[ChristopherHall]

Here's a modified version of another post I had posted elsewhere,
http://www.apostolicfriendsforum.com...&postcount=294

We had an interesting study tonight in our men's meeting. The title of the discussion was, "Loving Flawed People". We covered the following passage:

1Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.
2And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.
3And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,
4They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.
5Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?
6This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.
7So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
8And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
9And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
10When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
11She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more." - John 8:1-11

Notice that Jesus didn't condone the sin...however, he didn't allow the Pharisees to criminalize the sinner in his presence in their efforts to accuse him either. Instead he convicted their own hearts by reminding them that they too are sinners.

I'm taking a little liberty here, but could it also read?....

1But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 3The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a man caught in homosexuality. They made him stand before the group 4and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this man was caught in the act of homosexuality. 5In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such men. Now what do you say?" 6They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at him." 8Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
9At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the man still standing there. 10Jesus straightened up and asked him, "Man, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"
11"No one, sir," he said.
"Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."

Homosexuality is a sin. All sin alienates from a Holy God. Homosexuals typically have multiple partners and run the greatest risk of contracting disease. The depression and guilt over this sin can crush the soul. That is why I hate the sin. However, I'm not ashamed to profess that I love the homosexual sinner. Those of us who are straight will never know how horrible it is to be in their condition. Although the world sees them as "gay", they are often the most tormented souls on earth.

Saint of God, you're a sinner saved by God's grace and covered in his mercies. All your "righteousness" is as filthy rags in God's sight. You've not impressed God in any way. You're no more righteous than the homosexual sinner in God's eyes. Both you and the homosexual are immeasurably debased, even on your good days. And I have news for you...the very same blood that cried out in mercy for your salvation cries out for the homosexual sinner.