my previous note<\/a>, I spent a good bit of time on the sin of homosexuality because I missed my guess as to the sexual sin that you were seeking to justify to yourself. Having only short letters often leaves me with insufficient information. I try to make up for it by reading between the lines. Instead of being involved in the practice of homosexuality, you indicate that you support a person’s right to live in a homosexual relationship, and you condemn anyone who states that homosexuality is a sin.<\/p>\nThe information presented in the previous letter still applies. After discussing the decay of the Gentile society, including their involvement in sexual sins such as homosexuality, Paul stated, “who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them<\/i>” (Romans 1:32). Taking a stand to support those in sin is just as wrong as the actual practice.\u00a0On some level, people understand this. We don’t like lawyers who help the obviously guilty get away with their crimes.<\/p>\n
It appears you are interested in only one-sided preaching. You want to hear about loving God, but don’t want to hear about the natural consequence of that love, which is obeying God. “If you love Me, keep My commandments<\/i>” (John 14:15). You would like to hear lessons on loving your neighbor as yourself, but you don’t want to hear about the sins that harm your neighbor or yourself. “For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.<\/i>” (Romans 13:9-10).<\/p>\n
Teaching moral principles, such as that sex outside of marriage is sinful, teaches love; it teaches love for God by respecting God’s commands and a love for mankind by respecting others.<\/p>\n
You see, your chosen lifestyle indicates that you have little respect for the woman you live with. You’re happy to be with someone who gives you access to free sex, but you are unwilling to commit your life to her. You want the benefits of marriage but avoid its responsibilities. I feel sorry for your girlfriend, and I feel sorry for a society that leads people to think that, in some way, this is “loving.”<\/p>\n
The message of God is balanced. Sins are condemned, and righteousness is exalted. “Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness — indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God<\/i>” (Romans 2:1-11). You will not have the full message without addressing both the positive and negative aspects.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Question: Yes, I did generalize your views when I inferred that the church goes after sins of the “flesh” and homophobic is one of the words I used to describe your stance. After reading your response it turned out that I was right in your case. It seems that the church (I know that’s a…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[20],"tags":[1572,35,65,179],"class_list":["post-2710","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-answer","tag-fornication","tag-homosexuality","tag-love","tag-sin"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":20109,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/teaching-love\/","url_meta":{"origin":2710,"position":0},"title":"Teaching Love","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 23, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Romans 13:11-14 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0I received a complaint several years ago. After reading an article on why sex outside of marriage is sin, the reader complained, \u201cI wish you guys would pay more attention to the golden rule, \u2018love thy neighbor,\u2019 than all the homophobic and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":39058,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/can-you-answer-some-questions-about-my-coming-out-as-a-homosexual\/","url_meta":{"origin":2710,"position":1},"title":"Can you answer some questions about my coming out as a homosexual?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 29, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I had contacted you once about this. I don't know if you didn't get it yet or are too busy to respond or just not interested in being a part of this kind of thing, but here is a little bit about my project to give you more of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":44596,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/you-only-oppose-homosexuality-out-of-ignorance\/","url_meta":{"origin":2710,"position":2},"title":"You only oppose homosexuality out of ignorance","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 6, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I'm sorry if I may sound a bit rash, but what is wrong with you people?\u00a0 I am deeply concerned on your standpoints of the Scripture and the answers you are giving people.\u00a0 We are all made in our own unique way, and the Lord forgives us for our\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":23298,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/i-have-concerns-about-the-catholic-churchs-teachings-on-celibacy-for-priests-womens-status-in-the-church-and-the-condemnation-of-homosexuality\/","url_meta":{"origin":2710,"position":3},"title":"I have concerns about the Catholic church’s teachings on celibacy for priests, women’s status in the church, and the condemnation of homosexuality","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 7, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Perhaps I can ask you about one more thing that troubles me.\u00a0 I have always been rooted in the mercy of Jesus and his compassion toward others.\u00a0 I will call attention to behaviors but do not pass judgment on others.\u00a0 That said,\u00a0I recently came back to more fully embracing\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":20481,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/the-article-on-homosexuality-by-abraham-smith-was-right-on\/","url_meta":{"origin":2710,"position":4},"title":"The article on homosexuality by Abraham Smith was right on!","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 14, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I wanted to let you know that this article on\u00a0homosexuality by Abraham Smith\u00a0is right on! I, for one, am very sad to see churches, such as the Lutheran church, embrace homosexuality even to the point of allowing practicing homosexuals to be church leaders! Answer: I'm glad you found the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":22104,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/given-the-way-homosexuals-are-treated-why-would-anyone-choose-to-live-their-life-being-hated-unless-they-cant-help-it\/","url_meta":{"origin":2710,"position":5},"title":"Given the way homosexuals are treated, why would anyone choose to live their life being hated, unless they can’t help it?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 8, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: According to\u00a0your article, homosexuals choose their lifestyle, they are not born that way. Given the way they are treated in 99% of the world, hatred, violence, death, discrimination, etc, why would anyone choose to live their life being hated and defiled? God does not create people to go to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2710","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2710"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2710\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2710"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2710"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2710"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}