From: John W Burgeson (jwburgeson@juno.com)
Date: Mon Jul 14 2003 - 12:44:13 EDT
Don wrote, in part: "Here's a thought: Why not approach Christian
morality from the words of Paul in I Corinthians 6 & 10, "All things are
permissible for me..."? That is, under the NT law of love, no act of any
kind is intrinsically sinful if it is done by a sanctified Christian and
motivated by agape. This would not be to say there are no intrinsically
sinful acts, but that a sanctified Christian motivated by agape would not
do such things. Intrinsically sinful acts would be any that could not be
done in fellowship with God. ... In any case, such a principle of
Christian morality would provide a useful basis for drawing conclusions
about relations among homosexuals. That is, if the relationship was
between sanctified Christians, and their sex acts were motivated in part
by agape, they would not be sinning. "
I am uncomfortable with drawing "All things are permissible" that far,
Don. We are too imperfect. When you write: "... that a sanctified
Christian motivated by agape would not do such things... ." it brings to
mind those 19th slave holders, many of whom were "sanctified Christians,"
who nonetheless had the mind set that a black skin meant "type of animal"
and so saw no sin in their treatment of the Negro men and women that
served them. I've read some of the sermons and articles of that time. I
recognize in the speaker/writers fellow Christians, motivated by agape,
who yet justified conditions that today we look upon in horror.
We learn so slowly ...
Peace
John Burgeson (Burgy)
www.burgy.50megs.com
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