hepatocyte

Is a woman youth pastor allowed?

Probably.

"typical heartless, gun-waving, immigrant-bashing, environment-hating, jingoistic fundie Christian." There's a string of words after "heartless" and "Christian". It's hard to miss.

This thread is comical.

"How do I show compassion? Well, for starters, I am not cruel to them. I don't call them "leeches" and compare them all to murderous drug dealers and thieves. I don't belittle their plight, or toss out baseless accusations. I pray for them. I live in a border town and my church has active ministries in Mexico...We drive down often to assist families and churches in need. I have has multiple experiences in Mexico ministry." Thank you for this, Axxman. From your other posts, I thought you were the typical heartless, gun-waving, immigrant-bashing, environment-hating, jingoistic fundie Christian.

the muslims are coming! the muslims are coming! what do you use assault rifles for? entertainment, hunting??

Christians suffer temptation. When we allow a random thought to take hold, then we begin to cross the line into sin. It goes from a random thought for which we have no guilt before God--to lust, a sin of the mind. Yes it does. It is the failure to take the thought "captive to the obedience of Christ." Both are things we deal with in life. One is a fact of life that we, as Christians have a way out of. The other is a sin we need to avoid. "Yes it does. It is the failure to take the thought "captive to the obedience of Christ" - Once again, you confuse attraction with active lust of the mind. I'm going to stop arguing now. There's really nothing more I can say to convince some Christians that having the attraction is not voluntary. Attraction is not the same as lust. The more I argue, the more angry I get. I realize everyone here has good intentions. I'll just leave it at that.

"If your thoughts are constantly on money and gaining more of it to satisfy your lust you should feel guilty. If money is your top desire you should feel guilty. " - But it's not though. I'm not talking about greed for money. I'm talking more about little guilty pleasures (ie: hobbies like fixing up cars or motorcycles or whatever).

"Perverted sex is not a temptation for those who haven't willingly toyed with it mentally--giving some sort of permission for it in their minds." - So no good Christian individual would ever be tempted with anything because s/he hasn't willingly toyed with it mentally? With anything? Ever? Please. I think you're confusing temptation with active lusting in the mind. "Homosexuals have crossed the line already" - Having same-sex attractions doesn't take willing effort to have them. "Stop playing with my words--God wants is to willingly follow Him through Jesus--it is a choice." - What does all this have to do with the topic of temptation? Did anyone say you should give in to temptation? Again, fully understand what temptation is and don't confuse it with lust.

I'm afraid I'm going to spend it all at Saks and Neiman Marcus. But in all seriousness, I don't spend all my money on useless things. I do give to charitable causes when I can. But I don't want to be a wandering ascetic either.

No. It's not. Was Jesus tempted because He willingly crossed the line? We are to fight temptation. No where does it ever say temptation means you've willingly crossed the line. "God wants us to choose Him--willingly." - I don't think you can ever do it unwillingly.

We are free because we live our lives according to God's design. Suffering is part of the consequence for veering off into forbidden territory. Those who find Christ can have a complete and instant healing, but mostly we see that there has been psychological damage and fallout---and it often takes time for restoration of that life. That would be a miracle. Miracles do occur. But miracles are not granted to everyone. For most, it's a life of never-ending temptation. Straight people can get married, lest they burn with lust. But for gay people, that is not an option. Why does God allow Christians to suffer from life-long homosexual temptation? Why did God put the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil and forbid Adam and Eve to eat from it? I guess we'll find out in heaven when we ask Him...maybe.

I generally don't like fiction books. But I love science and anthropology books.

I think we've encountered the problem of semantics again. Gay: attraction or behavior?

Does anyone ever feel guilty enjoying the material things in life? The Bible says to not think about the things of this world. I feel guilty when I buy something because I could've bought something less expensive and used the money to help the needy and the poor. Does God want us to be ascetics, or does He want us to enjoy the earthly things as long as they don't lead to sin, greed, etc. I know it's hard to separate greed from material things, can there be a fine balance we can achieve? God blessed Abraham and Solomon with great wealth...but maybe that's just applicable in the Old Testament and that after Jesus we have to focus more on helping the needy and leading them to Christ. I don't know...