(Bible translations updated July 10, 2023 courtesy of jw.org New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures)
( I posted a variation of the following on Reddit:)
8 Now we know that the Law is fine if one applies it properly,9 recognizing that law is made, not for a righteous man, but for those who are lawlessmand rebellious, ungodly and sinners, disloyal* and profane, murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, manslayers,10 sexually immoral people, men who practice homosexuality, kidnappers, liars, perjurers,* and everything else that is in opposition to the wholesome* teachingn11 according to the glorious good news of the happy God, with which I was entrusted.o
-1 Timothy 1:9-10
Jehovah has been trying to address the various ways sexual immorality has evolved throughout time. If you use the JW Library' Bible App, sexual immorality is mentioned 70 times in the Bible.
However, I did read an account in Acts Chapter 15, which talks of a relationship between Paul and Barnabas.
15 Now some men came down from Ju·deʹa and began to teach the brothers: “Unless you get circumcised according to the custom of Moses,+ you cannot be saved.” 2 But after quite a bit of dissension and disputing by Paul and Barʹna·bas with them, it was arranged for Paul, Barʹna·bas, and some of the others to go up to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem+ regarding this issue.*
3 So after being escorted partway by the congregation, these men continued on through both Phoe·niʹcia and Sa·marʹi·a, relating in detail the conversion of people of the nations and bringing great joy to all the brothers. 4 On arriving in Jerusalem, they were kindly received by the congregation and the apostles and the elders, and they related the many things God had done by means of them. 5 But some of those of the sect of the Pharisees who had become believers stood up from their seats and said: “It is necessary to circumcise them and command them to observe the Law of Moses.”
6 So the apostles and the elders gathered together to look into this matter. 7 After much intense discussion* had taken place, Peter rose and said to them: “Men, brothers, you well know that from early days God made the choice among you that through my mouth people of the nations should hear the word of the good news and believe.+ 8 And God, who knows the heart,+ bore witness by giving them the holy spirit,+ just as he did to us also. 9 And he made no distinction at all between us and them,+ but purified their hearts by faith.+ 10 So why are you now making a test of God by imposing on the neck of the disciples a yoke+ that neither our forefathers nor we were capable of bearing?+ 11 On the contrary, we have faith that we are saved through the undeserved kindness of the Lord Jesus+ in the same way that they are.”+
12 At that the entire group became silent, and they began to listen to Barʹna·bas and Paul relate the many signs and wonders* that God had done through them among the nations. 13 After they finished speaking, James replied: “Men, brothers, hear me. 14 Symʹe·on+ has related thoroughly how God for the first time turned his attention to the nations to take out of them a people for his name.+ 15 And with this the words of the Prophets agree, just as it is written: 16 ‘After these things I will return and raise up again the tent* of David that is fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins and restore it, 17 so that the men who remain may earnestly seek Jehovah,* together with people of all the nations, people who are called by my name, says Jehovah,* who is doing these things,+ 18 known from of old.’+ 19 Therefore, my decision* is not to trouble those from the nations who are turning to God,+ 20 but to write them to abstain from things polluted by idols,+ from sexual immorality,*+ from what is strangled,* and from blood.+ 21 For from ancient times Moses has had those who preach him in city after city, because he is read aloud in the synagogues on every sabbath.”+
22 Then the apostles and the elders, together with the whole congregation, decided to send chosen men from among them to Antioch, along with Paul and Barʹna·bas; they sent Judas who was called Barʹsab·bas and Silas,+ who were leading men among the brothers. 23 They wrote this and sent it through them:
“The apostles and the elders, your brothers, to those brothers in Antioch,+ Syria, and Ci·liʹcia who are from the nations: Greetings! 24 Since we have heard that some went out from among us and caused you trouble with what they have said,+ trying to subvert you,* although we did not give them any instructions, 25 we have come to a unanimous decision to choose men to send to you together with our beloved Barʹna·bas and Paul, 26 men who have given up their lives* for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.+ 27 We are therefore sending Judas and Silas, so that they also may report the same things by word of mouth.+ 28 For the holy spirit+ and we ourselves have favored adding no further burden to you except these necessary things: 29 to keep abstaining from things sacrificed to idols,+ from blood,+ from what is strangled,*+ and from sexual immorality.*+ If you carefully keep yourselves from these things, you will prosper. Good health to you!”*
30 So when these men were dismissed, they went down to Antioch, and they gathered the whole group together and handed them the letter. 31 After reading it, they rejoiced over the encouragement. 32 And Judas and Silas, since they were also prophets, encouraged the brothers with many talks and strengthened them.+ 33 After they had spent some time there, they were sent off in peace by the brothers to those who had sent them. 34 * —— 35 But Paul and Barʹna·bas stayed in Antioch, teaching and declaring, along with many others, the good news of the word of Jehovah.*
36 After some days, Paul said to Barʹna·bas: “Let us now* return and visit the brothers in every one of the cities where we proclaimed the word of Jehovah,* to see how they are.”+ 37 Barʹna·bas was determined to take along John, who was called Mark.+ 38 Paul, however, was not in favor of taking him along with them, seeing that he had departed from them in Pam·phylʹi·a and had not gone with them to the work.+ 39 At this there was a sharp burst of anger, so that they separated from each other; and Barʹna·bas+ took Mark along and sailed away to Cyʹprus. 40 Paul selected Silas and departed after he had been entrusted by the brothers to the undeserved kindness of Jehovah.*+ 41 He went through Syria and Ci·liʹcia, strengthening the congregations.
In this story, it appeared that these two men were gay, yet they were also very excited because they were still considered a holy vessel to have been filled with the Holy Spirit. The Pharisees did say that they should be circumcised (most likely due to issues of cleanliness) going in the out door and all...But their relationship deteriorated (as did Barnabas' relationship with God) when Barnabas wanted to "take along John, who was called Mark,"...
I would try to discern for yourselves if this reasoning seems accurate to you. There are other violent references in the Bible of men asking to bring out some other foreigner so that they can perform homosexual acts. This is kinda like, what was it? Brokeback Mountain (though I never saw it) vs Shawshank Redemption.
God did tell us not to trust that "Tree of Knowledge," and don't you think He was right? The Devil said we'd know the difference between good and evil. But he lied when he said we'd be "like God." Because with our selfish reasonings we can twist and manipulated any justification for what we want to say.
But do we feel repentant?
Like we are lying to ourselves?
God can understand love between two people who happen to be of the same sex.
When you talk to these people about the lives they are living and what they believe, you will learn their beliefs stem from the premise that there is no God. And in reading the Old Testament you will find that Jehovah has spent so much effort trying to explain to humans what LAWLESSNESS is (68 references regarding the use of that one keyword) and telling them to stop worshipping the old fallen angels of this world with their idolatry that allows you to be filled with evil spirits, or in other words become possessed by demons. It's their job to prove to God that we humans are too stupid and worthless and that there is no redeeming qualities left in us to save. They get a kick out of making our lives ones of endless torture.
Jehovah commands, "You must love Jehovah your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with your whole mind." Matthew 22:37
This He has made the first commandment and the most important (IT'S #1 PEOPLE). And to love your neighbor as yourself, the second. The laws have now been reduced to JUST TWO! I believe because He agrees, not...hmmm, necessarily... that we ARE two stupid to try to remember 10, but that His fallen angels have done their damndest to deceive you.
But it was always the 1st commandment that no one could understand.
-Acts 15:1 (New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures)
In this story of Acts Chapter 15, it appeared that these two men were gay, yet they were also very excited because they were still considered a holy vessel to have been filled with the Holy Spirit. The Pharisees did say that they should be circumcised (most likely due to issues of cleanliness) going in the out door and all...But their relationship deteriorated (as did Barnabas' relationship with God) when Barnabas wanted to "take along John, who was called Mark,"...
I would try to discern for yourselves if this reasoning seems accurate to you. There are other violent references in the Bible of men asking to bring out some other foreigner so that they can perform homosexual acts.
12 All things are lawful for me, but not all things are advantageous.v All things are lawful for me, but I will not let myself be controlled* by anything.13 Food is for the stomach and the stomach is for food, but God will bring both of them to nothing.wThe body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord,x and the Lord is for the body. 14 But God raised up the Lordy and will also raise us up out of deathz through his power.a15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ?b Should I, then, take the members of the Christ away and join them to a prostitute? By no means! 16 Do you not know that anyone who is joined to a prostitute is one body with her? For “the two,” says he, “will be one flesh.”c17 But whoever is joined to the Lord is one with him in spirit.d 18 Flee from sexual immorality!eEvery other sin that a man may commit is outside his body, but whoever practices sexual immorality is sinning against his own body.f 19 Do you not know that your body is the templeg of the holy spirit within you, which you have from God?h Also, you do not belong to yourselves,i 20 for you were bought with a price.j By all means, glorify Godk in your body.l
–1 Corinthians 6:12-20 (New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures)
This is kinda like, what was it? Brokeback Mountain (though I never saw it) vs Shawshank Redemption.
When you talk to these people about the lives they are living and what they believe, you will learn their beliefs stem from the premise that there is no God. And in reading the Old Testament you will find that Jehovah has spent so much effort trying to explain to humans what LAWLESSNESS is (68 references regarding the use of that one keyword) and telling them to stop worshipping the old fallen angels of this world with their idolatry that allows you to be filled with evil spirits, or in other words become possessed by demons. It's their job to prove to God that we humans are too stupid and worthless and that there is no redeeming qualities left in us to save. They get a kick out of making our lives ones of endless torture.
Jehovah commands,
37 He said to him: “‘You must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind.’s
–Matthew 22:37
But it was always the 1st commandment that no one could understand.
I did a poll among the 3 EMTs, 7 law enforcement, and like 8 nurses and 2 doctors. Only 1 EMT knew what God's First Commandment was. And his last name started with a "B" so sorry I can't remember everything. But if we don't get this through our thick skulls, we're doomed people.
An aside, I like to impersonate a black woman when I say certain things. Because at times, there is a certain inflection they have that exude a confidence and frankness that make it pertinent when used to make my point. But, I don't think that is racist, because imitation is the highest form of flattery.
And so when say, Dave Chappelle talks about the LGBTQ+... I laugh, not because I don't like care to dance to the YMCA song, 'cause I will!, but I think Dave Chappelle has respect for all people, and through his impersonations of them, we can also gain that fundamental respect because his impersonations are good. But as humans who may have just a passing knowledge of the Bible, we may have incorrectly concluded that God frowns upon all of it. You can read. Acts Chapter 15 and decide that for yourself, too.
We are meant to laugh at ourselves, that is humanity's redeeming quality. But there comes a time when a line must be drawn for when a loving relationship becomes lawlessness and a world where no one believes they can be saved. The end is near, people. And take heart. I am here to help you come to know that when God revealed to me the plan on how to save all souls on earth, his punchline remained the same as it was 15 years ago before I was drugged by man's Tree of Knowledge-Science. God was exasperated when he repeated his message:
"YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO F***ING BELIEVE ME!"
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