Re you were quoting Leviticus.
I didn't quote Leviticus, Christine. Actually it was someone else who did that.
Now you seem to be saying that it is up to everyone to make up his or her own mind, and that the Bible is just a guide.
As I've said before, religion and one's relationship between themselves and their God is a person issue, between themselves and God. The Bible itself says "work out your own salvation in fear and trembling" [Philippians 2:12]. In other words, simply attending church or putting in x number or hours into some religious activity is NOT going to reconcile you to your God, if your heart, mind and soul is not in it. Only each individual person knows where their heart is, and what their relationship is with God. These beliefs are part of my religion, and while I have opened myself up for criticism, they remain my religious beliefs, and I am very comfortable with my beliefs.
re On top of that, since one set of people believes that the prohibition is against homosexual acts, and another group believes the prohibition is about having sex with angels, non-homosexuals having homosexual sex, homosexual prostitution, and idolatry, how is someone to sort this out, without trying to see what religious scholars have to say about the meanings of early words and other ways in which the true meanings could be lost over time?
As I referenced before, in Apostle Paul's letter to the Philippians, in the 12th verse of Ch. 2, it says, Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. and in the 13th verse, "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure"
I will quote from Chapter 3, verses 1 thru 11 of Apostle Paul's letter to Titus (who Paul left in Crete, "that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders {ministers} in every city, as I had appointed thee"). And indeed, there is a rebuke for me in the part that I have highlighted in bold. I will simply have to let this whole subject go, for I have lingered entirely too long, and it has been unprofitable and vain:
003:001 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,
003:002 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.
003:003 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
003:004 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
003:005 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
003:006 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
003:007 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
003:008 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. 003:009 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.
003:010 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;
003:011 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself. |
