Jesus speaks of us as Christians being part of "the New Covenant", basically saying that all the minute details about food consumption and sacrifices and tithing (yes, tithing) were part of the old covenant. "There is a new covenant in my blood" he says. He IS the sacrifice. I too have struggled with behaviors of the Old Testament such as polygamy. I believe the Bible says that God "allowed" such things because of "the hardness of their hearts". It was still "missing the mark" and not God's best. Yet it seems that, say in King David's case, there were more important things that superceded such things, such as obedience and repentance and worship of the one true God. These were so important that God, it seems, could overlook these other sins that were really part of the culture of the day (common behaviors). I still don't know exactly how or why this was accepted, but I plan to ask God someday! On another note, comparing homosexuality to lying (going to hell for such) is a way of saying that we all have sinned, not just the people who (some of us think) have done the "big"sins, but all of us who have lied, had immoral thoughts etc. But. . . if we repent of our sins, turn (daily) from our natural (common in our culture) ways, he is faithful and forgives us. It's not because we are sin-free that we go to heaven. It's because we are forgiven when we repent and turn from behaviors that grieve the Holy Spirit - whenever we "miss the mark". And then we aim to do better, to stay connected to God and listen and obey and praise etc,. This involves turning away. It does not say in any way that you can continue in lying and not being sorry about it, not confessing it as a sin, and that's a-ok. In the same way, if you confess your desires for homosexuality (or other immoral behaviors) or your actual behavior in this regard, God is always willing to forgive you and help you resist temptations. But you can't just say hey, we've all sinned, therefore it's ok to embrace this sin that I like because everybody does some of these sins, right?
Thank you for this thoughtful response to the video! I can tell you've wrestled with some of the themes and you've already anticipated the next video...probably a few more into the future as well! Here are a couple of the thoughts that you've raised for me with this comment. First, the idea of "big sins" vs. "little sins" is super important. I think the reason for Gay Pride is that there was Gay Oppression for such a long time. I think the pride reaction may have gone a bit far to the point where people no longer care to ask whether a certain kind of behavior is healthy or not. However, we don't respond to non-sexual sins with the same kind of negative reaction and I this makes it easier to grow in those areas through repentance and maturity. When we let ourselves define a person by one specific behavior, whether it is a sin or not, I don't think we are doing a good job of loving our neighbor as ourselves. Second, the idea of missing the mark is key to how I think about sin, and my goal here is to define the mark as intimacy with God, not necessarily heterosexuality, monogamy, or celibacy. The western church has labeled a lot of things as sexual sins that are really just a matter of preference and need for maturity. And some things are sin for one person or cultural context when they are not for another (e.g. Paul's example of eating meat, or the conscience of gentiles). So no, I would not use this logic as an excuse to justify a sin, however, I am very careful about what I choose to label as sin. My next video will go deeper into the idea of why the fight over what is / is not a sin may be less helpful than we think.
Thanks for your well thought reply to mine - I still don't see that you hit on the idea that sins are meant to be repented of, turned from, and then we are cleansed from them and are freed from them. We are no longer guilty (justification by faith). It's not the same thing as living a lifestyle of homosexuality or any other behavior the Bible has defines as sin (gossip, slander, lying, rebelling against God etc etc) and normalizing it until thinking of it as wrong or bad seems ridiculous.
Well when you say "allowed" these things to the hardness of your heart. Your adding more to text that isn't there. Jesus only said that about divorce. Plenty of men God considered righteous had multiple wives and in one cases he even told David he gave them his master wives and then he would of given more as a blessing. Why would it be ok for David to do it but now we can't? Wouldn't make a lot of sense and it would also disprove God changing. If it's there's no violation of this no sin has been committed.
I've watched some of your longer live videos, and I really love how you're careful to study the scriptures within their original context, accounting for semantics and narrative. This is something that I find so many other Christians neglect, both on the sex-positive side, and the traditional side. I really hope someday soon, more people will learn to take a similar, more careful approach as you do. And I especially love the rabbit holes you lead us into. They're fascinating. Your exploration of 1Corintians 6 was especially helpful to me. "The body is for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body." If the stomach and food will both pass away, then why not the rest of the body? It seems more likely to me that the body which is for the Lord is really the entire Body of Christ. Paul wasn't focusing on the bodies of individual believers.
Thanks for sharing your appreciation of the videos I have put together 🙏 The Bible is such a beautiful book! It is worth spending time with the text to unpack the treasures it carries. But beyond this, I believe it is a gateway to intimacy with God, which is ultimately what drives all of my work with sex and spirituality :) I was back in 1 Corinthians 6 this week exploring the rabbit hole of the Greek words for body (soma and sarx). Usually Paul chooses the word soma to indicate the broader body of Christ and sarx to talk about biological impulses and "flesh and blood." However, it's not always clear cut. I think sometimes the ancient theologians liked to leave things a mystery so that we would have to wrestle with them and come to a deeper understanding that we could if they made it simple. Thus the interplay between the physical body and the corporate body that you describe here. Would love to hear more of your thoughts on this as you continue your exploration!
I like the way you know so much of the Bible. Being already in my eighties, pretty far from any SEX, but close to "eternal life" (my name for death.) Yes, lets LOVE ONE ANOTHER, rather than keep the divisions by the way we speak to one another.
It is such a beautiful book! I am grateful to hear this call to love one another through how we speak from someone in your generation! You have such a valuable perspective to offer on what's important in life 🙏
I appreciate your take on this. I do, however, think that when it comes to heaven and hell it’s not as much IF we sin (because we all do) but rather what we have done with our sin. What I mean by that is have we chosen to follow Jesus and allow Him to redeem us from our sin. So I agree with you that it is wrong to say that all gay people go to hell. Just like all straight people don’t go to heaven. Because ultimately it’s about our relationship with Him.
Thank you :) And absolutely! I think your re-frame is really valuable...the point isn't whether a person does something we might think is sinful (everyone does), but whether they are choosing to grow in relationship with God!
Jesus says: A man will leave his parents and become one with his wife. That's the model for sex and sexuality . Jesus says: Go and sin no more. He can save anyone and this is His command. Homosexuality is wrong, and those who persist in it unrepentantly will answer to God. As for hell, there are many roads there, and only Jesus can save anyone from it.
This video is not about deciding the status of homosexuality as a sin or not. There are plenty of other resources for that on both sides of the question. The model for sexuality that you shared is an interesting area to explore further, though, because most of biblical history showed the inverse relationship: a woman left her family to cleave to her man. Do you have any thoughts on that?
That is an interesting distinction. I am reminded of Revelation 20, which describes death and hades themselves being thrown into hell. One of the ideas that fascinates me about eternal life is that it refers to a life that comes from outside of our material, time-bound world. I wonder if we can say there is an idea of eternal death, or a death that is not from this world...
I think the question will all gay ppl go to hell is a silly question. All sin leads to Death. Why bother separating ppl by their sin? 2nd timothy tells us life and immortality was brought to light through the good news. That good news its a free gift.
Agreed. I think I actually point out how silly it is at one point in this video. But people have a lot of silly ideas when it comes to ethics...I think it is because we are afraid of getting the wrong answer.
All people born of Eve where born condemned to hell regardless of there righteousness, all people born again of Jesus' righteosness are not condemned. BUT, you cannot be born again and not born again at the same time. And if you are born again then your understanding of sin will be changed.
Thank your for sharing your thoughts! I hope that these resources are an encouragement to continue a journey of repentance and maturity in how we understand and live out our sexual ethics. I don't expect us to reach the same conclusions about everything, but I do think we take a similar journey of humility as we enter a deeper relationship with God!
Anyone want to help out PhilipBuckley with a summary? I can share that my intention with this video is to draw our attention beyond the question and recognize that we need a better ethical framework for this conversation. Perhaps one like I offer in my book. If you'd like to have a copy, you can find it at www.sacrednotsinful.com
Repentance is an incredibly beautiful practice as it is an invitation to ongoing growth and transformation. No matter what your sexual orientation looks like, the call to repentance is an invitation to deeper intimacy with God, which may express itself differently for everyone. The judgement of sin vs. not sin really depends on how you interpret a few texts, which is why I focus on that challenge in this video.
Any sex is a sin when it is illicit, abusive, done without any self control. Gay people will not go to hell if they are Christlike and self controlled. Living a humble life seeking him. This is why God is the judge because he knows a person's intent and true heart.
Mankind is a Tripartite being. 1 body physical flesh that goes back to earth. Sole which is your mind will and emotions And spirt which is intangible like smoke. This the spirt & sole that are. Programmed by God to be same gender loving God said I saw you as you were knit together in your mothers womb. It has nothing to do with the fleshy earth suit we get from our parents God programs our spirt Ana sole witch are infinite & and do not decay✝️✝️✝️🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🌈🌈
Thanks for this theoretical perspective! My work on a theory of Human-Centered Learning suggests a fourth dimension to our humanity that cannot be ignored as it is fundamental to the identity of the Creator. This gives us four parts (the minimum number of geometric points required for a 3-dimensional object): Physical, Spiritual, Psychological (what you call soul in your comment), and Social (relational). In addition to the spiritual/soul level, do you think there might also be some respect in which the body contributes to the experience of attraction toward one gender or another?
Yes the chemical reaction that 2 Men scence with each other upon encountering he other is a physical reaction that comes with their 5 senses of their physical body the 3 rd part of the triune being . Not some 4th dimension that exists in the. Universe along with other dimensions in the afterlife
Jesus speaks of us as Christians being part of "the New Covenant", basically saying that all the minute details about food consumption and sacrifices and tithing (yes, tithing) were part of the old covenant. "There is a new covenant in my blood" he says. He IS the sacrifice. I too have struggled with behaviors of the Old Testament such as polygamy. I believe the Bible says that God "allowed" such things because of "the hardness of their hearts". It was still "missing the mark" and not God's best. Yet it seems that, say in King David's case, there were more important things that superceded such things, such as obedience and repentance and worship of the one true God. These were so important that God, it seems, could overlook these other sins that were really part of the culture of the day (common behaviors). I still don't know exactly how or why this was accepted, but I plan to ask God someday!
On another note, comparing homosexuality to lying (going to hell for such) is a way of saying that we all have sinned, not just the people who (some of us think) have done the "big"sins, but all of us who have lied, had immoral thoughts etc. But. . . if we repent of our sins, turn (daily) from our natural (common in our culture) ways, he is faithful and forgives us. It's not because we are sin-free that we go to heaven. It's because we are forgiven when we repent and turn from behaviors that grieve the Holy Spirit - whenever we "miss the mark". And then we aim to do better, to stay connected to God and listen and obey and praise etc,. This involves turning away. It does not say in any way that you can continue in lying and not being sorry about it, not confessing it as a sin, and that's a-ok. In the same way, if you confess your desires for homosexuality (or other immoral behaviors) or your actual behavior in this regard, God is always willing to forgive you and help you resist temptations. But you can't just say hey, we've all sinned, therefore it's ok to embrace this sin that I like because everybody does some of these sins, right?
Thank you for this thoughtful response to the video! I can tell you've wrestled with some of the themes and you've already anticipated the next video...probably a few more into the future as well!
Here are a couple of the thoughts that you've raised for me with this comment. First, the idea of "big sins" vs. "little sins" is super important. I think the reason for Gay Pride is that there was Gay Oppression for such a long time. I think the pride reaction may have gone a bit far to the point where people no longer care to ask whether a certain kind of behavior is healthy or not. However, we don't respond to non-sexual sins with the same kind of negative reaction and I this makes it easier to grow in those areas through repentance and maturity. When we let ourselves define a person by one specific behavior, whether it is a sin or not, I don't think we are doing a good job of loving our neighbor as ourselves.
Second, the idea of missing the mark is key to how I think about sin, and my goal here is to define the mark as intimacy with God, not necessarily heterosexuality, monogamy, or celibacy. The western church has labeled a lot of things as sexual sins that are really just a matter of preference and need for maturity. And some things are sin for one person or cultural context when they are not for another (e.g. Paul's example of eating meat, or the conscience of gentiles). So no, I would not use this logic as an excuse to justify a sin, however, I am very careful about what I choose to label as sin. My next video will go deeper into the idea of why the fight over what is / is not a sin may be less helpful than we think.
Thanks for your well thought reply to mine - I still don't see that you hit on the idea that sins are meant to be repented of, turned from, and then we are cleansed from them and are freed from them. We are no longer guilty (justification by faith). It's not the same thing as living a lifestyle of homosexuality or any other behavior the Bible has defines as sin (gossip, slander, lying, rebelling against God etc etc) and normalizing it until thinking of it as wrong or bad seems ridiculous.
Well when you say "allowed" these things to the hardness of your heart. Your adding more to text that isn't there. Jesus only said that about divorce. Plenty of men God considered righteous had multiple wives and in one cases he even told David he gave them his master wives and then he would of given more as a blessing. Why would it be ok for David to do it but now we can't? Wouldn't make a lot of sense and it would also disprove God changing. If it's there's no violation of this no sin has been committed.
I've watched some of your longer live videos, and I really love how you're careful to study the scriptures within their original context, accounting for semantics and narrative. This is something that I find so many other Christians neglect, both on the sex-positive side, and the traditional side. I really hope someday soon, more people will learn to take a similar, more careful approach as you do.
And I especially love the rabbit holes you lead us into. They're fascinating. Your exploration of 1Corintians 6 was especially helpful to me. "The body is for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body." If the stomach and food will both pass away, then why not the rest of the body? It seems more likely to me that the body which is for the Lord is really the entire Body of Christ. Paul wasn't focusing on the bodies of individual believers.
Thanks for sharing your appreciation of the videos I have put together 🙏 The Bible is such a beautiful book! It is worth spending time with the text to unpack the treasures it carries. But beyond this, I believe it is a gateway to intimacy with God, which is ultimately what drives all of my work with sex and spirituality :)
I was back in 1 Corinthians 6 this week exploring the rabbit hole of the Greek words for body (soma and sarx). Usually Paul chooses the word soma to indicate the broader body of Christ and sarx to talk about biological impulses and "flesh and blood." However, it's not always clear cut. I think sometimes the ancient theologians liked to leave things a mystery so that we would have to wrestle with them and come to a deeper understanding that we could if they made it simple. Thus the interplay between the physical body and the corporate body that you describe here. Would love to hear more of your thoughts on this as you continue your exploration!
I like the way you know so much of the Bible. Being already in my eighties, pretty far from any SEX, but close to "eternal life" (my name for death.) Yes, lets LOVE ONE ANOTHER, rather than keep the divisions by the way we speak to one another.
It is such a beautiful book! I am grateful to hear this call to love one another through how we speak from someone in your generation! You have such a valuable perspective to offer on what's important in life 🙏
I appreciate your take on this. I do, however, think that when it comes to heaven and hell it’s not as much IF we sin (because we all do) but rather what we have done with our sin. What I mean by that is have we chosen to follow Jesus and allow Him to redeem us from our sin.
So I agree with you that it is wrong to say that all gay people go to hell. Just like all straight people don’t go to heaven. Because ultimately it’s about our relationship with Him.
Thank you :) And absolutely! I think your re-frame is really valuable...the point isn't whether a person does something we might think is sinful (everyone does), but whether they are choosing to grow in relationship with God!
Jesus says:
A man will leave his parents and become one with his wife.
That's the model for sex and sexuality .
Jesus says:
Go and sin no more.
He can save anyone and this is His command.
Homosexuality is wrong, and those who persist in it unrepentantly will answer to God. As for hell, there are many roads there, and only Jesus can save anyone from it.
This video is not about deciding the status of homosexuality as a sin or not. There are plenty of other resources for that on both sides of the question.
The model for sexuality that you shared is an interesting area to explore further, though, because most of biblical history showed the inverse relationship: a woman left her family to cleave to her man. Do you have any thoughts on that?
Death is not eternal hell is
That is an interesting distinction. I am reminded of Revelation 20, which describes death and hades themselves being thrown into hell. One of the ideas that fascinates me about eternal life is that it refers to a life that comes from outside of our material, time-bound world. I wonder if we can say there is an idea of eternal death, or a death that is not from this world...
I think the question will all gay ppl go to hell is a silly question. All sin leads to Death. Why bother separating ppl by their sin? 2nd timothy tells us life and immortality was brought to light through the good news. That good news its a free gift.
Agreed. I think I actually point out how silly it is at one point in this video. But people have a lot of silly ideas when it comes to ethics...I think it is because we are afraid of getting the wrong answer.
All people born of Eve where born condemned to hell regardless of there righteousness, all people born again of Jesus' righteosness are not condemned. BUT, you cannot be born again and not born again at the same time. And if you are born again then your understanding of sin will be changed.
Thank your for sharing your thoughts! I hope that these resources are an encouragement to continue a journey of repentance and maturity in how we understand and live out our sexual ethics. I don't expect us to reach the same conclusions about everything, but I do think we take a similar journey of humility as we enter a deeper relationship with God!
I am lost in this presentation....like what is the message....
Anyone want to help out PhilipBuckley with a summary?
I can share that my intention with this video is to draw our attention beyond the question and recognize that we need a better ethical framework for this conversation. Perhaps one like I offer in my book. If you'd like to have a copy, you can find it at www.sacrednotsinful.com
IT IS A SIN, if they do not repent they will die in there sins
Repentance is an incredibly beautiful practice as it is an invitation to ongoing growth and transformation. No matter what your sexual orientation looks like, the call to repentance is an invitation to deeper intimacy with God, which may express itself differently for everyone. The judgement of sin vs. not sin really depends on how you interpret a few texts, which is why I focus on that challenge in this video.
Any sex is a sin when it is illicit, abusive, done without any self control. Gay people will not go to hell if they are Christlike and self controlled. Living a humble life seeking him. This is why God is the judge because he knows a person's intent and true heart.
Mankind is a Tripartite being. 1 body physical flesh that goes back to earth. Sole which is your mind will and emotions And spirt which is intangible like smoke. This the spirt & sole that are. Programmed by God to be same gender loving God said I saw you as you were knit together in your mothers womb. It has nothing to do with the fleshy earth suit we get from our parents God programs our spirt Ana sole witch are infinite & and do not decay✝️✝️✝️🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🌈🌈
Thanks for this theoretical perspective! My work on a theory of Human-Centered Learning suggests a fourth dimension to our humanity that cannot be ignored as it is fundamental to the identity of the Creator. This gives us four parts (the minimum number of geometric points required for a 3-dimensional object): Physical, Spiritual, Psychological (what you call soul in your comment), and Social (relational). In addition to the spiritual/soul level, do you think there might also be some respect in which the body contributes to the experience of attraction toward one gender or another?
Yes the chemical reaction that 2 Men scence with each other upon encountering he other is a physical reaction that comes with their 5 senses of their physical body the 3 rd part of the triune being . Not some 4th dimension that exists in the. Universe along with other dimensions in the afterlife