THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 13, 1995 TAG: 9508130006
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 37 lines
Craig Ziemba raised an important point in his letter (``Lesbians spared tough questions,'' July 17). Since the article about Alice and Carol had addressed their activity in church, the question is not whether or not God loves them; he does, he loves us all. The question is whether the homosexual lifestyle is holy, righteous and delightful in God's eyes. According to the Bible, it is not.
Nancy Leigh Jobes (letter, ``Accepting Alice and Carol,'' Aug. 1) referred to the Bible story of the woman caught in adultery and pardoned by Jesus, but failed to mention his last words to her: ``From now on, sin no more.'' Did he pardon adultery or did he pardon her because she repented (turned away from) a wrong behavior? The latter.
Furthermore, what if she was engaged in a homosexual activity (Ms. Jobes asks): Would he have pardoned her? If she turned away from that behavior, yes, and he would have ended with the same response to ``sin no more.''
Many of my closest friends in high school were gay, and as friends see a more intimate side, I saw the damage the homosexual lifestyle caused in their lives. I lost one to AIDS in 1992, but before he died I was able to share honestly my concerns for him and God's concerns as well.
To reject a person is to hate them. To support anything they do just to keep their affection is to deceive them, and (in my opinion) worse than hating. A real friend will speak the truth in genuine love.
TIFFANY MATHIAS
Chesapeake, Aug. 3, 1995 by CNB