We have to be Christ like. Not Christ be manlike. I don't believe it is small minded for some of us, but a deeper relationship and understanding of the entire word.

God's Word is Truth! nadine rawls soul is at stake and the others that she's deceiving with this garbage. I pray for them.

It's so sad those who want to ignore the sin that is homosexuality by calling Christians "small minded".
There are those who like to say that the Bible does not condemn homosexuality. Various verses are cited (out of context), and the verses that people use to show that homosexuality is wrong are explained away. The world wants to change God's words and meanings into something more suitable to its sinful desires.

1 Cor. 6:9-10, "Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived;....... nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, ...shall inherit the kingdom of God."
Rom. 1:26-28, "For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, 27 and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error. 28 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper."

Homosexuality is clearly condemned by the Bible. It goes against the created order of God who created Adam, a man, and then made Eve, a woman. This is what God has ordained as the normal means by which we carry out his command to fill the earth (Gen. 1:28). What God has set up is what is right -- not what sinful man sets up.

It's not about being a bigot, it's the difference between what I know the BIble to say and what it says about sin. You can call it what you like but when I stand before God I want to know that I followed the word he laid out for us to follow. I'm not capabel of rewriting the word of God. It clearly states any several locations the sin that is homosexuality. I don't hate homosexuals, I pray for them. We all sin. But living on that sin and trying to justify it as something else that's not sin is not only stupid but dangerous. I believe some people are born with the desire to harm or sexually abuse children but accepting and cultivating that sin is wrong. We all have some inner selfish sin or many sins. We were born sinners but God forgives them...but only when we repent of those sins and turn from them. Embracing the sin and saying it's not a sin does not make it not a sin. That would be nice and all but we aren't God. My ideas come from God I didn't create them like you seem to have done.

Why don't you read the Bible and then try talking to God. He won't lead you to think sin is okay. That's your small minded way of approaching life. God is inifinite but that has nothing to do with what accepting or changing the standards of sin that have already been set before us.

Mr. Voss -- they put Jesus in a tomb and He got up and today some still want to put Him in a box -- nope they still don't get it.

Ok, let's do this. All of you Child molesters, and bestiality lovers, come on into the church and be accepted just like "Rev" Nadine has done with the Gays. We're not going to ask you to "change" your ways, we understand you were born that way. There really is no such thing as "sin", God made you just the way you are and we love you and your sin. signed, The Devil

I thought church was for gangbangers and dope dealers. I believe church is for all of us sinners. My pastor always said that church is a hospital, meaning we don't go there because we're well, but because we know we are broken. Another pastor I had always said if you find a perfect church, you better not go there because you'll mess it up. It's funny, but has a great message.
I also agree that if we are following Christ, we should be striving to become more and more like him in our daily lives, which includes laying down those things we used to do that are not of Him.

Church is for all of us sinners, but we need to grow in God. Repent from our sins and no longer committ them. I was saying a church for gangbangers and dope dealers that advocated their behavior. Justifying it somehow with a worped understanding of the bible. I am nothing close to perfect and thank God for His hospitals!! Heal me Lord!!

Its actually a good idea Larry. When God told me to start a church (which I had no intention of doing by the way) It is a church for gay people, gang bangers, drug dealers, homeless people. This should be the congregational makeup of all churches but THAT does not happen routinely because of all too often the church's lofty perceptions of itself. Your suggestion is that any of these people cannot conform into the image of Christ and further that the blood of Jesus was not sufficient sacrifice for all sin. If indeed homosexuality is a sin, is not the blood of Jesus enough to pay for it. Just as it is enough to pay for your daily sins. SAD! SAD! SAD! that you think that he blood of Jesus was only shed for you and yours and nobody else. Not good enough for those heterosexual couple that CAN'T procreate. Be more like Jesus. Jesus never married and spent most of his time around 12 men (sounds pretty gay to me) hanging with the rejects of society(something the churc rarely wants to do) Homosexility is indeed one of those thing that WE DO NOT KNOW about because the Bible does not contain sufficient reliable evidence that it is indeed a sin. Those who are gay must pursue relationship with God by faith Just like anyone else does. And No one has the authority to deny prohibit or interfere with ones pursuit of Relationship with God through Faith in Jesus Christ whether they procreate or not. And those who do WILL give account for distorting the scriptures leading the little ones astray.

Eaten any shrimp lately? What about cheese burgers?

So have you worn a polyester blend? Oh and do people with sight problems get allowed into church? How about a pork chop? Have you eaten one?

Albert,
Thank you for your service to this country -the United States. I had a great uncle who served in WW II and yet he was treated as a second class citizen. I had two uncles who served in the Korean War and were also -due to the color of their skin were treated as such and yet were allowed to fight for this country.

Marriage is a right -- has nothing to do with the church.

As you grow in your Christian faith and learn scripture -- the church you go to bible study in, make sure they teach you more about how the scripture came about - bottom line -- Jesus didn't say EVERYTHING.

I am a member of one of the mainstream denominations that is an Open and Affirming Congregation and we are studying the Five Gospels of what Jesus said and did He really say them -- I find it quiet interesting.

Rev. Rawls,
Thank you for your ministry and the wisdom that you shared here. I don't know what it will take for people to get it through their heads that marriage equality is a constitutional issue, not a religious issue. Their religious beliefs should have no bearing on my civil rights. When it comes to the laws of this country, the constitution trumps the Bible every time. There is a good reason for separation of church and state.

The message of Jesus the Christ is Love. The message of Jesus the Christ is not to throw people out of the churches because of their sexuality and choosing to live the truth of whom God made them to be. I became a Christian prior to God revealing my sexuality to me. My journey and that of others of reconciling our spirituality with our sexuality - you and others will never know because you were not given that path. The journey of reconciling our sexuality with the Love of Jesus the Christ - you will never know because it was not your path. The journey a young teenager goes through in realizing they are not like the other siblings in the household and how do have this discussion with my parents and how are they going to react because of their biblical and religious beliefs -- you will never know that pain because you were not given that path. Bishop Rainey Cheeks of Washington DC states he was asked the question "why did God make us this way." He said he paused and thought about it for a minute and his response was "maybe God wanted to see how other Christians would treat us." Now there you have it!

you do realize that more than 1500 species of animals have homosexuality inherent within the species. So apparently it is natural. You are reading a book that was written in a time when these facts were not known. I think that its just fear of the other that makes people cling to "homosexuality is a sin" It doesn't make sense that a loving God would create people a certain way and then condemn them.

Albert, are you suggesting that the only reason for marriage and sex is for procreation? Surely you realize that people who are infertile, beyond child bearing age, or those who choose to live child-free get married all the time. Are they living in sin as well or are they somehow not living according to the laws of nature? When Paul spoke about "natural law" in the scripture, he was referring to what was "commonly done". At one point he said that it is not "natural" for a man to have long hair. Well common sense would tell you that cutting the hair is what is 'unnatural'. Letting it grow would be 'natural' unless what is considered 'natural' is determined by cultural values. If natural is determined by culture, it ceases to be 'natural' because 'natural' implies that it is outside of cultural influence. Just a thought.
Many straight Christians want to somehow suggest that if we are given the right to marry legally it will somehow destroy the whole institution of marriage. Currently, one out of every 2 marriages (heterosexual) ends in divorce. If this is such a sacred institution for you guys, why is it taken so lightly? We have not harmed marriage, straight folks have.

Sharon, sex is one of the many ways to show solidarity and effection in a marriage, but the primary purpose for intercourse is human reproduction. (We should find some common ground there I hope) As a christian I believe that sex outside of marriage is a sin. As a christian I believe that God's word is establish to create life more abundanly because he loves us. I believe that his words is a guide to purify our temple (body), and our community.

Sharon, I do realize that there are people that are infertile due to birth defects or injury. Because our bodies are not perfect and fully function do not make us sinners. Going against the teachings of God make us sinners IF that's what you believe. Out of the thousands of religions I personally believe in one God , made up of the Son, the Father, & the Holy Spirit.

If Mrs. Rawls could establish that homosexuality is a birth defect or a mental disorder, verses a personal choice. I think that would reframe the whole argument. How do we reconcile the fact that we have some citizens born with both genitelia. What if the doctor choice the wrong sexuality. Would we have condem that person to sin for the rest of their lives?

Albert -- actually there are some in the GLBT community that would agree with you. Some will take the term Civil Unions -- just make sure we have all the same federal and states rights and different gendered couples. PERIOD.

Actually, marriage has always been more of a legal institution rather than a religious one. Marriage was started in ancient times in order to provide some degree of protection and support for women and children. Weddings are performed in churches by some religious official, and are endowed with the religious and spiritual trappings that go along with a particular religious belief (as well they should), but you are not legally married in this country until the state (government) says you are. Without the license from the state, even if you go through the wedding ceremony in the church, you are not married. On the other hand, you can have a totally non-religious wedding outside of the church (Justice of the Peace, for instance) and have a perfectly legal marriage with the license. My point is that marriage is a legal, binding contract between two people and in some instances, it is also sanctioned and blessed by the church.

I'm suggesting that Government should adopt the term of Civil Union for all contracts between two people. In efforts to seperate church and state, leave the term of marriage for the religous community to defind in their perspective churches. The church I belong to defines marriage between a man, God & a women.
When my church stops defining marriage in this manner that will be a deal breaker for me. I will have to move on to a church that uphold the Word of God as he has revealed it to me in our personal relationship.

If my country drops the term marriage and start using the term "Civil Union". And define it as a contract between two people. I would not have a problem with that.

I attended a justice of the peace marriage or "Civil Union" last week. I thought it was odd that the judge used a lot of religous terms in the ceromony. As if everyone of the 12 couples was of the same religous belief as he. Do you feel that the Governmental servent was correct in using his office to subject the citizens to his person religous ceromny. I wasn't that I disagreed with his ceromny, but I was suprised that everyone in the room was cool with it. What if the Judge was a muslum?

Marriage is indeed more of a legal ceremony then one required by the church. You go to the county office and obtain a marriage license and once the couple is married the officiant signs the license and mails it in to the appropriate state office. I've married heterosexual couples before and not once have I sent notification to the National Baptist, Methodist, or the Episcopal headquarters that I've now joined together in marriage a couple of their parishioners. No, just to the state. They're the only ones that want to know and the couple receive a couple of the marriage license for display.

Greg,
But some people aren't saying anything -- their silence gives consent to leaders who wish us rounded up like cattle and placed in electrically charged fences and left for dead -- that out of the mouth of a man who professes to be called by God. When a GLBT person or even a female tells their Pastor of oh so many years they have been called by God to Preach the Gospel and their Pastor tell them No they haven't because they are gay or female -- that's human judgement.

I refuse to believe that God made me and others this way and then because of human belief and interpretation -- expect us not to be in loving, respectful, honest, relationships. That in and of itself would be cruel and the God I serve is not a cruel God. Greg, I too will have to stand before God and account for what I have done but more importantly I believe how I have treated people. And if that treatment has been without the most important ethic and that being the Love ethic - then yes, I should worry. I don't and I won't for as we say down in the country "I'm going to run on and see what the end is going to be,"

Peace,

Sharon,

I couldn't have said it any better. God knew us when we were in the womb of our Mother. He knew who we would be before our parents were our parents. How can religious people think that God wouldn't know who we would be --that's what get's me! For those in the GLBT community who have reconciled their spirituality with their sexuality, we understand there are others to come behind us that will face the same challenges.

At one time the Black Christian church judged their own race by their skin tone by placing a bark on the door with a sign if you were the color of the bark, you couldn't enter. Oh how much damage has been done in the NAME OF!

Sharon,
The reason I ask that we consider homosexuality a birth defect, or a mental disorder because this human design that you are talking about will not carry on our species as humans. If you and I was the last people on the planet of our species, what will be the future of the human races? I will think that you will consider one of us defective. I will consider both of us defective. You a mental disorder, and me a physical disorder because until today I can't have kids. Maybe one day God will see fit to do a mircle on both of us. :-)

thanks Mrs. Rawls. for thinking about me. I have accepted my purpose, but will welcome a miricle also...