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frogza · 06-08-2006, 11:48 AM

Posting this has been on my mind off and on for some time, the latest clash between Christians and homosexual rights advocates served as a catalyst to get me to actually write this. I think too often people use political catch phrases that to them and their ilk make sense because they are on the same page to start with. We hear things like “Gay marriage is an attack on the family” or “Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve” or on the other side we hear “Gay pride” or “Organized religion = organized bigotry” My intention with this post is NOT to offend, convert or to condescend, but to simply explain the Christian side of the argument without the emotionally charged catch phrases. I certainly welcome an explanation from the gay rights side. Again, I don’t foresee a mass conversion from one side to the other, but a greater degree of understanding and respect.

(Disclaimer: I don’t pretend to be able to present the opinions of what is considered the fringe elements of Christianity, I won’t even attempt to explain gay hating or bashing from Christians or the movement to remove homosexuality rules from Christendom. Neither are in accordance with mainstream Christian teaching. I only have time, and the understanding to present the main stream Christian view.)

Christian belief, boiled down to its simplest form, is as follows:
1. God has given us laws and guidelines designed to bring us happiness. The end reward of perfect obedience is Heaven.
2. Due to human weakness, both native and acquired, we can’t be 100% obedient 100% of the time.
3. God, knowing of our weakness, sent his Son Jesus Christ to pay the price for our disobedience. That payment, called the Atonement, allows us to essentially start over with a clean slate through repentance.

#2 is where temptation comes into play. Temptation has basically two definitions to Christians. One, the whisperings of the Devil, and two, the desire to do something wrong. For the sake of clarity, when I use the word I mean the desire, and I will use “whisperings” for the other definition.

If you were to ask any parent how often they have to tell their toddlers and small children “You can’t have that, it’s not yours” You would likely either get the answer “A TON!” or an exasperated groan. Most everyone has a tendency to do what is wrong, like taking something that is not yours. For some, that desire to take that to which you have no right goes away as they mature, for others it is a constant battle. Temptation is universal, but we aren’t all tempted in the same areas.

If we were to list of the Ten Commandments, then had people rate each one according to how difficult it is for them to obey, we would find an amazing diversity of graphs. For example, for me the hardest one is “Thou Shalt not commit adultery” I’ve never broken this one, but I have to fight pretty hard. “Thou shalt not kill” is a breeze, when the whispering has come to break this one, there was no degree of temptation involved.

Whether we are born with a tendency to be tempted by something or whether we acquire that trait is strictly an academic question. So if scientist someday find a gene that is responsible for homosexual tendencies or one that makes a person want to steal, the Christian world’s response will be “So what? We could have told you that there is such a thing as being inclined to a certain temptation.” That is one of the premises of Christianity, and indeed most organized religions.

The reason why Christians are so vehemently opposed to the homosexual movement is because we see it as identifying oneself by ones temptations. Or in other words, I would be a cheating husband, even though I have never cheated. Gay rights are viewed as a slippery slope. Christians find themselves asking “Where will it stop? Which vice will become the next movement?”

Christians also view procreation as a divine gift, to be respected and held sacred. Homosexual acts are seen as a desecration of something divine. Marriage between a man and a woman is seen as ordained of God, to allow men and women to contribute their strengths and become stronger than their sum and to provide a place for children to be conceived and reared. Gay marriage is seen as an attack on what we hold sacred, the reaction we see to destroying a mosque, temple, or synagogue would be almost identical.

I hope that I have explained things clearly and without offending anyone. I realize this is a hot topic and as such can illicit a knee jerk to many, if I have offended anyone with this please forgive me.

06-08-2006, 11:48 AM	#1 (permalink)
frogza Registered User Location: Right Here	Christian belief and homosexuality Posting this has been on my mind off and on for some time, the latest clash between Christians and homosexual rights advocates served as a catalyst to get me to actually write this. I think too often people use political catch phrases that to them and their ilk make sense because they are on the same page to start with. We hear things like “Gay marriage is an attack on the family” or “Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve” or on the other side we hear “Gay pride” or “Organized religion = organized bigotry” My intention with this post is NOT to offend, convert or to condescend, but to simply explain the Christian side of the argument without the emotionally charged catch phrases. I certainly welcome an explanation from the gay rights side. Again, I don’t foresee a mass conversion from one side to the other, but a greater degree of understanding and respect. (Disclaimer: I don’t pretend to be able to present the opinions of what is considered the fringe elements of Christianity, I won’t even attempt to explain gay hating or bashing from Christians or the movement to remove homosexuality rules from Christendom. Neither are in accordance with mainstream Christian teaching. I only have time, and the understanding to present the main stream Christian view.) Christian belief, boiled down to its simplest form, is as follows: 1. God has given us laws and guidelines designed to bring us happiness. The end reward of perfect obedience is Heaven. 2. Due to human weakness, both native and acquired, we can’t be 100% obedient 100% of the time. 3. God, knowing of our weakness, sent his Son Jesus Christ to pay the price for our disobedience. That payment, called the Atonement, allows us to essentially start over with a clean slate through repentance. #2 is where temptation comes into play. Temptation has basically two definitions to Christians. One, the whisperings of the Devil, and two, the desire to do something wrong. For the sake of clarity, when I use the word I mean the desire, and I will use “whisperings” for the other definition. If you were to ask any parent how often they have to tell their toddlers and small children “You can’t have that, it’s not yours” You would likely either get the answer “A TON!” or an exasperated groan. Most everyone has a tendency to do what is wrong, like taking something that is not yours. For some, that desire to take that to which you have no right goes away as they mature, for others it is a constant battle. Temptation is universal, but we aren’t all tempted in the same areas. If we were to list of the Ten Commandments, then had people rate each one according to how difficult it is for them to obey, we would find an amazing diversity of graphs. For example, for me the hardest one is “Thou Shalt not commit adultery” I’ve never broken this one, but I have to fight pretty hard. “Thou shalt not kill” is a breeze, when the whispering has come to break this one, there was no degree of temptation involved. Whether we are born with a tendency to be tempted by something or whether we acquire that trait is strictly an academic question. So if scientist someday find a gene that is responsible for homosexual tendencies or one that makes a person want to steal, the Christian world’s response will be “So what? We could have told you that there is such a thing as being inclined to a certain temptation.” That is one of the premises of Christianity, and indeed most organized religions. The reason why Christians are so vehemently opposed to the homosexual movement is because we see it as identifying oneself by ones temptations. Or in other words, I would be a cheating husband, even though I have never cheated. Gay rights are viewed as a slippery slope. Christians find themselves asking “Where will it stop? Which vice will become the next movement?” Christians also view procreation as a divine gift, to be respected and held sacred. Homosexual acts are seen as a desecration of something divine. Marriage between a man and a woman is seen as ordained of God, to allow men and women to contribute their strengths and become stronger than their sum and to provide a place for children to be conceived and reared. Gay marriage is seen as an attack on what we hold sacred, the reaction we see to destroying a mosque, temple, or synagogue would be almost identical. I hope that I have explained things clearly and without offending anyone. I realize this is a hot topic and as such can illicit a knee jerk to many, if I have offended anyone with this please forgive me.