Archive for the ‘Bible’ Category

Timothy & Corinthians Notes: What Does the Bible Say About Gay?

Tuesday, December 8th, 2009

Last Thursday we enjoyed our last night of the What Does the Bible Say About Gay? Bible study. Predictably, as many questions were raised as were answered – attesting to the fact that the Bible isn’t as clear in its condemnation of homosexuality as some might have us believe.

In both 1 Corinthians and 1 Timothy, Paul uses two words that many modern translations render as “homosexual.” For one of the words, this is a very modern (post 1946) translation. For the other, the word Paul uses is one he made up for the occasion, making it difficult to find what his contemporaries thought it meant.

If you would like to explore this idea with us, click here and download the notes from last week’s word study.

Thanks to everyone who participated in What Does the Bible Say About Gay?. Just because the study is over, however, doesn’t mean the conversation has to be…

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What Does the Bible Say About Gay: who are “they” & why did God give “them” over?

Monday, November 9th, 2009

Every action has an equal and opposite reaction:

If you eat an ice-cream cone, you smile.
If you push a child of his bike, he cries.
If you put laundry bleach on your hair… well, you get the idea.

This if/then style is the basis for Paul’s logic in Romans 1:18-32, an argument that has been used for centuries to condemn homosexuality. It basically states that “because somebody did X, God made Y happen.”

But what if X does not = homosexuality? How would that change our understanding of the condemnation we see in Y?

Confused? Read Romans 1:18-32 and then come to Tom and Regina’s house this Thursday night (Nov 12) for What Does the Bible Say About Gay? The fun starts at 7:30. And this week, bring a pen!

If you need directions, email us at ccfb.biblestudy@gmail.com.

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Posted in Bible, Brooklyn, CCfB, ethics | 3 Comments »

The Abominable Notes: What Does the Bible Say About Gay?

Tuesday, October 20th, 2009

If the abominable snowman is the biggest, worst snowman, are the sins the Bible calls “abominations” the biggest, worst sins?

In our bi-weekly Bible study, What Does the Bible Say About Gay?, we’re digging through history, language, culture, and law to find out why the Bible says what it says about homosexuality.

Last week we discussed two passages in Leviticus:

“You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination.” (Leviticus 18:22)

“If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination.” (Leviticus 20:13)

These verses have been scrawled on protest signs, shouted at demonstrations, and preached from pulpits… usually in an attempt to remind gays of their abominable state. But is it possible that an “abomination” might not be the snowman of sins?

You can find out more by reading an outline from our last discussion. Click here to read the notes.

Join us on October 29 for our next Bible study! Details will be posted here next week.

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Posted in Bible, teaching | 3 Comments »

What Does the Bible Say About Gay: The Law

Tuesday, October 13th, 2009

Two weeks ago we began our bi-weekly Bible Study, What Does the Bible Say About Gay? We discussed the story of Sodom and Gomorrah and tried to dig through several thousand years of cultural shifts and changing language to see what this story really teaches – whether it’s about two ancient cities that were destroyed because they were full of gay men pursuing peaceful, mutually fulfilling relationships… or whether there is something more to see.

If you’d like to poke through the outline and notes from our study about Sodom and Gomorrah, you can download them here.

This Thursday (October 15), after we chat about what we studied last week, we’ll delve into the Old Testament Law. Several thousand years ago, when the Jews were compiling their rules for holy living, somebody (and we’re not exactly sure who) said it was an “abomination” for a “man to lie with a man like he lies with a woman.” (Leviticus 18:22 and Leviticus 20:13)

What does it mean to be an abomination? Do these scriptures condemn homosexuality as we see it in contemporary society? If we take scripture seriously – and at CCfB we do take scripture seriously – we must wrestle with these issues and decide… What Does the Bible Say About Gay?

Join us this Thursday at Tom and Regina’s. Learn something. Teach something. Be challenged by something.

The fun starts at 7:30. Email us at ccfb.biblestudy@gmail.com for directions.

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New Bible Study: What does the Bible say about Gay?

Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009

Christ’s Church for Brooklyn prides itself on many things.  We’re proud of (and grateful to) Marcus for bringing his heart-attack special to our once-a-month brunches.  We’re proud of our kids for waving their arms when they sing “God Made the Big Round Sun.”  And we’re especially proud of ourselves for being willing to openly and honestly discuss issues on which we sometimes disagree.

That’s why we’re also proud to announce a new bi-weekly Bible study… What Does the Bible Say about Gay?

At CCfB, we have a committed group of gay/lesbian members who feel loved, welcomed, and accepted by our church (trust me, we do).  As such, we think it’s important for our church to better understand how gay Christians interpret what the Bible says about homosexuality.

During What Does the Bible Say about Gay? we’ll present the ideas that gay theologians use to reconcile their sexuality with their spirituality.  We’ll study scripture, Biblical history, and even do a little entry-level textual analysis.

There will be plenty of room to discuss and question both sides of this controversial issue.  We won’t try to change people’s minds… just inform people’s minds.

Come join us on Thursday Oct 1 at Tom and Regina’s house.
(email Us at ccfb.biblestudy@gmail.com for directions)

Comment below to let us know you plan to attend!

What: bi-weekly Bible study: What Does the Bible Say about Gay?

When: Thursday, Oct 1 (7:30pm – 9:00pm)

Where: Tom and Regina’s house.  Email Us at ccfb.biblestudy@gmail.com for directions!

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Posted in Bible, CCfB, education | 4 Comments »