Hot Stuff: Same-Sex Marriage

[Smiley and West]

Smiley & West reflect on President Obama's flip-flop on same-sex marriage and what it could mean to some voters in Black faith communities.

 

 

[Sandra Phillips]

There are many churches.  The churches of the Black community are fundamental in holding to scripture stating that homosexuality is an abomination:
Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. (Leviticus 18:22 (KJV). However, personally I would prefer to see gays and lesbians in  monogamous relationships than with multiple partners and propositioning heterosexuals for their lifestyle. I believe the scriptures are for believers even though there are those who say that one can be a homosexual and yet a believer who simply accepts the scriptures selectively.

[Christine R. Rickett]

Romans 3:19-20

"Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that "every mouth may be stopped, and all the world pay become guilty before God.  There by the deeds of the law there shall be flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

The point is, "why should the church judge those not under the law of God?"  If homosexuals want to marry, they should have equal right to marry, just like everyone else. In the end God shall be the judge of us all, those under law and those who are not. God will judge those not under the Christian law, be they muslins or whatever religion it is or is not. Christians have no right to judge and or dictate, whether someone else gets married or not. Let christians clean up the mess within thermselves and those within their own congregations so that they themselves can be held up spotless before God.

[Bessi Alberty]

Everyone is under the ruler ship of God. He just gives them the free will choice to do it or not.

Homosexuality is not your run of the mill sin. It is in the category of Abomination, and it is foremost in the category. It is unique in that it is not only anti God (He created man and woman), It is against nature and the natural use of the body, and it is also against society, in that Homosexuals can not procreate naturally and so must produce in non familial circumstances, artificially, or seduce or molest children or non homosexuals.

It is also the only abomination which has the same consequence for agreeing with it as it does for doing it.  

^{"Romans 1:27} And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

²⁸ And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

²⁹ Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

³⁰ Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

³¹ Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

³² Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them."

If people claim to be believers, then they cannot agree with homosexuality in any form. Obviousy people have the right to do what ever is legal, but you do not have to agree with it, or you have a real problem with 

God says.

Christine R. Rickett said:

Romans 3:19-20

"Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that "every mouth may be stopped, and all the world pay become guilty before God.  There by the deeds of the law there shall be flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

The point is, "why should the church judge those not under the law of God?"  If homosexuals want to marry, they should have equal right to marry, just like everyone else. In the end God shall be the judge of us all, those under law and those who are not. God will judge those not under the Christian law, be they muslins or whatever religion it is or is not. Christians have no right to judge and or dictate, whether someone else gets married or not. Let christians clean up the mess within thermselves and those within their own congregations so that they themselves can be held up spotless before God.

[Sandra Phillips]

Marriage and holy matrimony are not the same in this context.  Christians practice holy matrimony.  Nothing holy about homosexuality so they cannot practice holy matrimony.  Some Christians don't even practice holy matrimony, and they divorce at the drop of a hat.

[Christine R. Rickett]

Again,

Yes, that is what Paul said to the Roman congregation. Let's think about that... He said it to the Roman congregation. He did not go tell it to Ceasar. Paul was a citizen of the Roman empire and of the congregation of God. He did not try to impose the christian belief on Ceasar, but on those racing towards the kingdom of God. He did not go after homosexuals and their rights as Roman citizens.  Check the history book. Gays had rights during that time, but we don't want them to have rights thousands of years later. This is God's domain to judge. Christians are suppose to clean up their own house and congregation. 

[Christine R. Rickett]

Sandra,

You are right about getting marriage vs. Holy Matrimony. I believe homosexuals should be able to get married if they want to, but if you asked me if it was holy, I would say no. If you asked me should a minister of God marry them, again I would say no, because what do a minister of light have to do with those in the dark?  Homosexuals can go to city hall, unless a minister out there somewhere decides to marry them, but it still would not be holy, and the minister could not call himself a minister of light. Well, he could call himself that, but it would be how he feel about himself.

Romans 1:28, if God gave them up to all sorts of uncleanliness, who are we to stop them from getting married? Didn't God give them up?

 

[Bessi Alberty]

I referenced my remarks to believers, but believers were to take the Word of God to the uttermost parts of the world, that was their mission, go tell. And it would have included the Caesar in Rome. Why do you think they were murdered? It was because they refused to stop speaking the word (s) of God. Now we want to say it's ok for them, but not for us. Sorry it doesn't work that way. IT IS VERY BAD FOR EVERYONE. God is no respecter of persons, He want everyone to be saved. It is clear not everyone wants to be saved, but we can never agree with them to go contrary to God, or to do things that are not only harmful to themselves, but to society as a whole.   You are either for God and the things of God, or are fighting against God and the things of God. Lukewarm gets spit out.

Homosexuals did have rights and it led to immorality,and the legal prostitution of children, especially young boys. Are we going there too?  Bestiality, human bondage? Those are sexual preferences also. Will we agree to legalize their 'marriages' also? Why do you think homosexuals lost those rights? Read up on the decline and fall of most modern civilizations and you will see that rampant, legal homosexuality was a common factor in them all. If you agree with it in any form, you are encouraging it and the spread of it. It is bigotry to say it is not good for us (after all we are soo much better people than them..), but it is ok for them (because after all they're not saved/christians/under God..). Not! They can get saved just like anyone else got saved. We need to get clear on where we stand.  

Christine R. Rickett said:

Sandra,

You are right about getting marriage vs. Holy Matrimony. I believe homosexuals should be able to get married if they want to, but if you asked me if it was holy, I would say no. If you asked me should a minister of God marry them, again I would say no, because what do a minister of light have to do with those in the dark?  Homosexuals can go to city hall, unless a minister out there somewhere decides to marry them, but it still would not be holy, and the minister could not call himself a minister of light. Well, he could call himself that, but it would be how he feel about himself.

Romans 1:28, if God gave them up to all sorts of uncleanliness, who are we to stop them from getting married? Didn't God give them up?

 

[Christine R. Rickett]

You are right! Christians are suppose to preach throughout the earth. Yet, they are not suppose to enforce it. There were many deaths in history, in the name of religion.

I grieve at times, because things are so bad, but it must take it's course. The Bible speaks of the last days being as the days of Noah. People will be marrying, and being given in marriage when he comes.

I still believe they should be allowed to marry, and that Christians should do a better job of showing themselves to be children of God by their good works---honesty, not committing adultery,not stealing and stuff like that. Right now, we have ministers (of darkness) committing adultery and homosexual acts, but they come upon the world in lamb's clothing. It's hard to tell the difference until we see them on CNN.

It is sad. How can we complain or condemn homosexuals getting married, when ministers are violating God's laws tenfold?

[Christine R. Rickett]

Christine R. Rickett said:

You are right! Christians are suppose to preach throughout the earth. Yet, they are not suppose to enforce it. There were many deaths in history, in the name of religion.

I grieve at times, because things are so bad, but it must take it's course. The Bible speaks of the last days being as the days of Noah. People will be marrying, and being given in marriage when he comes.

I still believe they should be allowed to marry, and that Christians should do a better job of showing themselves to be children of God by their good works---honesty, not committing adultery,not stealing and stuff like that. Right now, we have ministers (of darkness) committing adultery and homosexual acts, but they come upon the world in lamb's clothing. It's hard to tell the difference until we see them on CNN.

It is sad. How can we complain or condemn homosexuals getting married, when ministers are violating God's laws tenfold?

 

Maybe I am just getting tired. I know the Bible speaks of us not tiring out.

[Bessi Alberty]

Please don't get too tired to stand! People need to know who you are and whose you are. 

We also can not excuse people who say they are God's people, and have no fruit to show for it. I never said anything about enforcing. We know that evil men and seducers will wax worse and worse, but there is no need to give them any support and help. Look at what is going on with our children, and our families. They are dying, being murdered, kidnapped, tortured. Earthquakes, Tsunami's, and other natural disasters. The earth and society is losing the protection of God, because they won't stand for God.

I totally understand your frustration, but when you say you believe they should be allowed to marry, and God says they are not (Not to lie together like man and wife/woman). You are calling God a liar, and your belief is contrary to what He has said is good for mankind. I respect everyone's right to believe as they choose, but I choose not to respect what everyone believes. 

It is not what minister's are doing that should be our focus, it is what we should be doing and thinking, and saying that will be important to our country and our world. Our hands are God's hands. We are not here to just look good and act nice. We are here to make a difference between right and wrong, good and evil. Thanks for the discussion.

Christine R. Rickett said:

Christine R. Rickett said:

You are right! Christians are suppose to preach throughout the earth. Yet, they are not suppose to enforce it. There were many deaths in history, in the name of religion.

I grieve at times, because things are so bad, but it must take it's course. The Bible speaks of the last days being as the days of Noah. People will be marrying, and being given in marriage when he comes.

I still believe they should be allowed to marry, and that Christians should do a better job of showing themselves to be children of God by their good works---honesty, not committing adultery,not stealing and stuff like that. Right now, we have ministers (of darkness) committing adultery and homosexual acts, but they come upon the world in lamb's clothing. It's hard to tell the difference until we see them on CNN.

It is sad. How can we complain or condemn homosexuals getting married, when ministers are violating God's laws tenfold?

 

Maybe I am just getting tired. I know the Bible speaks of us not tiring out.

[Sandra Phillips]

We are not to tire, but we live in a country of religious freedom.  How do we reconcile religion and patriotism. God's word come first.  We are not to encourage homosexual marriage any more than we are to encourage abortion.  Abortion is legal and homosexual marriage is in the hands of the states where in some it is legal and most states not legal.  As Christians we are to set an example, but we aren't.  The Christian family is in much a shambles as non-Christian. We do not have to like the fact that homosexuality is legal, but it is.  We do have to render to Caesar what is his and to God what is His. Are we to encourage rebellion against the law of the country and state?  We would have to start with the Supreme Court which legalized homosexuality  and not with the president.  He is bound by the law as much as anyone else.  Maybe he could have kept his opinion to himself on this issue as we all could have, but homosexuality would still be legal.  There marriage or civil unions would still be legal. It could be a judgement call that might affect the judgement of those who are not using their own judgement and if he is wrong, as we all may be, It may garner or lose votes for him.

[Bessi Alberty]

Homosexuality is not legal in my state. It is not legal in this country, only in certain states in this country, and some of them still have sodomy laws on the books. 

He most definitely should have/could have kept his opinions to himself. He did not choose to do so because he is publicly aligning himself with the Homosexuals. Too bad he has not seen fit to publicy align himself with blacks. We could have used an amendment to ratify the voting rights bill which still has to be renewed every twenty years.  

Sandra Phillips said:

We are not to tire, but we live in a country of religious freedom.  How do we reconcile religion and patriotism. God's word come first.  We are not to encourage homosexual marriage any more than we are to encourage abortion.  Abortion is legal and homosexual marriage is in the hands of the states where in some it is legal and most states not legal.  As Christians we are to set an example, but we aren't.  The Christian family is in much a shambles as non-Christian. We do not have to like the fact that homosexuality is legal, but it is.  We do have to render to Caesar what is his and to God what is His. Are we to encourage rebellion against the law of the country and state?  We would have to start with the Supreme Court which legalized homosexuality  and not with the president.  He is bound by the law as much as anyone else.  Maybe he could have kept his opinion to himself on this issue as we all could have, but homosexuality would still be legal.  There marriage or civil unions would still be legal. It could be a judgement call that might affect the judgement of those who are not using their own judgement and if he is wrong, as we all may be, It may garner or lose votes for him.