Homosexuality as a Sin....

[Butterbean]

Great post, 'Ro!!!!

Ro, I'll send you that website..they send your email a "Question of the Week."  Some good questions w/answers already listed on there.

[Colossus_500]

Ro, I'll send you that website..they send your email a "Question of the Week."  Some good questions w/answers already listed on there.

cool!     that would be a great tool for sunday school. 

[Hedgehog]

Dude, why do you say such things? If you don't believe what's in the 66 books of bible why do continue to converse about it?

Anyway back to your question/comment less the sarcastic remark, I think it is a very good question! I would say sin is sin but as far as the punishment for the sin only God knows the penalty. Burning in Hell or Thrown into a bottomless pit and or Lake of fire, IMO are all analogous to being totally separated from God. In our eyes stealing a pen from work is petty and slaughtering a bus full of kids with a machine gun is unforgiveable but to God its all sin, punishable by death i.e., (total separation from God).

There is only one sin that won't be forgiven by God.

And that is to not accept Jesus as your savior, and God as your only God. All other sins will be forgiven. Pedophilia, Genocide, Mass Murdering, Torture, et al.

As long as you accept Jesus as your savior befor dying, you're good.

So if Hitler truly believed in Jesus and God, he will of course be in heaven. The same goes for all pedophiles and all other terrible criminals.

Whether or not they are going to heaven isn't decided from how they lived their lives here on earth.

You could be the gentlest person in the world, never harmed another person, only been good to your neighbor, but if you don't accept Jesus and God, you will go to hell.

[Al-Gebra]

There is only one sin that won't be forgiven by God.

And that is to not accept Jesus as your savior, and God as your only God. All other sins will be forgiven. Pedophilia, Genocide, Mass Murdering, Torture, et al.

As long as you accept Jesus as your savior befor dying, you're good.

So if Hitler truly believed in Jesus and God, he will of course be in heaven. The same goes for all pedophiles and all other terrible criminals.

Whether or not they are going to heaven isn't decided from how they lived their lives here on earth.

You could be the gentlest person in the world, never harmed another person, only been good to your neighbor, but if you don't accept Jesus and God, you will go to hell.

it's true that you need christ to get to heaven, but the unforgivable sin is "grieving the holy spirit" . . . whatever that means.

so, you could accept christ, but then if you "grieved the holy spirit," you wouldn't make it.

and i've heard all kinds of explanations for what grieving the holy spirit means, but none of them are persuasive.

[Dos Equis]

it's true that you need christ to get to heaven, but the unforgivable sin is "grieving the holy spirit" . . . whatever that means.

so, you could accept christ, but then if you "grieved the holy spirit," you wouldn't make it.

and i've heard all kinds of explanations for what grieving the holy spirit means, but none of them are persuasive.

I think, more specifically, it's "blasphemy" against the Holy Spirit.  There is a verse that talks about grieving the Holy Spirit.  Same thing? 

I've heard different theories, but I'll share mine.  I believe the Holy Spirit is your conscience.  Tells you right from wrong.  People who blaspheme against or "grieve" the Holy Spirit are shutting it out; not listening to their conscience.  Some people can shut out the Holy Spirit so often and so long that they can no longer hear it.  If you cannot hear your conscience, you have trouble knowing right from wrong.  I think that is what happens to people like serial killers.  They no longer hear that voice telling them their actions are wrong.  And if they don't hear that conviction, they don't repent.

So . . . I think this unforgivable sin is a process that involves the willful, gradual inability to determine right from wrong. 

[columbusdude82]

Homosexuality is a sin? hahahaha oh brother

tell that to King David and his lover Jonathan...

Even though David was anointed by God, it didn't stop him from saying that Jonathan's love was dearer to him than the love of women.. I am sure those two "anointed" each other on a regular basis...

[Al-Gebra]

I think, more specifically, it's "blasphemy" against the Holy Spirit.  There is a verse that talks about grieving the Holy Spirit.  Same thing? 

I've heard different theories, but I'll share mine.  I believe the Holy Spirit is your conscience.  Tells you right from wrong.  People who blaspheme against or "grieve" the Holy Spirit are shutting it out; not listening to their conscience.  Some people can shut out the Holy Spirit so often and so long that they can no longer hear it.  If you cannot hear your conscience, you have trouble knowing right from wrong.  I think that is what happens to people like serial killers.  They no longer hear that voice telling them their actions are wrong.  And if they don't hear that conviction, they don't repent.

So . . . I think this unforgivable sin is a process that involves the willful, gradual inability to determine right from wrong. 

yeah, we're thinking of the same verse(s).

I wouldn't equate the Holy Spirit w conscience.  The Holy Spirit is part of God . . . the conscience is a human thing.  I think the biblical equivalent would be "heart."  Consciences and hearts can be hardened. 

[Dos Equis]

yeah, we're thinking of the same verse(s).

I wouldn't equate the Holy Spirit w conscience.  The Holy Spirit is part of God . . . the conscience is a human thing.  I think the biblical equivalent would be "heart."  Consciences and hearts can be hardened. 

I believe in the trinity and all (Holy Spirit as God, etc.).  I just don't see a distinction between that voice we all have and the Holy Spirit.  Just my belief.  I don’t think you’ll find it in anyone’s church handbook.      

Hardening just means rejecting.  Another way of saying someone refuses to listen.  At some point, they can no longer hear.