The Upper Room

C. Ross

8:02 PM

@HedgeMage ok, but it's not the flat 3/5 it used to be ok

jrista

I get the feeling this is going to be a very difficult site.

wax eagle

@jrista yes it is. there are plenty of people around here who disagree. Even the ones who have fairly similar view points

jrista

Biblical teachings and beliefs are so watered down and self-directed/self-supporting these days.

If this site does not take a stance somewhere, draw a line somewhere, and come up with some kind of definition of generally foundational, canonical, biblical teachings.

Then I don't know what the purpose of the site is.

wax eagle

@jrista academic education mostly...but thats the SE model

jrista

Yeah, I guess.

Not really sure thats possible though.

On a question I answered, there is another answer that is primarily an opinion, based on a rather lax opinion and watery view of the bible

Thats not really academic...

wax eagle

8:09 PM

@jrista nope, and we are going to have to start killings those. Which question?

jrista

Its not backed up with any references or bible verses...but it is a view that more and more people today hold.

wax eagle

@jrista remember that if its not an answer you have 2 good options, downvotes, and if its particularly egregious flags.

jrista

So I don't really know where it falls in regards to acceptable answers.

HedgeMage

@jrista You have a member of the SE Community Team sitting right here... link it and I'll take a look :)

jrista

I did downvote, and I asked for references/bible verses as backup.

@HedgeMage I don';t think its something you guys need to look at. I think its just an example of the nature of this site. Christianity is such a muddy, ephemeral thing that people twist and mold to serve their own purposes. I guess my point is...can this site actually BE academic given that that is the modern nature of Christianity.

HedgeMage

8:13 PM

You tell me. :) I will say that so far things are going better than I predicted. How much better and if better will last are yet to be seen.

jrista

Yeah, I guess we'll see.

3

Q: What is the reasoning behind why some Christians believe it is moral to be a homosexual?

I know this my start a firestorm, so I will be careful here. I believe that the Bible states that homosexuality is immoral. I also believe that it does NOT condemn them to hell (a sin is a sin is a sin), when a person receives Christ in them they are saved and ALL their sins are forgiven. ...

sexuality

wax eagle

@jrista If the site works as its supposed to (all SE sites really). Those answers you are talking about will move to the bottom and be ignored by general passers by.

jrista

Yeah, thats possible.

I am actually expecting my own answer to get down-voted into oblivion on the long run.

wax eagle

@jrista it hasn't yet, and there will be enough conservatives around that it should stay near the top. Note that the user in question hasn't done much scripture citing in their answers, not to say its bad, but I wouldn't expect it to change either.

jrista

yeah, I don't expect it to change. But the bold statement at the top really beggs a biblical backing.

wax eagle

8:19 PM

@jrista yeah considering there is direct scriptural refutation. The burden is truly on the folks who think its Ok to prove that the NT passages forbidding it somehow dont apply. Its the same with women pastors IMO...but thats an entirely different debate

jrista

yeah

that is another interesting debate.

I actually had a question about that myself...thats from Corinthians, right?

A number of years ago, I was trying to help a then-friend of mine start a church. There were several occasions where his wife preached to the whole church, and the verse from Corinthians kept coming to mind.

wax eagle

@jrista yes I believe it is.

jrista

I have never really been sure whether her teaching the whole church was right or not, but my inclination, according to Paul's letter, was that it was not.

Their church eventually failed, and I've wondered if I should have said something about it back then.

wax eagle

@jrista yeah I can't really see how it actually is. Other than cultural norms changing. However I don't see that as reasonable justification

@jrista not likely the cause. Many churches do just fine with women pastors.

jrista

Well, there is always a reason for the teachings in the Bible. They are included for specific reasons.

wax eagle

8:22 PM

@jrista Agreed

jrista

And I don't think the fact that the Corinthians verse being included is simply an outdated cultural thing...I think God has a specific purpose behind having men be the pastors of mankind, and limiting women to teaching women.

I just, don't fully know what it is.

wax eagle

@jrista I absolutely agree. I do however think that sometimes our churches (my denomination in particular) take it too far. I see the basis for no women elders, same as pastors. However Deacons is another matter. There is good solid scriptural evidence that the early church had female deacons)...my denomination doesnt allow them

jrista

Yeah.

heh, its a rather convoluted, complicated mess, isn't it

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