| | "It is very, very easy not to be offended by a book. You just have to shut it." Salman Rushdie.
The other day I was chatting online with a friend, when he sent a link to this story in USA Today. The article talks about a gay man who is suing Zondervan and Nelson publishers because he is offended and 'emotionally hurt' by the Bible's saying that homosexuality is a sin. As part of his argument he claims his Christian family has rejected him because of this.
I think the case will be dismissed with the first set of responses from Zondervan. First is the issue of free speech, which protects Zondervan. The First Amendment protects our speech. In fact the only speech not protected is Slander, defamation, libel
Second the U.S. Constitution does not protect you from being offended. If everyone one who was ever offended by something sued over it, the courts would be backed up for the next 500 years.
 As far as this man and his family are concerned the Bible says a few things:
1.)
And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4
2.) Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. 1 John 3: 10
3.) Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. Romans 13:8
I realize that it is difficult to love people we don't agree with, but I have known a few gay people who desperately wanted to be healed from this sin, and God did not deliver them. I am not saying God can't do it, just that He hasn't healed them.
I can't explain why God changes one person, but leaves another as they are. But that does not give me permission to hate or mistreat them.
Though as for being offended by the Bible, if it bothers you so much...don't read it. In America you are free to believe whatever you want.
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| | Posted 7/12/2008 3:33 AM - 24 views - 1 comments
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