Are sins like homosexuality still condemned in the New Covenant of Christ?

[Sassy]

Many, many Christians are homosexual and their faith is as true as yours.

The encapsulation of the law by Jesus into two great commandments says it all.

Now can you explain to me how the covenant of Christ is different to the old covenant of the actual law?
Not trying to trick you Leonard. Just want answers. Thinking mans answers.

[Gonnagle]

Dear Leonard,

The encapsulation of the law by Jesus into two great commandments says it all.

Amen Brother Leonard, Amen.

Oh! and Sass, I like this forum, it is full of weird and wonderful minds and just for the record, homosexuality is not, I repeat not a sin.

Gonnagle.

[Shaker]

Dear Leonard,

Amen Brother Leonard, Amen.

Oh! and Sass, I like this forum, it is full of weird and wonderful minds and just for the record, homosexuality is not, I repeat not a sin.

Gonnagle.

As per Christianity it must be one of the few things that isn't, then, Gonners

[Leonard James]

Now can you explain to me how the covenant of Christ is different to the old covenant of the actual law?
Not trying to trick you Leonard. Just want answers. Thinking mans answers.

If by "the old covenant of the actual law" you are referring to the ten commandments, I believe that Jesus could see that loving God and your neighbour covered them all much more simply.

[Gonnagle]

Dear Shaker,

My Brother in Christ has spoken.

The encapsulation of the law by Jesus into two great commandments says it all.

Gonnagle.

[Shaker]

Dear Shaker,

My Brother in Christ has spoken.

Gonnagle.

I'd quite happily dispense with the first - God wouldn't seem to need loving on the traditional reading of a God; that would be like sending Bill Gates a birthday card and putting a tenner inside, i.e. not exactly needed.

In the meantime, my neighbour does need it.

[Gonnagle]

Dear Shaker,

Exactly!! and the second is like it, Our Lord Jesus is telling us how to worship the Father.

Gonnagle.

[Brownie]

I don't suppose there's any chance of changing the first word of the title to 'Are' is there?! The thing is, Sassy, that the only way I know what the topic title is is by listening to it, and 'Is sins..' does cause a wince every time Synthetic Dave reads it!!!

Susan, I thought exactly the same  and felt like pointing it out discreetly to Sassy but didn't.  I hope she isn't offended, daresay she thinks we are nitpicking but some of us are a bit 'like that' when it comes to English.  Sassy, as far as I recall and she will no doubt correct me if I am wrong, worked in a scientific environment and was therefore science biased in education.  That's one of the reasons I don't say much about her writing (I'm sure she had enough of that at school).  Who is Synthetic Dave?

Shaker, there aren't many Christians around today who believe homosexuality is a sin, certainly not the practice of homosexuality.  How could they, in light of what we now know which was not known in years gone by?  Extremists still exist, especially on forums, and some are quite dreadful.  Sass believes the Bible literally, 'as it was then and is today, world everlasting'.  It presents a dilemma especially when faced with friends and family who may be of a different sexual orientation to ourselves.

One way of thinking, which I believe is quite valid and has some Biblical back up, is that we cannot apply the same values to non-believers as we would to believers.  Certainly not when it comes to things that are not antisocial.

[Rhiannon]

Dear Shaker,

My Brother in Christ has spoken.

Gonnagle.

But Hope said to me that the loving thing to do is to point out people's sinfulness to them.

[Shaker]

But Hope said to me that the loving thing to do is to point out people's sinfulness to them.

... which amounts to three quarters of two thirds of five eighths of sod all if you don't accept the basis of this 'sin' business in the first instance.

[Leonard James]

But Hope said to me that the loving thing to do is to point out people's sinfulness to them.

Nothing wrong with that as long as you KNOW what is a sin and what isn't.

[Shaker]

One way of thinking, which I believe is quite valid and has some Biblical back up, is that we cannot apply the same values to non-believers as we would to believers.  Certainly not when it comes to things that are not antisocial.

That would be fine save for the fact that there's Biblical back-up for the opposite point of view (I've just read a book which mentioned in passing that an Episcopalian bishop in the USA offered anybody a dollar to find Biblical support for absolutely any point of view of any kind at all whatever), and that religions have a habit (even in this country; as secular as it is, it still has an established church) of claiming that their view should apply to non-believers as well believers - those outside the club as well as those in it. The C of E's opposition to secular, civil marriage between two people of the same sex being a prime and recent example.

[Rhiannon]

... which amounts to three quarters of two thirds of five eighths of sod all if you don't accept the basis of this 'sin' business in the first instance.

Not so good for Christian homosexuals though.

[Gonnagle]

Dear Rhiannon,

But Hope said to me that the loving thing to do is to point out people's sinfulness to them.

Which is why I like to quote Matthew 7, and why I think the trouble with Christianity is Christians.

Out of all the noise this morning regarding Christians celebrating Easter Sunday, the Hymns, the sermons, the incense burning, Cameron with his plastic Christian message only one man's thoughts stood out for me, an artist on radio Scotland who said, when I paint that is when I find that spark of God.

Gonnagle.

[SusanDoris]

Brownie

Synthetic Dave is the screen reader in my softweare SuperNova 15.02.

[Gordon]

Brownie

Synthetic Dave is the screen reader in my softweare SuperNova 15.02.

Moderator:

OK Susan - I'll sort the topic subject text so as to avoid any further problems with synthetic Dave.

I'll have to lock the thread briefly while I dig out the magic wand: it will then disappear for a few seconds but will return.

Update: done, hope Dave is happier now.

[SusanDoris]

Thank you Gordon. Much appreciated!

[floo]

Many, many Christians are homosexual and their faith is as true as yours.

The encapsulation of the law by Jesus into two great commandments says it all.

I agree.

[Owlswing]

When Jesus Christ said " Let he who is without sin cast the first stone" . . .

. . .  a damn great boulder flew through the air from the back of the crowd and squashed the woman flatter than a pancake.

Jesus looked up ar yelled "Mother, there are times when you really piss me off!"

[Brownie]

Brownie

Synthetic Dave is the screen reader in my softweare SuperNova 15.02.

Sounds very upmarket to me Susan! 

Gonnagle, I really love what you said about the artist in Scotland.  I understand that better than church services.

[Leonard James]

. . .  a damn great boulder flew through the air from the back of the crowd and squashed the woman flatter than a pancake.

Jesus looked up ar yelled "Mother, there are times when you really piss me off!"

 

Thanks for the laugh Owlie.

[Hope]

Only a sick bigot believes there is anything wrong with homosexuality, as I have said many times before. If god exists and is such an evil bigot ALL humanity should be condemning it, not using the Bible as an excuse for their own bigotry.

The problem, as I see it, Floo, is that there is no solid evidence to suggest that this is any less damaging to society than many other perfectly well accepted 'sins'. 

[Shaker]

The problem, as I see it, Floo, is that there is no solid evidence to suggest that this is any less damaging to society than many other perfectly well accepted 'sins'.

In what way is homosexuality "damaging" to society alongside what?

[Hope]

Can I just check some things first please?

What do you mean by;
1. Homosexuality
2. a man to lie with another man as he would a woman
3. practising homosexual

Seb, homosexuality is an orientation (A person’s basic attitude, beliefs, or feelings in relation to a particular subject or issue:) [Oxford Dictionary] or tendency - and it would appear that many people have such 'orientations' - some sexual, many other things. 

2)a man to lie with another man as he would a woman - I would understand this as referring to any form of sexual purpose - be it relational or ritualistic.

2) A practising homosexual/heterosexual/whatever, is someone who puts their sexual orientation/tendency into practice.  You could say 'acts' on that orientation.

[Gordon]

The problem, as I see it, Floo, is that there is no solid evidence to suggest that this is any less damaging to society than many other perfectly well accepted 'sins'.

In what specific way is homosexuality 'damaging to society' and what on earth are these 'other perfectly well accepted comparative 'sins': presuming you envisage some kind of sin paradigm where does homosexuality sit? For example, can you say if it is more or less 'sinful' than shoplifting?