The only point in this post is to respond to a few of Chris’s beliefs.

So, this post is mainly geared and is written to and for Chris. But I encourage everyone to comment their thoughts.

I would greatly appreciate it if you would pull your bible out, for I am going to be addressing several verses. It is important that you look up every one of these verses. I pray that you’ll read this with a clear mind and actually consider the fact that you might be wrong.

1. The co-existence issue
2. The flawed Christianity issue
3. The homosexual is not a sin issue

I’ve brought all of this to my dad and he has helped me with these responses.

First, off, the co-existence issue – you said that:

“It shows symbols from many different forms of worship including Islam, Judaism, Shinto, and Christianity. It is a symbol popularized by U2. It is a call for members of all creeds to live together in peace and harmony. In other words, to "Coexist". I believe one day this will happen, and I plan to do my part to make it happen.”

As I think about this, Chris, you may be right. All of these religions may very well co-exist in harmony someday. However, the Christianity that would co-exist with all of these other religions in harmony would be an apostate form of true Christianity. In other words, true Christianity could never – and will never – co-exist in harmony with the others. You have to realize, Chris, that all the other religions deny the Lordship of Jesus Christ as described in the Protestant bible you claim to believe in. Jesus Christ and His disciples (those who wrote the New Testament) emphatically claimed that Jesus Himself was the only way, the truth, and the life, and that no one comes to the Father but through Jesus Christ (Jn 14:6).

So here on Earth in this temporal realm, these different religions (including apostate Christianity as mentioned above) may find a way to co-exist peacefully amongst each other some day, but in the eternal realm, the only faith which will exist is the one that God (Jesus Christ) established – Christianity. Sadly, I guess it could be said that the others will also co-exist throughout eternity – but only in Hell (Matt 7:13, 14).

If you truly are a Christian your focus should not be to “do your part in getting all religions to co-exist”, your focus should be to advance the true gospel of Jesus Christ.

Point two, Chris, is the flawed Christianity issue. You said that:

“I believe that Christianity as a religion, is deeply corrupt and flawed.”

I’m not quite sure what you mean by your statement but here are my thoughts on your remarks. Biblically, or from God’s perspective, God does not view Christianity as a religion – He views it simply as the Truth. Now if you mean that “Christiandom” (or the Christian community) has its flaws or is corrupt, then I can agree with you to some extent here. Let me explain what I mean.

1. Christiandom is made up of Christians who are imperfect, and thus the community of Christians is an “organism” that is imperfect and flawed because it is made up of individuals who are imperfect and flawed.
2. These flawed Christians hold to doctrines which don’t always agree with each other, and of course, two opposing views cannot both be right at the same time. Therefore, some doctrines within Christiandom must be wrong.

However, if we accept that God and His word are both inerrant and infallible and we further accept that Christianity was established and defined by God’s word, then Christianity cannot be flawed and corrupt as originally established by God and His word since both God and His word are perfect.

Issue number three, Chris, is the homosexuality issue. You said that:

“I believe that being gay is not a sin, but that being a practicing gay is a sin.”

Here are my thoughts on this: You are wrong on the first count but correct on the second. Being gay is a sinful state of existence. It’s a corrupt state of existence. It is a state of existence that is the direct result of the fall recorded in Genesis chapter 3. In this sense, homosexuality can be said to be “a natural result” of Adam’s sin. It is natural in this sense only. But if we want to talk about God’s ideal and the way God originally created man and the rest of creation, then homosexuality is not natural (aberrant). The bible always speaks of homosexuality (whether the state of or the act itself) as evil – an abomination to the LORD. (Lev 18: 22) The bible also describes homosexuality as something that God always judges or will ultimately judge as a wicked sin. (Genesis 19, Romans 1)

One more thought to keep in mind: no where in the bible does God’s word ever make the kind of distinction that your above statement has made, separating the state of being gay as opposed to the practice of being gay (condoning one and condemning the other).

I do agree with a few of your beliefs like pre-destination and Calvinism. So, don’t feel like we are all “against” you. The true goal in this is not to stunt you blog traffic by warning people against you or slam you publicly to make us look smart. But to come alongside you and help you. Please consider all that I have said and pray about it.

Paul