Why?

[awediot]

Why is __________ a Sin?

That simple, open question about says it all for me. You are welcome to elaborate...

If your only answer is "because God said so.", may I suggest ...

[Rick336]

Why is adultery a sin? Or, why is it okay for Christians to live in the sin of adultery?

Here's what Luke says about adultery:

"Every one who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery." Luke 16:18

According to the Bible, those who have been divorced and remarried are committing adultery and living in sin. So all the folks down at the Baptist church every Sunday morning that have been divorced and remarried are (according to Luke 16:18) committing adultery.

How then is adultery less of a sin than homosexuality? Why doesn't the church rally against people who have been divorced and remarried? And, why doesn't the Southern Baptist Convention support a constitutional ammendment against those who divorce and remarry? Doesn't that redefine traditional marriage?

Could it be that some churches ignore scripture about the sins of adultery and focus all their attention on scripture about the sins of homosexuality for no other reason than to justify their dislike of homosexuals?

How else do they explain this?

Rick

[tdogg]

Maybe it's a matter of "if I can take the heat off myself and put it on someone else then no one will see my sin"?

Perhaps these folks focus on homosexuality so the focus WON'T be on adultery, bigotry, hate, anger, selfishness, etc.

Homosexuality is definitely a money maker for some of those people preaching against it, isn't it?! It always seems to end up being about the money.

Or...perhaps those who voice opinions so strongly against homosexuality are deathly afraid of being gay themselves...If we focus on others we don't have to focus on ourselves - if we concentrate on condeming a certain thing, we have a better chance of avoiding it ourselves.

It could be a combination of things, but I would imagine the dollars earned on their fight against gays is HUGE. It's interesting how those who use select verses to defend an argument or opinion can be extremely picky about what they want to say and which verses actually apply to daily life in 2006.

[keltic63]

I think it's all those things you mention tdogg! it's important for the fundamentalists to be able to point to another group and say "those people aren't getting into heaven." homosexuals are that group because it is politically beneficial to do so right now. I remember the teachings in fundie churches from when I was a kid, and there was always a sense of "we may be suffering now, but at least we'll get to heaven, and ________(fill in the blank with whatever group you'd like) will be looking up at us from their eternal torment!)

there are plenty of ministers/groups who make money by persecuting lgbt people.

churches/organizations would lose money by teaching against other sins, such as adultery, divorce, gluttony, inhospitality, gambling, substance abuse, etc. because so many of their followers are participating in those sins. They'd be insulted and withhold their offerings.

and of course, we have those who speak out so loudly because they wish to hide their own orientation. Lonnie Latham comes to mind. btw, has anyone heard anything about what has happened to him?

[tdogg]

Keltic, your post made me think a little deeper about this and the whole money issue.

We (GLBT) are people that can be reasonably excluded from a group because sexuality is a specific characteristic. That group will still maintain significant numbers. What is the percentage estimate of gays and lesbians - roughtly estimated 10% of the total population (I think its more, but..)? That leaves 90% of the group who are not gays or lesbians, then exclude some who support gays and lesbians, I have no idea what that percentage might be. But even if the total excluded is 25%, that group would still have 75% membership of which most will contribute some money and many will consistently contribute a lot. That can be a lot of money!


The other things - gambling, adultery, divorce, etc., etc., are spread out here and there throughout the entire group. While most do not engage in one particular activity (except perhaps divorce!), most engage in one of the various activities listed. And, the activity isn't limited to a specifc age, sex, sexual orientation, etc. So it's much harder to identify and exclude persons engagingin them.

In other words, perhaps we are targeted because issues regarding our sexuality are specific to our sexuality, and because we have enough numbers to target as a group but not enough to prevent those who are getting the money, from getting significant amount. Another contributing factor is that many people (most?) don't really understand anything about homosexuality, other than what the man in the pulpit told them or what they heard on Pat Robertson's TV show. Instead of gaining a better understanding, they go with the flow and send off their cash because 'it sounds good'. Most people I know who have a real issue with my sexuality don't know anything about homosexuality and haven't bothered to have any discussion with me.

Ok, the first thing I thought when reading your post, was the charity gambling events popular at many churches in the country!!!