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etsop95

Tag Archives: homosexuality

Independence Day (but not what you think)

03 Friday Jul 2015

Posted by Ron Thomas in Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

homosexuality, independence day, marriage, SCOTUS, United Church of Christ

This was posted in a briefer form on TFR.

Happy Marriage Equality Day!

We are happy to be one of the Christian denominations who blesses same-sex marriage and respects the identities of LGBT people.

Love always wins. We are thankful the Supreme Court ruled on the side of love. Blessings to all of the loving couples who can now legally affirm the love God already affirms.

There will be more posts from UCC officials and the UCC newsroom today. Until then, enjoy your Pride and marriage equality celebrations!

This tweet from the United Church of Christ (UCC) was posted today (6.26.2015). There are some certain things to be said about it. 1) The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) having made a decision in favor of same-sex marriage is certainly NOT Christian. Thus, that which the UCC supports is not Christian either. Moreover, the fact they are self-identified as a “Christian denomination” is not something that is God-ordained. 2) Love most certainly did NOT win. Love seeks that which is best for the other person, and the perfect standard of love is only that which resides in God. God did not and does not sanction same-sex marriages (cf. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11).  3) The attribution of a man-made definition of love to God is as egregious and ignorant (unlearned) as one who as a self-identified atheist who says he believes in God!

The UCC think they are of God, but they (and others similar to them) are far from God in support of same-sex marriage, or even homosexual behavior that does not warrant marriage status. When Justice Kennedy wrote: “Under the Constitution, same sex couples seek in marriage the same legal treatment as opposite sex couples, and it would disparage their choices and diminish their personhood to deny them this right” (as copied from Special Report on Fox News, 6.26.2015). Thus, under the Constitution they are given dignity to their personhood because they felt, evidently, they did not have it. Under God, however, while human dignity is still in place, the Lord’s judgment standard is not the Constitution of the United States.

This weekend is Independence Weekend, with the 4th of July being tomorrow. One might say that the homosexual community has gained their independence when the SCOTUS favored their position, albeit narrowly. That which they think was gain in a form of independence is still a matter of bondage. It is bondage to sin. The Scriptures speak strongly against homosexual behavior, and one can read this in Romans 1:26-27. Those who are still in sinful (sexual) bondage have yet to receive their independence from the Lord, before whom they will stand on Judgment Day (Acts 17:30-31).

Will it be printed

16 Friday Nov 2012

Posted by Ron Thomas in Uncategorized

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

homosexuality, logical argument, morality

I am not sure this letter will be printed, but I have sent it to the newspaper; we will see. 

Letter to editor,

The newspaper declares that “Mayor Rahm Emanuel Tuesday ranked legalizing gay marriage as his No. 3 legislative priority in Springfield — behind pension reform and a Chicago casino — and said he plans to get “very involved” in passing a gay marriage bill” (Chicago Sun-Times).

And there are those who maintain that the support of a particular candidate does not mean that they support the moral vision of that candidate. These same people are, most likely, confused about other things also. There is no way to sugar coat it: those who voted for such people have directly contributed to the moral failings of our society as they support those who themselves have promoted legislation that is contrary to the standard of the Lord.

Argument 1: 1) Objective morality is beneficial to man; 2) God’s will is objective morality; 3) Thus, God’s will is beneficial to man.

Argument 2: 1) That which is opposed to God’s will is immoral; 2) Homosexuality is opposed to God’s will; 3) Thus, homosexuality is immoral.

Argument 3: 1) That which is immoral is evil; 2) Homosexuality is immoral; 3) Thus, homosexuality is evil.

Those who support that which is immoral also support that which is evil

The logical arguments can be sustained in the crucible of debate.

People have convinced themselves that they are not guilty of making a direct contribution to evil, but try telling that to the Lord.

Same-Sex Marriages are Self-Defeating

21 Saturday Jul 2012

Posted by Ron Thomas in Editor

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

homosexuality

Letter to editor,

When one brings the Scripture into the public discourse I read and seriously consider what is proffered. The other day I was disappointed at what I read. For instance, it was stated that “…it is false to state, as a politician recently did…”, yet I read no demonstration of what the politician said as being false, only an assertion of it. Moreover, it was stated that it is not a fact that from the beginning it “has been ‘one man, one woman, life-time monogamy.”

With regard to what a particular politician said, I can’t comment. With regard to the second remark, however, I can.

When God created man he created them male and female, and it was God who brought them together. As the saying goes, there was no Adam and Steve, but Adam and Eve. From the beginning it was one man for one woman for life, and this fact is indisputable. Since that time, however, man has set his course upon his own destruction. This is not only illustrated shortly after the time of creation, but also seen in great men like King David. The notion of there being a homosexual relationship between David and Jonathan is as far from the truth as Satan is from God. Though the comments of the one who submitted the thoughts did not ascribe to them such, it is often the case that many do.

If marriage is strictly a matter of legality and the community, then there is no rational reason to deny those who desire to have multiple spouses. None! On the other hand, if marriage is defined by God, then the matter becomes a moral issue and is taken out of the hands of the created. If the created insist upon its own definition, then it is nothing more than what one can read in Scripture when man corrupted the ways of God. For this they will be called to an account.

Same-sex marriages are, by necessity, self-defeating; they can’t perpetuate their physical existence except via artificial means, and their behavioral choices will always be contrary to nature. So, it may be the desire of the community to perpetuate moral evil, but what will God’s desire then be?

Submitted to Mattoon-Charleston Gazette 6.25.2012, printed 7.20.2012

UMC and Same Sex Marriage

11 Friday May 2012

Posted by Ron Thomas in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

homosexuality

Letter to editor,

I just read today that the United Methodist Church (UMC) recently had a vote and passed by a 6 to 4 ratio that homosexuality is “incompatible with Christian teaching” (http://www.newsmax.com/US/Methodists-Gays/2012/05/03/id/437991). I find this interesting because in the same article we are told that the UMC has been debating among themselves for four decades about the issue. If they stayed with biblical teaching there would be no debate (Romans 1:24-27).

Homosexuality is a behavioral activity that is degenerating, but a behavioral activity that can be changed if one desires to do so. It may be terribly difficult (like such vices as alcoholism and drugs), but it can be done. If one would be pleasing to the Lord it must be done.

Printed 5/9/2012 in the Sullivan News-Progress

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