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Wednesday, November 23, 2011

General Questions

Please feel free to comment or ask me about anything book related in this forum!

Copyright ©  2011  Shay Dawkins. All Rights Reserved. No portion of this blog or the comments on this blog may be reproduced, or transmitted in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or by any information storage retrieval system without the express written permission of the publisher and author unless for the specific use of writing a review or article pertaining to The Good News: How Revealing Delusions In Christianity Will Bring Peace To All.

32 comments:

Anonymous said...

How do you reconcile the difference in Romans 14 dealing with food to homosexuality? Do you not feel that is taken out of context? Paul is talking about food being clean and unclean so I don't see how that is relating back to justification for homosexuality.

Shay Dawkins, Author said...

That is a valid concern/ question that you have and one that I expect people to have, at first.

There are many different angles to answer your concern:

1) I dismiss ALL of the instances that present-day Christianity uses in its Anti-Homosexual stance and if you have any other verses, then feel free to ask about those, as well!

2) Romans Chapter 14:

This verse clearly states that it is better not to eat meat, drink wine, OR ANYTHING ELSE that will cause another person to fall! Clearly, in this instance the verse is referring to ALL things (ANYTHING) and not just food or drink.

Romans 14: 21 NIV
21It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall

Verse 22 states that whatever (ANYTHING; not just food or drink)you believe should be kept to yourself! Hence, do not judge others on something that you, yourself, believe unless the person is deliberately acting in this way to offend you (Verses 13 & 15). Verse 2 clearly states that every person is different. So, what is "right" or "wrong" for each individual person is different from person to person. This verse concludes by stating, "Blessed is the man who DOES NOT CONDEMN HIMSELF by WHAT HE APPROVES (again, not just food or drink as discussed in Verse 21)!


Romans 14: 22 NIV
22So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves.

Again, what is "right" or "wrong" which includes ALL acts (not just food or drink) for each individual person is different from person to person. Paul states that different sexual acts (not just food) may be "right" or "wrong" for different people as Paul states, "I wish all men were single or unmarried as I am. BUT EACH man has his OWN gift from God. ONE has this gift, ANOTHER has that!" Paul follows up by stating, "It is better to have sex than to abstain from sex if abstaing from sex is causing you to suffer by BURNING (spiritually burning) with desire for sex!"

Jesus backs up that every one has different levels of understanding in Matthew 19: 11-12 as Jesus states, "Not everyone will be able to receive this, but he that is able to receive this message, receive the message."

1 Corinthians 7: (6-9) NIV
6I say this as a concession, not as a command. 7I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.
8Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am. 9But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

Matthew 19: (11, 12) KJV
11But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given.
12He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

Shay Dawkins, Author said...

3) What did Jesus say about eunuchs (feminine men)?
Eunuch come from the Greek word, eunouchos. The Greek’s Strong Dictionary defines eunouchos as “a chamberlain, keeper of the bed-chamber of an eastern potentate, a castrated person, or one who voluntarily abstains from marriage.” The reason a eunuch would not marry a woman is because eunuchs did not desire women! Hence, eunuchs either stayed abstinent from all sexual relations or were homosexual.
http://concordances.org/greek/2135.htm

Matthew 19: (10-12) KJV
10His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.11But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given. 12For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

Jesus clearly states that some men are born feminine as "some eunuchs have no desire for women from birth." These eunuchs did not have there testacies cut off as the next two types of eunuchs mentioned did. The next two types of eunuchs are desribed as "being made into eunuchs." Hence, you can only make someone feminine (that is not naturally feminine) by cutting off his testosterone supply (castrating or cutting off his testacles).

4) Jesus states in Mark 7: 15 that “Nothing outside a man can make him unclean by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man (or how a man treats other people) that makes him unclean.”

The only "unclean" thing that could possibly refer to is "sexual immorality" in this verse. However, "sexual immorality" is defined as all of the following by the Strong's Greek Dictionary: "to sell yourself off" (more than likely prostitution), whoredom, fornication, idolatry (letting the lust of the flesh control you which is worshipping the flesh rather than living in the Spirit or worshipping God)

Mark 7: (21-23) NIV
21For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23All these evils come from inside and make a man ‘unclean.’” If someone believes that homosexuality is dishonorable, then they have to understand that it again was not anyones "free" choice to be homosexual as the scripture states in Romans 9:21 “Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another vessel unto dishonour?”
Hence, it is not a man’s “free” choice to honor or dishonor as God has made some for honor and others for dishonor.

Shay Dawkins, Author said...

5) Hope this helps and again don't hesitate to ask any uncertainties that you may have! It took me years to gain 100% confidence in the true teachings as I grew up in church and it is hard to go against any idea that have been engrained in you for years by society and other people, but that is where faith in your Spirit comes in to play! Faith in your Spirit is living by what you truly feel inside is "right" or "wrong" and not living by what other people tell you to believe as solely trusting/ believing in other people is having faith in the flesh (another fleshy person)!

6) From a logical perspective, I know that I didn't "freely" choose to be heterosexual as I've always been heterosexual, and I know that I could not make myself desire homosexuality or a man in a sexual way. So, what would give anyone the right to judge a homosexual person for being homosexual as a homosexual person did not "freely" choose homosexuality just as I didn't "freely" choose heterosexuality?

Imagine the peace, happiness, and joy that would be in the world if people only judged other people by how they treated other people! There would literally be peace on earth if everyone understood and lived by this concept!

What belief really promotes love, peace, and fairness (righteousness)?

View 1:
The view I live by where I only judge people on how they treat other people (which is what the Bible clearly states). I respect every person because of the love that fills my heart (spirit) as I have been given the understanding that we are all individually different as we all have different experiences and genetics).

OR

View 2: The view of present-day Christianity that condemns every person to "eternal" punishment in Hell that they do not understand or does not fit "their basic mold" of a person which is basically a person who is: heterosexual, non-drinking, non-smoking, non-cussing, and believes everything their preacher preaches (trusts in man or the flesh which is solely living by what other "fleshly" people believe).

Romans 14 : 17
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,

Romans 14: 19
Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual benefit.


Also, I forgot to note in point #2, that Romans Chapter 14 Verses 5 and 6 mention something specifically other than food:

5One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God

Anonymous said...

What about Romans 1:24-31? Or even original Creation which is the model of the image of God? I totally agree that the actions taken against homosexuality by the typical church seems hateful and arrogant at best. I'm not an advocate of 'gay-bashing' or any of that mess. People who are caught in that are in their own sin. What I am an advocate for though is Scripture being the ultimate authority and that anything said within is truth no matter what I feel or think or want to believe. And given my aforementioned questions about Romans and creation, I can't ignore the fact that homosexuality is a sin. Like I said, I don't condemn nor shun someone of that lifestyle but I do believe some correction is needed.

Shay Dawkins, Author said...

I posted Romans 1: 24-31 in the Homosexuality section in response to your first comment, but here it is again.

Romans 1: (26-27)
What does Present-day Christianity believe?

Present-day Christianity believes that Romans 1: (26-27) condemns all homosexual acts (lesbians, homosexual men, one-night stands, and loving homosexual relationships).

What is Paul really saying in the Bible?

Paul is not condemning homosexuality (homosexual men or lesbians) in this instance. In Verses 21-23, Paul is referring to these people as “God haters” as these people KNEW God, but did not give God acknowledgement, honor, or thanks. Once again, it is extremely important to understand that Paul clearly emphasizes that these people KNEW God. Paul goes on to state that these people “exchanged or replaced God with images.” Hence, these people WHO KNEW God turned away from God and turned to Paganism where they worshipped images (idolatry). In Verse 24, these people are involved in HETEROSEXUAL, pagan orgies. Pagan, ritual orgies were rampant during this time.

In Verse 25, these people worship idols made by men as these people were once again involved in Paganism where they practiced idolatry. In Verse 26 and 27, God intervenes and changes these previously, HETEROSEXUAL people’s desires so that they would perform lesbian acts (Verse 26) and gay acts (Verse 27) as some type of punishment, for their forbidden, Pagan practices. Verse 26 clearly states “FOR THIS REASON GOD GAVE THEM UP to evil desires.” Hence, these people did not “freely” choose to perform these gay and lesbian acts. Once again, these gay and lesbian acts were a form of punishment for the forbidden acts of idolatry that are described earlier in the chapter. In Verse 27, this punishment is described as “getting in their bodies the right reward of their evil-doing.” The punishment described was more than likely some type of sexually transmitted disease which makes logical sense as these people had many sexual partners from the Pagan, ritual orgies they were involved in.

The sexual relations in Verses 26 and 27 describe gay and lesbian sex performed by naturally HETEROSEXUAL people. These people were naturally HETEROSEXUAL and that is why these acts are described as being “unnatural” and “unseemly” in this passage as a homosexual act is “unnatural” and “unseemly” for a naturally heterosexual person! On the contrary, a HETEROSEXUAL act is “sinful” or “unnatural” for a naturally, homosexual person! Hence, Paul is not condemning a loving, homosexual relationship or homosexuality, in general.

Romans 1: (21-27) NIV
21Because, having the knowledge of God, they did not give glory to God as God, and did not give praise, but their minds were full of foolish things, and their hearts, being without sense, were made dark. 22Seeming to be wise, they were in fact foolish, 23And by them the glory of the eternal God was changed and made into the image of man who is not eternal, and of birds and beasts and things which go on the earth.
24For this reason God gave them up to the evil desires of their hearts, working shame in their bodies with one another:
25Because by them the true word of God was changed into that which is false, and they gave worship and honour to the thing which is made, and not to him who made it, to whom be blessing for ever. So be it.
26For this reason God gave them up to evil passions, and their women were changing the natural use into one which is unnatural: 27And in the same way the men gave up the natural use of the woman and were burning in their desire for one another, men doing shame with men, and getting in their bodies the right reward of their evil-doing.

Shay Dawkins, Author said...

Jesus Praises a Homosexual, Roman Centurion
The following scriptures in Matthew 8: (5-13) and Luke 7: (1-10) tell a story about a Roman centurion who pleads for Jesus to come heal his sickly servant. Jesus tells the centurion that he is willing to come to his house, but the centurion tells Jesus that there is no need for Jesus to come to his house as the centurion believes that all Jesus has to do is pronounce his servant healed and his servant will be healed. Jesus, astounded by the faith the centurion had shown, spoke the words and the centurion’s servant was healed. Pais was the Greek word to describe the servant in the book of Matthew.
Pais, a Greek word, had three possible definitions. Pais could be defined as one the following:
1) son or boy
2) servant
3) a servant who was his master’s male lover.
So, we must look at the context in which pais was used to decide which definition pais was referring to in Matthew 8: 5-13. “Servant” in Luke 7: (1-10) replaced the Greek word, doulos. Doulos is defined as “a male servant” by the Greek’s Strong Dictionary. Doulos was never used to describe a person’s son. So, pais was referring to either the centurion’s servant or the centurion’s male lover. “Dear,” the word used to describe how the centurion felt about his servant in Luke 7: (1-10), replaces the Greek word, entimos. Entimos is defined as “precious, honorable, or dear” by the Greek’s Strong Dictionary. So, the centurion’s servant was no ordinary servant. The servant was precious and dear to the centurion which confirms that pais was referring to the centurion’s male lover in Matthew 8: (5-13).
Did Jesus condemn the centurion for having a homosexual lifestyle? Did Jesus tell the centurion that he would not heal his male lover because homosexuality was a “sin?” No! Jesus healed the centurion’s male lover without hesitation. Jesus did more than tolerate the centurion’s homosexual lifestyle. Jesus went on to applaud and make an example of the centurion’s great faith as Jesus told others that they should strive to have faith like the centurion.
Luke 7: (1-10)
1Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum.2And a certain centurion's servant (Greek word- doulos), who was dear (Greek word- entimos) unto him, was sick, and ready to die.3And when he heard of Jesus, he sent un him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant. 4And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this: 5For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.6Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: 7Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.8For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my toservant, Do this, and he doeth it.9When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. 10And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.

Matthew 8: (5-7, 10) KJV
5And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, 6And saying, Lord, my servant (Greek- pais) lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.7And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.
10When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

http://concordances.org/greek/1401.htm
http://concordances.org/greek/1784.htm
http://concordances.org/greek/3816.htm

Anonymous said...

I don't see on http://concordances.org/greek/3816.htm where it says anything about pais being a male lover. Do you have another resource for that?

Btw, I do appreciate you seeking out truth in love and I hope we can both rest in knowing that Jesus is Lord and that's all that matters in the grand scheme of things.

Shay Dawkins said...

There is only suggestive proof for the slave being the centurion's male lover as "entimos doulos" means "precious slave." If the slave was just a normal slave, then the centurion would not have used the word, "entimos," to describe him. It is widely known that homosexuality was rampant in Rome during this time and that some, not all, male and female slaves were used as sex slaves. Again, SOME slaves were used for sexual acts as slaves were literally the property of their owner and by the centurion referring to his slave as "entimos" (precious or dear) it is strongly suggesting that this slave was this centurion's male lover, but again there is no way to 100% prove this.

See Donald Mader’s article "The Entimos Pais of Matthew 8:5-13 and Luke 7:1-10," (Source: Homosexuality and Religion and Philosophy, Harland Publishing, Inc., New York, 1998).

Anonymous said...

So to what do you attribute the mistranslation? Would you say 'precious slave' is an obscure translation that not many would agree on or a subjective translation by King James and his people? Obviously, the answer is meer speculation but I'd like to hear our opinion.

Shay Dawkins, Author said...

There are several sources that support the fact that "pais" was used to specifically refer to a "boy lover." With that being said, I, personally, am more concerned and have spent more time at proving the instances that Christianity uses to back its anti-homosexual stance to be false.

This is one the best essays that I have found regarding the instance in Matthew 8 and Luke 7:

"What was the Centurion's disposition at the time? How concerned was he over the impending death of his "servant"?

In Matthew, it is written that "...there came unto him a Centurion, beseeching him"...
In Luke, it says, "...a certain Centurion's servant, who was dear unto him..."

What should we make of that?
You are a Roman Centurion, a soldier of experience and rank, authorized -- unlike soldiers of lower rank -- to carry with you into the field, and to any far-flung post the Emperor sends you, your own personal servant.

Typically, in Rome's Legions, your servant is a slave, not a freeman. He is male, since women are generally not allowed other than as camp-following whores. He is younger than you, in order to assure your authority and supremacy, but still old enough and strong enough to lift the heavy bronze breastplates and tie the leather thongs that fasten them on your chest and back, tie the greaves on your shins, follow alongside in combat with your spare spear and sword, groom and feed your horse, etc.

And, because you are a man who has needs, and you are a Roman and a Pagan and your varied gods have no proscriptions against homosexual acts, your servant is also available for sex as and when you deem fit.

(We know for certain, from extra-Biblical writings in voluminous quotes, that Roman officers commonly owned slave-servants who fulfilled *many needs, and that this was customary in that day. This does not mean that the officers were themselves what we would call "homosexual" -- usually, they had lovers or wives back home, safe in Rome. It only means that while away, on campaign, they saw no
religious obstacle to sexual outlet whatever the gender.)

So, even though you are on TDY ("temporary military duty," in mil-speak) in Capernaum, a remote outpost of the Empire, and you could easily find a replacement servant to help with your battle-gear and mess -- all you need do, by law, is grab a likely youth off the street and say, "You are mine; come serve me" -- even so, not all your needs as an Officer can be easily met by just anyone off the street. There is history, long association, and intimate familiarity at work, here.

Would you "beseech" the help of a wandering psychic of a foreign religion for a mere "servant" of yours? Would you hold "dear unto" you a mere servant? Would you humble yourself in front of your own God or Gods, in front of the ignorant natives who were your subjects, just in order to cure a mere servant in a menial position...you, of exalted rank and power?

Not likely. Not if you are a Roman Centurion. You would not, could not, risk the ridicule.

http://rainbowallianceopenfaith.homestead.com/Centurion_Buzz.html

Shay Dawkins, Author said...

Essay continued:
Now, let's consider the actual language given us in the Gospels. This is important to Fundamentalist/Evangelical Christians, believing that the Bible is the Inerrant Word of God and it cannot lie.

In Matthew, the earlier account, directed to a Greek-speaking Jewish audience, the Greek word given for servant is "pais" -- which means literally "boy", but can also mean "servant", and in the vernacular of the times also meant "lover". In Greek extra-Biblical writings of the time, the word "pais" is used as a euphemism for "boy lover." (In modern English, the word "pederasty" derives partly from "pais".)

Luke, who was writing in a distinctly Greek milieu, changes the word "pais" to the more eros-neutral "doulos" ("servant" or "slave"), presumably sensitive of its homosexual implications to any reader with a Greek cultural background. (It is this rendering which Strong, writing in the pronouncedly anti-gay era of the late 1800s, preferred to use in his famous numbered Concordance.)

Hence, the setting for the story:
A Roman Centurion's "pais" -- presumably his boy servant, lover, partner in a pederastic slave relationship -- is ill unto death. He desperately, beseechingly seeks a cure from what for him is a most unlikely source: A wandering, be-sandaled, Jew, member of a subject tribe, about whom tales have been heard of miraculous "healings."
The Centurion, so desperate is his concern, fastens upon one thing and one thing only: Faith. His raw, pure, unqualified faith that the "holy man" from whom he seeks help is all that He is claimed to be, a man with the power of Divine Healing.

http://rainbowallianceopenfaith.homestead.com/Centurion_Buzz.html

Anonymous said...

I'm sure you've received objections dealing with Creation (male/female created for each other from beginning). What is your take and/or defense of the creation story and the original design and purpose of God's work of mankind. What would be your means of justification for straying from original design? We all know the Scripture, be fruitful and multiply. How can that command possibly be upheld in a homosexual relationship?

Shay Dawkins, Author said...

Well, there are 2 different creation stories in the Bible.

In the first story, God created the animals first, then God created man and woman.

Genesis 1: 24-25
24And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.25And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

26And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
27So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

In the second creation story, God created man first, animals second, and a woman last.

Genesis 2: 18-22
18And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

19And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.

20And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.

21And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;

22And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.

If someone uses the "be fruitful and multiply" phrase in Genesis 1: 28, then that person is condemnning/ judging all people who do not have children and not just homosexuals. A eunuch did not have children and this is what JESUS said about eunuchs (men who were castrated and did not have children or marry).

What did Jesus say about eunuchs (feminine men)?
Eunuch come from the Greek word, eunouchos. The Greek’s Strong Dictionary defines eunouchos as “a chamberlain, keeper of the bed-chamber of an eastern potentate, a castrated person, or one who voluntarily abstains from marriage.” The reason a eunuch would not marry a woman is because a eunuch did not desire a woman. Hence, eunuchs either stayed abstinent from all sexual relations or were homosexual.
http://concordances.org/greek/2135.htm

Matthew 19: (10-12) KJV
10His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.11But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given. 12For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

Shay Dawkins, Author said...

Jesus cleary states that some men CASTRATED THEMSELVES (made themselves eunuchs) for the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN'S SAKE!

Jesus clearly states that SOME MEN ARE BORN FEMININE (which were born so from their mother's womb)!

Anonymous said...

I've always read the Scripture on being a eunuch for the Kingdom in light of 1 Cor 7 dealing with the gift of singleness. I mean, even in the scripture in Matthew 19 that you put, Jesus is talking specifically and explicitly to a man with his wife, not just a sexual partner. If it were just a sexual partner, He would have made the distinction. Rather, Jesus said this concerns a man and his wife. Some men are not called to marry and reproduce physically, but spiritually. Isaiah 54:1 “Sing, O barren, You who have not borne! Break forth into singing, and cry aloud, You who have not labored with child! For more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married woman,” says the LORD." This is saying that even those who can't have children can still produce spiritual children in the arena of discipleship.

Shay Dawkins, Author said...

My point was to show that not EVERY MAN is made for a woman as some EUNUCHS NATURALLY DO NOT DESIRE WOMEN as JESUS STATES SOME EUNUCHS ARE BORN THAT WAY!

Like you just stated, "be fruitful and multiply" does not have to refer to having children as JESUS SPOKE FIGURATIVELY about SPIRITUAL THINGS! You might be surprised who God's disciples are. They are not judgmental, Christians in present-day Christianity FALSE doctrines. Jesus would call the people in present-day Christianity FALSE doctrines Pharisees as you can not LOVE your neighbor, LOVE yourself, or truly LOVE anyone else for that matter if you judge ANYONE else on ANYTHING other than how they treat other people!

Who are God’s disciples?

1 John 4: (7-8, 12, 19-21) NIV
7Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

12No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

19We love because he first loved us. 20If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.21And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.

John 13: 35 KJV
35By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Shay Dawkins, Author said...

God's disciples are people that truly have LOVE in their heart. If you have LOVE in your heart, then you will RESPECT and UNDERSTAND other people's different lifestyles as you will only judge/ condemn people on HOW THEY TREAT OTHER PEOPLE. If you live in LOVE, then you have FULFILLED all of the LAW (This includes the outdated laws of Moses and the Old Testament)!

Galatians 5: 14
14For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself

Romans 13: (8-10)
8Owe no man anything, but to love one another: for he that loves another hath fulfilled the law.

9For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

10Love worked no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law

Anonymous said...

I feel like we need to make a clear distinction here between judgment of the heart and calling a rain drop wet. If I were to walk in on you murdering someone, I would then call you a murderer and tell you that was a sin. That would be judgment in no way, shape, or form. That's just calling it what it is. Me saying that homosexuality is wrong does not automatically constitute judgment. Actually, it'd be more judgmental for you to claim that I hate and/or judge homosexuals because that would be a heart matter. Judgment is declaring a reason, motive, or aspect of a heart. Jesus told us to judge a tree by its fruit (fruit is external). I'm not judgmental if I'm only looking at external factors. If we as Christians are not even allowed to call someone out on sin, Paul wasted his time in directing us how to correct our brothers. There is a pure aspect of judgment that doesn't declare a person's heart/motives wrong but only their actions.

Shay Dawkins, Author said...

I never stated you did, and I apologize if my comment came off that way to you! I'm the least judgmental person in the world as I only judge people on how they treat other people! I appreciate your questions and willingness to discuss issues. You are a lot further along than most people, but at some point I hope you realize that I have explained and proven every question that you have brought up to back up an anti-homosexual stance to be false!

BTW murder is wrong if you kill someone without a justified reason. So, by you judging me that I murdered would be judgmental and wrong on your part as you would not know the preceding events that lead to the murder. The spirit within me (God) would judge me on whether the murder was right or wrong and I would be held accountable for my actions.

Once again, my spirit will judge me and let me know if I do something wrong as I will feel bad about it inside. This is the case for any spiritual person who has been given the understanding to listen to his/her "heart" or "spirit" as God controls the spiritual realm! God is not external as God dwells internally, within!

1 Corinthians 3: 16 KJV
16Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

1 John 4: 12 NIV
12No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

Shay Dawkins, Author said...

Also, I do agree with you that we should judge one another on HOW WE TREAT OTHER PEOPLE. Every instance in which Paul or Jesus talks about judging other believers, it is always on HOW THEY ARE TREATING OTHER PEOPLE. For instance, let us look at 1 Corinthians 5.

Paul states to only judge believers and to not judge non-believers!

The following verse says to expel anyone who calls himself a brother (a fellow believer) and is sexually immoral, greedy, an idolater, a slanderer, a drunkard, or a swindler. Sexual immorality specifically refers to an act of sexual incest (a man having sex with his father’s wife) in this passage. Also, the verse is very clear in stating that believers of Jesus should not judge non-believers (those who are outside the church) as God will judge those who are outside the church.

The verse clearly states to only judge fellow believers (anyone who calls himself a brother) and to not associate with fellow believers who are/commit the following:
1) Sexually immoral (Greek word- pornos)
pornos - a male prostitute; a man who prostitutes himself
http://concordances.org/greek/4205.htm
2) Greedy (Greek word- pleonektés)
pleonektés- a covetous person, a defrauder, one who tramples on the rights of others
http://concordances.org/greek/4123.htm
3) Idolater (Greek word- eidólolatrés)
eidólolatrés- a person who worships images (figuratively or literally)
http://concordances.org/greek/1496.htm
4) Slanderer (Greek word- loidoros)
loidoros- a person who injures another’s reputation by denigrating; one who uses abusive insults
http://concordances.org/greek/3060.htm
5) Drunkard (Greek word- methusos)
methusos- a person who is continuously drunk
http://concordances.org/greek/3183.htm
6) Swindler (Greek word- harpax)
harpax- a robber, one who commits extortion (a person who steals or takes advantage of others by exploiting another person’s vulnerability or by abusing their own position of power)
http://concordances.org/greek/727.htm

1 Corinthians 5: (1-3, 11, 13) NIV
1It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that does not occur even among pagans: A man has his father’s wife. 2And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have been filled with grief and have put out of your fellowship the man who did this? 3Even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. And I have already passed judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present

11But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat

12What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”

Anonymous said...

Yeah, I think it all comes to this in Galatians 6:14 "But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." It's all about Jesus and His grace and mercy.

Unknown said...

Slbrown Tuesday, April 13, 2013 8:08:PM. Why do religions disagree on the rapture of the church and do you think the church will go through the tribulation?

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