Well, here's where I believe a distinction is made.
Take Timothy 1:10 for example. It mentions both sexual immorality and homosexuality in the same sentence.
Homosexuality is certainly sexually immoral but it is listed separately. Why?
I believe because it is of a different, more serious nature of sexual sin.
For instance, in the same passage, liars and perjurers are both mentioned. Why? Perjury is just lying right?
Well no, perjury is lying under oath and it is seen (rightly so) as a worse offense.
So too is homosexuality a worse offense in the eyes of God.
Just my opinion of course but I believe that this understanding is the correct one.
"I believe..." Stop interpolating your opinions into scripture. That's how the faithful are led astray. Truth seekers have no need for such an approach.
As one who has firsthand experience with this topic, I can confirm that your understanding is not the correct one. Your reasoning imposes double standards on God.
I say 'I believe' and 'my opinion' because most people are incapable of having a conversation about a topic they feel passionate about without it devolving into a right or wrong argument. I have no interest in that. Rather, I am interested in your view and would like to share my own without any power struggles so I soften my statements with acknowledgement that they are in fact just my beliefs.
Could you please help me understand why my understanding is not correct?
Context is not a double standard and saying sin is sin limits God in my mind.
I've already explained why your understanding is not correct. There is no scriptural backing for the idea that God distinguishes between homosexual immorality and heterosexual immorality. You are superimposing your own belief system on God's word. That is inappropriate. My testimony is that God has forgiven my sins just as He would a penitent heterosexual person. He expected the same humility and repentance of me.
Now here's where my response gets risky, because I don't know you or your history. It's not my intention to falsely accuse you, but to share an observation. The vast majority of heterosexual people have committed fornication - surveys have indicated as many as 95%. My observation is that those who apply special and distinct severity to the sin of homosexual fornication usually do so because they themselves are guilty of fornication and seek to rationalize by saying to themselves "Well, at least I'm not as bad as all those homos." Only you know if this observation applies to you, but it definitely applies to most of the people who agree with you.
I'm afraid I missed the part where you explained why homosexuality and sexual immorality would be mentioned separately in scripture other than the idea that they are different. If I missed it, I apologize.
I do agree that the grace offered us by God is not different in any way regardless of the offense.
As to my own sin, I have had sex out of wedlock. I can't say what others that may agree with me think but I don't try to downplay my own sin by highlighting another's.
Having said that I do believe that homosexuality is a sin not only against God but nature itself and that is why it is mentioned separately in the Bible.
You are wrong. There is no 'worse offense' in the eyes of God. ANY offense is an abomination to God. Stealing a nickel, Lying, Killing, whatever. Each and every one of the them separates you from God and makes you unworthy. Period. Full stop. This is literally in the Bible. There is no 'degree of sinfulness' because each and every one of us has fallen short and should not be throwing any stones at anyone. If homosexuality is a sin then also is your sin of judging them for it. So look to your own eye for the plank.
No offense but stealing a nickel and killing being equal to God is just silly. Why is God so limited in your view? Is Man really capable of context where God is not?
Because any sin no matter how "small" separates us from the will of God. Period. Unless we live a 100% perfect life as Jesus did, we are unworthy. Even the slightest straying is enough to condemn us. So each and every person alive today is unworthy no matter how holy they might think they are.
We cannot become worthy or unworthy of God's love as a result of our works. That is why redemption is available to us. God loves us and we will be welcomed home so long as we repent. However, our ability to humble ourselves before God is damaged the further we fall into sin. Embracing the idea that sin is sin with no context at all is a demonic idea that seeks to push us further away from that ability.
Well, here's where I believe a distinction is made. Take Timothy 1:10 for example. It mentions both sexual immorality and homosexuality in the same sentence.
Homosexuality is certainly sexually immoral but it is listed separately. Why? I believe because it is of a different, more serious nature of sexual sin. For instance, in the same passage, liars and perjurers are both mentioned. Why? Perjury is just lying right? Well no, perjury is lying under oath and it is seen (rightly so) as a worse offense. So too is homosexuality a worse offense in the eyes of God. Just my opinion of course but I believe that this understanding is the correct one.
"I believe..." Stop interpolating your opinions into scripture. That's how the faithful are led astray. Truth seekers have no need for such an approach.
As one who has firsthand experience with this topic, I can confirm that your understanding is not the correct one. Your reasoning imposes double standards on God.
I say 'I believe' and 'my opinion' because most people are incapable of having a conversation about a topic they feel passionate about without it devolving into a right or wrong argument. I have no interest in that. Rather, I am interested in your view and would like to share my own without any power struggles so I soften my statements with acknowledgement that they are in fact just my beliefs.
Could you please help me understand why my understanding is not correct?
Context is not a double standard and saying sin is sin limits God in my mind.
I've already explained why your understanding is not correct. There is no scriptural backing for the idea that God distinguishes between homosexual immorality and heterosexual immorality. You are superimposing your own belief system on God's word. That is inappropriate. My testimony is that God has forgiven my sins just as He would a penitent heterosexual person. He expected the same humility and repentance of me.
Now here's where my response gets risky, because I don't know you or your history. It's not my intention to falsely accuse you, but to share an observation. The vast majority of heterosexual people have committed fornication - surveys have indicated as many as 95%. My observation is that those who apply special and distinct severity to the sin of homosexual fornication usually do so because they themselves are guilty of fornication and seek to rationalize by saying to themselves "Well, at least I'm not as bad as all those homos." Only you know if this observation applies to you, but it definitely applies to most of the people who agree with you.
I'm afraid I missed the part where you explained why homosexuality and sexual immorality would be mentioned separately in scripture other than the idea that they are different. If I missed it, I apologize. I do agree that the grace offered us by God is not different in any way regardless of the offense. As to my own sin, I have had sex out of wedlock. I can't say what others that may agree with me think but I don't try to downplay my own sin by highlighting another's. Having said that I do believe that homosexuality is a sin not only against God but nature itself and that is why it is mentioned separately in the Bible.
You are wrong. There is no 'worse offense' in the eyes of God. ANY offense is an abomination to God. Stealing a nickel, Lying, Killing, whatever. Each and every one of the them separates you from God and makes you unworthy. Period. Full stop. This is literally in the Bible. There is no 'degree of sinfulness' because each and every one of us has fallen short and should not be throwing any stones at anyone. If homosexuality is a sin then also is your sin of judging them for it. So look to your own eye for the plank.
No offense but stealing a nickel and killing being equal to God is just silly. Why is God so limited in your view? Is Man really capable of context where God is not?
Because any sin no matter how "small" separates us from the will of God. Period. Unless we live a 100% perfect life as Jesus did, we are unworthy. Even the slightest straying is enough to condemn us. So each and every person alive today is unworthy no matter how holy they might think they are.
We cannot become worthy or unworthy of God's love as a result of our works. That is why redemption is available to us. God loves us and we will be welcomed home so long as we repent. However, our ability to humble ourselves before God is damaged the further we fall into sin. Embracing the idea that sin is sin with no context at all is a demonic idea that seeks to push us further away from that ability.