RATIONALE FOR FAITH --TO AN ATHEIST WHO DEFENDS GAY MARRIAGE

RESPONDING TO AN ATHEIST WITH WHOM I HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING  GAY MARRIAGE AT THE ADF WEBSITE (ALLIANCE DEFENDING FREEDOM)

Yes, our Creator allows judgment, death, troubles in this world --but as Jesus said, "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." Hallelujah!!

IT SHOULD BE NOTED  how none of the 21 (OR 22)  Egyptians who were beheaded recently renounced Christ -- some praised Him as they died and it was heard on the videos ISIS released --and the mother of two slain brothers said her boys went straight to Heaven and she would forgive their slayers, invite them into her home, and share her faith-- as Christ forgives.

See the SAT7 website  on this and how the ISIS tapes have fortified Christian faith instead of terrorizing them--on Lebanese Christian tv throughout the middle east. That's the Christian difference: forgiveness of those who trespass against us. Rather than "eye for an eye" --which is strict justice. It's against our human nature to forgive, but the Holy Spirit enables perfect love. (That doesn't mean the world's latest bullies shouldn't be stopped forcibly--just as happened in the Old Testament.)

We are the planet shadowed by evil --where the light strives with the darkness for dominance. Jesus --the light of the world.

YOU and I might have created a world where man could not have chosen to sin -- no free will with which to  worship and believe in God or not.  I  don't know any reason for a blood atonement for sin --but the Bible says that "life is in the blood." Whether sacrifice for atonement was God's idea or primitive man's matters not --it's the idea in every people group and it is demanded of Cain and Abel in Genesis.  Ever since, all people groups have appeased the deities that they were sure were there.

How else could you explain beautiful earth, with life-sustaining elements --and our bodies so compatible for each other as male and female to procreate the human race --like all other creatures with gender.  We have beautiful colors to see --and eyes to see color. Beautiful music to create and hear --and ears to hear. Amazing computer brains which have invented so much helpful and life-easing technology using God's principles of science and math. A night light in the moon; the sun for day and to nurture all life. And amazing water --which sustains life, cleanses, refreshes, cooks, transports, and provides fun and sport -- and is beautiful to look upon.

No designer? No Creator? in all the vast universe with all its barren planets --we have earth --and people --and creatures --and food --and happiness and love amidst sorrows and hardships.

Into this world stepped Jesus Christ --who died a criminal's death --and was raised to life 3 days later. And raised others and healed many --and calmed the sea --and changed water to wine --and ascended before hundreds --jump-starting the church.

A favorite story of mine is found in Acts 3 and 4 --after Christs' crucifixion, etc. --when Peter and John go into Jerusalem, heal a man lame from birth who sits at the gate called "Beautiful," and Peter preaches a powerful, contemporary sermon to the Jews there --telling them what they have done --and that Jesus arose! They said there were 5000 converted that day. The authorities marveled at the eloquence of these unlearned fishermen from Galilee. It's a great read --can be found at Bible Gateway.com. https://www.biblegateway.com/p...

When you say Christians divorce at the same rate as non-Christians, you'd be including a lot of "nominal" Christians who claim Christianity like an ethnicity. The question would be, do the Bible- believers who take their faith personally and seriously divorce at the same rate as nominal Christians? I doubt they do. Certainly not in the church and Christian circles in which I circulate. Also, the divorce rate is pushed higher by the divorced themselves who marry and often divorce again --and again. I heard that recently that it's the oft-divorced and re-married who push up the divorce stats.
Granted, what I want is irrelevant --what God wants is not. What HE intended about gender and what HE says about homosexual relations in His book --and what biology says about the purpose of gender --all relevant.

I don't work for any of your named groups --but I support them. and agree with them --ACLJ, ADF, AFA, Focus on the Family, --just basic Christianity which says celibate singlehood, heterosexual marriage and parenting are God's design for gender --and homosexual coupling is not.
What is your dog in this "fight" anyway? Are you homosexual yourself --which would explain your efforts here?

You malign Christians as having "illogical hatred." We don't. I don't hate homosexuals. I just wouldn't participate in their weddings in any way because of my Bible-based belief that God doesn't force us to be homosexual --doesn't design us to be homosexual --doesn't want us to be homosexual --it is sin --like many other sins for which we do not or ought not have "pride." Like any other sexual temptation that afflicts mankind, homosexual sex acts can be avoided.

IF there is a God, as our founders mostly believed, it behooves us to define right and wrong as He does. "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people."

Bless you as you pursue truth.

^{2 Peter 3: 9} The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.  "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  1 John 1:9   "For God sent not His son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."  John 3:16