More thoughts on the Centurion
Submitted by Ben on February 15 2002 07:18:14
In reply to *Sniff.* No one wants to talk about NT pederasty? submitted by Heather on February 15 2002 03:16:20
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Hi Heather, I am always good for some textual debate. Lets presume that we conclude that the centurion was in a pedarestic relationship with the boy. Looking through Jesus' life, he hardly went along healing wonderfully righteous people. Mark 2:17 On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." Jesus was known for eating with tax collectors and prostitutes. Even the Centurion himself didn't feel worthy of Jesus coming to heal the boy, so he himself understood that he was sinful (though technically this could have been in ways other than that he was sleeping with the boy). There is nothing in this story that suggests that Jesus was approving of the Centurions lifestyle. Jesus was well aware of the Roman tendency for pedaresty, yet his focus was on the Centurion's FAITH, not his lifestyle. The point is that there are really not situations in the NT where we can identify proper lifestyles of people by the fact that Jesus did or did not choose to interact with them. Furthermore, sinful people were commended by Jesus for their faith, whether or not he agreed with how they led their lives. I disagree therefore that a textual conclusion that the Centurion was a boylover, leads to a conclusion that Jesus accepted homosexual relations. My own opinion (sorry this is just me!) is that we cannot justify sinful lifestyles, including my own so you know that I don't think of myself as any higher than anyone else reading, by twisting scripture to show that a particular lifestyle was okay in biblical times. Jesus didn't come to earth because any of us were perfect. He came to set an example of perfection, and to show us that God loves us so much, that he forgives us no matter what we have done. Whew, okay I'll get off my soapbox here. I am no better than you, or anyone else reading here. I just don't think that homosexuality can be justified in the bible. Neither can pride, lust, or greed. They all exist, they are all symptoms of us being human. You are not alone. Love, Ben |
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