Author Topic: Matthew Vines: Bible Does Not Condemn Homosexuality  (Read 3314 times)

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Offline CactusCarlos

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Matthew Vines: Bible Does Not Condemn Homosexuality
« on: September 30, 2012, 09:28:34 PM »
http://www.christianpost.com/news/matthew-vines-says-most-christians-are-wrong-homosexuality-is-not-a-sin-82026/

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Editor's Note: This is the first part in a three-part series that will feature both sides of the debate on the Bible and homosexuality. Following Matthew Vines' interview will be responses from evangelical theologians, and finally, guest contributions from Christians who have chosen not to engage in homosexuality and those who don't believe a gay lifestyle conflicts with the Bible. Read Part 2: "Theologians Find Vines' 'Homosexuality Is Not a Sin' Thesis Not Persuasive."

Matthew Vines is a 22-year-old gay Christian who believes being gay is not a sin. He came to that conclusion after two years of studying Scripture and the works of dozens of biblical scholars. The Harvard University student, currently on leave of absence, is now trying to win over fellow believers not just with an emotional testimony but with what he is presenting as biblically solid arguments.

"There is no contradiction between being Christian and being gay," he told BBC.

His arguments – mainly against six Bible passages that are commonly used by Christians to condemn homosexuality – are gaining popularity as evidenced by his YouTube views. In six months, an over hour-long video of Vines meticulously challenging what he calls the traditional interpretation of Scripture has garnered nearly 400,000 views.

Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/matthew-vines-says-most-christians-are-wrong-homosexuality-is-not-a-sin-82026/#SR30HWzhK6cKlDo0.99
« Last Edit: September 30, 2012, 09:30:55 PM by CactusCarlos »
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Offline WinOne4TheGipper

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Offline MrsSmith

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Re: Matthew Vines: Bible Does Not Condemn Homosexuality
« Reply #2 on: October 01, 2012, 11:20:14 AM »
Have seen these arguments before... Jude 1:7. Matthew 19:4 Mark 10:6
« Last Edit: October 01, 2012, 11:24:27 AM by MrsSmith »
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Offline ChuckJ

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Re: Matthew Vines: Bible Does Not Condemn Homosexuality
« Reply #3 on: October 01, 2012, 05:21:29 PM »
Can anyone give the arguments he's trying to use. I don't have the time to spend an hour watching someone trying to twist the Bible into agreeing with them.
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Offline rich_t

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Re: Matthew Vines: Bible Does Not Condemn Homosexuality
« Reply #4 on: October 01, 2012, 05:25:40 PM »
God didn't create Adam and Allen, or Eve and Ellen.

He created Adam and Eve.

Nuff said.
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Offline MrsSmith

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Re: Matthew Vines: Bible Does Not Condemn Homosexuality
« Reply #5 on: October 01, 2012, 06:45:24 PM »
Can anyone give the arguments he's trying to use. I don't have the time to spend an hour watching someone trying to twist the Bible into agreeing with them.

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"Loving, same-sex relationships" are not addressed in the Bible, let alone condemned, he argued.
Vines distinguishes between lustful, casual homosexual behavior and loving, "natural" same-sex relationships, arguing that it is only the former behavior that the Bible speaks against.

Because, of course, we know that God only approves of "loving" marriages.  (See Hosea)

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So having many different conversations with fellow Christians about the issue, and also many different conversations with gay people about the issue, I feel that that was what was most influential to me – this amalgamation of experiences and studies rather than any other one work or experience.

Of course, this would be much more accurate information than what is contained in the Bible.   ::)

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But by the 13th century, opposition to same-sex relationships became part of the understanding of natural law theory.

Which completely ignores the centuries of Old Testament opposition.   ::)

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I think that once people have absorbed a societal prejudice, then they are more likely to read it back into the Bible, rather than allowing the Bible itself to direct the thinking on the subject.

Rationalizing is nothing new. 

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the Lutheran church, the Presbyterian Church, they are now accepting gay Christians in the clergy on the same footing as straight Christians.

http://www.elca.org/Who-We-Are/Our-Three-Expressions/Churchwide-Organization/Communication-Services/News/Resources/Stats.aspx

Fewer and fewer members every year...

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So if homosexuality is a sin, what that would mean for me is that I would just be alone for the rest of my life. I come from a family, but I would never be able to form one of my own. It's different from straight Christians who just can't find the right partner. While I could find the right person to marry and fall in love with that person but then I would still have to walk away from that person that I care very deeply about, and that can happen over and over again. It will be an extremely destructive experience and way of living that is ultimately harmful to my dignity as a person and to the dignity of gay people.

The crux of his argument...with no Biblical evidence, of course.  It's simply "undignified."  (Good thing he isn't prideful or anything.)  You know, in actually studying the Bible and asking for spiritual guidance into what God wants from me, I have never noticed anything that referred to my "dignity."  In fact, over and over and over, I'm told to humble myself and act as a slave to the Lord.  But maybe I read a different Bible.  (Or maybe I actually read the Bible...)
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Offline ChuckJ

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Re: Matthew Vines: Bible Does Not Condemn Homosexuality
« Reply #6 on: October 01, 2012, 06:58:09 PM »
Because, of course, we know that God only approves of "loving" marriages.  (See Hosea)

Of course, this would be much more accurate information than what is contained in the Bible.   ::)

Which completely ignores the centuries of Old Testament opposition.   ::)

Rationalizing is nothing new. 

http://www.elca.org/Who-We-Are/Our-Three-Expressions/Churchwide-Organization/Communication-Services/News/Resources/Stats.aspx

Fewer and fewer members every year...

The crux of his argument...with no Biblical evidence, of course.  It's simply "undignified."  (Good thing he isn't prideful or anything.)  You know, in actually studying the Bible and asking for spiritual guidance into what God wants from me, I have never noticed anything that referred to my "dignity."  In fact, over and over and over, I'm told to humble myself and act as a slave to the Lord.  But maybe I read a different Bible.  (Or maybe I actually read the Bible...)

Thanks Mrs. Smith. It always amazes me what lengths people will go to in order to "prove" their abomination is okay. I wonder if he'll help the pervs that practice bestiality "prove" that it is also okay.

I remember the first time I heard someone try to twist the Bible to make homosexuality an alright thing. It involved Sodom and Gomorra. Their opinion was that God didn't destroy Sodom and Gomorra because of wickedness. He destroyed it because they weren't very neighborly. I guess they didn't offer the angels a cup of coffee before they tried to have their way with them.
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Offline Jasonw560

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Re: Matthew Vines: Bible Does Not Condemn Homosexuality
« Reply #7 on: October 01, 2012, 07:00:51 PM »
One of the reasons I switched from ELCA.
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