Homosexuality Archives - Colin Dye

Joel Osteen: I'm 'for Everybody' but Same-Sex Marriage Is Not in the Bible

Colin Dye — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 09:26:38 +0000

Megachurch pastor Joel Osteen cited the Bible in his belief of marriage being a union between a man and a woman in a television appearance Friday, which also saw the televangelist comment on “The Bible Series” and speak about reconciling the belief in a loving God with the existence of human suffering.

Lakewood Church Pastor Joel Osteen appeared on CNN’s ‘The Lead with Jake Tapper’ Friday, March 29, 2013 and said that Same-Sex Marriage Is Not in the Bible

Osteen, who leads Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, appeared on “The Lead With Jake Tapper”?on Good Friday and the host referenced the Supreme Court taking on two cases?this week involving the Defense of Marriage Act and California’s Proposition 8, both of which have far-reaching consequences for the traditional definition of marriage.
Tapper asked Osteen if same-sex couples should be afforded the same rights as heterosexual couples, and the pastor cited the Bible to explain his beliefs about marriage.
“You know, Jake, it’s a fine line. We’re for everybody. But of course as a Christian pastor, my base is off what I believe the Scripture says,” Osteen said. “Marriage is between a male and female. Again we’re for everybody, but that’s where I draw the line.”
“I think we have to be compassionate about it all,” Osteen added when asked about gay couples having hospital visitation rights. “We’re not against everybody. There are certainly people that love each other and I believe they should have those rights.”
He added, repeating his earlier remarks, “When I’ve come back to the Scripture, as much as I am for everybody, I don’t see same-sex [marriage] in the Scripture.”

What is my view on this?

Or rather, what does the Bible say? Let?s take a look at recent history first. The sexual revolution of the sixties and seventies has paved the way for the lifting of censorship restrictions at a number of levels. Sex education in schools is but one example. But what has all this sexual ?liberation? and so-called ?freedom? meant in practice? In the twenty-first century we are now reaping the fruits of that of our past carelessness. The institution of marriage itself is under threat; the ?normal? family unit is under threat; it is common for people to indulge in ?alternative? lifestyles.
The Roman Catholic church taught that marriage was a sacrament, a view also adopted by the Anglican church at a certain point. This sounds good initially, because of the inference that marriage is sacred ? and of course it is a sacred institution. But I have a feeling that the motivation behind such teaching was not so much to protect the sanctity of marriage, but to try to shield Christian marriage from the common sensual, pleasurable approach to human relationships that was prevalent in society at the time. Such teaching tried to suggest that marriage was such a holy thing that the physical aspect of it was irrelevant, other than for producing children.
The covenant of marriage is first mentioned in Genesis 2:24: ?Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.? This original covenant of companionship was given by God in the context of the great creation mandate to fill the earth and to subdue it; to multiply and have dominion. It was a covenant of complete companionship at every level, including the physical, sexual level. But it cannot be compared with the covenant of companionship that one can enjoy with a person of the same sex ? that companionship operates on an entirely different level.
The marriage covenant necessarily entails two people of the opposite sex being ?joined together? and becoming ?one flesh? in the context of sexual intimacy ? which God has only ever sanctioned and blessed within the confines of marriage. No other relationship can be a substitute for that.

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BBC's Easter Message Compares Jesus' Crucifixion to Plight of Gay Community

Colin Dye — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 13:04:58 +0000

In the weeks leading up to Easter, the big story in the United States is the History Channel’s miniseries, “The Bible,” but across the pond, BBC’s Radio 4 series, “Lent Talk,” is broadcasting six lectures on abandonment, in which journalist Benjamin Cohen compares the gay community’s experience to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

Cohen, a former Channel 4 News reporter and founder of the gay news website PinkNews and co-founder of Out4Marriage.org, presented a controversial 14-minute lecture on his experience growing up as an Orthodox Jewish boy who attended Christian prep schools and even performed in nativity plays.
The lecture?is honest and introspective, but it’s also offensive to Christians who believe that comparing anyone’s lot in life to the sacrifice of Jesus, humanity’s lord and savior, is blasphemous.
Andrea Williams, director of Christian Concern, told The Telegraph that: “To link this experience to that of Christ is to misunderstand the biggest event in history ? it is blasphemous.”
Cohen, who has been campaigning for marriage to be re-defined in England, cites Psalm 21 and Matthew 27 to link his life as a gay Jewish man growing up in 1980s Britain, in which he feared persecution and abandonment by his family and community, to the life of Jesus.
Reading from the Scripture Matthew 27:46, when Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “My God, My God why have you forsaken me?” Cohen compares England’s abandonment of the gay community with the Jewish priests’ treatment of Jesus, and ultimately, his crucifixion.

Winston McKenzie, UKIP, criticized for saying 'placing children with same-sex couples is "unhealthy".

Colin Dye — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 11:58:05 +0000

A UKIP by-election candidate has been called on to apologise after saying gay people should not be allowed to adopt.

Winston McKenzie told a local reporter that placing children with gay or lesbian couples was ‘unhealthy’

Winston McKenzie, UKIP candidate for Thursday’s Croydon North by-election, told a local reporter placing children with same-sex couples was “unhealthy”.
His comments, which he said were linked to his Christian views, have been criticised by a number of his competitors for the south London seat. UKIP said the party wholeheartedly supported equal rights for gay couples.
Mr McKenzie, who described himself as a deeply religious Christian and is UKIP’s Commonwealth spokesman, also said he did not advocate gay marriage during the interview. He told BBC London he had nothing against gay people but the comments, which he stood by, were his honest, Christian views.
UKIP says it supports civil partnerships but opposes plans to legislate for same-sex marriage.
It comes after a couple had three foster children removed from their care by Rotherham Borough Council because they belong to UKIP.
Andy Stranack, the Conservative candidate in the Croydon North by-election, said in a statement: “Children benefit from having a male and female role model in their life but with over 60,000 children currently in the care system the most important factor is finding these children a caring and nurturing environment to be bought up in.” (Source BBC news)

The marriage covenant necessarily entails two people of the opposite sex being ?joined together? and becoming ?one flesh? in the context of sexual intimacy ? which God has only ever sanctioned and blessed within the confines of marriage. No other relationship can be a substitute for that.

The capacity of the gospel preached and received in the power of the Holy Spirit to change society is evident from Luke 10:17-20. When Jesus? disciples brought their reports back to him after having preached the gospel with signs and wonders Jesus testified, ?I saw Satan fall from like lightning from heaven?. The very spiritual atmosphere was changed.We are seeing the same thing begin to happen in the UK.

As God mobilises his gospel army, and brings in a new outpouring of signs and wonders, Satan?s powers are pushed back and the atmosphere is cleansed. Marvellous things can begin to happen. A nation can be changed by the gospel ? people?s lives turned around, families restored and institutions renewed. Brothers sisters continue to pray for our nations.

What are your views on this? Should we place children in families regardless of the sexual orientation of the foster parents or should we in all cases ensure that they will be brought up in a heterosexual environment? I would like to hear from you. Please leave your comments below.

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