[StandBack]

Re: Hi from South Africa!

The problem is that your conception of God simply does not fit with the way God presents Himself in the Bible. Let me draw your attention again to the scripture I previously posted, along with another few verses.

"Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation." 2 Peter 1:20

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Think about those verses for a moment. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, not just the parts you like to hear. No prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation, not interpret the scripture you don't enjoy. There are no exceptions.

You can be a homosexual black man and call yourself a Christian, but it is a truly meaningless designation. The Bible clearly states that homosexuals are going to Hell.

"Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination." Leviticus 18:22

"If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them." Leviticus 20:13

"Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;" Romans 1:25-28

"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind," 1 Corinthians 6:9

"Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;" 1 Timothy 1:9-10

So we can see that God clearly does not like homosexuals and will punish them with an eternity of Hellfire, but now let me draw your attention to these two verses.

"For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law." James 2:10-11

In God's eyes, a homosexual is just as bad as a murderer, a thief, a rapist, or an adulterer. All sins are equal (with the exception of blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, but that's not part of this discussion). You may not like to hear it, but that's what God, Jesus and the Bible all say.

Now let me ask you a question. If you don't agree with what the Bible says, why even bother calling yourself a Christian at all? Of course we here would prefer you repent of your sins and truly accept Jesus, but if you don't want to do that, why delude yourself into thinking you're a Christian?

In short, God is all-loving and all-forgiving, but it's not unconditional. You need to work for it!

Thank you very much for taking the time for that answer.
It has been noted.

I was also raised to believe that the only things you need to do to be Christian is to not sin and to believe.

Is this not true? Did I miss fine print?

I am sorry for not having scriptures to quote, as i am purely asking these questions because I was raised this way. I do this in means to learn.

[Lycia The Repentant]

Re: Hi from South Africa!

Thank you very much for taking the time for that answer.
It has been noted.

I was also raised to believe that the only things you need to do to be Christian is to not sin and to believe.

Is this not true? Did I miss fine print?

I am sorry for not having scriptures to quote, as i am purely asking these questions because I was raised this way. I do this in means to learn.

First of all, you are welcome.

No, you're right that the only things you need to do to be a Christian is to not sin and to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, but that's why you really need to read the whole Bible. How else would you know exactly what is a sin and what isn't, and exactly what you need to believe?

I suggest re-reading the KJV Bible from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21. Make sure you pay special attention to what every verse says, because they're all equally important to knowing what Christianity is really about. For example, you can't get the full meaning of the verse John 3:16 without also reading John 3:18.

Your's in Christ,

Lycia

[Lost Sheep McUinnean]

Re: Hi from South Africa!

Thank you very much for taking the time for that answer.
It has been noted.

I was also raised to believe that the only things you need to do to be Christian is to not sin and to believe.

Is this not true? Did I miss fine print?

That's part of it but not the whole picture. Much like the 2nd half of Corinthians can't represent the WHOLE Bible.

I am sorry for not having scriptures to quote, as i am purely asking these questions because I was raised this way. I do this in means to learn.

Don't be too self-effacing. These things take time. If you don't have a KJV to hand you'll find plenty of online Bibles that can help you in what you wish to say. Patience, child, patience.

[James Hutchins]

Re: Hi from South Africa!

Welcome young lady, I am pleased to meet you. Being young and wide ed, much of the world on the surface can appear shocking. But unless you have all the answers and all the questions, all you can fairly do is observe and learn. Never jump to a conclusion. If you make your mind up without knowing every detail, you can very well make the wrong decision.
Now, as everyone knows, God created the Heavens and the Earth. He has been around since the very beginning, in fact even longer than that! So you have to figure, He does have all the answers. At great personal sacrifice, He had it all written down in a book, the KJV Bible. Now, if you read His book, you will learn all about God. You will see how He wants things to be. You will be made aware of His incredible powers.
My parents have a home in Sun City. I had never been. They said it was glorious back in the 60's.