Rejecting Homosexuality in all its Expressions Without Hurting or Judging Others is Vital to Being a Christian in Good Standing

As far as baptizing a crocodile, you would have to be very careful, because by the time you Wade out into the river and wake it up, and dunk it under, it might not quite agree with your false doctrine.

I would go out with TheIndianGirl anytime. Even if she was LGBT friendly.

Not quite sure where you're going with this. I think the point was that homosexuality (same- sex) and heterosexuality (male - female) is only blessed between a man and a woman in a loyal committed loving relationship. Even the Catholic Church, from what I hear, when they consider divorce and annulment, take into consideration if a marriage is founded on true love, in a peaceful loving relationship. A legal marriage, which can only happen between a man and woman, (even if there is a church marriage it may not be what they call a sacramental marriage), a legal marriage only marries a man and lady before a court or court authority. But to be a real marriage before the church, the marriage must be made real by a loving relationship. Day by day.

I'm not Catholic, but my home church is a traditional liturgical church. But, from what I understand, that church will honor a court marriage, or an informal, loving relationship between a man and a woman, if a couple are married by love. It's God's love that marries people, but the legal court papers are a sign and public witness that confirms the relationship.

From what I understand, the church will consider such marriages as true and real, and may not grant an annulment.

I think my crazy point of the crocodiles, was that both would be equally sinners, if they did not turn from their way of life that was not bringing peaceful waters. But if the heterosexual one did not honor God's laws it would be in less trouble.

As far as baptizing a crocodile, you would have to be very careful, because by the time you Wade out into the river and wake it up, and dunk it under, it might not quite agree with your false doctrine.

I think the moral of the story is not to judge each other, and don't act like Crocodiles.

I do have compassion for LGBT people, yes. Believe me, I used to be like most of you about homosexuals (certain that they would go to hell, laughed if two guys were holding hands, etc.). I know several LGBT including a Gospel singer, and know an entire family who left the church because the son is gay. I think making a call on anyone's afterlife including LGBT people is psychologically and emotionally damaging and may not even be true for that individual. We have no idea who is going to be in heaven or hell. God knows our inner thoughts and final moments of our lives and makes a judgement. Yes, I know what the Bible says about homosexuality. Anyone interested in the afterlife of homosexuals should be pointing them to Jesus, instead of brandishing fire and brimstone verses here and there. Anyway, that is all I have to say on this issue and so will not be commenting further on this thread.

True Christians are required to 'judge' their own' - if anyone is not aware of this Command in the community of
True Christians, then,
'do some more study in the Holy Scriptures'...

I don't know if I agree with that totally. We as Christians must reject homosexuality, as well as adultery (this means when a man or woman has intimate relations outside their marriage). Adultery is far more serious than homosexuality. And fornication means men and women sleeping around with anyone of the opposite sex that they feel like without regarding their feelings.

Same sex intimacy is not called fornication, since same-sex intimacy is not regarded as sexuality, so therefore can not be called fornication, but is more serious than fornication. I think same-sex behavior is called sodomy, which is one of the more serious offenses, along with behavior's that were between men and women. Because in the Bible, thousands of years ago, the people were out of control, and had lost their minds, Even though God wanted to save that desert city, because of the outcry in Heaven of protest, He reluctantly allowed it's destruction, since they were unwilling and/or unable to stop, because they were taken over by the devil and the demons. Demons are fallen angels that rebel against God's ways.

Anyone can be saved who turns to God and to the Bible and to the teaching and Truth of Jesus, day by day.

It can take many years to overcome unhealthy ways of living, and getting around healthier, happy people helps a lot. The main thing is to stay on the right path and return to the Lord if we as Christians find ourselves in unhealthy situations or relationships, or even dangerous places.

A Catholic sister told me once when I was very depressed and unhappy and distressed:. "Follow the path of peace.". Meaning if something we are doing, or not doing, is leading to tormenting spirits, then our hearts are like a fire alarm-. It wakes us up and gets us to take action.

Without Jesus and each other, a Christmas "hug and a mug" what would be our fire alarm?

Let's all try and have a happy and safe Christmas and New year celebration. And not judge others. But don't buy a ticket to Sodom and Gomorrah either.

I would go out with TheIndianGirl anytime. Even if she was LGBT friendly.

Not everything in the Bible is to be trusted. Especially literal and legalistic interpretations of it.
I dont think homosexuality is normal. But gays should not be vilified if leading faithful lives with their partner.

I do have compassion for LGBT people, yes. Believe me, I used to be like most of you about homosexuals (certain that they would go to hell, laughed if two guys were holding hands, etc.). I know several LGBT including a Gospel singer, and know an entire family who left the church because the son is gay. I think making a call on anyone's afterlife including LGBT people is psychologically and emotionally damaging and may not even be true for that individual. We have no idea who is going to be in heaven or hell. God knows our inner thoughts and final moments of our lives and makes a judgement. Yes, I know what the Bible says about homosexuality. Anyone interested in the afterlife of homosexuals should be pointing them to Jesus, instead of brandishing fire and brimstone verses here and there. Anyway, that is all I have to say on this issue and so will not be commenting further on this thread.

Your views here are too broad-minded. You will be denounced as a backsliding liberal who is diluting "the truth".

True story, the scoffers and hecklers will have their moment before the Great White Throne.

I was going with a funny comeback about crocodiles.

As for the judgment observation, too many Christians imagine we are never to judge people. But that simply is not true. We judge people for their sins when we feel we need to tell them about Jesus.
One example is when someone offers an act of kindness to a person whom they do not know is Christian and that Christian responds with a thank you, and then offers them a tract or tiny new testament. Thinking them in need of this just due to that act of kindness.

We're to judge righteously, not based on outward appearances. God's righteousness says homosexuality is an immoral sin and such people shall not see the kingdom of Heaven.
Are we to let , per the topic, homosexuals perish in their sin as we think we must not judge and therein stay quiet? No.

Might I suggest that we attempt to get the crocodile drunk before we try to dunk it?

We should also make it clear that we are certified Baptist

Can I go too?

I'm not a homosexual, and am attracted to women. But, your statement that all who are effected by identity issues will not see heaven is considered a judgemental offense in itself. The Lord said to leave judgment to Him, because we as people are not able to see the whole picture. There are many aspects of this issue. A person must have a knowing and willing rebellion to fall short of heaven. And knowingly resist the Light of Christ, or stay in the shadows?

Isn't sexuality without a partner a form of homosexuality? So by your definition, no one would get to heaven if they ever touched themselves. Or what if someone was raised by the world's derogatory description of a "dyke" who wore dresses and had a feminine hair style, who was married to a transvestite? If they didn't understand what a traditional relationship was, then how could they be judged by the same definition? The same Bible says that greater accountability is expected from those who have a clearer picture of what is traditional, giving greater mercy to kind and loving people, who, as John said, know God's love in our hearts.

There are hundreds of different descriptions of sexual identity, and reasons why we are all the way we are. That's why the New Covenant is greater than all sins, "for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.". And why only God can judge, who knows the anguish of human suffering.

Heaven is not about "one size fits all," or one verse covers all people, so your one verse can not condemn all who suffer from all identity issues.

Let God be the judge. He's better at it.