Thank you for your reply, and I do not prepose that those of the AUC are in any means ignorant. I appologize if that was the way it seemed. I am sure that their are very educated men and women among you. And among unitarians there has always been some degree of liberty in interpretation which I have always found refreshing. Faith, freedom, and reason are all good things. Love to man and love to God are the two most important commandments, and I cherish these. I have love for all of mankind, not just some. I have actualy read several of the posts here, including some your own. I spent a few hours reading posts before I joined in a few of the topics. I do understand your feelings on this issue and understand that it does drive home with you, as I read in one of your posts if I remember correctly that you are a homosexual. And guess what! I still love you all the same. I do not hate you or have any ill feelings toward you at all. MAny believe that because I believe homosexuality is not exceptable in God's eye's as an exceptable lifestyle, that somehow I must be a hater or a bigot. Well that is not the case wit hmost Christians. I am sure some do have negative feelings and perhaps even hatred. But this is not what Jesus taught us. He taught us to love, and to love in truth. Jesus dined with prostitutes, and tax collecters, and drunkards etc. When he was questioned by the pharisees as to why he would keep company with such people Jesus replied " Is it the well who need a doctor?" Jesus had love for the people society had rejected. he understood their feelings and what they were going through. Jesus was a human and he was tempted in all ways we are, yet he was without sin. He can relate to us and he can fully sympathise with our temptations and shortcomings. Even yours and mine, whatever they may be.
God Bless, Grey Yates
HEy , no problem brother. Liberty and tolerance are cornerstones of my faith. I believe in an open church where all are welcome. I just do not think we need to go to the extreme of affirming things the Bible clearly teaches against. As stated I hate nobody! I have sin in my life as we all do, none of us are perfect. I pray for forgiveness of my sins each and every night. Actualy more likely several times each day. I think we all need Jesus in our lives and the forgiveness he offers. I probably need it more then many. God is not looking for us to be perfect, we can never attain that in this present age. What he wants from us is a heart that desires to do his will. A repentant heart that is willing to lay aside who we are and seek to become like his son Jesus Christ. This is no easy task and a constant struggle with self each and everyday. In Romans 12:2 we are told " Be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may know what the good and perfect will of God is. I am paraphrasing here I am getting tired and was to lazy to grab my Bible LOL. This was a hard task for me, and still is. It is hard to die to self and live for Christ. I used to be a drug addict, I have been in prison, I have been homeless and in the streets, I was a sex addict as well. So I lived a life in sexual sin for a long time. I lived a life of many sins that God would not allow in his Kingdom. When I Accepted Christ in my life it was no easy task. It was a real struggle to put that lifestyle behind me. My friends used drugs, and like to party, chase women around etc. I did not know how to live any other way. It was more then just saying I will not use drugs or go around chasing women and having sex. I had to learn how to live a new lifestyle that was pleasing to God. So I am not being judgmental at all. I have been a Christian for 6 years and three of that was a total struggle. another year of that I was no longer struggling with drugs or the bad crowd but I still was out running around after the ladies. I have managed now to put that part behind me for a little over two years. I have not commited fornication in over two years. And believe it or not it feels great. Heck I thought it would kill me lol. It was rough for the first few months, and every now and then it still creeps back up to tempt me and nag at me. But it get's easier and easier each time I do not give in to my temptations. My heart and mind is being transformed and being changed just as the word of God promised me. The BIble says there will be no temptation that is so great you cannot ovdercome it, and that God always provides us witha back door. Paul in 1 Cor. actualy addresses a group of Christians who were involved with sexual sins such as myself and also those who were homosexuals. He speaks to them in love. And says such " WERE" some of you but you have been washed clean by the blood of the lamb. " Jesus Christ" I have been washed clean and the peace that this brings inside is beyond description. It is real, God's promises are real and he is here to help us every step of the way. We just need to reach out in faith and allow him to come into our lives. He will do the rest of the work himself. Jesus says I will not lose one the Father has given me, that the devil cannot snatch them out of my hands. When you repent with a true heart and give your life to God, you are handed to the son who God has entrusted all things. And you cannot ever be pulled away from him. You are sealed with his redemption and your salvation is secure. God never takes that away. We can walk away willingly by decided we do not need you , my path is as good as yours and trying to live by our own merit. But that will never get us anywhere. This is the world we live in today, and it is getting worse everyday by our own merit and strentgh. If you give him an honest chance he will never let you down, he will bring you through anything, and you will never regret it this I can guarantee.
God Bless, Grey Yates