CA: Must not quote the Bible
What the Mayor said is all in Romans chapter 1 -- and elsewhere:
"Hundreds of people crowded the steps of Vallejo City Hall on Tuesday to protest a published comments by Mayor Osby Davis that gay people would not go to heaven. The protesters waved rainbow flags, held signs demanding the separation of church and state and some called for Davis' resignation.
And then there was a roar. From inside City Hall came the sounds of more than 100 people clapping and cheering, praising God. "Lord, we're not against anybody. We're for our children," prayed New Hope Church Community Senior Pastor Terrence Nichols. "No matter what outside forces may stir up the pot, it is the inside residents who will work together to bring solutions to Vallejo. "Thank you God for the peace of this city."
The city has been anything but peaceful, however, since a New York Times column on Nov. 20 quoted Davis as saying of gay people, "They're committing sin and that sin will keep them out of heaven. ... But you don't hate the person. You hate the sin that they commit." Davis later apologized for offending anyone, said his remarks were taken out of context, but did not expand on his religious beliefs.
Shortly before the protest began, the New York Times released an audio version of the interview on its web site that expanded on Davis' remarks. In the interview Davis said that as a Christian he disagrees with homosexuality, but "loves" and "prays" for gays to see the "error in their ways."
The protest before Tuesday's City Council meeting, organized by former Vallejo City Council and school board candidate Lou Bordisso, brought out hundreds of the mayor's supporters and detractors....
Jones also called for those who oppose Davis' beliefs to stop with "perfectly understandable" but harmful tactics like threats that have reportedly been levied against the mayor. "All those tactics do is legitimize in the minds of the haters that the people they vilify deserve it," Jones said.
Source
19 comments:
Just because you have the right to do something doesn't make it right to do. God places burdens in everyone's lives, and it is how we deal with those burdens that reveal our characters.
Davis' assertion is absolutely consistent with that of Bible-believing Christians as well as many other religions.
Just because you have the right to free speech doesn't make it right to make provocative remarks that you know will cause unnecessary conflict and even civil disturbance, especially if you are the mayor of a community that consists of people with diverse opinions on the subject of religion. It is unlikely that some of these opinions can ever be reconciled, and so why is the mayor "poking a stick in a hornets' nest" in that way, and does this suggest he is fit to be a community leader.
You are so right Anon 3:02. When faced with threats of violence and intimidation, one should back down from what they beleive. How dare this pastor, or his followers, think that they actually have the right to disagree with radical gays who are simply trying to force their perverted lifestyle on everyone else, via intimidation. Why, the next thing you know, some will balk at a law that says "we all must be gay"! The nerve of some people!
God has the solution. It's called AIDS!
Anon 4:34,
You went too far with your last paragraph. God has the solution for ALL sin. And every one of us deserves that "solution."
AIDS is a consequence, not a solution. Furthermore, it affects more than those who have acted foolishly.
Anon 3:02,
"Just because you have the right to free speech doesn't make it right to make provocative remarks that you know will cause unnecessary conflict and even civil disturbance"
Given that, would you agree that it's not right for homosexuals to create conflict by their aggressive words and actions?
God places burdens in everyone's lives
Proof please.
Gays do not have a special book saying that other people's sexuality is sinful and they will go to Hell, nor do they disrupt church events shouting you will burn in Hell.
The so-called aggression of some gays is only in response to the hatefulness of religious and homophobic people who insult them and try to keep them firmly locked in the closet.
"Religious belief" is often just a cover for personal bigotry to give it undeserved respectability.
...nor do they disrupt church events shouting...
Actually, there have been numerous organized church service disruptions by gay radicals.
and what is it in response to - oh yes the church has never said a negative thing about gays. Doesn't the Bible say you reap what you sow - so if you castigate gays you can expect some won't turn the other cheek!
"Gays do not have a special book saying that other people's sexuality is sinful and they will go to Hell"
If the Bible targeted only gays you might have a good point. But you don't. Here's why:
"For ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
(Romans 3:23 HCSB)
"Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to ALL men, because ALL sinned."
(Romans 5:12 HCSB)
"What then? Are we any better? Not at all! For we have previously charged that both Jews and Gentiles are ALL under sin,
as it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away, together they have become useless; there is no one who does good, there is not even one."
(Romans 3:9–12 HCSB)
I deserve hell just as much as anyone. Period. Every single human being walking this planet deserves hell. I am no more special than any homosexual on this front. Sin is sin and condemns us to hell and it doesn't really matter what the sin is. That's what the Bible teaches.
That's the bad news. The good news is that God paid the appropriate penalty for our sins. (Like someone else paying your speeding ticket for you.) And he is perfectly willing to apply that payment to anyone who will accept it.
You've probably heard about the verse in 1st Corinthians which includes homosexuality in the list of sins:
"Do you not know that the unjust will not inherit God’s kingdom? Do not be deceived: no sexually immoral people, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, homosexuals, thieves, greedy people, drunkards, revilers, or swindlers will inherit God’s kingdom."
(1 Corinthians 6:9–10 HCSB)
First of all, notice that homosexuality isn't the only sin in this particular list. In fact, just this list probably hits everyone.
But you probably haven't heard what follows this very often:
"Some of you WERE like this; but you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."
(1 Corinthians 6:11 HCSB)
THAT is the primary point. Not the sins, but that cleansing from those sins is available.
Every single person on the planet is suffering from a fatal disease. It's 100% fatal. But there is a cure which is freely available to those who will accept it. The first step in finding the cure is simply realizing that a cure is needed.
How is this somehow A) Abuse and B) Targeted only at homosexuals?
Luke, you bore me. Who cares what some yahoo said 2000 years ago? Stop snacking on the local mushrooms.
Luke - please understand that what your "book" says is of no relevance except to thralls like yourself. Quoting extracts from it is merely an exercise in futility! (btw. what St Paul thought about anything is as relevant as what my nextdoor neighbor thinks!)
Anon 4:39,
Thanks for stating that the Bible is true.
Maybe true to you but you are delusional!
Why do you say "delusional"? You said it was true!
Name calling: the last resort of those without a valid argument.
Luke, you got me. Sorry for calling you a man. Your beliefs are childish. I guess you never reached the age of reason.
More name calling. Congratulations on demonstrating that you don't actually have an argument.
I think it's really interesting that you won't defend yourself against my deliberate misstatement of what you wrote. Why is that? Is it because you don't know how? Or is because you realized that it would expose your double standard?
One other thing...
I'm outta here. Have fun for the next 7 years...
I see. You actively refuse to use logic, yet you call me irrational?
I feel sorry for you.
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