Originally posted by Sleeper:
Can I give versus, not at this moment as I am at work.
I would have to sit and skim through the bible to find them.
The bible never says black ,it says something like "mud people", the refence is obvious.
The jew refernce is based on spirit more than word.
The priest arguemnet is valid. Christianity says there is nothing wrong with it, decency says there is something wrong with it, hence my statement "Religion and humanity/ethics don't mix."
Regarding your reference to priests and what is right and wrong, read this:
Gal 5:13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
Gal 5:14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF."
Gal 5:15 But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.
Gal 5:16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
Gal 5:17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.
Gal 5:18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.
Gal 5:19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,
Gal 5:20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities , strife, jealousy , outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,
Gal 5:21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness , faithfulness,
Gal 5:23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
The Greek words for immorality and purity are mean adultery, fornication, and uncleanness. Given the bible teaches that no sex outside of the marriage relationship between a man and a woman is condoned (read Genesis), God's Word directly deals with the issues of any kind of sexual contact, including priests who do not in fact know the Lord Jesus Christ what-so-ever.
More:
1Ti 1:6 For some men, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion,
1Ti 1:7 wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions.
1Ti 1:8 But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully,
1Ti 1:9 realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill<3970a, their fathers or mothers, for murderers
1Ti 1:10 and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching,
1Ti 1:11 according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.
1Ti 1:12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service,
1Ti 1:13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief;
1Ti 1:14 and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus.
1Ti 1:15 It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.
Your reference to the Jews being in the desert for 40 years was man's choice to abandon God's law, much as we have done here in the U.S.A. As God demonstrates in every case, were the Jews to turn back to God and admit their lawlessness and repent, they would not have spent 40 years in the desert.
Regarding the slave comment:
1Ti 6:1 All who are under the yoke as slaves are to regard their own masters as worthy of all honor so that the name of God and our doctrine will not be spoken against.
1Ti 6:2 Those who have believers as their masters must not be disrespectful to them because they are brethren, but must serve them all the more, because those who partake of the benefit are believers and beloved. Teach and preach these principles.
1Ti 6:3 If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness,
1Ti 6:4 he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions,
1Ti 6:5 and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.
1Ti 6:6 But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment.
1Ti 6:7 For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either.
1Ti 6:8 If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.
1Ti 6:9 But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.
1Ti 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.
1Ti 6:11 But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness .
Paul deals here with slaves, but never actually condones the action. He simply states that we are to honor and love one another no matter what our circumstances in life may be. Note he does refer only to respect insofar as the master being a believer, versus an unbeliever, at which point he goes on to give context to unbelievers in his time, and in fact in any time. God never condoned slavery, it was a creation of man, not God. The free will God gave us includes the will to do evil, and God will not stop us from choosing the flesh over the Spirit.
Just my .02 in five minutes...
