Can some explaine Romans Ch. 1 to me

[AJLove]

it's says that th women and the men left the natural use of each other ,does that means it is a sin. Or what about in the BibleI think Leviticus) where it says it's an abomination.

[Pablo Rafael]

AJ,

I will try to get in a response quickly before the more eloquent and erudite Soulforcers beat me to it.

First of all the Leviticus passage: The holiness laws of Leviticus have been done away with by Christ's death on the cross. Christians have no need to observe those laws; they were designed for a different culture at a different time. There is no Christian group that observes those laws. Anyone who uses that passage against homosexuals is being hypocritical. Paul expressly says that those regulations are done away with in the New Testament. We have been set free from observing the law; what we are required to do is to live in love toward God and to our neighbors.

And the Romans passage: I believe that this passage does have meaning for us. In the Greek/Roman world there was the practice of older men using boys for sexual pleasure. The Greek/Roman world was very oppressive to women; everything male was considered superior. Very often straight men would engage in this pedophilia when the boys were younger and preadolecsent. When the boys grew older and were through puberty, the older man would often look for another boy. Also there were the male prostitutes that made effort to keep themselves very feminine so that they could make their living off of straight men. Also young slave boys were often used for the sexual pleasure of their masters.

In the Romans 1 passage Paul is pointing out that as Christians we are to leave behind the idolatry and immorality that was so common in the Greek world. The explotation and abuse of young boys and the practice of prostitution was just one example of those practices that we as Christians, who are to live in love with each other, are to put away.

There is no connection with this practice that Paul is mentioning and the relationship of a loving, committed gay couple. It was a practice of straight men taking advatage of those over whom they had authority. As for doing what is "natural" or "against nature": For those of us who are gay, it is our nature to have attraction to those of the same gender; That is how God created us. I tell you that from my limited experience that physical intimacy with a woman is certainly "against nature" for me.

As Christian I believe that God has called us to live lives that show love to others, respect for each person and decency in our actions. There should be no opposition to those practices. If my actions show respect and love for God and for those around me, I am convinced that I am following the path that the Bible has set forth.

Tu Amigo, Pablo

[labguy22]

I struggled with being gay for so much of my life and I am am free from that now. I truly wish for you to find peace as well. We are not suppossed to live under condemnation, but to enjoy life to overflowing.
I know that for myself, being with another man is "natural" and if I were to ever be with a woman, that would be unnatural...for me. I know this because I would be with woman to try to force me to be straight. Now that, if anything, I would consider to be sin. What a horrible thing I did to those women in order to try and fit some mold that I was not created to ever fill.
I also know that I am no surprise to God. I am not an accident, an abomination or anything else I used to be told by "christians".
I love studying the Bible, but have come to realize that not every word in there is meant for me. I also do not believe that every word in print has been inspired by God. I am sure many will disagree with me and that is just fine.
Don't use the Bible to define what you should be, use your heart.
Do you honestly believe that a loving God would create you a particular way, and then tell you not to follow through with that??? My God doesn't work that way.
Today I use the Bible to enhance my life, not to condemn it. My prayer is that you will not have to struggle as long as I did.

[u-dog]

AJ,

CLick this link and read the pamphlet "What the Bible does and doesn't say about homosexuality" There is a section in it about Romans 1


http://www.soulforce.org/pdf/whatthebiblesays.pdf