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Whom do you think the Soviet and Chinese communists use? You may recall that they were both part of a club that treated Christians poorly? China still is.

... though their 'not-launching-the-missiles' capabilities might be a problem.

I think Christians understand that the end of the world is in God's hands, not man's. Trying to start it themselves would seem to be a sin.

“But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. -- Mark 13:32

This is in contrast to the Iranian branch of Shia Islam (the Iraqi branch is distinct) where many believe they can cause enough chaos in the world to bring the return of the Hidden Imam.

'Divine mission' driving Iran's new leader
Ahmadinejad: Chávez Will Rise Again with Jesus and the Hidden Imam

I get the impression you might be a little fixated.

Interesting choice you made there - in essence identifying yourself with Colonel Jessup. You do realize that in that scene Colonel Jessup was covering up the truth and lying - he was shortly revealed to be a perjurer and was implicated in murder? The "truth" he offered was his justification for murder.

Your original post got things backwards, as I indicated. I'm not sure you have a useful truth to offer. But I'll be a good sport and share one with you.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. -- John 14:6

You misread the article. Knowing God leads to better mental health outcomes. Ignorance of God leads to prolonged misery. Ignorance is misery.

It is as Jesus said: you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.

Like any religion, the holy book says exactly what the believer wishes it said. And if it says something different, it's an allegory meaning what the believer wishes it said.

Interesting, .... let's test that.

One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, “What commandment is the foremost of all?” 29Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘HEAR, O ISRAEL! THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD; 30AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.’ 31“The second is this, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:28-31 . . . more

You might be right. Despite the clear commandment to love God and my neighbor, I interpret it as meaning that Hatta's writings have exceeded Hatta's wisdom. What do you suppose the following means?

Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise;
                  When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent. -- Proverbs 17:28

Might take some study and enlightenment.

Like any religion, the holy book says exactly what the believer wishes it said. And if it says something different, it's an allegory meaning what the believer wishes it said.

Interesting, .... let's test that.

One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, “What commandment is the foremost of all?” 29Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘HEAR, O ISRAEL! THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD; 30AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.’ 31“The second is this, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:28-31 . . . more

You might be right. Despite the clear commandment to love God and my neighbor, I interpret it as meaning that Hatta's writings have exceeded Hatta's wisdom. What do you suppose the following means?

Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise;
                  When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent. -- Proverbs 17:28

Might take some study and enlightenment.

Evil? Immoral? Putrid or rancid? Three sides of one coin, if you're ignorant of root cause.

You may have something there as to dietary law, but I'm not sure you're going to be able to follow that path and get close to:

The second is this, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:31

Um, something about Jesus, Jews and a cross, keeps coming to mind.

You seem to be forgetting something - kind of important too, as far as Christianity goes - something about an empty tomb.

If Jesus was alive today he would be against the american conservative movement, those holier than thou fucks need to pull their heads out of their ass and love thy neighbor.

Irony - does it get better than this?

Here are a few topical verses:

One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, “What commandment is the foremost of all?” Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘HEAR, O ISRAEL! THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD; AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.’ “The second is this, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” The scribe said to Him, “Right, Teacher; You have truly stated that HE IS ONE, AND THERE IS NO ONE ELSE BESIDES HIM; AND TO LOVE HIM WITH ALL THE HEART AND WITH ALL THE UNDERSTANDING AND WITH ALL THE STRENGTH, AND TO LOVE ONE’S NEIGHBOR AS HIMSELF, is much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” When Jesus saw that he had answered intelligently, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” -- Mark 12:28-34

You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.’ “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. -- Matthew 5:43-45

“Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? “Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye. --- Luke 6:41-42

For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you, nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with labor and hardship we kept working night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you; not because we do not have the right to this, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, so that you would follow our example. For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either. For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies. -- 2 Thessalonians 3:7-11

The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the center of the court, they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. “Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?” They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the center of the court. Straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where ar

If Jesus was alive today he would be against the american conservative movement, those holier than thou fucks need to pull their heads out of their ass and love thy neighbor.

Irony - does it get better than this?

Here are a few topical verses:

One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, “What commandment is the foremost of all?” Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘HEAR, O ISRAEL! THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD; AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.’ “The second is this, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” The scribe said to Him, “Right, Teacher; You have truly stated that HE IS ONE, AND THERE IS NO ONE ELSE BESIDES HIM; AND TO LOVE HIM WITH ALL THE HEART AND WITH ALL THE UNDERSTANDING AND WITH ALL THE STRENGTH, AND TO LOVE ONE’S NEIGHBOR AS HIMSELF, is much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” When Jesus saw that he had answered intelligently, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” -- Mark 12:28-34

You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.’ “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. -- Matthew 5:43-45

“Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? “Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye. --- Luke 6:41-42

For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you, nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with labor and hardship we kept working night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you; not because we do not have the right to this, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, so that you would follow our example. For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either. For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies. -- 2 Thessalonians 3:7-11

The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the center of the court, they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. “Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?” They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the center of the court. Straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where ar

If Jesus was alive today he would be against the american conservative movement, those holier than thou fucks need to pull their heads out of their ass and love thy neighbor.

Irony - does it get better than this?

Here are a few topical verses:

One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, “What commandment is the foremost of all?” Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘HEAR, O ISRAEL! THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD; AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.’ “The second is this, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” The scribe said to Him, “Right, Teacher; You have truly stated that HE IS ONE, AND THERE IS NO ONE ELSE BESIDES HIM; AND TO LOVE HIM WITH ALL THE HEART AND WITH ALL THE UNDERSTANDING AND WITH ALL THE STRENGTH, AND TO LOVE ONE’S NEIGHBOR AS HIMSELF, is much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” When Jesus saw that he had answered intelligently, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” -- Mark 12:28-34

You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.’ “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. -- Matthew 5:43-45

“Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? “Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye. --- Luke 6:41-42

For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you, nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with labor and hardship we kept working night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you; not because we do not have the right to this, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, so that you would follow our example. For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either. For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies. -- 2 Thessalonians 3:7-11

The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the center of the court, they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. “Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?” They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the center of the court. Straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where ar

If Jesus was alive today he would be against the american conservative movement, those holier than thou fucks need to pull their heads out of their ass and love thy neighbor.

Irony - does it get better than this?

Here are a few topical verses:

One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, “What commandment is the foremost of all?” Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘HEAR, O ISRAEL! THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD; AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.’ “The second is this, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” The scribe said to Him, “Right, Teacher; You have truly stated that HE IS ONE, AND THERE IS NO ONE ELSE BESIDES HIM; AND TO LOVE HIM WITH ALL THE HEART AND WITH ALL THE UNDERSTANDING AND WITH ALL THE STRENGTH, AND TO LOVE ONE’S NEIGHBOR AS HIMSELF, is much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” When Jesus saw that he had answered intelligently, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” -- Mark 12:28-34

You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.’ “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. -- Matthew 5:43-45

“Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? “Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye. --- Luke 6:41-42

For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you, nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with labor and hardship we kept working night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you; not because we do not have the right to this, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, so that you would follow our example. For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either. For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies. -- 2 Thessalonians 3:7-11

The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the center of the court, they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. “Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?” They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the center of the court. Straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where ar

Right Islam is a violent faith based in hate.

So is Christianity unless you delete the fourth primary author entirely. What's your point?

Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Mathew 22:34-40

Wow, that is harsh and hate filled.

Prior Art

The really funny part is that the Bible itself says that it uses allegory! (Trivia question! Name a word which occurs exactly once in the entire Bible!)

http://scripturetext.com/galatians/4-24.htm

Which things are an allegory...

No extreme societal control? http://niv.scripturetext.com/leviticus/20.htm Nothing in the Old Testament is mandatory anymore? http://bible.cc/matthew/5-18.htm

Oh, that problem has already been solved. It's just a matter of time before the solution gets universally applied. If it matters, you might work on deployment, but I wouldn't bother to reinvent the wheel, especially since the deployment is in progress.

If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

1 Timothy 6:3-10 New International Version

And don't say that "love" doesn't mean what we all know it means, or that he might be talking about women - men are neighbors too (and whenever the Bible talks about other people, they're assumed to be men unless otherwise specified.)

The Greek have 4 words that we translate as 'love' in English. The word used in this verse is agapao, a conjugation of agape which is spiritual unconditional love. He does not use eros, which is the intimate (and oftentimes sexual) love you are referring to.

So yes, 'love' doesn't mean what you think it means in this context.

1)Bible Cannon. Ok, there are many books that claim to be inspired, sure. But to take your example, Gospel of Thomas, in it 5 year old Jesus miraculously kills another child because the boy runs into Jesus. Sound anything like Jesus from the four Gospels in the Bible Cannon? Me neither. Yes, there are some bits in the four found in KJV and Textus Receptus that are generally considered not original. You know why? Those passages are not found in the oldest manuscripts. Pretty good evidence, wouldn't you say?

2.Lawful what is allowed by law. Unlawful is everything else. Illegal is forbidden by law. I.e. in the US, the federal government is only allowed to do what the constitution says it can. Everything else is unlawful. So, which would apply to Marriage? Jesus said in Mt 19 that God created man, woman, and marriage. The marriage God created was Man and Woman. That was Lawful. He didn't create any other marriages. Man created other marriages, like multiple wives, etc. Are any other marriages lawful for Christians? Note Mt. 19:3, 'Lawful' was in the question. Note Mt 19:8, last phrase: (NIV) "But it was not this way from the beginning." Thus, the beginning creation of marriage is the only one authorized by Jesus. All else is like divorce, (other than on grounds of fornication) not authorized. IOW, if you want to be in a marriage that Jesus recognizes, it has to be in the manner of God's first marriage.

3.

as a society we have put away such notions as "fornication". The standard now is "two consenting adults."

Tell that to Jesus. What is Jesus' definition of Fornication? Not modern society's. This answer concedes the original point.

4. People have feelings. One of those things is 'gender' as you call it. Another is desire for sex. Another is anger. Are the actions of a psychotic moral because they are deeply felt? Is his/her view of himself/herself always the proper one? (note, I am not calling transsexuals or homosexuals psychotic) Some people sincerely feel that they are Jesus. The Bible says he's in heaven. People develop in a way other than natural sometimes. I agree. Neither the Bible nor Jesus allow free reign to what a person wants, just because it is deeply felt. In fact, the Bible calls that sort of thing "sin's law" and it is to be fought against. Romans 7:21-25: (NIV)(21)So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. (22)For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; (23)but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. (24)What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? (25)Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

5. Limits of marriage.

Nowadays, we look at a marriage as a contract...

More modern society views. Like your original argument, show me where Jesus explicitly condemned marrying a 2 year old.

My answer to yours is within above points. Mainly point 4.

Jesus: Mark 3:1
(a "man of god"): 1 Kings 13:4

Jesus also did an ear re-attachment, caused lame to walk & blind to see.

Jesus: Mark 3:1
(a "man of god"): 1 Kings 13:4

Jesus also did an ear re-attachment, caused lame to walk & blind to see.

in YOU[R] opinion.

To follow the Christian way of life would be to follow Christ's example and his laws. If there is a question about something in today's world, then first one would look for explicit laws, failing that, principles. So Romans 1:26 (ISV) says: For this reason, God delivered them to degrading passions as their females exchanged their natural sexual function for one that is unnatural.

Yes I am aware you are unwilling to listen to Paul, but note John 17:17-21 (NIV) (17)Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. (18)As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. (19)For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. (20)“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, (21) that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

Especially vs 17 and vs 20. 17 says God's (the Father) word is truth and 20 says Jesus' followers were to believe based on the message of Jesus' united disciples.

Sure, Paul did reprimand Peter. Peter was even called Satan by Jesus. But he was to feed Jesus' little lambs. (John 21:15-17) If one would consider theirself a little lamb (follower) of Jesus, then they would accept 'food' from Peter. Food in the Bible can mean teachings or writings. Included in Peter's writings is 2 Peter 3:14-16. Note in NIV: (14)So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. (15)Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. (16)He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.

So Jesus said listen to Peter, and Peter said that Paul wrote from God, whose word is truth. And Paul wrote Romans. Which jives with the rest of God's words.

So, instead of "I think" or "I feel" a Christian would remember the heart is not to be trusted for correct guidance. (not meaning the literal heart, but the figurative heart, or inner person, one's motivations) Note Matthew 15:19, 20.

So, that being the case, I offer no opinion, but to recommend that the answer is in that verse. (Romans 1:26) Regarding the Bible, I don't deal in opinions.

So you are correct in saying that Jesus didn't explicitly forbid same-sex marriage. But you still haven't answered my question (1) about unlawful and illegal. It's not the joke, it's a real question. And you still didn't reply about (2) Jesus condemning 'Fornication' which by all scholarly definitions would include homosexual acts. And here is one more question for you, (3) Until a same-sex marriage is obtained, wouldn't all sex in that relationship be under 'pre-marital' sex. That is also universally defined as part of fornication. And (4)your set theory about marriage would permit Bestiality and Pedophilia through marriage.

So answer those four questions/statements and I will answer yours.

in YOU[R] opinion.

To follow the Christian way of life would be to follow Christ's example and his laws. If there is a question about something in today's world, then first one would look for explicit laws, failing that, principles. So Romans 1:26 (ISV) says: For this reason, God delivered them to degrading passions as their females exchanged their natural sexual function for one that is unnatural.

Yes I am aware you are unwilling to listen to Paul, but note John 17:17-21 (NIV) (17)Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. (18)As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. (19)For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. (20)“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, (21) that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

Especially vs 17 and vs 20. 17 says God's (the Father) word is truth and 20 says Jesus' followers were to believe based on the message of Jesus' united disciples.

Sure, Paul did reprimand Peter. Peter was even called Satan by Jesus. But he was to feed Jesus' little lambs. (John 21:15-17) If one would consider theirself a little lamb (follower) of Jesus, then they would accept 'food' from Peter. Food in the Bible can mean teachings or writings. Included in Peter's writings is 2 Peter 3:14-16. Note in NIV: (14)So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. (15)Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. (16)He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.

So Jesus said listen to Peter, and Peter said that Paul wrote from God, whose word is truth. And Paul wrote Romans. Which jives with the rest of God's words.

So, instead of "I think" or "I feel" a Christian would remember the heart is not to be trusted for correct guidance. (not meaning the literal heart, but the figurative heart, or inner person, one's motivations) Note Matthew 15:19, 20.

So, that being the case, I offer no opinion, but to recommend that the answer is in that verse. (Romans 1:26) Regarding the Bible, I don't deal in opinions.

So you are correct in saying that Jesus didn't explicitly forbid same-sex marriage. But you still haven't answered my question (1) about unlawful and illegal. It's not the joke, it's a real question. And you still didn't reply about (2) Jesus condemning 'Fornication' which by all scholarly definitions would include homosexual acts. And here is one more question for you, (3) Until a same-sex marriage is obtained, wouldn't all sex in that relationship be under 'pre-marital' sex. That is also universally defined as part of fornication. And (4)your set theory about marriage would permit Bestiality and Pedophilia through marriage.

So answer those four questions/statements and I will answer yours.

Jesus in the Bible did not get involved in politics at all. Period. John 6:15: Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself. See also Luke 13:32,33 and John 18:36 (also there he condemns Christians getting involved in war)

As to your BTW, here is the relevant quote, Matthew 19:4-6:4“Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’ So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”

But as I said before, Jesus didn't get involved in politics. As an example, he didn't say anything about the common morals of the Romans, the secular power of the land in that time.

Therefore, according to WWJD, (what would Jesus do?) in regard to same sex marriage, he would not have got involved, except where "christians" claimed it was ok religiously with his Father.

Parallel Translations of 1 Timothy 6-10:

"For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." -- New American Standard Bible

"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil: which some reaching after have been led astray from the faith, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows." -- American Standard Version

But most of the other translations leave out "all kinds of" and say "all".

It says the author is Paul of Tarsus. The source we have of the writing is from the Peschito Syriac of the second century. -- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

Judging from one example, Bill Gates, the idea is supported. Bill Gates is said to suffer from depression. Depression is certainly a "sorrow".

And of course translations differ, I see one does actually omit the "missing" word here.

IMO, the four corners thing is simply a pedantic argument; its just a phrase. As for the other one, I must admit I've often myself wondered what the deal with that one is. I doubt anyone thinks they can see the entire world from a mountain, so I don't really think thats what it was trying to say. Maybe someone else out there knows; I sure don't. Always kinda makes you wonder if something was lost in translation. Also, it might be worth noting that the verse in Daniel is describing a dream Nebuchadnezzar had that he wants interpreted.

Personally, I don't think it's worthwhile to play the select verses game, because anyone can always cherrypick ad nauseum stuff like Job 38:16 (undersea vents), Revelation 11:9-11 (TV), Job 36:27-29 (watercycle), Ecclesiastes 1:6 (movement of air), Job 28:25 (air having mass), Isaiah 43:16 (ocean currents), Job 26:7 (floating earth), 1 Corinthians 15:41 (uniques of stars), ect.

IMO, the four corners thing is simply a pedantic argument; its just a phrase. As for the other one, I must admit I've often myself wondered what the deal with that one is. I doubt anyone thinks they can see the entire world from a mountain, so I don't really think thats what it was trying to say. Maybe someone else out there knows; I sure don't. Always kinda makes you wonder if something was lost in translation. Also, it might be worth noting that the verse in Daniel is describing a dream Nebuchadnezzar had that he wants interpreted.

Personally, I don't think it's worthwhile to play the select verses game, because anyone can always cherrypick ad nauseum stuff like Job 38:16 (undersea vents), Revelation 11:9-11 (TV), Job 36:27-29 (watercycle), Ecclesiastes 1:6 (movement of air), Job 28:25 (air having mass), Isaiah 43:16 (ocean currents), Job 26:7 (floating earth), 1 Corinthians 15:41 (uniques of stars), ect.

IMO, the four corners thing is simply a pedantic argument; its just a phrase. As for the other one, I must admit I've often myself wondered what the deal with that one is. I doubt anyone thinks they can see the entire world from a mountain, so I don't really think thats what it was trying to say. Maybe someone else out there knows; I sure don't. Always kinda makes you wonder if something was lost in translation. Also, it might be worth noting that the verse in Daniel is describing a dream Nebuchadnezzar had that he wants interpreted.

Personally, I don't think it's worthwhile to play the select verses game, because anyone can always cherrypick ad nauseum stuff like Job 38:16 (undersea vents), Revelation 11:9-11 (TV), Job 36:27-29 (watercycle), Ecclesiastes 1:6 (movement of air), Job 28:25 (air having mass), Isaiah 43:16 (ocean currents), Job 26:7 (floating earth), 1 Corinthians 15:41 (uniques of stars), ect.

IMO, the four corners thing is simply a pedantic argument; its just a phrase. As for the other one, I must admit I've often myself wondered what the deal with that one is. I doubt anyone thinks they can see the entire world from a mountain, so I don't really think thats what it was trying to say. Maybe someone else out there knows; I sure don't. Always kinda makes you wonder if something was lost in translation. Also, it might be worth noting that the verse in Daniel is describing a dream Nebuchadnezzar had that he wants interpreted.

Personally, I don't think it's worthwhile to play the select verses game, because anyone can always cherrypick ad nauseum stuff like Job 38:16 (undersea vents), Revelation 11:9-11 (TV), Job 36:27-29 (watercycle), Ecclesiastes 1:6 (movement of air), Job 28:25 (air having mass), Isaiah 43:16 (ocean currents), Job 26:7 (floating earth), 1 Corinthians 15:41 (uniques of stars), ect.

IMO, the four corners thing is simply a pedantic argument; its just a phrase. As for the other one, I must admit I've often myself wondered what the deal with that one is. I doubt anyone thinks they can see the entire world from a mountain, so I don't really think thats what it was trying to say. Maybe someone else out there knows; I sure don't. Always kinda makes you wonder if something was lost in translation. Also, it might be worth noting that the verse in Daniel is describing a dream Nebuchadnezzar had that he wants interpreted.

Personally, I don't think it's worthwhile to play the select verses game, because anyone can always cherrypick ad nauseum stuff like Job 38:16 (undersea vents), Revelation 11:9-11 (TV), Job 36:27-29 (watercycle), Ecclesiastes 1:6 (movement of air), Job 28:25 (air having mass), Isaiah 43:16 (ocean currents), Job 26:7 (floating earth), 1 Corinthians 15:41 (uniques of stars), ect.

> they've developed this "I don't care what anyone else thinks,
> I'm me and I'm pursuing happiness" attitude.

Not being selfish, not yet too mindful of what others _think_, but to actively _love_ others...
From the Bible:
"Owe no man any thing but to love one another for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law"

http://scripturetext.com/romans/13-8.htm