[Peace-discuss] RE:Wesley etc.

[Karen Medina]

Phil Stinard wrote:
 > He told the Pharisees "let he who is without sin cast the first 
stone" at the adultress, but then He told the adultress, "Go and sin no 
more."  I would apply the same standard to homosexuality, speaking the 
truth in love.  As Bob said, you have to use your brain in order to 
interpret the Bible.

My interpretation: Jesus loved the adulteress. Jesus loved the people 
who were holding the stones. He wanted them to love each other rather 
than to inflict harm; both groups were inflicting harm. Intimacy and 
sexuality per se were not the enemies here. Sexuality can be misused, it 
can be a way to use people or to hurt people. Sexual relationships can 
and should be beautiful expressions of deep caring for another human 
being. In the case of the adulteress, it was being used as something 
else. We should be careful when we judge others, for we all make 
mistakes. Christ was calling us to care deeply for each other. He was 
not telling us not to have intimate relationships. He was telling us to 
love one another, deeply and strongly, to the point where we have 
compassion.

-karen medina