Diana:   “In Matthew 19:12, Jesus mentions eunuchs in the context of whether it is good to marry.  He says, “There are eunuchs who were born that way, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others — and there are those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven.  The one who can accept this should accept it.”  Jesus identifies three types of “eunuchs” here: natural eunuchs (“born that way”), forced eunuchs (“made eunuchs by others”), and voluntary eunuchs (“those who choose”) … Natural eunuchs include those who are born with a physical defect, but they also comprise those who are born with no real desire for marriage or sex.  Forced eunuchs are those who have been castrated for whatever reason.  Voluntary eunuchs are those who, in order to better serve the Lord in some capacity, choose to forego marriage.  God calls some people to remain single (and therefore celibate).  Paul speaks of those who serve the Lord in their unmarried state in 1 Corinthians 7:7-9 … Some gay groups argue that Jesus was referring to homosexuals when he mentioned eunuchs who were “born that way.”  However, the Bible never uses the words homosexual and eunuch interchangeably.  Furthermore, eunuchs are never referred to in Scripture as being in sin, while homosexuality is universally condemned in both the Old and New Testaments.”

 

Scaughdt: Greetings Diana! … The analysis you quote is essentially accurate up until the very last sentence, when it goes completely awry … It seems true that in all likelihood the use of “eunuchs” in this passage has little if anything to do with homosexuals, and I have never claimed otherwise.  Of course, it probably refers to more than merely those who have been castrated to serve in royal harems (as was a well-known custom in Jesus’ day), if for no other reason than Jesus would probably not have dedicated such a lesson to such a limited audience (and there is no mention in the Scriptures of eunuchs having asked him this question beforehand, or of eunuchs being present when he uttered these words).   As such, in all probability, like with the rest of Jesus’ teachings, the lesson therein is meant for us all – namely, that we should all ease up on the lust and that we should all avoid the distraction of marriage, at least “those who can” (which is, of course, everybody – except those who are already married, of course) … Where you go completely off the rails (again!) is where you say “homosexuality is universally condemned in both the Old and New Testaments”, which I point out to you – again – is an utter falsehood!   If you continue to maintain otherwise, please give me at least one verse in either Testament showing this to be true … You won’t be able to, of course, because such a verse doesn’t exist! … Let go of the hate & the intolerance, dear Sister.  Only then will you be able to enter Jesus’ Kingdom … Peace!
“Do not judge, so that you may not be judged … Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own? … You hypocrite! … Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this young child is the greatest in the Kingdom … Let [she] without sin cast the first stone.” ~ Jesus Christ (Matthew 7:1-2 + 18:3-4 + John 8:7)
Diana:   I’m not wrong, Scaughdt, you are!  There is a Heaven and there is a Hell … Good luck to you.

 

Scaughdt:   And to you as well, my Friend … I have said from the beginning that you & Paul might very well be right about Hell & the eternal damnation your version of God wickedly lays upon all “mortal sinners”.   And I have said from the beginning that Jesus & I might very well be wrong about the nature of his Father in Heaven – that maybe His Love isn’t “perfect” after all …

 

Of course, if you are correct about the condemnatory & patently unjust nature of your God, then I’m pretty sure that it’s not going to be so nice for you to hang out with Him for eternity in his “Heaven.”  But that assumes, of course, that my beliefs about you as an innately Kind & Just & Compassionate woman are correct … Much Peace to you & yours!
P.S.  Where is that Bible verse again showing that homosexuality itself is a sin?

 

Filed under: Burnishing Bigotry by Scaughdt