"Incredible things are happening" in the world of AI

[Bootstrap]

Objection, your honor: assumes facts not entered into evidence.

Which of these biblical texts address same-sex attraction itself? If they do not, I think the above statement is true.

27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Matthew 5:27-28 (ESV)

So if this connection between attraction and conduct is made concerning adultery, might we not expect a similar connection in the same-sex scenario?

First off, I think what we are doing here is exactly the right thing to do with any teaching or AI summary - look at it to see if it is biblical or not.

To me, it’s important to distinguish between simply recognizing a woman’s attractiveness, feeling heterosexual desire, courting lust in your heart, and actually committing adultery. These aren’t all the same. Noticing beauty or feeling attraction isn’t wrong in itself. What crosses the line is when you set your heart on it—when you nurture those thoughts, dwell on them, or turn them into fantasies. That’s where it becomes lust, and that’s what I believe is out of bounds.

I would expect it to be similar in the same-sex scenario.

[JohnH]

So if this connection between attraction and conduct is made concerning adultery, might we not expect a similar connection in the same-sex scenario?

A legalist could point to "his" and "her" in this passage and (rightly) say it's not talking about SSA.

[Silentreader]

Which of these biblical texts address same-sex attraction itself? If they do not, I think the above statement is true.

27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Matthew 5:27-28 (ESV)

So if this connection between attraction and conduct is made concerning adultery, might we not expect a similar connection in the same-sex scenario?

First off, I think what we are doing here is exactly the right thing to do with any teaching or AI summary - look at it to see if it is biblical or not.

To me, it’s important to distinguish between simply recognizing a woman’s attractiveness, feeling heterosexual desire, courting lust in your heart, and actually committing adultery. These aren’t all the same. Noticing beauty or feeling attraction isn’t wrong in itself. What crosses the line is when you set your heart on it—when you nurture those thoughts, dwell on them, or turn them into fantasies. That’s where it becomes lust, and that’s what I believe is out of bounds.

I would expect it to be similar in the same-sex scenario.

It is good to know where the lines are. In a local church where I have family attending it is beginning to become evident that justifying same sex attraction "because it doesn't involve lust" was only the opening salvo. Our minds are funny that way.

[JohnH]

It is good to know where the lines are. In a local church where I have family attending it is beginning to become evident that justifying same sex attraction "because it doesn't involve lust" was only the opening salvo. Our minds are funny that way.

It's analogous to justifying opposite-sex attraction to somebody else's wife. I think Jesus was pretty clear that accepting "attraction" to people you ought not to be attracted to (to quote John the Baptist, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife") is the first step in accepting and justifying sin.

Likewise, most would consider it odd if I started to proclaim that I identify as someone attracted to my brother's wife, and that this is an important part of who I am. Perhaps there are conferences to go to aimed at Christians who are attracted to their brothers' wives, called "revoice", where you gather with lots of other people similarly attracted, and plus you invite your brother's wife to attend too, many of whom do. You all go stay in a hotel and a conference centre somewhere but claim this event helps you get closer to God.

It should be clear what comes next.

[R7ehr]

Or justifying a desire to do anything else that is inherently sinful or wicked.
Keeping an illicit or evil desire or attraction in one’s heart, does not get you off the hook, just because you don’t act upon it. If you hate, that’s likened to killing. Covetousness. Jealousy.
There are plenty of Christians who understand this, and remind us that “it’s the heart that matters”. Oddly enough, it is generally heard while excusing an action.

[JohnH]

Or justifying a desire to do anything else that is inherently sinful or wicked.
Keeping an illicit or evil desire or attraction in one’s heart, does not get you off the hook, just because you don’t act upon it. If you hate, that’s likened to killing. Covetousness. Jealousy.
There are plenty of Christians who understand this, and remind us that “it’s the heart that matters”. Oddly enough, it is generally heard while excusing an action.

Likewise, you can pray and ask God for help to rid of you evil desires. I find I have to this with feelings of jealousy / envy / offense / holding a grudge. Like an illicit attraction, if allowed to fester it eventually becomes action.

[Ken]

It is good to know where the lines are. In a local church where I have family attending it is beginning to become evident that justifying same sex attraction "because it doesn't involve lust" was only the opening salvo. Our minds are funny that way.

It's analogous to justifying opposite-sex attraction to somebody else's wife. I think Jesus was pretty clear that accepting "attraction" to people you ought not to be attracted to (to quote John the Baptist, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife") is the first step in accepting and justifying sin.

Likewise, most would consider it odd if I started to proclaim that I identify as someone attracted to my brother's wife, and that this is an important part of who I am. Perhaps there are conferences to go to aimed at Christians who are attracted to their brothers' wives, called "revoice", where you gather with lots of other people similarly attracted, and plus you invite your brother's wife to attend too, many of whom do. You all go stay in a hotel and a conference centre somewhere but claim this event helps you get closer to God.

It should be clear what comes next.

I think you should no more be attracted to your brother’s wife as you should your sister’s husband. That seems pretty simple to me.

[JohnH]

I think you should no more be attracted to your brother’s wife as you should your sister’s husband. That seems pretty simple to me.

Seems reasonable to me.