Russell Williams
Well-Known Member
Dear editors:
Often when society starts changing some people will search the Bible to find verses which condemn the change. We are currently seeing this happen with homosexuality. People who condemn homosexuality and homosexual marriage often will quote the Bible in support of their arguments. Some of those who favor homosexuality and homosexual marriage search the Bible and find other quotes in support of their arguments. I personally believe that the biblical quotes condemning homosexuality are much clearer.
However people who quote the Bible tend to be very selective about what they are quoting and what they are condemning. Homosexuality did not make God's top 10 list of things not to do. Working on the Sabbath (whatever day that is) did make God's list of the top 10 things not to do. The next time someone quotes the Bible to say that homosexual marriage should not be allowed or that marriage is only between a man and a woman ask them if they, or other members of their congregation, ever go out to lunch after their religious worship service. Ask them if anyone in their congregation works, or has children who work in fast food places on the Sabbath. Ask them if they have taken these, their dear Christian brothers and sisters, aside and told them of the evils of working on the Sabbath (whatever day that is). There are many stores in Hagerstown that are open seven days a week, therefore, whatever day the Sabbath is those stores are open on the Sabbath. How many of those who condemn homosexuality because the Bible condemns it have gone into and talked with the store managers about how by being open on the Sabbath they are violating one of God's top 10 rules?
If someone tells you that they do not particularly mind people working on the Sabbath (whatever day that is) but are adamantly opposed to homosexuality and homosexual marriage because the Bible condemns homosexuality it is fair to wonder if their dislike of homosexuality is based on their belief in following the biblical rules or their dislike of homosexuality is simply because of their own prejudices and they have managed to find some biblical verses that backup their prejudices.
By the way, what day is the Sabbath? Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 23 and Luke 24, and John 20 all clearly suggest that whatever day it is it is not Sunday.
Russell Williams
References:
Matthew 28: After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
Mark 16: When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalena, Mary the mother of James, and Salomé brought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus's body.
Luke 23: The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.
Luke 24: On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb.
John 20: Early in the first day of the week, while still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.
Often when society starts changing some people will search the Bible to find verses which condemn the change. We are currently seeing this happen with homosexuality. People who condemn homosexuality and homosexual marriage often will quote the Bible in support of their arguments. Some of those who favor homosexuality and homosexual marriage search the Bible and find other quotes in support of their arguments. I personally believe that the biblical quotes condemning homosexuality are much clearer.
However people who quote the Bible tend to be very selective about what they are quoting and what they are condemning. Homosexuality did not make God's top 10 list of things not to do. Working on the Sabbath (whatever day that is) did make God's list of the top 10 things not to do. The next time someone quotes the Bible to say that homosexual marriage should not be allowed or that marriage is only between a man and a woman ask them if they, or other members of their congregation, ever go out to lunch after their religious worship service. Ask them if anyone in their congregation works, or has children who work in fast food places on the Sabbath. Ask them if they have taken these, their dear Christian brothers and sisters, aside and told them of the evils of working on the Sabbath (whatever day that is). There are many stores in Hagerstown that are open seven days a week, therefore, whatever day the Sabbath is those stores are open on the Sabbath. How many of those who condemn homosexuality because the Bible condemns it have gone into and talked with the store managers about how by being open on the Sabbath they are violating one of God's top 10 rules?
If someone tells you that they do not particularly mind people working on the Sabbath (whatever day that is) but are adamantly opposed to homosexuality and homosexual marriage because the Bible condemns homosexuality it is fair to wonder if their dislike of homosexuality is based on their belief in following the biblical rules or their dislike of homosexuality is simply because of their own prejudices and they have managed to find some biblical verses that backup their prejudices.
By the way, what day is the Sabbath? Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 23 and Luke 24, and John 20 all clearly suggest that whatever day it is it is not Sunday.
Russell Williams
References:
Matthew 28: After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
Mark 16: When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalena, Mary the mother of James, and Salomé brought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus's body.
Luke 23: The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.
Luke 24: On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb.
John 20: Early in the first day of the week, while still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.
