These guys don't even know their Bible:

We read that Bush has appointed Jerry Thacker to serve on the Presidential Advisory Commission on HIV and AIDS. Thacker is a controversial figure. He's "a fire-breathing, Bob Jones University alum" (according to Sullivan), with a distinctive view on homosexuality. Here, for instance are notes from a presentation he gave at BJU:

Mr. Jerry Thacker of Fleetwood, Pennsylvania, spoke today on homosexuality.

The media has programmed us to think a certain way about this sinful lifestyle or, as Mr. Thacker calls it, "deathstyle." Romans 1:16-32 tells how we should think about homosexuality. This passage shows a nation setting itself up for all kinds of bad things to happen, one of those is homosexuality.

Let's take look at Romans. Here is what those verses say:

Paul asserts: (in Romans 1: 16-32)

• "I have complete confidence in the gospel."

About the gospel:

• It is God's power to save all who believe (Jews and also the Gentiles).
• It reveals how God puts people right with himself (through faith).
• As the scripture says, "The person who is put right with God through faith shall live."

Statements about God:

• God's anger is revealed from heaven against all the sin and evil of the people whose evil ways prevent the truth from being known.

What can be known about God:

• Is plain for all to see.
• Ever since God created the world, his invisible qualities, both his eternal power and his divine nature, have been clearly seen.
  • They are perceived in the things that God has made.
• There is no excuse for not knowing about God.
• Therefore, God punishes those who do not acknowledge him.

Some people know God

But:

They do not give him the honor that belongs to him. They do not they thank him. They refuse to keep in mind the true knowledge about God.

Instead:

Thinking: Their thoughts have become complete nonsense. Their empty minds are filled with darkness. They say they are wise, but they are fools. Worship: They do not worship the immortal God, They worship images made to look like mortals or birds or animals or reptiles. They exchange the truth about God for a lie. They worship and serve what God has created instead of the Creator himself.

Because they do this:

• God has given them over to shameful passions.

1. Do the filthy things their hearts desire, and they do shameful things with each other.
2. Women pervert the natural use of their sex by unnatural acts.
3. Men give up natural sexual relations with women and burn with passion for each other.
4. Men do shameful things with each other, and as a result they bring upon themselves the punishment they deserve for their wrongdoing.

• God has given them over to corrupted minds:

They do the things that they should not do.

1. They are filled with all kinds of wickedness, evil, greed, and vice.
2. They are full of jealousy, murder, fighting, deceit, and malice.
3. They gossip and speak evil of one another
4. They are hateful to God, insolent, proud, and boastful
5. They think of more ways to do evil
6. They disobey their parents
7. They have no conscience
8. They do not keep their promises
9. They show no kindness or pity for others.
10. They know that God's law says that people who live in this way deserve death.
11. Yet, not only do they continue to do these very things, but they even approve of others who do them.

Conclusion:

Paul asserts that

if people do not worship God,
then they will engage in passions that are shameful

Homosexuality is shameful. This shame is God's punishment.

That's it. There is no explicit prohibition of homosexuality. And anyway, this is one man's opinion, unlike other parts of the Bible which contain direct quotes from God (or Jesus).

posted by Quiddity at 1/23/2003 09:40:00 AM