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Donald E. Hester

A Modern Retelling of John 8:1-11

by Donald E. Hester
Donald E. Hester
Husband, father, and adventurer. A computer science instructor who dabbles in t
User is currently offline
on Tuesday, 14 February 2012
Ethics 0 Comments

USF

A Modern Retelling of John 8:1-11

This is simply a modern retelling of John 8:1-11 about the woman caught in adultery.  I think this speaks for itself.

A Man Caught in Homosexuality

Jesus returned to the City, but early the next morning he was back again at Church. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them.  As he was speaking, the religious teachers and leaders brought a man who had been caught in the act of sodomy. They put him in front of the crowd.

“Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this man was caught in the act of sodomy. The Bible says this sin is punishable by death. What do you say?”

They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.

When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the man. Then Jesus stood up again and said to the man, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”

“No, Lord,” he said.

And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”

Notes

Based on the New Living Translation

I should probably make a number of qualifying statements for this but I think it stands on its own.  Ten pages of footnotes would detract from the power of the simplicity.  You can bring up a number of objections to my retelling, but, I believe it is theologically sound.  I pick this particular issue out of many that I could have.  I could just as easily retell the story with any number of other sins.  The woman who had an abortion, the couple that got divorced etc…  This passage came to mind while I was reading a blog post entitled, “Is Homosexuality the Worst Sin of All?”

Tags: Contemporary, Sociology, Sexuality Studies, Morality, Ethics, Bible, Hypocrisy, Sin, GLBT
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Donald E. Hester

Point-Counterpoint: Gay Marriage

by Donald E. Hester
Donald E. Hester
Husband, father, and adventurer. A computer science instructor who dabbles in t
User is currently offline
on Thursday, 09 February 2012
Current Events 0 Comments

Point-Counterpoint: Gay Marriage

If you know me, you know I like to hear all sides of a debate. I think it is wise to gather as much data as possible and review all the evidence for and against any issue. That way you can then make an educated assessment and decision. Making decision based on your emotions is extremely dangerous. I like to take some time to think through a position and don’t rush to judgment. I don’t get fall for slick campaign rhetoric or user car salesmen tactics.

I found one of these videos very emotionally compelling and the other more logically compelling.

The first video is of Zach Wahls, a 19-year-old University of Iowa student spoke about the strength of his family during a public forum on House Joint Resolution 6 in the Iowa House of Representatives.

The second video is a response from Brett Kunkle of Stand to Reason.

What do you think about each of these videos?

Tags: Politics, Sexuality Studies, GLBT, Family, Civil Rights, Apologetics, Marriage
Hits: 272 Continue reading →
Donald E. Hester

Ted Haggard and Ray Boltz Gay Christians

by Donald E. Hester
Donald E. Hester
Husband, father, and adventurer. A computer science instructor who dabbles in t
User is currently offline
on Thursday, 12 February 2009
Christianity 0 Comments

alt

Recently two very prominent Christians who turn out to be gay. Ted Haggard who was very outspoken against homosexuality now admits he suffers from same sex attraction (SSA). Ray Boltz a prominent Christian musician says he has always struggled with it and was tired of living a lie. It almost seems like it is epidemic within Christianity.

As an internal discussion between Christians what should we do? Should we ignore them? Should the church excommunicate them? Or maybe have a big scarlet G put on their shirts to were around town. In the past the church tied them up and set them on fire. Should we do that? The church has a reputation for shooting its' wounded. Is that what will happen to these two men? Will they be discarded like trash? That is what the rest of the world expects us to do.
 
What is really the epidemic within Christianity?
 
Christians are supposed to be known for our love for one another. So where is the love? Should we not stand beside them in their trials? If Christians are to love their enemies, how much more should we love one another? How do we glorify God by casting away His elect?
 
No wonder the rest of the world thinks Christians are crazy. Where do we go from here?
Tags: Sin, Morality, Ethics, Sexuality Studies, GLBT
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Donald E. Hester

Church v. Homosexuality

by Donald E. Hester
Donald E. Hester
Husband, father, and adventurer. A computer science instructor who dabbles in t
User is currently offline
on Sunday, 25 January 2009
Current Events 0 Comments

altThe second post in a series exploring homosexuality and Christianity.

Redmond Pastor Ken Hutcherson of Antioch Bible Church is trying to influence the rights of Microsoft to provide benefits to Gay & Lesbian employees. A group of Microsoft employees started a FaceBook group as a protest. Do they think the Microsoft, a global company, will change because of Hutcherson?
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=6621894751&ref=nf
 
In California Churches across the county supported Proposition 8 to change the constitution of California to define marriage as only between a man and a woman.
 
Across America Christians take to the street with signs, claiming homosexuals are condemned.
 
Atheists use this issue to claim Theists are wrong or at least hypocritical.
http://www.wayofthemind.org/2007/01/19/why-do-christians-hate-homosexuals-but-not-shellfish-eaters/
 
These issues don't sit well with me and raise questions in my mind.
 
The first question that comes to mind is, 'What gives Christians the right to impose our morality on non-believers?' As a Christian why do I care so much, what someone does in the privacy of their own home with another consenting adult. I have heard Christian who fears that God will stop blessing America if we don't stop them. I really don't think that is a scriptural reason. I know some Christians will cite the story of Sodom and Gomorrah as a proof text. I think they forget to look at the rest of the book. In Ezekiel 16: 49-50 the reason of the destruction was given.
 
"Sodom's sins were pride, laziness, and gluttony, while the poor and needy suffered outside her door. She was proud and did loathsome things, so I wiped her out, as you have seen."
 
Starting at Genesis God spells out why he blesses. Abraham was bless so that all the families of the world would be blessed.   To me if God takes His bless away it will be because we are no longer giving to those in need and not of His mission, 'that the world may know'.
 
Another question I have is should Christians influence a secular government to impose our morality? I know the nation has to have something to which it gains its morality from. I certainly would not want the nation’s morals to come from Stalin, Hitler or Moa. Does that mean I want the morals of a nation to come from the Vatican or the Church of England? This is one of the most difficult questions and one that I don't have a satisfactory answer for.
 
As for the presumptuous and possibly blasphemous Christians who claim homosexuals are going to hell I say:
1. To the Atheist, Christians come in all flavors you can't judge all by the actions of a few. You weaken your argument when you use hasty generalizations for your claims. Even if someone is a hypocrite it does not mean or follow that their claims or premises are incorrect. The recourse of a weak argument is to sling mud.
2. To those Christians who claim homosexuals are going to hell. How dare you! There is only One who will determine who will go to Hell and who won't. There is only one Judge. Last time I check it was not you! In addition, there is only one reason why people will not go to Heaven.
 
As I recall, the people that Jesus had the harshest criticism for was not the whore or the tax collector. He saved His harshest criticism for the religious leaders who claimed to be without sin.
 
Further proof. Nowhere in the New Testament does God, Jesus, Paul or the Apostles tell Christians to tell the Greeks to stop homosexual acts. Something they all were doing at the time. To me, that speaks volumes.
 
If I am wrong, I am wrong, please correct me. I am using the brain God gave me and the Christian reaction to homosexuality seems wrong. It does not seem to represent a Just yet Forgiving God.
 
Tags: Morality, Ethics, GLBT, Politics, Sexuality Studies, Marriage
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Donald E. Hester

To be or not to be? Gay is the question.

by Donald E. Hester
Donald E. Hester
Husband, father, and adventurer. A computer science instructor who dabbles in t
User is currently offline
on Sunday, 18 January 2009
Current Events 0 Comments

alt

I want to take some time and explore different perspectives on homosexuality.� I have not spent any time researching homosexuality from a Biblical perspective.� The funny thing is I know Christians who have good reasons to have opposing positions.�


I think that in today’s culture it is important to have an educated opinion on a subject that is causing a great deal of separation.� Currently, I don’t have an opinion only because I have heard very convincing and contradicting opinions from many Christians.� I really don’t want to take the easy way out and just except someone else’s opinion.


As I work through this, I will end up with a series of blogs and hopefully I will receive comments that will help me explore this issue in ways I would not have conceived.

Some of the issues I think that need to be addressed are:

  • Is homosexuality a sin?
  • Can you be a Christian and a Homosexual?
  • How should Christians treat homosexuals?
  • Should Christians enforce their morals on non-Christians?
  • Gay marriage, the State’s and Church’s role in marriage.

�

Stay tuned for more posts on the subject and please let me know your opinion.� This is a very divisive topic and one where emotions tend to run wild.� My intention is to learn and reserve judgment until I feel confident I have an educated opinion.

Tags: Politics, Morality, Theology, Sin, Ethics, GLBT, Sexuality Studies
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