Re: The long and the short answer
Submitted by Ben on February 22 1999 at 19:31:44
In reply to The long and the short answer Submitted by F.O.D. on February 22 1999 at 13:11:50
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FOD - Thanks again for engaging me in all of this. You guys must have run through this argument a thousand times already and now you have to repeat it again for naive me. For myself, I have always assumed that these verses are to be interpreted in the traditional way, that homosexual sexual activity of any kind is wrong, and that my homosexual feelings are just further proof of the fact that I'm sinful. I absolutely must take exception to this conclusion. On the contrary, I look at my orientation (pedophilia in this case, not adult homosexuality) as an incredible test, and a means by which I can serve a purpose other than that of the average person. While I certainly would prefer the standard routine of a wife and a family and all of the silly things that go along with that lifestyle, I accept the fact that I have to look harder to find MY purpose. I also believe that you fall into this category as well. This I feel really from the heart, and my heart is proving me right again and again lately. It is clear to me from the passages that you guys are citing, that the bible has made statements against "laying with other men" and "laying with men as one does a woman", specifically against homosexual acts. Unfortunatley, "laying with a man as one does a woman", can imply a loving and monogamous relationship and therefore might also be contrary to the bible. However, I don't see anything which identifies homosexual (or pedophilic) feelings or even fantasizing as being wrong or ungodly. It seems to me from what I am reading that God would be most concerned about the physical harm that can come from non-heterosexual sex, the spreading of disease and the fact that it does not result in more children being born and nurtured into God's world. Clearly, from the relatiionship between Jonathan and David, there was nothing at all wrong with "love" between males when it was non-sexual. One might even claim from 1 Sam 18:4 that eroticism was okay too, as long as one was careful about what they did with their body. Then again, I suppose it is easy for me to conclude all of this for myself, since my sex life pretty much revolves around fantasizing and celibacy has already been comfortably accepted. Certainly, it makes it easier for me to press ahead on this journey, knowing that, although God would prefer me to find a woman to love, he can accept what I do otherwise. I want to remind you what I said above, because I feel so strongly that you are not gay as a reminder of your sinfulness. You are gay, and are therefore confirmed to be human, to be loving and to be tempted, as was Jesus, for a reason. You are not alone. Ben |