etc.

Just like the Nuremberg Race Laws, you can make people believe most anything if you skew it in a way that it confirms the fears they have already been spoon-fed.

Answer 9

It's good to realize that we all have a spirit within. And condemning people won't help them to try and better themselves. Nevertheless, it is the sexual parctices that are in error. That goes for "straights" too. Who engage in sexual things that spread disease, and corrupt the purpose of the sexual union, which is to help our Creator to create Life!
Myself, I don't see how people can degrade themselves and others by sticking sex toys in another human and such things, and still be able to maintain their self-respect. Or any Love for another human being. It has to warp ones' sense of Reality.

Answer 10

I read your last paragraph (sell all and follow) and I think about the article I read this morning about Oral Roberts University. Irony.