(Tim) This evening I received the following e-mail from a reader of the post, "Christianity Left Behind." Although I sent an initial brief response to my correspondent covering several matters, I also told him I would post his e-mail here asking our other readers to assist with the work. Would you, dear readers, please help by posting responses to the questions here asked, with loving clarity pointing this lost soul to the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ? I'd be grateful.
With sins like adultery and greed, it's readily apparent from the harm they do why God says not to do them. It takes no intelligence whatsoever to see that a society in which murder or theft were acceptable would not long survive.
That's not true of homosexuality...
If you take the Bible out of it, there is absolutely no reason why the tiny minority of men who are attracted to other men shouldn't seek the same happiness that comes from sexual relationships as do men who are attracted to women. Practiced responsibly, homosexuality does no more harm than responsibly-practiced heterosexuality.
And people know this. At this point probably everyone has gay friends, relatives, classmates, co-workers or neighbors who are decent, honorable people, and they can't for the life of them figure out why those gay people they know and love aren't entitled to the same pursuit of happiness as they themselves.
So here's what it comes down to: You believe the Bible condemns homosexuality and so for you it's a doctrinal issue. The problem is that your doctrine has no obvious supporting rational basis. In fact, it's absurd on its face. And the reason you're losing the culture war on this issue is that your side is making what, apart from your Scriptural interpretation, is a completely ludicrous argument. It's a tactical and practical problem your side really needs to address.
Sincerely,
