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Paperback
Publisher: Moody Publishers
Do you know what the Bible says about marriage? About homosexuality? Are you ready with an answer - with all gentleness and reverence - and yet wavering from scriptural truth? Do you know how to take your beliefs to the streets and courtrooms? Dr. Erwin W. Lutzer, pastor of the Moody Church in Chicago and esteemed theologian, will soon release in response to the attacks that marriage has sustained over the past several months and years. His answers will help you formulate your own answers to outspoken opponents of the biblical definition of marriage. Be ready. Be biblical. Be responsive.
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| Fear and loathing... in the Church |
| Customer Rating: 1 out of 5 |
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I like Erwin Lutzer. I think he is a great speaker and writer. There are, however, several statements in this book with which I must take issue.
First, he starts from the point of view that homosexuality is a choice. I am so tired of hearing the term "sexual preference," as if people could choose their sexual orientation. Nobody who has actually talked to a gay person could actually believe this. I'm sorry, it just isn't true, no matter how much we might like it to be.
When discussing whether homosexuals can change and become heterosexual, he points to several ministries and "thousands of testimonies" from those who have had their desires transformed. He says that gays write-off these stories by saying that the individuals involved were never truly homosexual. Again, anyone who has actually spoken to a gay person knows that is untrue. Gays and other reasonable minded people believe that they are living in denial, not that they were never gay to begin with.
The research overall is sloppy. Lutzer depends exclusively on sources who agree with him and ignores sources that might have a view that is different than his own. Worst of all, he attempts to incite panic and fear among evangelicals over the prospect of legalized gay marriage. He has no proof of the disaster he foretells. Lutzer does not provide documentation from countries in Europe where gay marriage has been legal for many years with no ill effects to "traditional" marriage.
I know that this is a volatile issue and that feelings run strong on both sides of the debate. Unfortunately, this book cannot be seen as help for reasonable people who want to follow Jesus and "do the right thing."
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| Is the US a secular state or not? |
| Customer Rating: 1 out of 5 |
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Erwin Lutzer and his supporters deliberately ignore the main point - a secular democracy is supposed to be different from a Christian church. I fully agree with Lutzer that if you are a Christian belonging to a sect that disagrees with same-sex marriage (many Christian churches perform and bless same-sex marriages and unions), you should have the right not to marry and your church should have the right not to perform such a marriage. Churches and individuals do have these rights in all democracies (such as Canada, Spain England, France, the Scandinavian countries and most other European countries)that recognize same-sex marriages and unions.
The question is: why should a secular state be defined by some Christians' interpretation of their own religion? Either the US is a secular state or it's not. If it is to be governed by the Bible, then the Constitution should be amended to redefine the US as a Christian theocracy (Christians can then battle over which interpretation of the Bible should prevail), and non-Christians who do not wish to live in a theocracy should relocate.
Until that happens, ALL arguments from the Bible on any question whatsoever are completely irrelevant to formation of state laws that govern citizens, including non-Christian citizens.
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| Pretty good book |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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To be honest, this book gets 4 stars, but I couldn't help but note the very low ratings it got from those who, apparently, disagree with the author's argument. That is fine. But labeling someone a hate-filled bigot, just because they express their opinion (which happens to disagree with your own) is not discourse at all, but a short circuit of discourse using very emotion-filled language that does little to address the particulars of the argument. This has been the problem with alot of the homosexual-marriage related debate, on both sides, there has been alot of fear, defensiveness, finger-pointing, and unrestrained anger. None of those things will serve the cause of truth (though they will most certainly help to further polarize us). Erwin Lutzer makes an argument (in my opinion, a very good one). If you disagree with him, propose a counter-argument and meet every one of his objections head-on and demonstrate the flaw in his thinking (if you do so, I promise to read your book too!). But don't label him a bigot just because you disagree with him; please, for all our sakes, don't do that. Lutzer is very much upfront in redressing the Church for being so insensitive, and sometimes, downright hateful. He calls upon her to repent of her genuine evils toward homosexual persons. He calls for Christians to love homosexuals, to end the sinful rancor, and work for the redemption of us all in the belief that Christ really has the power to make a new creation. Upon reading some of the reviews on the other hand, I began to wonder if I accidentally skipped the chapter entitled "Burn the Heretics and Gays!" So I checked again, and it is still not there! There is obviously much fundamental disagreement on this issue. That is fine. Are we willing to talk to one another and seek consensus together, or not?
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| The truth ? |
| Customer Rating: 1 out of 5 |
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Interestingly enough I'm not opposed to this book or for this book. I am not one to bash what others believe. You want to believe what this man says is right and true to the word of God, be my guest. But if you did read this and only this book. I urge you to read this book " What the bible really says about homosexuality". This book was written by a very intelligent man. One that shows us the ways of interpreting the bible. And also the hypocritical ways of thinking that are pushed foward when certain people talk about homosexuality in the bible. I learned a great deal from the book I listed above. And if you want to grow in your thoughts towards this subject than please read this. Its not even about same sex marriage.. but it does hit the core of what the religious opposers try and push in todays society. And also I would like to add a little side note to what one reviewer wrote in here previously. Please don't " love the sinner hate the sin" Its not worth your time. You have to love someone for who they are as a whole. And being against homosexuality and yet "peacefull" towards homosexuals is in all it good heartedness , wrong. You need to love me for me, and yes I'm gay. If you oppose my way of living, breathing and fullfilling my true idenity then I don't need a non-supporter who wants to make themself feel good for being sympathetic to homosexuals in my life. Thanks !
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| Finally, the TRUTH |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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Well, I have to admit I was one of those liberals before I ordered this fine audio CD and realized that this country is going to Hell in a handbasket.
While same sex marriage may only be legal in one state and will likely be made illegal there in the near future, you should not rest easy. What the same sex couples don't want you to know is that they plan on kidnapping your children because they can't make children of their own. I learned from this audio CD that's it's already happening across the country.
In addition, same sex women are just trying to show that they don't need a man and that is patently false. Women need authoritative men, and I am so blessed to have a woman in my life who knows her place as an uneducated housewife. Ain't no gays gonna take her or my boy Junior away from me.
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