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NASB | Romans 1:24 ¶ Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Romans 1:24 ¶ Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their own hearts to [sexual] impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them [abandoning them to the degrading power of sin], |
Bible Question: Some ELCA church pastors are teaching that practicing Homosexual behavior is not a sin. It is accepted by God. Knowling the ELCA will vote on will the Membership Follow the Bible or will it not. how do you feel about this? |
Bible Answer: Greetings, footprints; My denomination has the same problem - clergy teaching that homosexual behavior is not a sin. Their argument hangs on three hooks: 1) Sexual preference was unknown to the writers of Scripture, so none of the Bible's prohibitions against homosexual behavior take this into account. Answer: The writers didn't have to know; God knew. Paul knew (and wrote) that we are subject to all kinds of sinful urges; the Bible need not (and does not) spell out every one of them. 2) We are no longer subject to the Old Testament prohibtions of homosexuality. The language of the New Testament wasn't properly translated, so we didn't really know what it meant. It really just means that heterosexuals should not engage in homosexual behavior. Answer: The Bible says what it says; it has been well understood for 2000 years. New and novel interpretations and translations must rely on something other than popular culture for their validation. 3) God made homosexuals to be homosexual and he loves them the way they are. Answer: Man is fallen; God no more made homosexuals than he made pyromaniacs or pedophiles. He does indeed love them, just as he loves all sinners. But he doesn't excuse anybody's sin. Look at Romans 1:18-32. Paul describes God's wrath and says that men are without excuse because God's nature and will can be seen in what he created. Paul goes on to give the most blatant and disobedient example he can - same-gender sex. When it comes to sex, God's intent is obvious just by looking at the way that men and women are constructed. And it is willful defiance of the designer's intent to engage in behavior contrary to that obvious intent. I don't know what the ELCA will do. The Presbyterian Church (USA) has prohibited the ordination of practicing, unrepentant homosexuals and also prohibits same-sex "marriages". But the liberals keep trying. Hope this helps. Peace and grace, Steve aka Indiana Jones |