Nick Park wrote: » No, that is totally untrue. Gaynorvader had posted that he thought homosexuality was referenced only twice in the Bible. I responded that I could think of at least seven occasions where it is mentioned. We were not discussing semantics. Then you blundered in which ill-thought assertions. Since then you've contradicted yourself several times and have denied making a statement that you clearly made. The vast majority of biblical scholars, and modern Bible translations (including those sponsored by gay-affirming churches), disagree with you. But hey, why let that bother you when you can always dismiss them as being dishonest any time they disagree with you? Unfortunately I would have to be convinced by sound scholarship - not unsupported assertions by someone with little or no knowledge of biblical languages, no ability in biblical interpretation, and a quite remarkable capacity for self-contradiction and making untrue statements. I've no axe to grind here. Simply weighing up the evidence, listening to the scholars in the relevant fields, and then reaching a conclusion on that basis. And that conclusion is that the Scripture refers to homosexuality in a number of instances, all of them negative, and does not make one single statement that could reasonably be interpreted as supporting homosexual acts. Again, that in no way justifies homophobia, or any efforts to enforce biblical morality on the general population. But it is of interest to those of us who see the Bible as being in any way authoritative for our own personal codes of behaviour.
marienbad wrote: » Are there any other examples of thinks or practices condemned in the bible that all are in agreement are not condemned today ?
And as we are at it are there any practices accepted in the bible that are universally not accepted today ?
Nick Park wrote: » Loads. Eating shellfish, wearing garments of mixed fibres etc. Absolutely. Stoning people to death would be a pretty obvious one (unless you are an Islamic fundamentalist in Iran or Sudan).
tommy2bad wrote: » This is a good post, I'll reply properly when I have more time. .
tommy2bad wrote: » Just to continue now I'm sober! Hi Nick, welcome to boards, good to have someone knowledgeable on board.Not that the rest are not oh you know what I mean. The problem with what you call exegesis is it only goes so far. That's why I brought up context.
marienbad wrote: » So you know where I am going with this . The obvious question is - if biblical interpretation has evolved over time why in some areas and not others ,and who decides ?
Nick Park wrote: » Er, exegesis does involve context, it isn't something that stops short of context. That's why I explained how the context of Leviticus 18:22 would support the interpretation, held by the vast majority of biblical scholars, that it was a blanket prohibition to the Israelites of homosexual acts in general.
Nick Park wrote: » It's more a case of progressive revelation than of evolving interpretation. Books such as Leviticus were written for the Israelites at a specific moment of time - when they were coming out of Egyptian slavery, forming as a nation, and possessing the Promised Land. Some parts obviously do not apply to the Church because we are not one nation living as a unified State under a theocracy. This obviously means that penalties for certain sins no longer apply. So, disobedient sons and daughters don't get stoned (insert obligatory drugs joke here). But the New Testament does still endorse the principle that children should respect their parents as much as possible. Other parts are ceremonial, and were fulfilled with the coming of Jesus, so are no longer binding today. That's why we don't sacrifice goats, why we eat pork and why circumcision is no longer mandated. Other parts are moral. They tell us things that God does and doesn't like (so Martin Luther King would quote the Old Testament extensively to argue that God gates injustice and oppression of the poor). We don't treat these as laws, but rather as part of the information that helps us decide how we should behave. There are two main ways by which Christians decide whether an Old Testament law should inform our morality today or whether it was simply a ceremony that was fulfilled with the coming of Jesus. a) What does the New Testament say? Certain Old Testament laws are explicitly stated in the NT as not being binding on the Church (food laws, circumcision, observing the Sabbath). Others are explicitly reinforced in the moral teaching of the NT (eg laws against adultery, idolatry, and oppressing the poor). b) Context. If a particular Old Testament law is in the middle of a list of obvious ceremonial rites with no moral connotation, then there is a high probability that it will also be a ceremonial issue. But if it is in the middle of a passage that deals with obvious moral issues, then there is a good chance that it is also a moral issue. So, let's look at the issue of homosexual acts (not orientation) and the Bible. 1. They are condemned in very robust terms in the Old Testament. If we ignore the two passages that specifically deal with homosexual rape (in Genesis and Judges), we are left with two passages in Leviticus. 2. Both Leviticus 20:13 and Leviticus 22:18 (a man lying with another man as with a woman is an abomination) are sandwiched between prohibitions against incest and bestiality. The context is not that some kinds of incest and some kinds of bestiality are OK - we're talking blanket prohibitions against something that is viewed as immoral. 3. There are three references in the NT to homosexual behaviour. All are extremely negative. 4. There are no references in the NT that even hint at any positive view of any kind of homosexual acts. 5. There are no references in the NT that suggest in any way that the prohibition against homosexual acts was a ceremonial issue, or that they were somehow fulfilled with the coming of Christ and so no longer apply. The inescapable conclusion, unless we try to artificially force an interpretation to make the Bible say what we want it to say, is that homosexual acts are not acceptable behaviour for practicing Christians who see the Bible as being in any way authoritative for their lives. What the rest of society wants to do, and who they choose to have sex with, is none of my business (providing they are consenting adults).
_Redzer_ wrote: » This is the crux with the bible. It's either all true, or none of it is. I hate this picking and choosing nonsense, it makes you a hypocrite if you're all for shellfish and mixed fabrics, but then wholly against homosexuality for no apparent reason, only because you chose what works and what doesn't work for you. You're completely bending the rules you're supposed to be following -which should be unmoving and unchanging. Just seems to me there is no consistency in how some rules are accepted allowed to be ignored, while others are to be enforced, even when both rules are of the same age and forged at the same time. It makes no logical sense whatsoever.
riveratom wrote: » If the prohibition against homosexual acts still stands, then the part about the need for the offending parties to be executed still stands too. Right?
marienbad wrote: » What about Leviticus 20.18 ?
Deleted User wrote: » http://neno.co.ke/bible/book/Lev/20/18 Or Leviticus 20.9, 20.18 or 20.25? How can one choose them to be "ignorable" in the same passage as something we're deeming "non-ignorable"? What is the logic behind that?
Nick Park wrote: » Who said anything was ignorable?
Nick Park wrote: » The vast majority of biblical scholars, and modern Bible translations (including those sponsored by gay-affirming churches), disagree with you.
Nick Park wrote: » But hey, why let that bother you when you can always dismiss them as being dishonest any time they disagree with you?
Nick Park wrote: » Unfortunately I would have to be convinced by sound scholarship - not unsupported assertions by someone with little or no knowledge of biblical languages, no ability in biblical interpretation, and a quite remarkable capacity for self-contradiction and making untrue statements.
Nick Park wrote: » I've no axe to grind here. Simply weighing up the evidence, listening to the scholars in the relevant fields, and then reaching a conclusion on that basis.
Nick Park wrote: » I love it when non-Christians start insisting that Christians should interpret the Bible in a half-assed fashion to suit them. Christians don't actually see the Bible as a rule book. Oh, and btw, Christian understanding about the morality of homosexual acts is primarily informed by the New Testament, which was written many centuries after the Old Testament rules for the Jews about shellfish.
marienbad wrote: » It is only when such belief systems begins to inform secular laws and seek to change secular law that it become an issue.
Nick Park wrote: » No, you evidently didn't read my post before replying to it. We are not Jews, we don't live in a theocracy, and our morality is based on wanting to do the things that please God rather than keep a list of laws with penalties attached.
KJV1611 wrote: » We should take GOD at his own word and study the scriptures daily to show ourselves approved and grow in the word.
KJV1611 wrote: » This is a very large thread and full of "mans" thoughts and arguments. We should not be arguing amongst each other nor making up our own interpretations of what "we think" the the right or wrong is. If we be true followers of GOD and JESUS we should obey his commandments and learn what he has to say on the subject, through his word. My own personal views are irrelevant on this or in fact any other matter. We should take GOD at his own word and study the scriptures daily to show ourselves approved and grow in the word. Anyway here are some of the scriptures in the Bible on this matter for further study and meditation. As Christians, GOD's word should be our final authority, not mans opinions, lies, conjecture or commentaries. "Let GOD be true but ever man a liar" Rom 3:4 Quotes From KJV Version. Gen 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. Lev 18:22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. Mat 19:4-6 And he (Jesus) answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, (5) And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? (6) Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. Rom 1:24-27 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: (25) Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. (26) For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: (27) And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. Rom 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Rom 6:21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. 1Co 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Gal 6:7-8 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (8) For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. Eph 4:18-21 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: (19) Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. (20) But ye have not so learned Christ; (21) If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: 1Ti 1:9-10 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, (10) For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine; Jud 1:7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
Penny 4 Thoughts wrote: » Unfortunately God never wrote anything down.
shruikan2553 wrote: » That just leads back to why do we ignore other parts of the bible? Why did god even say those things? Maybe he has changed his mind. Its been awhile since he released a new book.
KJV1611 wrote: » GOD said those things because they are the truth. GOD has never changed nor will he ever change. There is no new book for the reason that we have everything we need to get saved and grow as believers within. There is nothing more to add it is perfect and when you become a child of GOD he will reveal the whole truth to you. 1Co 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 1Co 2:14-16 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (15) But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. (16) For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
shruikan2553 wrote: » So we should follow everything in there? Gay people, slavery, women? If it is the truth then it can't have changed over time so still stands.