[wolfman23601]

The pastor is not theologically illiterate, he in it for the money and, as the general populace turns toward fudge packing, he will find a way to twist the words to justify it so the money keeps pouring in. This is not illiteracy as he knows exactly what he is doing.

[Travis McGee]

[chesley]

I am not trained in theology; I don't read Greek or Hebrew or Aramaic. I've read the Word of God a number of times, though and read through the parts I was most interested in in several commentaries.

My own opinion is this. God is not going to contradict himself. The Bible should be read like the Constitution of the United States, IMO. The specific overrules or modifies the general.

Thus, the welfare clause and the commerce clause, should not override the specific limitations on Congress, the way it so often does in modern jurisprudence. And "God's love" should not override the specific commands and injunctions that He gives us in the Bible.

[truthczar2000]

I agree completely with the point you are making. The problem is this; the church has lost its spine. We no longer want to be called “bigots” and “homophobes” so we sugarcoat god's Word to make gays feel better about themselves..and damn ourselves in the process.

I have a younger sister who “came out” to my mother a few years ago. My mother died a short time later of a broken heart. But she never denied her Faith, never said to my sister that what she was doing was right.

I can still remember my sister screaming at my mother “why can't you just be happy for me?!”. Indeed; how can ANY follower of Christ be happy that someone is living in open rebellion to God?

[Sans-Culotte]

This is what Thompson writes:

My interpretation of Genesis shows me that God’s very first moral rule is that “man should not be alone.” (Gen 2:18) In my opinion, when we force gay people to be alone, we are in fact encouraging a life of sin for gay people who may not be gifted with celibacy. God himself created us to need relationship.

Wow, with that weak assertion, Thompson has waded right into the often derided "Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve" argument.

[DuncanWaring]

My interpretation of Genesis shows me that God’s very first moral rule is that “man should not be alone.” (Gen 2:18) In my opinion, when we force gay people to be alone, we are in fact encouraging a life of sin for gay people who may not be gifted with celibacy.

So if a guy is an absolute misanthrope who can't get along with anyone, male or female, we should respect his partnership with a sheep?

[lastchance]

Thank you for sharing this excellent piece.