We are now living in a day that right is wrong and wrong is right and people find pleasure in the sins of others rather than stand up against it. we as Christians are shepherds of the flock and are to stand up against the wolves of the world. stand up stand up for Jesus. This starts at home, then out into the world.
Romans 1 is speaking of idolatry not homosexuality. Even the women left the natural use, does not mean they became lesbians, it means they were allowing men in the pagan temple of the Goddess Diana of Rome to sodomize them because that's what the goddess required, and they believed it drew them closet to the goddess. For they worship the creature . the creature was the goddess Diana- notice the word worship= idolatry. The men visiting the pagan temple were not gay, they did what the did because they believed it drew them closer to the goddess. 2. Notice paul here is addressing the church @ Rome about christians who once knew the truth and went back to their idol worshipping ways, Paul is not speaking to or about pagans, he is speaking about those who once knew the truth and departed from it. I laugh at how christians mis-quote the bible. 3. Old testament is not Christianity, Leviticus was written to jews not to christians. It's amazing how christians cherry pick the bible to bash homosexuals. Notice they never speak of if u were not a virgin upon marrying you were stoned to death, we don't sacrifice lambs anymore either. I am done with this. I got dizzy trying to explain this.
Melissa, I agree with your understanding of Romans 1 in as far as the apostle was condemning the unbelievers there of debauchery in respect of their idolatry & very likely the practise of temple prostitution as you detailed.
However, Rom 1:26 begins with, "For this cause". It was for those reasons, where they abused their knowledge (or thirst) for knowing God to turn to idolatry & worshipped wicked representations of Him instead. So God gave them up "to vile affections". I don't see this part as applicable to men & women being involved in debauchery within the temple worship. It clearly states, "For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 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 recompense of their error which was meet." (vv 26, 27).
Women changed the natural use (of their bodies) & likewise, men leaving the natural use of women by lusting after other men - men with men. Clearly, this is not a picture of temple prostitution but of homosexuality - a result of God giving them over to the wickedness of their hearts. But if you believe that the men "did what they did because they believed it drew them closer to the goddess", then it would take a 'long pull of the bow' to convince me that their acts could be carried out only for temple worship & not a reflection of their normal deviant behaviour. And verses 28-32 further describe their general condition & they stood under God's judgement. So we don't misquote the Bible, rather consider and quote from all the Scriptures with conviction. These are God's Words & those who wish to pursue lifestyles outside the purposes of God & with unconfessed sin, stand under His Judgement & not ours. Our only desire that all people might be saved, repenting of their sin & receiving new life from God.
Dear Melissa the bible clearly teaches against sin. whether it be gay or lesbian, sin is sin. what shall we say then, shall we continue in sin that grace may abound, God forbid. i didn't say that Paul did. i love all people of sin , i just hate sin. God hates all sin and yes the old testament was to Gods people but is applicable to us as well. God destroyed people in the old testament because of this sin. would not the same rule apply to us today?
The Woes that should be given our attention - In Reply on Romans 1:32 - 4 years ago
Isaiah 5
20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!
22 Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink:
23 Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!
24 Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
>These kind of statements reveal the long suffering character of God. If we can wrap our minds around it; first we must change ourselves. Hallelujah, because we have the mind of Christ, and we have the Holy Spirit to be our Helper.
We know what He cares about, and we can add that knowledge in when we are witnessing to the unsaved.
By prayer to the Lord of the Harvest, we don't have to cold-contact , evil, violent people. He will bring those who are ready to hear the Gospel... who is Jesus.
Scriptures tell us to be diligent and search them out.
Scriptures tell us to Ask, and to seek.
Scriptures tell us to be prepared to defend our beliefs.
Scriptures tell us to love one another,
By edification,
By prayer,
By fellowship,
By spreading the Gospel.
Gifts, knowledge, conviction, strength, teaching; all come from the Holy Spirit (Comforter, etc.)
Although we may disagree with our brother or sister, we should take it to the Lord in prayer, search the Scriptures, and be prepared for the light received from the Holy Ghost.
Prayers and Blessings for your continued journey. We never know how Jehovah or Yahshua will use us to touch another.
However, Rom 1:26 begins with, "For this cause". It was for those reasons, where they abused their knowledge (or thirst) for knowing God to turn to idolatry & worshipped wicked representations of Him instead. So God gave them up "to vile affections". I don't see this part as applicable to men & women being involved in debauchery within the temple worship. It clearly states, "For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 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 recompense of their error which was meet." (vv 26, 27).
Women changed the natural use (of their bodies) & likewise, men leaving the natural use of women by lusting after other men - men with men. Clearly, this is not a picture of temple prostitution but of homosexuality - a result of God giving them over to the wickedness of their hearts. But if you believe that the men "did what they did because they believed it drew them closer to the goddess", then it would take a 'long pull of the bow' to convince me that their acts could be carried out only for temple worship & not a reflection of their normal deviant behaviour. And verses 28-32 further describe their general condition & they stood under God's judgement. So we don't misquote the Bible, rather consider and quote from all the Scriptures with conviction. These are God's Words & those who wish to pursue lifestyles outside the purposes of God & with unconfessed sin, stand under His Judgement & not ours. Our only desire that all people might be saved, repenting of their sin & receiving new life from God.
20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!
22 Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink:
23 Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!
24 Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
>These kind of statements reveal the long suffering character of God. If we can wrap our minds around it; first we must change ourselves. Hallelujah, because we have the mind of Christ, and we have the Holy Spirit to be our Helper.
We know what He cares about, and we can add that knowledge in when we are witnessing to the unsaved.
By prayer to the Lord of the Harvest, we don't have to cold-contact , evil, violent people. He will bring those who are ready to hear the Gospel... who is Jesus.
I hope you are not done with this.
Scriptures tell us to be diligent and search them out.
Scriptures tell us to Ask, and to seek.
Scriptures tell us to be prepared to defend our beliefs.
Scriptures tell us to love one another,
By edification,
By prayer,
By fellowship,
By spreading the Gospel.
Gifts, knowledge, conviction, strength, teaching; all come from the Holy Spirit (Comforter, etc.)
Although we may disagree with our brother or sister, we should take it to the Lord in prayer, search the Scriptures, and be prepared for the light received from the Holy Ghost.
Prayers and Blessings for your continued journey. We never know how Jehovah or Yahshua will use us to touch another.
This comment thread is locked. Please enter a new comment below to start a new comment thread.
Note: Comment threads older than 2 months are automatically locked.
Do you have a Bible comment or question?
Posting comments is currently unavailable due to high demand on the server.
Please check back in an hour or more. Thank you for your patience!
Report Comment
Which best represents the problem with the comment?