Stephen K. Ray's Blog, page 74

Was Jesus a Homosexual? Some say “Yes” and try to Prove it from the Bible!

After posting a blog about Jesus and homosexuality, I received a correspondence from a Harry H. McCall, a self-proclaimed ex-reverend. He referred me to his post entitled Jesus the Homosexual: Evidence From the Gospels.

It is despicable to even say or suggest this of Our Lord but we need to be prepared to refute such vulgarity in view of the gay agenda’s desire to twist everything to fit their perverted view of the world.

McCall’s blog was not a tit-for-tat response to my article but was an article he wrote and published at the same time I uploaded my post. I am responding to the content of his blog post since he sent it to me for my comments. I always promote honest and courteous discourse, seeking the truth with charity and honesty. I hope I have accomplished that in my response below. I am strongly against the gay lifestyle and the practice of homosexuality, yes; but I also hope that my response is not angry or antagonistic.

The Jewish Jesus of History

[When I wrote this a while back I was in Israel]  As I write I am looking out at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre where Jesus was crucified, died and was buried before rising from the dead. My wife and I joined the Mass in the Tomb at 5:30 AM.

To my right I see the top of Mount Zion where Jesus celebrated the Last Supper. I am writing this in context — not only the context of Scripture and history, but the context of the land of Israel where I spend a large part of my time. (I will pray for McCall while here.)

You may rightfully say, “You don’t take this guy seriously so why take the time to respond to his post on claiming Jesus was a homosexual?” The reason is simple. Homosexuality is becoming more and more accepted in our country. Catholics, other Christians, Jews, Muslims and who condemn the homosexual lifestyle will find themselves ostracized as it becomes more recognized.

We will be called bigots and old fashioned. Clever arguments will be crafted that may sound reasonable at first (just read the combox on McCall’s blog post to see how gullible many people are). As with McCall’s blog, they will often twist the Bible around like a rubber nose and even contend that Jesus himself was homosexual.

So, you may say, “That is stupid and I disagree.” Good, but why do you disagree? When they marshall Scripture verses against you, will you be prepared to respond? That is why I am refuting this otherwise foolish and waste-of-time article. We who are not caught up in the gay life or the support thereof, need to know what we know and why.

I have no doubt that McCall does not accept the Bible as the inspired word of God, nor does he really care about what it says or why. His website is called Debunking Christianity which is what he has set out to do.

He is homosexual and that is how he finds his identity, and it is his driving motivation—to eliminate biblical arguments against homosexuality; rather to twist the Bible like a rubber nose to suit his purposes. Any discussion of Scripture by McCall is simply to twist it to fit his agenda and to confuse those who try to read it honestly.

It is certainly not my objective to attack homosexuals or the gay lifestyle. However, it is being forced down my throat (no pun intended). It is being forced down America’s throat. I hope to engage the conversation in a rational, reasoned, cordial and biblical way.

I decided the best way to respond to his attempt to paint Jesus as a homosexual was to address his claims paragraph by paragraph. I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt whenever possible, but to be exacting and uncompromising when necessary.

To read my full biblical refutation, click HERE.

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2 Jordan Anjara, Jerash, Jabbok

Our first full day together. Some had arrived early and others at midnight last night. We started out this morning driving north into the mountains of Jordan to visit Anjara where the Blessed Mother and Jesus visited, and we had Mass at Our Lady of the Mountains in front of a statue of Mary that has wept drops of human blood.

From there to Mar Elias (St. Elijah) the birthplace of the Prophet Elijah called Listeb, which was Tishbe of the Bible (1 Kings 17:1). Traditional Jordanian bread and lunch before visiting the magnificent Roman ruins of Jerash, which is a Gerasa of the Bible (Luke 11:26-39).

Our last stop of the day was the Jabbok River where Jacob wrestled with God, in the form of an angel, and received the new name Israel (Gen 32). Nice dinner back at the hotel and to bed early for an exciting day tomorrow.

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Why Didn’t Jesus Speak Out Against Homosexuality – Does that mean He approved?

How do I defend the Catholic Faith on issues such as abortion, same sex marriage or LGBT when some claim it’s acceptable because Jesus never mentioned those particular issues by name?

First, silence does not imply consent. We have very FEW words of Jesus over his 3 years of ministry. He is “silent” on a lot of things which does not mean he he condones certain conduct or would not have said something if the issue was presented to him.

Second, we know how a good Jewish rabbi of the first century would address the issues of LGBT, abortion, gay marriage, etc. It would be based on “the Law and the Prophets” and on the collective moral tradition of the Jewish people. The Law of Moses is unambiguous on matters of sexuality and life.

Third, as an example, let a contemporary 1st century Jewish rabbi speak to the issue in a wider context and not just the Jews in Judea and Galilee. Rabbi St. Paul was out among the pagan Romans and did confront these issues, and therefore he addresses them. He writes, 

“For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.” (Rom 1:26–27)

“Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality … will inherit the kingdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9)   

Fourth, Jesus DID speak out against sins practiced in his own Jewish milieu such as adultery, divorce and remarriage. He did tell the adulterous woman to go and sin no more. He did say  “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her, and if she divorces her husband and marries another.” (Mk 10:11–12). Notice he uses male and female pronouns.

He mentioned a list of sins and evil conduct concurrent with his times. He did criticize “evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.” (Matt 15:19)

Summary, Jesus did not mention a lot of modern sins and vices. He was addressing his own particular society and would not have confronted things unfamiliar with the religious Jews of his time. Remember, he said he came to his own people and they were his target audience. 

There was no need to mention homosexuality, abortion, contraception or gender dysphoria since in the Jewish society at the time, there were no such practices, or at least it was not a prevalent problem that needed addressing.

Stop trying to justify sinful conduct by a supposed and ignorant claim that Jesus condoned them by his “silence”.

For my longer article on this read, 

Why Didn’t Jesus Condemn Homosexuality?

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Amman Jordan Arrival Day 1

I’m Janet and I arrived a few days before the group and will share a few videos of us with our favorite family here in Amman Jordan, who is also our guide. We are the godparents for his daughter, Leah, who we baptized in the Jordan River 24 years ago.

Janet and I arrived a few days before the group and will share a few videos of us with our favorite family here in Amman Jordan, who is also our guide. We are the godparents for his daughter, Leah, who we baptized in the Jordan River 24 years ago.

Here is everybody arriving and some pictures of the early bird arrivals and getting back to the hotel from the airport and getting everyone settled.

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Homosexuality in Animals and in Human Genes?

Recently I had a heated discussion about homosexuality with some good liberal friends. They contend that since homosexuality is seen among animals and since “God made people homosexual” that it is natural, normal and must be accepted. The discussion was heated though friendly. I thought I would respond and I share the response with you.

My letter begins:

Dear Friends:

We enjoyed your company and friendship this weekend. We were glad that we could host the birthday party. You are all welcome here anytime. In line with our discussion, I did some research on homosexuality, especially homosexuality among animals and the genetic propensity to homosexuality.

The challenge was made that since there are “homosexual animals” it “proves” homosexuality is natural. But, given that a few animals seem to demonstrate what might be referred to as homosexual behavior, that in itself, certainly provides no conclusive or foundational basis for the acceptance of homosexual behavior in the human population.

It does not establish homosexual behavior as normal, healthy, desirable or even morally right. Animals can be born with two heads (my friend hatched such a snake a few years ago) and people can be born as Siamese twins, but such aberrations don’t make the condition normal, healthy, or desirable. In fact, both are considered as odd, things to be gawked at or corrected.

If one replies, as you did, that homosexuality is natural because it is found among animals, then we should notice that there are all sorts of activities practiced by animals that we as humans reject as repulsive. There is extreme cruelty among animals: mothers eating their young, mates eating their partners after mating (e.g., the Black Widow spider), animals eating their own feces and vomit (dogs and cats), or urinating on themselves (goats), etc.

Some animals have mates for a lifetime while others have sex with multiple partners indiscriminately. I could go on and on. What can we draw from these facts? That it is OK for people to practice such things because animals do? Heavens no! Just because animals do things that animals do does not make them our model of morality and accepted behavior.

We are in sad shape if we look to the creatures to search for our origins or to find a model for our behavior. Even worse, if we begin to use animals as our model, we as humans can then justify any deviant behavior since many forms of aberrant and repulsive behavior can be found among the animals that share our planet. St. Paul was no fool 2,000 years ago when he wrote . . .

To read the rest of the letter, click here.

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Concise Video Intro’s to the 21 Ecumenical Councils

Besides the canonization of Scripture, few events have affected Christians and the Church more than the 21 Ecumenical Councils. Each council has its own intrigue, historical context, and drama, along with its stamp on the mind and teaching of the Catholic Faith.

What has seemed too massive a topic for the average person is now easy and approachable thanks to William Deatherage’s popularly-style 5-10 minute videos addressing each Council within its historical context. It is time to understand our roots and to enjoy the story of our faith.

Thanks for a fine set of presentations William! I hope you can all support this talented young man by liking his videos.

HERE is the link to all the YouTube videos — and below I’ve embedded the first in the series to get you started

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My Updated Article on Infant Baptism

Even among Evangelical Protestants there is much debate about Infant Baptism. My old Baptist tradition rejected it as a Catholic tradition of men.

Dr. Francis Schaeffer, my favorite Evangelical Presbyterian theologian wrote a booklet entitled Infant Baptism in favor of the practice – my wife Janet was raised Presbyterian and was baptized as an infant. I, however, born and raised a Baptist, was not baptized since that was considered “a man-made Catholic tradition”.

It continues to be a problem between Catholics and many Protestants. If you want to know more about it and why we as Catholics practice it with joy based on Scripture and early tradition, read my article here.

St. Augustine wrote,

“Who is so impious as to wish to exclude infants from the kingdom of heaven by forbidding them to be baptized and born again in Christ?”

and

“This [infant baptism] the Church always had, always held; this she received from the faith of our ancestors; this she perseveringly guards even to the end.”

The picture is our granddaughter Elizabeth Arabella Rose Ray getting baptized 14 years ago — a little pagan becomes a Christian.

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Should This Baby Be Aborted? You Decide

Since abortion has taken center stage in the upcoming elections and voting, it is good to again look at a few situations when many say abortion would be the reasonable and moral thing to do.

In the United States, there are many situations in which abortions are recommended, even encouraged by family, counselors, medical personnel and even religious advisors. Sometimes an abortion is recommended because of difficult circumstances and other times simply for convenience.

Here are four cases for you to consider. Should these babies be aborted? You decide!

Four Cases:
Case #1. There’s a traveling preacher and his wife who are living in poverty. They already have fourteen children. Now she finds out she’s pregnant with the 15th child. They are very poor and probably will be unable to afford a doctor’s attention. Considering their poverty, the excessive world population, and the number of children they already have, would you recommend she get an abortion?

Case #2. The grandmother is an alcoholic and the father spends his evenings out drinking in the taverns. His mother has tuberculosis. She has already given birth to four children. The first child is blind, the second child died, the third child is deaf, and the fourth child has tuberculosis. Now the mother is pregnant again. Given the extreme situation, would you recommend an abortion?

Case #3. A white man raped a 13-year-old black girl and now she is pregnant. Her family lives in extreme poverty; in fact, to survive, they often have to steal food. If you were her parents, would you recommend or require her to have an abortion?

Case #4. A fifteen-year-old girl is pregnant. She is not married and lives in a cave in an outback area with very little money or resources. The man she is engaged is not the father of the baby. There is no hospital or doctor available. Would you recommend that she get an abortion?

The Reality:
Case #1: You would have just aborted the world-famous Methodist preacher John Wesley.

Case #2: You would have just aborted the great composer Ludwig van Beethoven.

Case #3: You would have just aborted Ethel Waters, the marvelous black Gospel singer.

Case #4: You would have just aborted Jesus Christ, the savior of the world!

Since we are killing off over a million of our babies each year, how many other geniuses, artists, musicians, scientists, saints, and others have we assassinated? If the “pro-choice” (read: “pro-abortion”) folks have their way, the world may be deprived of a genius with the cure for cancer, the first female president, the inventor of new technologies, the saint who could have led us closer to God, the inventor of medical miracles, etc.

In the lust for personal peace and pleasure, are we Americans killing the very people that God has sent to assist, teach, and save us?

I used to run my own business with over 400 employees. We were always short of employees. In many business settings, my peers commented: “I just don’t understand why we can’t find workers. The labor market is tough and everyone is short of employees. I just don’t understand.”

I always chimed in and said, “It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that if we have killed off 1.5 million babies a year over the last twenty-five years we are going to drastically reduce our employee base. What don’t you understand about that?” Add the contraception issue and far less employees are out there.

May God have mercy on our land! Vote pro-life! If we get the “Life Issue” wrong we’ve got it all wrong. The foundation is the most important part of the house.

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The Barbaric Act of Aborting a Baby…Videos Explaining 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Trimester Abortions

Share this with family, friends and your “pro-choice” associates.

With the election upon us, it might do well to remind ourselves what abortion actually does to a baby and what the Democrats have made a non-negotiable in their party’s platform. Pretty words about a woman’s right to choice need to be counteracted what it actually means.

Former abortionist, Dr. Anthony Levatino, explains the most prevalent surgical procedures to procure an abortion. It is wise that we understand what is actually going on in the abortion clinics. It is amazing that our country can accept such barbaric procedures. Share this with your friends and family who still think we should allow this in America.

First Trimester Surgical Abortions

Second Trimester Surgical Abortion

Third Trimester Surgical Abortion

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If you live in Michigan watch this before you vote November 8

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