United Church of Christ Backs Same-Sex Marriage (contraceptives, homosexuality, sin)

[Voxton]

Originally Posted by robtex

I am wondering, just for academics if the current legislation on gay marriage could pass the lemon test?

I don't know exactly what the current legislation on gay marriage is, but there surely are a few things that wouldn't pass it -- considering that the current President created an actual office of "Faith-Based Initiatives."

[kassi]

Its a sad day when any church of christ condones "sin". Paul the apostle himself said that, anyone that names the name of Christ should depart from sin, but he also said: who are we to judge those on the outside, God judges those on the outside. The church was never supposed to be involved in the affairs of the "world".

Jesus said whoever sins is a slave to sin and no slave abides in the house forever.

[Jaymes]

It's a sadder day when any church condemns love.

[kassi]

Originally Posted by Jensa

It's a sadder day when any church condemns love.

A church that condones sin it is the same as condemning Love, for Sin is death.
Christ Jesus came to save Sinners from death, by his own death. Now that is love.

[Jaymes]

I still stand by my last statement: It's a sad day when any church condemns love. It really says more about our society than homosexuals when we consider love a sin.

[Voxton]

Originally Posted by Jensa

It's a sadder day when any church condemns love.

Absolutely right...

[Nimaj]

Originally Posted by Victor

In the 1930 Lambeth Conference Anglicans met to allow contraceptives in certain hard luck cases. But once the floodgates were opened, denomination after denomination caved in to social pressure and decided that contraception was no longer sinful. Eventually, it came to be seen by some as a praiseworthy act of stewardship. So if history repeats itself it will most likely happen again. Leaving the Catholic Church to yet again stand alone.

The Catholic Church stands alone on a lot of issues because they believe things that are not biblically implied, and think that the will of the Pope is more important than what the bible says. (i.e. paying money to lower time in purgatory)

I am a christian who does not condone or practice contraceptive use. Abstaince until marriage followed by marital fidelity with a pure, sexually inexperienced partner is the story of my sex life's future.

And have you ever heard of people openly accepting contraceptive use from the Pulpit? I havn't. The only use I ever hear are LDS' and other groups saying "NO"

I don't condone Homosexual marriage because I think Homosexuality is wrong, but we have a secular government that should not need to make such decisions in the USA.

[Green Gaia]

Originally Posted by Nimaj

The Catholic Church stands alone on a lot of issues because they believe things that are not biblically implied, and think that the will of the Pope is more important than what the bible says. (i.e. paying money to lower time in purgatory)

Ummm, I don't think that's quite accurate, but I'll let a Catholic answer that.

And have you ever heard of people openly accepting contraceptive use from the Pulpit?

From the pulpit? Not exactly, but we certainly encourage the use of contraceptives, or in the very least the education of their purpose.

I don't condone Homosexual marriage because I think Homosexuality is wrong, but we have a secular government that should not need to make such decisions in the USA.

I don't quite understand the second part of this sentence. Could you explain further, please?

[sojourner]

The UCC has acted as a "voice crying in the wilderness." They have stepped out in faith to challenge one of the most insidious acts of hate in our time -- the "mass" discrimination of homosexuals by both conservative Christianity and State.

Conservative Christians decry homosexuality as sin. To add insult to injury, the State has decided to violate separation of church and state laws by passing state constitutional amendments banning the sacrament of marriage to some people. (Kind of like the State telling the Church who may and may not be baptized, or who is welcome to receive Holy Communion...think about that, folks!) I'd like to know why Christians support such action and hail it as good?!?

The UCC have (rightly, I believe) identified homosexuality as an acceptable expression of love in our society. Thank God for voices like theirs, which promote love and acceptance.

Oursociety has villifed these people for far too long, and I'm confident that the hate will be extended to include the UCC, as well. They will be decried as "heretics" and "unChristian." (These hatemongers should all remember that Jesus was judged and condemned as a blasphemer, too.)

The State needs to recognize all unions as acceptable under the law and leave marriage to the purview of the Church, where it belongs.

[Green Gaia]

Originally Posted by sojourner

Conservative Christians decry homosexuality as sin. To add insult to injury, the State has decided to violate separation of church and state laws by passing state constitutional amendments banning the sacrament of marriage to some people. (Kind of like the State telling the Church who may and may not be baptized, or who is welcome to receive Holy Communion...think about that, folks!) I'd like to know why Christians support such action and hail it as good?!?

Ya know, I heard a minister not too long ago say that this attack on who can be married and who can't, is really an attack on religious freedom. He argued that those religions that believe in affirming love no matter the couple's genders are being oppressed by the state which is upholding only one religion's idea of marriage. It is in essence, an attack on our religion. It was a new approach to the problem, even for me (who has been at this issue for a while). I'm still wrapping my head around that one, but he has a very good point.

The UCC have (rightly, I believe) identified homosexuality as an acceptable expression of love in our society. Thank God for voices like theirs, which promote love and acceptance.

Oursociety has villifed these people for far too long, and I'm confident that the hate will be extended to include the UCC, as well. They will be decried as "heretics" and "unChristian." (These hatemongers should all remember that Jesus was judged and condemned as a blasphemer, too.)

And they will have good company - us. UUs have done quite a number of things with the UCC, and I anticipate that relationship to only strengthen as the fight goes on.