Oneguy..."So think what you want. And be sure to go to church on Sunday after a long weekend of drinking and premarital sex"

LOL...Yeah, sew your wild oats Saturday and go to church on Sunday and pray for crop failure.

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What is it about homosexuality that makes everyone want to open their mouths? You just bring it up and suddenly everyone jumps in with "their" opinion like they're some person of authority. Are you people just as quick to go off about all the OTHER "sins" out there that go on every day? Let's see, there's teenage pregnancy, premarital sex in general, adultery, drug use, etc. All of which TONS of Victorians do every day in this city, thank you very much. But I don't see their sins getting the same reaction everywhere, but then we all know that's because they're straight and supposedly "Christian" even though they do as they please and ask for forgiveness later, so they are exempt from judgment. It's now almost a given that any couple dating for a few weeks or months will have sex, hardly anyone is really a virgin on their wedding night anymore. Funny, this is a sin, too, yet it is accepted as part of our modern society, yet homosexuality isn't. I love how you people pick and choose what to follow in your religion. That's great.

Basically what it boils down to is as long as you are straight and go to church, you can commit all the sins you want and still have the right to judge others. Half of you probably spend Saturday nights getting plastered at Cactus and go home and have sex with someone you're not married to, but you have the audacity to preach to homosexuals about what's a sin. You're all disgusting. If one person on here can claim they do not sin, then let them pass judgment. But until then, stop being so hypocritical and shut your mouths because you look like idiots.

Truth is, it doesn't matter what anyone says on here, you will always think the way you do. I gave up believing you have influence over changing people a long time ago. You'll always be biased and rotten, it's part of your core, and you can't change that. So think what you want. And be sure to go to church on Sunday after a long weekend of drinking and premarital sex.

Willy Nelson say's it best in a song, " Aint goin down that broke back mountain, that s!@^t aint right, That s&$!!t aint right...

Hey, twocents...Go for it if that's what floats your boat.

"Love the sinner hate the sin." We are all sinners, right? Another quote I like is "There is neither Republican nor Democrat; all are one in Christ." Jesus is a Libertarian. It says so in the bible: "Where the spirit of the Lord is there is freedom." =P

Ok I am a proud Christian....Therefore i was taught to not judge others or you will be judged just as harshly. Also I was taught to love the sinner, hate the sin. I find it very aggravating to see people call themselves Christians and then turn around and judge and look down their nose at others. Those without sin cast the first stone... I happen to disagree with it. Not my choice, but it is not up to me what they do or don't do. I have no problem with gays getting married. The problem I have is the schools wanting to teach it as an acceptable lifestyle. To many it is, however, if they won't let my child pray in school because it might offend, then they should not be able to tell me what is an acceptable lifestyle. Just as I choose the religion my child learns, I will choose what morals and beliefs to go by. I happen to have a relative and a very good friend who are gay. They are some of the most loving and more Christian people than some of you. Jesus loves all of His children, even the ones you dislike.

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From Galatians:

"22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other."

I might have to concede that point. Will get back to you...

That's Romans 6:14 that says that Christians are not under the Mosaic Law.

Not quite, exR....

You're actually proving my point.

I said that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law... just as your Bible quote says. Fulfilling it does not mean that it was destroyed.

The Old Law was not destroyed when Christ came. He brought the spirit of grace into believers lives so that New Testament believers are not under the law- Galatians 5:18.

Also, Romans tells us again that New Testament believers do not operate under the Mosaic Law- that's why we're Christ-ians.

Christians do not work their way into heaven keeping the law. We are saved through faith and grace.

Maryann,

Your statement, "New Testament believers are not under Mosaic Law" is a falsehood.

"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill."
-Matthew 5:17

And that's the word of Jesus himself...

Hello FT,

New Testament believers are not under Mosaic Law, but under the grace of God, Romans 6:14.

Also, Jesus has fulfilled the Mosaic law, which Christians do not see as complete, by his person and by his work. Not one iota of the Law has passed away, but is fulfilled in him.

What is so great about the United States is that we are not a religious state. In fact, our founding fathers set up this nation with the intention of the church and state being separate. Basing the passage of a law on religion is going against the foundation of our country. We are a place where all men are created equal and that means that homosexuals should be allowed to get married. If you don't want them to marry in your church, fine, but you shouldn't be able to stop their marriage by the state.

Yeojj..."it saddens me that you don't know marriage has EVERYTHING to do with religion."

As for as the state is concerned, a couple does not need to include clergy, prayer, a church, religious symbols of any kind, or references to the Bible for a marriage to be legal. The state scanctions marriages performed within the bounds of religions, but it also sanctions those marriages performed by justices of the peace, other judges, as well as common law marriages which have no ceremony. All that is required by the state for a common law marriage to be valid is for the couple to live together and to hold themselves out to society as being married and they are. Common law marriages are just as binding, just as legal, under state law as one performed by a bishop in a cathedral.

muleman..."No matter how you look at it, Homosexuality is a sin."

I suggest to you that there are a lot of things that are sins that are legal. Fortunately, laws in this country have to pass muster under the Constitution, NOT the Bible.

The sexual act in itself is what is disturbing. Fine... if the gays want to marry make it illegal for them to have sex. After all, it is just about the love right? See how well that fly. Make them get tested weekly for just that.

waywardwind.....it saddens me that you don't know marriage has EVERYTHING to do with religion. I am not mocking you, but feel hurt that nobody has shared the word with you. Genesis 2:22 Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. Adam said "This is now bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh and she shall be called woman because she was taken out of Man." Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they were both naked, the man and his wife and they were not ashamed.

john..."Government recognition of Homosexual marriages violates the seperation of church and state."

Now, HOW do you figure this? Marriage doesn't need to have anything to do with religion. A couple can be married in the eyes of the law by going to a judge or, in Texas, by living together and holding themselves out to society to BE married. This is a common law marriage and is just as valid as any other. Marriage in the eyes of the law has nothing to do with religion. A gay couple getting married in the eyes of the law -- by a justice of the peace, for example -- would certainly not violate any religious principle because no religion was involved in the marriage. A church doesn't have to recognize a marriage, but if the laws of the state are such that the state does recognize them, that is what counts. On the other side of the same coin, some churches will "marry" a gay couple, but if the laws of the state don't recognize a same sex marriage as legal, the marriage is not valid in the eyes of the law regardless of how many clergypeople were involved in the cremony. This is why it is important for the laws of the state to be changed to allow gay marriage -- to grant the benefits and rights of married people to gay couples to be equal with straight couples. Those benefits and rights are important. There are tax benefits from marriage. Even more importantly, are the rights of next-of-kin recognition when medical emergencies arise or at time of death. There are also important inheritance laws that apply to married couples that simply don't apply to people living together but not married.

Simply put, Gay Marriage is not marriage "in my opinion"

Maryann, didn't Jesus say the mosaic law should be followed to the letter? He said he did not come to abolish the law. And how about the ten commandments? They are in the old testament. Not going to follow those laws either?

Homosexuality is not aganist the law, no one is outlawing Homosexual behavior. Government recognition of Homosexual marriages violates the seperation of church and state. Some religions allow for a man to have more than one wife, some religions do not allow for people of the same sex to marry, and some do; taking a position beyond function would violate the seperation of church and state. The Government has a responsibility to ensure equitable treatment as far as function will allow, in the case of marriage, that would imply to propagate.

That's the Old Testament, FT. Orthodox Jews might agree with you, however.

The New Testament tells Christians that it's not what goes into a man's mouth that makes him impure, it's what comes out of his mouth. (Matthew 15:10)
Romans 14:14 also deals with this.

News flash-You don't have to believe in God to get married! Eating shellfish is an abomination too. Do you go and protest outside Red Lobster?

What people do in the privacy of their bedrooms is no one else's concern, but... Keep it private!!! People can "love" each other without marriage. Marriage is meant for a man and a woman and it is meant for pro-creation.
Sure, this has been going on forever, but people had the sense to keep it private. Most people really do not want to see it....it's not natural.

I agree. I don't think anyone here said they hate gays. I deal with it in my family as well. I see the pain and so much confusion and depression that goes along with that lifestyle choice, speaking from my family situation. And to answer the other question about the wives, I don't agree with that either for that is not what God intended.

tnt88...I will stand beside you to take that "bashing". Just because the direction society has gone today does not make a big issue of it does not mean that it is morally or bibically right. I do not hate gays, what I dislike is their chosen lifestyle because it is not what God intended.

Allie say's,"It might have been a big issue back in the day, but it is a new time, and things have changed drastically".

Yes they have and we as a nation are sinking further and further into the pits of hell because of this attitude. Taking God out of our schools, our government, our homes and sanctity of marriage. We are telling our children that it is o.k to go against what is clearly written in the bible. I do not hate gays, I feel that it is a major chemical imbalance or very bad raising, either way it is an addiction that should be treated just as an alcoholic or drug addict. "The roots of my raising run deep" and I know I will be bashed for my traditional views on this.

Oops! I mean wives.

In your belief, would one man have the right to have six wifes?

"...the whole Law is fulfilled in one statement,"you shall love your neighbor as yourself." Galatians 5:14

No matter how you look at it, Homosexuality is a sin.

yeojj...What about straight people who don't want kids? Is that "just not right" also?
Here's a thought for you. If it doesn't affect you, don't worry about it. Homosexuality is not contageous and it won't rub off on you. Live your life and let others live theirs.

Homosexuality is just not right. God would have planned for reproduction to work both ways if that was what he intended.