[Church_of_Christ] Re: Questions on Marriage
Shawn,
> It's good to generate critical thinking from time to time.
Without moral and philosophical abosolutes, critical thinking is a non-entity. CRITICAL THINKING requires a standard for comparison. No absolutes means no standards. No critical thinking.
By the way, opinions, are not, ipso facto, critical thinking.
> Shawn writes: Morality and ethics come in many forms and are influenced by
> a number of things.
Morality and ethics are established by the word of God. For all men. For all societies. For all times. The acceptance or rejection of God's standard doesn't change the facts.
> I'm not sure that there is a shift as much as there is
> a synthesis of a multi-verse of mores and ethics that were more regional and
> have now intermingled across regions.
I've heard rumors of this synthesis of a multi-verse of mores and ethics before. Haven't seen any signs of it. Don't expect to. Everything I hear and see suggests that something quite different has happened. IT also suggests that people are starting to figure out that such a synthesis is an illusion.
> If
> their behavior did not effect anyone but themselves, but winking at
> homosexuality as an alterior lyfestyle and offering approval by
> condoning gay marriage, attacks the moral fiber of this nation, as well
> as begs for God's condemnation.
>
> Shawn writes: How does their (I presume you mean homosexuals) behavior
> affect anyone else? How does a heterosexual'
> differently?
All behavior, public and private, affects everyone. This is a basic principle of the body of Christ, human nature, and the nature of relationships.
I don't buy the secular view that private activity has no affect on others. Life itself teaches a different story. So doest he bible...so does church discipline..
> Shawn writes: The stand is for those who have obligated themselves to abide
> by the expectations of the Messiah.
Yep, we sure are.
> Those who have not so obligated
> themselves are not required to do so.
This is probably the most welcomed confession by you in all the posts. I spent the last few days and a few of your posts mulling over where you are coming from. I finally figured this one out.
And right there you present your view in the very words I would have used to describe it.
If you are correct, no one is going to hell. In fact, God isn't going to do anything to unbelievers. Since people who deny or reject Jesus Christ are not required to obey God, He can not judge them.
Obviously I disagree with your position. But your statement does explain your reasoning and confirms my suspicions. I refer to my suspicions that you believe in relative values and relative application of values. I do not. Those who reject God's standard are equally obliged to obey it. Thus they receive hell for failing to do so.
> I disagree that things are, "either right or wrong, black and white," there
> are very few things I have found that fit so neatly within binary thinking,
> where most things fit into various shades of grey.
I have found that real discussion about real issues without real boundaries is a meaningless and circular endeavor. Morals are abosolute, truth is abosolute, values are black and white. Without these basic premises, conversation is rendered worthless and the gospel meaningless.
But at least you admit that you think morals are relative and that people who reject Jesus Christ are not obligated to obey Him and therefore not accountable to God. It confirms what I had guessed.
> For whom are YHWH's people making a stand? YHWH doesn't need his creation
> to take a stand.
Taking a stand is the very foundation of living the Christian life in the lost world. Jesus took one. His disciples took one. I take one. My preacher takes one.
It's all ABOUT taking a stand. IF we're not taking a stand, we are neither salt nor light, but dust and darkness like the world. Useless, powerless, hollow, fake, and empty.
> So, I'm curious for whom this stand is to be made?
It is to be made for Jesus Christ.
Ray
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