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Monday, February 08, 2010

St. Paul's Teaching on Homosexual Relations "Misunderstood"

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Last week Rev. V. Gene Robinson, the first openly homosexual bishop in the Episcopal Church, ---the one President Obama invited to pray at his Inauguration, was making his case to the National Press Club, attempting to straighten things out in regard to Paul's teaching on the matter of same sex relations.

It wouldn't matter what he thinks, except he has a sympathetic ear from the press, many in the Obama Administration, and unfortunately from some leaders in "emerging churches".

There is a movement, and I see it getting some traction within Christianity, to distort the plain meaning of Scripture and interpret it in light of one's own proclivities, rather than interpreting one's proclivities in light of Scripture.

Robinson told the National Press Club that Paul is writing to the heterosexuals, not homosexuals in Romans 1:22-27.

He said, "St. Paul was talking about people that he understood to be heterosexual engaging in same-sex acts. It never occurred to anyone in ancient times that a certain minority of us would be born affectionately oriented to people of the same sex."

"We have to understand," Robinson said, "that the notion of a homosexual sexual orientation is a notion that is only about 125 years old."

That's interesting. That's what I have been saying. Homosexual acts have evolved. First, they were an act---sodomy; then a condition---homosexuality; now an identity---gay.

So, it would seem that the Old Testament prophets who spoke of the matter, were equally ignorant or confused.

And this thinking could lead one to believe that God Himself may be confused or ignorant, if one believes that God inspired those who wrote the Scriptures.

So the past 125 years has shown us that they are all wrong?

"No," Robinson says. "I think St. Paul was absolutely correct in his own context, given what he knew, and given the behavior which he was describing."

So is the Bible an evolving document, like, say, the Constitution is said to be?

Actually Rev. Robinson says we are asking the wrong questions. He says the real question should be, "What did it mean to the person who wrote it?" And, "What did it mean for the audience to whom it was written?"

"And only then," he says, "can we ask, 'is it eternally binding'?"

If we deny the inspiration and infallibility of Scripture, nothing would actually be eternally binding. Scripture, as it evolves, would rather serve to affirm those human tendencies that used to be referred to as sin.

His conclusion: Relationships between people of the same sex who are oriented that way is not addressed in the Bible.

These thoughts and more were given to the Press Club on the occasion of Rev. Robinson's launch of a multi-city tour called the "American Prayer Hour," designed to affirm inclusive values and call on all nations, including Uganda, to decriminalize the lives of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people.

I have provided a link to a brief overview or summary of what the Bible actually says about homosexuality.

With the strong push by homosexuals to change the minds of people within the church, the constant favorable drum beat of the press, the activism of the entertainment industry toward the matter and the extreme activism in public education to normalize this lifestyle, it is the responsibility of parents to know the truth and share it with children and grandchildren. That too is a biblical teaching.

I strongly recommend you take the time to read the above link.

Be vigilant. Be wise. Be informed. Be prayerful. Be active.

God bless you. Thank you for supporting us.

______________
Gary Randall
President
Faith & Freedom

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