I don't know how to apologize.
Dear Marty,
I've spet a lot of time praying, reading, and thinking on this matter - not our discussion, but the tone of it. I guess I seem to come across as wrong no matter what I say. Perhaps it is this Internet medium- it allows no contact face to face, only words. And as you say, pretty words say very little.
If my child were standing in the middle of the road, I would of course yell & scream for them to move. But some children are deaf and have to be moved by other means - perhaps pulled out by a concerned parent, or throw a lifeline by someone they trust.
A lot of times I have problems following your posts, and I think maybe this has added to the confusion. We don't seem to communicate successfully. I don't know how to answer your question "Are you an A B C D" because I don't know what you are saying or asking. I'm sorry, I'm not trying to ignore your questions, I just can't follow all of your arguments.
I apologize for angering you, for angering others. I wish to be removed from this forum not because I feel I have posted anything shameful, but rather because I feel that my presence here is not furthering the gospel of Jesus Christ... instead, I seem to anger you and the others, and that is not helping the message of the good news get out.
I'll state for the record, my position, and then I'll stop visiting. My web page has my e-mail address if anyone wished to contact me (including you). If you think I'm running away, okay.
I believe the Bible to contain the mind of God. I do not take every sentence literally in the Bible (such as Jesus saying "I am the vine" which I think is pretty clearly a metaphor) but I do interpret the Bible very conservatively. I read Greek and Hebrew and use this to study the scriptures - I use the BHS for Hebrew studies and the Nestle-Alland text for Greek, as I think these are generally more "accurate" than the Textus-Receptus used for the KJV.
I believe Jesus Christ to be the Word of God (the Logos). I believe homosexuality is a sin, I do not believe that homosexuals can "marry" in the Christian understanding and I would never perform a homosexual marriage.
I do not believe it is right to kill or injure homosexuals.
I believe that like all sinners (including myself) they are people of worth and value to God and that is why Jesus came to earth to save us all.
I believe salvation is available to all who have faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God. I do not believe that a simple "profession of faith" consitutes faith - I think we have to do more than mouth words. I base this on the epistle of James. Likewise, I do not think we can "earn" salvation... it is the free gift of God - I just think that a saving faith takes more than saying a few "magic words", it takes hard work and effort.
I believe it is right to point to sin and condemn it openly. I believe that this site & its siblings try to do that, though I think sometimes the discussion is misguided and more likely to cause strife within the body of Christ than education of non-Christians. I do not believe that posting in guestbooks is a very effective witness to the possibility of a saving love in Jesus Christ. I think Gabi was moved further away from the possibility of hearing and receiving the gospel, not because she has itching ears, but because she is a mother trying to cope with the death of her son.
I hope and prayer you will accept my apology. I've tried to answer your last question clearly. May God bless your ministry and your life.
Yours in Christ -
Roger Baker
http://www.rogerbaker.net