1 Corinthians 9:19-23 as a Loophole

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MaxPC
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1 Corinthians 9:19-23 as a Loophole

Post by MaxPC »

I'm old; and I've seen and heard most everything in my life. However this is one I haven't heard before:
1 Corinthians 9:19-23 used as a loophole to allow and even promote homosexuality. The person using it is pushing for the Methodist Church to ignore the full Scripture and their own Book of Discipline so that the Methodists will conduct homosexual marriages. They argue that Paul is saying it's a case of being all things to all men. Obviously their point is a case of poor reading and the twisting Scripture.

How would you answer them and what Scripture would you use to refute them?

Here are the verses used:
[bible]1 Corinthians 9, 19-23[/bible]
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Max (Plain Catholic)
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Proverbs 18:2 A fool does not delight in understanding but only in revealing his own mind.
1 Corinthians 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is folly with God
haithabu
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Re: 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 as a Loophole

Post by haithabu »

My question would be, become all things to all men in order to win them to what? To salvation? What kind of salvation is in view here? One that doesn't include repentance or a call to holiness apparently.

The scripture which comes to my mind is from Romans 6:

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?

It seems to me that the person in question here is trying to make room for a defective morality by introducing a defective gospel.
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haithabu
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Re: 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 as a Loophole

Post by haithabu »

The other thing I would say is that the church is called to baptize sinners, but not to baptize sin. It seems to me that by extending the church's blessing on a union which is clearly contrary to God's will the latter would be exactly what the church is doing.

If we were to follow the logic of the argument from 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 then we would have to say that Paul and Barnabas were wrong to rend their garments when the people of Lystra called them Zeus and Hermes and tried to sacrifice to them. Think what a hearing they would have gotten for the gospel if they had become "idolaters to the idolaters" and used their identity as Greek gods to "win" the Lystrans to a new and better way!

But on the contrary, Paul has written:
We have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the words of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
(2 Corinthians 4:2)

The gospel is not well served by hiding from its listeners all of its teachings and implications.
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Sudsy
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Re: 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 as a Loophole

Post by Sudsy »

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)
bolding mine.

Well, here is my opinion and I'm sure it is not the same as others -

I believe most of homosexual drives are from birth and that someday this will be proven by science. However, we all are born with some areas of weakness apart from God's ideal. Sin, imo, affects us all to varying degrees and varying ways through pro-creation. I don't believe we are made just the way God wants us to be. He knows before we are formed what we would have to deal with but God does not make imperfections. And I also believe His grace (enabling power) is sufficient to help us overcome any sin. Anything that falls short of His glory we, through the power of the Holy Spirit, can be victorious over sins.

I believe we should be welcoming all those plagued by this sin and help them to deal with it. Paul, when becoming all things to all people so that they could be saved was not suggesting that he would indulge in things that scriptures say as sin to save them. He wasn't saying he joined in with homosexual activity to reach homosexuals. He was saying that those areas that were not sinful, he would do as others did to open the door to sharing the Gospel with them. Perhaps things like going to the synagogue on the Sabbath like the Jews.

Same sex sexual drives are no different than various other mind and other physical issues we can be born with that we need God's grace to live with. It may be pleasurable for an arsonist to set things on fire, yet they must overcome this flaw in their thinking. Those attracted to child porn and other areas just need to admit that the sinful desires in their mind they were born with are ones they need to fight against and the Christians not plagued with these need their support in this battle. To give way and support same sex marriage is not the answer.
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MaxPC
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Re: 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 as a Loophole

Post by MaxPC »

These are excellent responses to this latest effort to justify a sinful lifestyle. Thank you.

My perspective on those issues and agendas is that we do our homework and do our best to counter such erroneous interpretations. If a seamless Biblical garment is presented after thoughtful study, then God will bless those efforts.
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Max (Plain Catholic)
Mt 24:35
Proverbs 18:2 A fool does not delight in understanding but only in revealing his own mind.
1 Corinthians 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is folly with God
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Josh
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Re: 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 as a Loophole

Post by Josh »

The New Testament has regular, frequent references to how engaging in homosexual activity is immoral, sinful, and that people who do such will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Some people don't believe in the whole New Testament. I don't think it's worthwhile to debate or discuss religion with such people.

See if you can show love towards them instead, and show a godly lifestyle and example.
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