Think about these questions, will you?

George

2007-07-02 02:04:59 UTC

Post by George
A little 2 minute video in reference to literal interpretations of the
http://youtu.be/BBwHuwVy8OQ
Cheers,
George

I thought about them, and then I realized they were based on the usual
straw-man attempt to use the Old Testament law and apply it to modern
times. This is false, because only the NEW TESTAMENT applies to the
current age.
And gayness is condemned in the New Testament, (Romans 1) we don't
need the Old Testament to condemn it.
Also, gay sex (anal sex) causes small tears in the anus, which
eventually leads gay people to not being able to hold in their own
feces. So we don't even need the New Testament to make the argument,
we simply need medical fact to show that gayness is self-destructive
and evil.
Once again, you need to get a clue.

All gay sex is anal sex? Even between lesbians? I think YOU need to get a
clue. But since you brought up the new testament, let's see what else it
says, shall we?

http://www.religioustolerance.org/sla_bibl2.htm
Neither Jesus nor St. Paul, nor any other Biblical figure is recorded as
saying anything in opposition to the institution of slavery. Slavery was
very much a part of life in Palestine and in the rest of the Roman Empire
during New Testament times. Quoting Rabbi M.J. Raphall, circa 1861,
"Receiving slavery as one of the conditions of society, the New Testament
nowhere interferes with or contradicts the slave code of Moses; it even
preserves a letter [to Philemon] written by one of the most eminent
Christian teachers [St. Paul] to a slave owner on sending back to him his
runaway slave." 1

People in debt (and their children) were still being sold into slavery in
New Testament times:

Matthew 18:25: "But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded
him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and
payment to be made."

Priests still owned slaves:

Mark 14:66: "And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one
of the maids of the high priest:"

Jesus is recorded as mentioning slaves in one of his parables. It is
important to realize that the term "servant" in the King James Version of
the Bible refers to slaves, not employees like a butler, cook, or maid.
Here, a slave which did not follow his owner's will would be beaten with
many lashes of a whip. A slave who was unaware of his owner's will, but who
did not behave properly, would also be beaten, but with fewer stripes.

This would have been a marvelous opportunity for Jesus to condemn the
institution of slavery and its abuse of slaves. But he is not recorded of
having taken it:

Luke 12:45-48: "The lord [owner] of that servant will come in a day
when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will
cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself,
neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But
he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten
with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much
required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the
more."

One of the favorite passages of slave-owning Christians was St. Paul's
infamous instruction that slaves to obey their owners in the same way that
they obey Christ:

Ephesians 6:5-9: "Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters
according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your
heart, as unto Christ; Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the
servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; With good will
doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: Knowing that whatsoever good
thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be
bond or free. And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing
threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there
respect of persons with him."

Other passages instructing slaves and slave owners in proper behavior are:

Colossians 4:1: "Masters, give unto your servants that which is just
and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven."
1 Timothy 6:1-3 "Let as many servants as are under the yoke count
their own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and his
doctrine be not blasphemed. And they that have believing masters, let them
not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service,
because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These
things teach and exhort. If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to
wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the
doctrine which is according to godliness;"

In his defense, St. Paul incorrectly expected that Jesus would return in
the very near future. This might have demotivated him from speaking out
against slavery or other social evils in the Roman Empire. Also he regarded
slaves as persons of worth whom at least God considers of importance. St.
Paul mentioned that both slaves and free persons are sons of God, and thus
all part of the body of Christ and spiritually equal.

1 Corinthians 12:13: "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one
body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have
been all made to drink into one Spirit."
Galatians 3:28: "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond
nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ
Jesus."
Colossians 3:11: "Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision
nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all,
and in all."

St. Paul apparently saw no evil in the concept of one person owning another
as a piece of property. In his Letter to Philemon, he had every opportunity
to discuss the immorality of slave-owning, but declined to do so.

Deuteronomy 23:15-16, cited above, requires a Jew to protect a runaway
slave, and to not return him/her to their owner.. However, St. Paul
violated the law. While in prison, he met a runaway slave, Onesimus, the
slave of a Christian. He was presumably owned by Pheliemon. Rather than
give the slave sanctuary, he returned him to his owner. Paul seems to hint
that he would like Pheliemon to give Onesimus his freedom, but does not
actually request it. See the Letter to Philemon in the Christian
Scriptures.

So, since you think that gay bashing is morally justified from your reading
of the new testament, do you also think that slavery, which is promoted in
the New Testament, is also morally justified?

George