Is Christianity homophobic?

[AgnosticBoy]

Christians are often accused of being homophobic. So then I question why do people call themselves Christians in this day and age. I've searched the internet for a response. Of course, there are those Christians that try to make a case that homosexuality is not condemned by the Bible. But in this thread, I want to focus on those Christians that believe that being homosexual or engaging in same-sex behavior is wrong.

Here's one perspective I've found:

By Oxford Languages’ definition, homophobia can be as simple as a dislike for or as strong as a prejudice toward LGBT+ community members. While the word “phobia” implies a fear, homophobia has been used to describe everything from refusing to make a cake for a homosexual wedding to death penalties for homosexuals.

Christians are often accused of homophobia, often specifically because we stand for God’s holy design of sexual relations: one man and one woman united in marriage. It is never wrong for Christians to make a stand for biblical principle

However, true homophobia––prejudice against or hatred of homosexuals––is also sin. Prejudice is never biblical. We are never called to hatred but to love others as Christ loved us. Christians should not condone the homosexual lifestyle, but they should also not hate, degrade or condescend to those who identify as homosexual.

Source: https://www.collegianonline.com/2021/03 ... omophobic/

If I'm understanding correctly, it seems the author is trying to make a distinction between disagreeing with homosexuality and "prejudice and hatred of homosexuals". In another place, the author also refers to homophobia as a "fear".

For debate:
1. Is the author's distinction correct? Does 'homophobia' involve any type of belief or action (e.g. simply saying that it is wrong) that goes against homosexuality? Or does it just involve "hatred and prejudice"?

2. Is it even possible to believe that homosexuality is wrong but not to hate it or be prejudiced towards it?

[LittleNipper]

The answer to the OP is yes.

And, if you read the Bible and ask almost every Christian Apologist, they will say two things:

1. Homosexuality is bad. It damages/undermines society. Is anti-life. Is "of Satan." Is sinful. Is to be feared (don't teach it to your children, don't teach it in school, don't show it in books or movies, don't sing about it, etc.).
2. Christianity isn't homophobic.

We simply can't expect Christians to ever give a coherent answer on moral values because they are trying to justify the truth of Bronze Age moral values in the context of contemporary moral values. They know the Bible is against homosexuality, but they know they will be called 'bigots' if they support the Bible - and they don't want to believe the Bible is bigoted.

So they invent clever phrases: "hate the sin, not the sinner" - because this depersonalizes it. It makes them able to hate a dehumanized thing: The Homosexuality itself. But, they get to still harbor hatred for the gay person because they call homosexuality a choice, and they blame the person for choosing homosexuality.

They never contemplate alternatives.

Yes, Christianity is homophobic. It is one of a few religions that teaches to hate and fear homosexuality. However, (luckily) many Christians are poor adherents and choose to be better than their Bible. This is usually where you get the stark contradiction.

However, there are many Apologists who feel they always need to defend both 1 & 2: They feel the Bible is perfect and there are no contradictions or errors, or anything wrong with it - so they will only say good things about it. Like a rabid fan of a sport team: even if they've never won the "The Big Game," the fan still thinks their team is best by other measures. Or, like someone feels about their favorite band.

It's an identity and they can't say anything bad about it. If you point out something wrong, they'll either say you don't understand, or that that flaw is actually - lo and behold - a good thing!

Yes, Christianity is homophobic. You just won't getting Christians to admit to it.

Well, I could just as easily say that it's latent primordial feelings that encourages such animal instincts, and that as such, is what homosexuality is all about --- submitting to the caveman (dog lick/sniff dog roll in the hay backwards expression of primordial sexual activity), and not maturing into the mature sophisticated reality where sex is entirely for procreation and nothing more in this modern age... But I bet that wouldn't suit you either. You're just presenting anti-heterosexual desires to live free like some animal you believe you evolved from. Come on admit it...

You're a Christian: you believe homosexuality is bad. It's taught that way. It codifies violence against gays.

Your aversion to homosexuality has nothing to do with the teaching that it is evil and warrants the death penalty. However, as Christians are horrible at understand moral values, I would expect you to argue as you have.

And, is sex only for procreation? Are a husband and wife not allowed to enjoy sexual joy and intimacy once they have children?

Yeah, I know, you didn't really think this through, did you?

Christians do not promote abortion. Homosexuals do not think in terms of possible pregnancies. Proper sexual activity only may result in pregnancy. You didn't think about that...

Is oral sex improper? Pulling out? Inability to get pregnant?

Can you show me in the Bible where it defines "proper" sex? I know Hindus have a great book on this. Seems Christianity missed the boat.

But then, Christians often miss the boat, or at least the little man in it.

Genesis 38:6-9
6 Judah got a wife for Er, his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. 7 But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the Lord’s sight; so the Lord put him to death.

8 Then Judah said to Onan, “Sleep with your brother’s wife and fulfill your duty to her as a brother-in-law to raise up offspring for your brother.” 9 But Onan knew that the child would not be his; so whenever he slept with his brother’s wife, he spilled his semen on the ground to keep from providing offspring for his brother. 10 What he did was wicked in the Lord’s sight; so the Lord put him to death also.

Yes, Christianity is a horrible religion, isn't it? God kills more than Satan in the OT. For nothing.

And what's odd is that Christians can't see these stories for what they are: Conservative, hateful men making laws to control people.

The Christian God is a total monster. Why someone would choose to follow it is either from their own inner hatred, or their cowardice, IMO.


edit: What intrigues me is the cognitive dissonance from Christians when they answer the question "Is Christianity Homophobic?", because they always come back and say, "No! Christianity is all about Love! It's not hateful... But, it does say in the Bible that we were supposed to kill gay people before Jesus, and after - well it's not clear - but that's not being bigoted or homophobic! It's being righteous!"

Everything you say about Christians sounds hateful to me. Go back and read what you wrote --- and what exactly do you base YOUR opinions on?

I admit it. I hate bigotry. I hate homophobia. That does put me squarely at odds with the Bible and the people who believe in it as the writers intended. (That is, there are many very nice Christians who Jesus called "lukewarm." Thank the gods for lukewarm Christians!)

Question to you: Do you feel it is acceptable for a gay person to have a full, rich life, expressing their sexuality as long as it doesn't directly harm others? Do you feel that gay people ought to have an equitable role in society? Do you feel that there ought to be no ramifications for their homosexual desires or actions?

Or not?

I believe the reason that homosexuality is a sin is that it does destroy the fabric of social order. Sodom and Gomorrah became dens of inequity and indifference. Today, it's becoming more and more difficult to express brotherly love for someone of the same sex without it be misconstrued or misinterpreted. We've very quickly moved on to transgenderism, where most people never even imagined there was such a ideology. Everyone should have opportunities to work and exist; however, not all forms of behavior are equally beneficial. Lukewarm Christians are those that are closing lukewarm churches. Their love isn't so much for CHRIST, but for pleasure. And anything that stands in the way of pleasure is set aside and ignored more and more...

[boatsnguitars]

The answer to the OP is yes.

And, if you read the Bible and ask almost every Christian Apologist, they will say two things:

1. Homosexuality is bad. It damages/undermines society. Is anti-life. Is "of Satan." Is sinful. Is to be feared (don't teach it to your children, don't teach it in school, don't show it in books or movies, don't sing about it, etc.).
2. Christianity isn't homophobic.

We simply can't expect Christians to ever give a coherent answer on moral values because they are trying to justify the truth of Bronze Age moral values in the context of contemporary moral values. They know the Bible is against homosexuality, but they know they will be called 'bigots' if they support the Bible - and they don't want to believe the Bible is bigoted.

So they invent clever phrases: "hate the sin, not the sinner" - because this depersonalizes it. It makes them able to hate a dehumanized thing: The Homosexuality itself. But, they get to still harbor hatred for the gay person because they call homosexuality a choice, and they blame the person for choosing homosexuality.

They never contemplate alternatives.

Yes, Christianity is homophobic. It is one of a few religions that teaches to hate and fear homosexuality. However, (luckily) many Christians are poor adherents and choose to be better than their Bible. This is usually where you get the stark contradiction.

However, there are many Apologists who feel they always need to defend both 1 & 2: They feel the Bible is perfect and there are no contradictions or errors, or anything wrong with it - so they will only say good things about it. Like a rabid fan of a sport team: even if they've never won the "The Big Game," the fan still thinks their team is best by other measures. Or, like someone feels about their favorite band.

It's an identity and they can't say anything bad about it. If you point out something wrong, they'll either say you don't understand, or that that flaw is actually - lo and behold - a good thing!

Yes, Christianity is homophobic. You just won't getting Christians to admit to it.

Well, I could just as easily say that it's latent primordial feelings that encourages such animal instincts, and that as such, is what homosexuality is all about --- submitting to the caveman (dog lick/sniff dog roll in the hay backwards expression of primordial sexual activity), and not maturing into the mature sophisticated reality where sex is entirely for procreation and nothing more in this modern age... But I bet that wouldn't suit you either. You're just presenting anti-heterosexual desires to live free like some animal you believe you evolved from. Come on admit it...

You're a Christian: you believe homosexuality is bad. It's taught that way. It codifies violence against gays.

Your aversion to homosexuality has nothing to do with the teaching that it is evil and warrants the death penalty. However, as Christians are horrible at understand moral values, I would expect you to argue as you have.

And, is sex only for procreation? Are a husband and wife not allowed to enjoy sexual joy and intimacy once they have children?

Yeah, I know, you didn't really think this through, did you?

Christians do not promote abortion. Homosexuals do not think in terms of possible pregnancies. Proper sexual activity only may result in pregnancy. You didn't think about that...

Is oral sex improper? Pulling out? Inability to get pregnant?

Can you show me in the Bible where it defines "proper" sex? I know Hindus have a great book on this. Seems Christianity missed the boat.

But then, Christians often miss the boat, or at least the little man in it.

Genesis 38:6-9
6 Judah got a wife for Er, his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. 7 But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the Lord’s sight; so the Lord put him to death.

8 Then Judah said to Onan, “Sleep with your brother’s wife and fulfill your duty to her as a brother-in-law to raise up offspring for your brother.” 9 But Onan knew that the child would not be his; so whenever he slept with his brother’s wife, he spilled his semen on the ground to keep from providing offspring for his brother. 10 What he did was wicked in the Lord’s sight; so the Lord put him to death also.

Yes, Christianity is a horrible religion, isn't it? God kills more than Satan in the OT. For nothing.

And what's odd is that Christians can't see these stories for what they are: Conservative, hateful men making laws to control people.

The Christian God is a total monster. Why someone would choose to follow it is either from their own inner hatred, or their cowardice, IMO.


edit: What intrigues me is the cognitive dissonance from Christians when they answer the question "Is Christianity Homophobic?", because they always come back and say, "No! Christianity is all about Love! It's not hateful... But, it does say in the Bible that we were supposed to kill gay people before Jesus, and after - well it's not clear - but that's not being bigoted or homophobic! It's being righteous!"

Everything you say about Christians sounds hateful to me. Go back and read what you wrote --- and what exactly do you base YOUR opinions on?

I admit it. I hate bigotry. I hate homophobia. That does put me squarely at odds with the Bible and the people who believe in it as the writers intended. (That is, there are many very nice Christians who Jesus called "lukewarm." Thank the gods for lukewarm Christians!)

Question to you: Do you feel it is acceptable for a gay person to have a full, rich life, expressing their sexuality as long as it doesn't directly harm others? Do you feel that gay people ought to have an equitable role in society? Do you feel that there ought to be no ramifications for their homosexual desires or actions?

Or not?

I believe the reason that homosexuality is a sin is that it does destroy the fabric of social order. Sodom and Gomorrah became dens of inequity and indifference. Today, it's becoming more and more difficult to express brotherly love for someone of the same sex without it be misconstrued or misinterpreted. We've very quickly moved on to transgenderism, where most people never even imagined there was such a ideology. Everyone should have opportunities to work and exist; however, not all forms of behavior are equally beneficial. Lukewarm Christians are those that are closing lukewarm churches. Their love isn't so much for CHRIST, but for pleasure. And anything that stands in the way of pleasure is set aside and ignored more and more...

And yet, the world is full of sin, death, wars, etc. with 90% of the population being straight.

It's telling that you point out 10% of the population to blame for so much suffering, and would deny them their pleasure as you indulge your pleasures at will.

All based on a fairy tale.

Yet, you are the reasonable one?

[LittleNipper]

Well, I could just as easily say that it's latent primordial feelings that encourages such animal instincts, and that as such, is what homosexuality is all about --- submitting to the caveman (dog lick/sniff dog roll in the hay backwards expression of primordial sexual activity), and not maturing into the mature sophisticated reality where sex is entirely for procreation and nothing more in this modern age... But I bet that wouldn't suit you either. You're just presenting anti-heterosexual desires to live free like some animal you believe you evolved from. Come on admit it...

You're a Christian: you believe homosexuality is bad. It's taught that way. It codifies violence against gays.

Your aversion to homosexuality has nothing to do with the teaching that it is evil and warrants the death penalty. However, as Christians are horrible at understand moral values, I would expect you to argue as you have.

And, is sex only for procreation? Are a husband and wife not allowed to enjoy sexual joy and intimacy once they have children?

Yeah, I know, you didn't really think this through, did you?

Christians do not promote abortion. Homosexuals do not think in terms of possible pregnancies. Proper sexual activity only may result in pregnancy. You didn't think about that...

Is oral sex improper? Pulling out? Inability to get pregnant?

Can you show me in the Bible where it defines "proper" sex? I know Hindus have a great book on this. Seems Christianity missed the boat.

But then, Christians often miss the boat, or at least the little man in it.

Genesis 38:6-9
6 Judah got a wife for Er, his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. 7 But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the Lord’s sight; so the Lord put him to death.

8 Then Judah said to Onan, “Sleep with your brother’s wife and fulfill your duty to her as a brother-in-law to raise up offspring for your brother.” 9 But Onan knew that the child would not be his; so whenever he slept with his brother’s wife, he spilled his semen on the ground to keep from providing offspring for his brother. 10 What he did was wicked in the Lord’s sight; so the Lord put him to death also.

Yes, Christianity is a horrible religion, isn't it? God kills more than Satan in the OT. For nothing.

And what's odd is that Christians can't see these stories for what they are: Conservative, hateful men making laws to control people.

The Christian God is a total monster. Why someone would choose to follow it is either from their own inner hatred, or their cowardice, IMO.


edit: What intrigues me is the cognitive dissonance from Christians when they answer the question "Is Christianity Homophobic?", because they always come back and say, "No! Christianity is all about Love! It's not hateful... But, it does say in the Bible that we were supposed to kill gay people before Jesus, and after - well it's not clear - but that's not being bigoted or homophobic! It's being righteous!"

Everything you say about Christians sounds hateful to me. Go back and read what you wrote --- and what exactly do you base YOUR opinions on?

I admit it. I hate bigotry. I hate homophobia. That does put me squarely at odds with the Bible and the people who believe in it as the writers intended. (That is, there are many very nice Christians who Jesus called "lukewarm." Thank the gods for lukewarm Christians!)

Question to you: Do you feel it is acceptable for a gay person to have a full, rich life, expressing their sexuality as long as it doesn't directly harm others? Do you feel that gay people ought to have an equitable role in society? Do you feel that there ought to be no ramifications for their homosexual desires or actions?

Or not?

I believe the reason that homosexuality is a sin is that it does destroy the fabric of social order. Sodom and Gomorrah became dens of inequity and indifference. Today, it's becoming more and more difficult to express brotherly love for someone of the same sex without it be misconstrued or misinterpreted. We've very quickly moved on to transgenderism, where most people never even imagined there was such a ideology. Everyone should have opportunities to work and exist; however, not all forms of behavior are equally beneficial. Lukewarm Christians are those that are closing lukewarm churches. Their love isn't so much for CHRIST, but for pleasure. And anything that stands in the way of pleasure is set aside and ignored more and more...

And yet, the world is full of sin, death, wars, etc. with 90% of the population being straight.

It's telling that you point out 10% of the population to blame for so much suffering, and would deny them their pleasure as you indulge your pleasures at will.

All based on a fairy tale.

Yet, you are the reasonable one?

The world is becoming more and more selfish and conceited. Matthew 24:6-13

6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.

9 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.

[brunumb]

I believe the reason that homosexuality is a sin is that it does destroy the fabric of social order. Sodom and Gomorrah became dens of inequity and indifference.

Putting aside the mythical tale of Sodom and Gomorrah, every town and city in human history has had homosexual people and yet the fabric of social order has not been destroyed. What does negatively affect society is discrimination and intolerance, often fueled by religious dogma and the human construct of sin.

[LittleNipper]

I believe the reason that homosexuality is a sin is that it does destroy the fabric of social order. Sodom and Gomorrah became dens of inequity and indifference.

Putting aside the mythical tale of Sodom and Gomorrah, every town and city in human history has had homosexual people and yet the fabric of social order has not been destroyed. What does negatively affect society is discrimination and intolerance, often fueled by religious dogma and the human construct of sin.

San Francisco has become filthy, crime ridden, with homeless everywhere, and outrageous taxes. Literally 10's of thousands are leaving San Francisco yearly. And it was merely 60 years ago that the city was regarded as one of the most beautiful and desirable places to live and work and a place to write songs about. It is now one of the most liberal places.

[brunumb]

San Francisco has become filthy, crime ridden, with homeless everywhere, and outrageous taxes.

So, are you attributing that to homosexuality? You can't envision any other reason?
Good grief.

[boatsnguitars]

You're a Christian: you believe homosexuality is bad. It's taught that way. It codifies violence against gays.

Your aversion to homosexuality has nothing to do with the teaching that it is evil and warrants the death penalty. However, as Christians are horrible at understand moral values, I would expect you to argue as you have.

And, is sex only for procreation? Are a husband and wife not allowed to enjoy sexual joy and intimacy once they have children?

Yeah, I know, you didn't really think this through, did you?

Christians do not promote abortion. Homosexuals do not think in terms of possible pregnancies. Proper sexual activity only may result in pregnancy. You didn't think about that...

Is oral sex improper? Pulling out? Inability to get pregnant?

Can you show me in the Bible where it defines "proper" sex? I know Hindus have a great book on this. Seems Christianity missed the boat.

But then, Christians often miss the boat, or at least the little man in it.

Genesis 38:6-9
6 Judah got a wife for Er, his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. 7 But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the Lord’s sight; so the Lord put him to death.

8 Then Judah said to Onan, “Sleep with your brother’s wife and fulfill your duty to her as a brother-in-law to raise up offspring for your brother.” 9 But Onan knew that the child would not be his; so whenever he slept with his brother’s wife, he spilled his semen on the ground to keep from providing offspring for his brother. 10 What he did was wicked in the Lord’s sight; so the Lord put him to death also.

Yes, Christianity is a horrible religion, isn't it? God kills more than Satan in the OT. For nothing.

And what's odd is that Christians can't see these stories for what they are: Conservative, hateful men making laws to control people.

The Christian God is a total monster. Why someone would choose to follow it is either from their own inner hatred, or their cowardice, IMO.


edit: What intrigues me is the cognitive dissonance from Christians when they answer the question "Is Christianity Homophobic?", because they always come back and say, "No! Christianity is all about Love! It's not hateful... But, it does say in the Bible that we were supposed to kill gay people before Jesus, and after - well it's not clear - but that's not being bigoted or homophobic! It's being righteous!"

Everything you say about Christians sounds hateful to me. Go back and read what you wrote --- and what exactly do you base YOUR opinions on?

I admit it. I hate bigotry. I hate homophobia. That does put me squarely at odds with the Bible and the people who believe in it as the writers intended. (That is, there are many very nice Christians who Jesus called "lukewarm." Thank the gods for lukewarm Christians!)

Question to you: Do you feel it is acceptable for a gay person to have a full, rich life, expressing their sexuality as long as it doesn't directly harm others? Do you feel that gay people ought to have an equitable role in society? Do you feel that there ought to be no ramifications for their homosexual desires or actions?

Or not?

I believe the reason that homosexuality is a sin is that it does destroy the fabric of social order. Sodom and Gomorrah became dens of inequity and indifference. Today, it's becoming more and more difficult to express brotherly love for someone of the same sex without it be misconstrued or misinterpreted. We've very quickly moved on to transgenderism, where most people never even imagined there was such a ideology. Everyone should have opportunities to work and exist; however, not all forms of behavior are equally beneficial. Lukewarm Christians are those that are closing lukewarm churches. Their love isn't so much for CHRIST, but for pleasure. And anything that stands in the way of pleasure is set aside and ignored more and more...

And yet, the world is full of sin, death, wars, etc. with 90% of the population being straight.

It's telling that you point out 10% of the population to blame for so much suffering, and would deny them their pleasure as you indulge your pleasures at will.

All based on a fairy tale.

Yet, you are the reasonable one?

The world is becoming more and more selfish and conceited. Matthew 24:6-13

Data, please.

6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.

These are not new, never have been. This is not a prophesy, it's a "No, duh, Captain Obvious."

9 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.

Yes, the "Persecution Complex" passage. Also, pretty self-fulfilling, no?

But, even this isn't a prophesy, it's just silly religious blather.

[LittleNipper]

Christians do not promote abortion. Homosexuals do not think in terms of possible pregnancies. Proper sexual activity only may result in pregnancy. You didn't think about that...

Is oral sex improper? Pulling out? Inability to get pregnant?

Can you show me in the Bible where it defines "proper" sex? I know Hindus have a great book on this. Seems Christianity missed the boat.

But then, Christians often miss the boat, or at least the little man in it.

Genesis 38:6-9
6 Judah got a wife for Er, his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. 7 But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the Lord’s sight; so the Lord put him to death.

8 Then Judah said to Onan, “Sleep with your brother’s wife and fulfill your duty to her as a brother-in-law to raise up offspring for your brother.” 9 But Onan knew that the child would not be his; so whenever he slept with his brother’s wife, he spilled his semen on the ground to keep from providing offspring for his brother. 10 What he did was wicked in the Lord’s sight; so the Lord put him to death also.

Yes, Christianity is a horrible religion, isn't it? God kills more than Satan in the OT. For nothing.

And what's odd is that Christians can't see these stories for what they are: Conservative, hateful men making laws to control people.

The Christian God is a total monster. Why someone would choose to follow it is either from their own inner hatred, or their cowardice, IMO.


edit: What intrigues me is the cognitive dissonance from Christians when they answer the question "Is Christianity Homophobic?", because they always come back and say, "No! Christianity is all about Love! It's not hateful... But, it does say in the Bible that we were supposed to kill gay people before Jesus, and after - well it's not clear - but that's not being bigoted or homophobic! It's being righteous!"

Everything you say about Christians sounds hateful to me. Go back and read what you wrote --- and what exactly do you base YOUR opinions on?

I admit it. I hate bigotry. I hate homophobia. That does put me squarely at odds with the Bible and the people who believe in it as the writers intended. (That is, there are many very nice Christians who Jesus called "lukewarm." Thank the gods for lukewarm Christians!)

Question to you: Do you feel it is acceptable for a gay person to have a full, rich life, expressing their sexuality as long as it doesn't directly harm others? Do you feel that gay people ought to have an equitable role in society? Do you feel that there ought to be no ramifications for their homosexual desires or actions?

Or not?

I believe the reason that homosexuality is a sin is that it does destroy the fabric of social order. Sodom and Gomorrah became dens of inequity and indifference. Today, it's becoming more and more difficult to express brotherly love for someone of the same sex without it be misconstrued or misinterpreted. We've very quickly moved on to transgenderism, where most people never even imagined there was such a ideology. Everyone should have opportunities to work and exist; however, not all forms of behavior are equally beneficial. Lukewarm Christians are those that are closing lukewarm churches. Their love isn't so much for CHRIST, but for pleasure. And anything that stands in the way of pleasure is set aside and ignored more and more...

And yet, the world is full of sin, death, wars, etc. with 90% of the population being straight.

It's telling that you point out 10% of the population to blame for so much suffering, and would deny them their pleasure as you indulge your pleasures at will.

All based on a fairy tale.

Yet, you are the reasonable one?

The world is becoming more and more selfish and conceited. Matthew 24:6-13

Data, please.

6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.

These are not new, never have been. This is not a prophesy, it's a "No, duh, Captain Obvious."

9 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.

Yes, the "Persecution Complex" passage. Also, pretty self-fulfilling, no?

But, even this isn't a prophesy, it's just silly religious blather.

ll Peter 3:3-7
3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:

6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:

7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

[LittleNipper]

San Francisco has become filthy, crime ridden, with homeless everywhere, and outrageous taxes.

So, are you attributing that to homosexuality? You can't envision any other reason?
Good grief.

I'm attributing this to a temperament that says do whatever you want. Everything is ok in the eyes of man --- there is no GOD. There are no repercussions.

[LittleNipper]

Acts 8:25-40
25 And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.

26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.

27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,

28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.

29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.

30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?

31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.

32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:

33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.

34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?

35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.

36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.

40 But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.