by jimwalton » Wed May 17, 2017 11:42 am
Guest, I agree with a lot of what you said and thank you for posting. Sexuality is obviously a huge part of our psyche and identity, as well as our feelings and thoughts, by the simple fact that we're human. People do have visceral reactions, as you say, but turned on or repulsed aren't the only two choices. Obviously, some are also neutral, unaffected, mildly aroused, etc. There are a lot of choices here. And it's also true that any alternative sexuality is going to get a reaction from people; many of us just seem wired for conformity (while a minority are just as strongly wired as adventurers).
I also agree that a small proportion are going to be LGBT no matter what. In some cultures they stay hidden, and in other they are public. It depends on the acceptability of these sexual lifestyles and the punishments for aberrants that usually dictates their public personas.
I also agree that we need to not only be careful of witch hunts about it, but to abhor such witch hunts. There is no place for that kind of hatred.
I also agree that we always need to look at the whole person (since we are all far more than just sexual beings and sexual identities). Jesus didn't give us permission to not love anyone.
One point I wonder about, though, in what you wrote: "A small-minded approach is to focus on the specific sexual act." In the Bible sexuality is a large subject of discussion, and God obvious cares deeply about sexual morality and sexual behavior, even sexual thoughts (Matt. 5). Specific sexual acts all seem to be important the mind of God, so I don't agree that focusing on sexual acts is ever small-minded. Maybe they seem small to us, but to God they are unmistakably important and we have to both understand and follow the Scriptures with regard to even what seems to us the smallest sexual matters.
Guest, I agree with a lot of what you said and thank you for posting. Sexuality is obviously a huge part of our psyche and identity, as well as our feelings and thoughts, by the simple fact that we're human. People do have visceral reactions, as you say, but turned on or repulsed aren't the only two choices. Obviously, some are also neutral, unaffected, mildly aroused, etc. There are a lot of choices here. And it's also true that any alternative sexuality is going to get a reaction from people; many of us just seem wired for conformity (while a minority are just as strongly wired as adventurers).
I also agree that a small proportion are going to be LGBT no matter what. In some cultures they stay hidden, and in other they are public. It depends on the acceptability of these sexual lifestyles and the punishments for aberrants that usually dictates their public personas.
I also agree that we need to not only be careful of witch hunts about it, but to abhor such witch hunts. There is no place for that kind of hatred.
I also agree that we always need to look at the whole person (since we are all far more than just sexual beings and sexual identities). Jesus didn't give us permission to not love anyone.
One point I wonder about, though, in what you wrote: "A small-minded approach is to focus on the specific sexual act." In the Bible sexuality is a large subject of discussion, and God obvious cares deeply about sexual morality and sexual behavior, even sexual thoughts (Matt. 5). Specific sexual acts all seem to be important the mind of God, so I don't agree that focusing on sexual acts is ever small-minded. Maybe they seem small to us, but to God they are unmistakably important and we have to both understand and follow the Scriptures with regard to even what seems to us the smallest sexual matters.