Yes, I do believe that if the actions and thoughts are kept in obedience to God's word, then a person does not commit sin. This is not the same as someone saying, "Man, look at that fine butt on that woman. Lord, please forgive me." Such a person's heart is not on God.
Yes, I believe that anything that is homosexual in nature, whether it is thought, actions or thoughts not acted out.
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... This is pretty straight forward.
My apologies, but I must continue this conversation tomorrow. It is after 10:00 P.M. my time, and I have to get up very early in the morning. God Bless you.
It still reads to me as if it is talking about lust and sexual acts, as opposed to having a "genetic" attraction to the same gender. But again, I could be proved mistaken.
Romans 1:26-27 (New International Version) 26Because of this, God gave them over to
shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural
relations for unnatural ones. 27In the same way the men also abandoned natural
relations with women and were inflamed with
lust for one another. Men committed
indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.
Romans 1:26-27 (Holman Christian Standard Bible) 26 This is why God delivered them over to
degrading passions. (A) For even their females exchanged natural
sexual intercourse (a) for what is unnatural. 27 The males in the same way also left natural
sexual intercourse (b) with females and were inflamed in their
lust for one another. Males committed
shameless acts with males (B) and received in their own persons (c) the appropriate penalty for their perversion. (d)
Footnotes:a. Romans 1:26 Lit natural use
b. Romans 1:27 Lit natural use
c. Romans 1:27 Or in themselves
d. Romans 1:27 Or error
Cross references:A. Romans 1:26 : 1Th 4:5;
B. Romans 1:27 : Lv 18:22; 20:13; 1Co 6:9;
Great discussion!
God bless you too!