Is Being Gay A Sin? Part Seven - References, Recap and Conclusion

Is Being Gay A Sin?

We are in Part Seven of the blog series, "Is Being Gay A Sin?" By now, we've covered the major study of the "Big Six" scriptures, we covered what Jesus and Paul had to say in the New Testament. We have reviewed the major types of Christianity in today's society and their belief structures. We'ven even covered what the Bible indicates as Gay or Same Sex Couples. So what do you believe?

"Know what you believe. Know who you are."

I've learned for myself that I believe even more strongly in God. I am a better, more informed Christian after doing this research, and I firmly believe that God loves me. Did he favor anal rape for deposed kings? No. Did he want you to buy whores in church so that your crop would grow? No. Did he want you to have sex with another man on some unclean woman's bed? No. Did the translators keep in 100% accurate? No. But I have faith. I have faith that the scripture in Timothy 2:15 "Do your best to win full approval in God's sight, as a worker who is not ashamed of his work, one who correctly teaches the message of God's truth." I have faith that God honors our diligent and feverish research in trying to figure out what is right and wrong, and what is God's will. I have learned to be a little more quiet, and listen better. Between the research, the prayer, and the scripture, God is MORE than willing to show you things you thought you might never see or hear.

I do realize that it's not that simple for everyone and I really do hope that you, the Reader, will study, pray and research for yourself. That you take this and work towards educating yourself and buidling your own relationship with God. As a Christian, it is our duty to prayerfully study and understand what God was trying to communicate to His people, not only in ancient Hebrew times, the more recent Greek and Roman times, but througout ALL time.

May God bless you and keep you safe and in His peace,

#JustBeingMichael

Please read:
Part One - Why and Introduction
Part Two - Sodom and Gomorrah
Part Two - Levitical Law
Part Two - Romans Road To Salvation
Part Two - Oh, Paul... Nobody Likes Prison Rape
Part Two - Wrapping Up the "Big Six" Scriptures
Part Three - WWJD, Y'all? What Would Jesus Do?
Part Three - Better Run Tell Somebody!
Part Four - Same Sex Activity In The Bible
Part Five - Common Christian Beliefs
Part Five - One Anglican View Against Being Gay
Part Six - Examples of Gay Couples in The Bible
Part Six - David and Jonathan - A Love Story
Part Seven - Conclusions, Recaps, and References

They will help you in reading this work in context and in the flow it was intended.

References

The following information sources were used in research and preparation for the blogs, letters, and information I used in creating these pieces of information. The hyperlinks are not necessarily still active today.

1. Rabbi Gershon Caudill, "A Heterosexual Jewish Rebbe's View on the (Supposedly) Homosexual Texts in the Hebrew Bible," at: http://www.affirmation.org/
2. The NGPA has merged with Apostolic Intercessory Ministry; both groups are now known as Apostolic Restoration Mission. See: http://www.apostolicrestorationmission.4t.com/
3. "Legislature chaplain comes out as gay; position eliminated," People for the American Way, at: http://www.pfaw.org/
4. Fred Tasker, "What does the Bible say about homosexuality? Church people of differing beliefs debate the words -- and their meaning then and now," Philadelphia Inquirer, 1997-JUL-13. Online at: http://members.aol.com/
5. Ben Witherington III, "Was Sodom into Sodomy? What the Bible says about sodomy, homosexuality and sin," The Word's Worth, Beliefnet.com, at: http://www.beliefnet.com/
6. Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, "Homosexuality Is A Religious Sin, Not An Ethical One Fighting gay sex--or even homosexual unions--only distracts from making straight marriage better," Beliefnet.com, at: http://www.beliefnet.com/
7. J.S. Spong, "Dallas, Texas: A new vision," A new Christianity for a new world, 2006-OCT-18. Bishop Spong described an event at a gay pride parade where "... a group of Bible-wielding counter demonstrators ... with voices screaming and faces contorted by anger promised us the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah."
8. William Sloane Coffin, "Commentary: It's clear that homophobia was reason for ad's rejection," United Church News, 2004-DEC-15, at: http://news.ucc.org/
9. Walter Wink, "Homosexuality and the Bible" at: http://www.bridges-across.org/ba/wink.htm
10. LBGT and Poly Information. "The Big Eight" at:  http://www.imsa.edu/~jgable/lbg/eight.html
11. Jimmy Creech, "Response to the Judicial Charge" at: http://www.libertynet.org/~iwg/creech.html
12. Jim W. Martyn, "A Plea for Christian Understanding & Support of Human Rights" at: http://www3.sk.sympatico.ca/jmartyn/dec97.htm Although written for a Canadian audience, and containing some Canadian political references, the message is universal. Unfortunately, this essay appears to be no longer on the Internet.
13. Dr. Rembert S. Truluck, "Steps to Recovery from Bible Abuse" is "a response to the abusive use of the Bible against Gays and Lesbians and all others oppressed and alienated by religion." See: http://www.truluck.com
14. John Boswell, "Christianity, Social Tolerance, and Homosexuality : Gay People in Western Europe from the Beginning of the Christian Era to the Fourteenth Century, " University of Chicago Press (1981)
15. Paul Thomas Cahill,"An Investigation Into The Bible and Homosexuality" at:http://www.yougogirl.com/gaychristians/cahill0.html
16. Loren L Johns, "Homosexuality and the Bible: A case study in the use of the Bible for ethics," at: http://bc.bluffton.edu/~johnsl/Homosexuality.htm
17. Rembert Truluck, "The Bible and Homosexuality," at: http://www.truluck.com/html/the_bible_and_homosexuality.html
18. Christopher Levan, "Does the Bible condemn homosexuality? In an honest approach to the scriptures, the challenge is to suspend biases," Edmonton Journal, 1995-MAY-27. Online at: http://www.ualberta.ca/~cbidwell/cmb/bibl-ho.htm 
19. The Reconciling Congregation Program publishes and distribute a pair of books: "Claiming the Promise Bible Study: An Ecumenical Welcoming Bible Study Resource on Homosexuality."  One is a study book, the other a leader's guide. They "can be used for group or individual study. Planned for seven one- to two-hour sessions." See http://www.rcp.org/ctp.html
20. "Anti-homosexual passages in Bible reflect authors' biases, speakers say,"  PCUSA News #00397, issued 2000-NOV-9 
21. Rick X, "An annotated Bible sermon for the gay boy and girl," at: http://rickx.com/sermon/ 
22. "Born-again adults remain firm in opposition to abortion and gay marriage," Barna Research, at: http://www.barna.org/cgi-bin/