Can You Be Gay and a Christian ? ? ?

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NIV
31He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches."

 

Isn't the NIV more of an "accessible" translation as opposed to a literal word for word translation? Not quite on the scale of the "Living Bible" but a translation and word choices that are more in line with a lower common denominator of educational and vocabulary levels?

 

The NIV and NASB translations are widely considered among Biblical scholars to be the most accurate versions in use today. Both were translated into contemporary English from the original languages of Dead Sea Scrolls primarily, with other copies of the original texts providing additional evidence of verification.

The NIV was translated phrase by phrase, which generally speaking makes it one of the easier translations to read and study. The NASB was translated word by word, and while more literal, doesn't read as easily.

The NASB translation of the mustard seed parable doesn't include the word "your". However I think that because the parable was originally directed toward local, largely ignorant farmers, the context suggests Jesus was almost certainly referring to the smallest seed common to those who were listening to Him. It doesn't make as much sense to me for Him to refer to another smaller seed in another part of the world that His audience wasn't familiar with, just because it's smaller.

 

God's desire, intent, and plan has always been in favor of heterosexuality. That's your statement, which I completely agree with. If that's the case, then do you think there would be any other possible way for us as humans to be created? You proved my point.

 

Why not create the 'Hasbeen' translation of the Bible? You do a pretty good job of that on your own, so why not make it official?
(By the way, I agree with your idea that it makes sense to 'direct a parable at your audience.' Especially given the level of education in the day.)

 

Mark, HB's right. Rom 5:2 makes the same point that the grace of God is available to all, but we access it by faith.

 

Or when you play poker with them.

 

Oh crap. I'm in trouble...well, at least it's not *every night*...

 

You tell that many lies?