Christian arrested for calling homosexuality a 'sin' warns of 'real-life thought police'
A Christian street preacher has been arrested and questioned about his beliefs after saying that he thinks homosexuality is a “sin”.
A street preacher has been arrested in Wimbledon, London, for saying homosexuality is a sin.
He was later released without charge, and has since said that “thought police” are now operating in Britain.
Amazed
He said he was amazed that it was now possible “in the country that produced the Magna Carta” for people to be arrested for what they say.
Mr Miano had been preaching about “sexual immorality” from the Bible passage found in 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12.
A member of the public called the police to the scene, claiming to have heard a “homophobic”.
Love
He said: “The language I used was not homophobic, as I was not promoting fear or hatred of homosexuals.
“I began my message by assuring the people that mine was not a message of hate but of love.
“I was simply explaining a passage in the Bible which speaks of sexual immorality and that people should abstain from it (1 Thessalonians 4:1-12).
Mainstream
“I did not speak solely about homosexuality as a form of sexual immorality but also about any kind of sex outside of marriage between one man and one woman, as well as lustful thoughts.
“All of these are considered mainstream Christian positions and have been taught and believed by Christians for thousands of years.
“It was very distressing to be arrested and interrogated for openly expressing my deeply held Christian beliefs.”
Interrogation
While in custody, police quizzed Mr Miano in the presence of a solicitor provided by the Christian Legal Centre.
Mr Miano said: “As the questioning started it became apparent that the interrogation was about more than the incident that took place in the street but what I believed and how I think.
“I was being interrogated about my thoughts… that is the basic definition of thought police.
Freedom
“It surprised me that here in the country that produced the Magna Carta that an otherwise law abiding person could lose his freedom because one person was offended by the content of my speech.”
At the end of the police interview, Mr Miano was asked whether he stood by his actions, and whether he would do it again.
He answered yes to both questions, and the police told his solicitor that his answer left them with no alternative but to seek a prosecution.
Warning
However, about an hour later, he was told he would be released without charge. He was let go at midnight.
Andrea Minichiello Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, says Mr Miano’s arrest is warning of what may lay ahead if the Government passes its same sex marriage Bill.
She said: “If we continue on the current trajectory, Tony’s arrest will simply be the first of many.”
Clampdown
She added: “It’s clear that there is already a clampdown on freedom of speech where people publicly express mainstream Christian views on sexual ethics.”
A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: “Police were called to Wimbledon Hill Road, SW19, at approximately 16.40 on Monday, July 1, following reports of a man speaking through a public address system who was alleged to have made homophobic comments.
“Officers attended and arrested the man, aged 49, on suspicion of offences under the Public Order Act.
“He was taken to a south-west London police station and spoken to by officers before being released with no further action later the same day.”
Source:
- Christian arrested for calling homosexuality a 'sin' warns of 'real-life thought police' (telegraph.co.uk, 04 July 2013)
- Street preacher arrested in London for homophobic language (christianconcern.com, 03 July 2013)
- Victory! Public order law reformed for free speech (14 January 2013)
- Chief Prosecutor says it’s safe to scrap controversial insult law (12 December 2012)
- Cops arrest preacher over Christian beliefs (02 May 2010)
- http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/10159420/Christian-arrested-for-calling-homosexuality-a-sin-warns-of-real-life-thought-police.html
HOMOSEXUALITY, HUMAN DIGNITY & HALAKHAH:
Homosexuality and Halakhah -Traditional sources on homosexuality.
"Lesbianism is never mentioned in the Torah."
The
light of the Messiah, when it blazes in the heart, teaches one to dignify all
people: “It shall be on that day that the root of Jesse will stand as a sign to
the nations, and peoples will seek him, and his consolation shall be dignity
(Isaiah 11:10).”
People who identify as gay or lesbian are not able to become heterosexual.
While some people of ambivalent sexual orientation are capable of functioning
as heterosexuals, those for whom homosexual orientation has become an integral
feature of their personal identity are not able to transform into
heterosexuals.
The following 2005 statement by the
American Psychological Association summarizes the current scientific consensus
about sexual orientation and individual volition: Human beings cannot choose
their sexual orientation. Sexual orientation emerges for most people in early
adolescence or late childhood without any prior sexual experience. The
experience of sexual attraction and falling in love is one that individuals
experience as outside their conscious control. Although we can choose whether
to act on our feelings, psychologists do not consider sexual orientation to be
a conscious choice.
The near total failure of advocates of “cure” to convert homosexuals into
heterosexuals obviates the halakhic significance of tracing the source of
homosexuality. Gay and lesbian people are homosexual and will remain so. Even
those who have attempted a “cure” have been unable – in the vast majority of
cases – to change their orientation. For the halakhist, therefore, the issue of
significance is not the origin of homosexual orientation, but rather the permanence
of such an orientation by the time sexuality reaches consciousness.
Whether sexual orientation is
determined by nature or nurture or some combination of both does not alter the
resultant orientation, whether that orientation is heterosexual, homosexual, or
something in between.
The basis of the prohibition against homosexual acts derives from two biblical verses in Leviticus: “Do not lie with a male as one lies with a woman; it is an abhorrence” (Leviticus 18:22) and “If a man lies with a male as one lies with a woman, the two of them have done an abhorrent thing; they shall be put to death—their bloodguilt is upon them” (Leviticus 20:13). The Torah considers a homosexual act between two men to be an abhorrent thing (to’evah), punishable by death—a strong prohibition.
The Torah gives no reason for this commandment. Some commentators have looked for a rationale in the story of Sodom, in which the men in the town attempt to rape the visitors to Lot’s house. (See Genesis 19; the word “sodomy” comes from this incident.) However, the occurrence in the story was a case of homosexual rape, hardly a legitimate precedent for the kind of consensual homosexual acts we are considering. Others see the root of the prohibition in the verse “No Israelite woman shall be a cult prostitute, nor shall any Israelite man be a cult prostitute” (Deuteronomy 23:18). Cultic prostitution, both hetero‑ and homosexual, was a common feature of idolatrous worship in the ancient Near East, but, like the story of Sodom, it is no longer a relevant precedent for modern homosexuality.
Lesbianism is never mentioned in the Torah. One talmudic passage refers to homosexual acts between women: “R. Huna taught, Women who have sex one with the other are forbidden to marry a Kohen (priest).” The halakhah rejects Rav Huna’s opinion and allows a lesbian to marry a Kohen. However, Maimonides ruled that lesbianism is still prohibited and should be punished by flagellation. The prohibition is not as stringent as that against male homosexuality because the Torah does not explicitly prohibit lesbianism, and because lesbianism does not involve the spilling of seed.
The classical halakhic position:
Judaism is concerned with explicit acts, not inner feelings.
A homosexual act between two men is explicitly forbidden in the Torah.
A homosexual act between two women is forbidden by the rabbis (i.e. it was not forbidden by the Torah, but was in later times forbidden; this type of prohibition is less severe).
Homosexuality is considered an act of volition for which one can repent.
The reason for the prohibitions seems to be that such behavior undermines the Jewish family ideal of marriage and children as set out in the Torah.
Rabbinic thinkers in the past did not consider homosexuality a Jewish behavior problem.
Biblical Questions
Biblical Answers
Biblical Answers
| Correctly Understanding Leviticus 20:13 and 18:22 A Study by Pastor John © 1999 (revised 10.10.09) |
To read the original version Go Here
Leviticus 20:13 "'If a man lies with a male, as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
Leviticus 18:22 'You shall not lie with a man, as with a woman. That is an abomination."
These verses are found within the "Holiness Code." This section of Scripture emphasizes that the Israelites are to consider themselves as set apart to God from the rest of the nations. The Jews are God's "portion," His Elect (Psalm 16:5). The CONTEXT of these verses is God's prohibition that the Israelites must not engage in the practices found in the nearby fertility cult of Moloch and Ashtaroth. They were only to worship the God of Israel and only engage themselves in His rituals and rites. Look at the beginning of the chapter and you will see this clearly:
18:1 Yahweh said to Moses, 18:2 "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, 'I am Yahweh your God. 18:3 You shall not do as they do in the land of Egypt, where you lived: and you shall not do as they do in the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you; neither shall you walk in their statutes.
18:4 You shall do my ordinances, and you shall keep my statutes, and walk in them: I am Yahweh your God. 18:5 You shall therefore keep my statutes and my ordinances; which if a man does, he shall live in them: I am Yahweh.
Just as religious cults sometimes ignore the Scriptural context in order to justify their doctrines, so too well meaning Christians occasionally disregard what passages are talking about when they appear to support their positions. Such is the case here.
The God of Israel never directed the Jews to engage in ritual sex magic like the Pagan religions around them. Despite this, certain of God's people were practicing these rites. These idolatrous rituals were unacceptable to God who commands His people: "You shall do my ordinances, and you shall keep my statutes, and walk in them: I am Yahweh your God."
This is the clear context of these passages, not homosexuality.
The word abomination used here is a translation of the Hebrew word to-ay-baw which specifically refers to idolatrous practices that displease God. This word has nothing to do with sexuality, neither homosexual nor heterosexual, unless that sexuality is directly involved in the worship of other gods. Then it speaks to both equally. Hence, this prohibition is the same as Paul's concern in Romans 1 and I Corinthians 6:9. The reference here is to forbidding the fertility worship of Moloch and Ashtaroth. The Jews are to only walk in paths directed by their God.
In the following verses (6 on), many of these forbidden activities are specifically listed.
Note this clear declaration:
"18:21 "'You shall not give any of your semen in sacrifice to Moloch; neither shall you profane the name of your God: I am Yahweh.
The word translated as semen here is zera and means: semen, virile, seed, offspring, descendants, posterity, children etc. Translators translate the word differently depending on context and person preference. In the case of these particular sacrifices to Moloch, semen was at times utilized and children were at times directly sacrificed.
Allowing ones semen or offspring to be used in Pagan rites through temple prostitution or direct sacrifice is an abomination. The worship of these gods in any manner is what is being forbidden here. The topic has nothing to do with consensual homosexuality.
Notice what the incorporation of sexuality into Pagan rites does, it 'profanes the name of God,' hence God commands the Jews to remember that He alone is their God and he alone is to be worshiped. So we read in context:
20:13 "'If a man lies with a male, as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination [to-ay-baw}: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
What exactly is Moses forbidding here? In context he is forbidding the Jews from worshiping Moloch and the other local gods in any way, including through the popular sex rites.
That this is what is being forbidden is even clearer in Leviticus 20. Note how this chapter begins:
20:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
20:2 "Moreover, you shall tell the children of Israel, 'Anyone of the children of Israel, or of the strangers who live as foreigners in Israel, who gives any of his seed to Molech; he shall surely be put to death. The people of the land shall stone him with stones.
20:3 I also will set my face against that person, and will cut him off from among his people because he has given of his seed to Molech, to defile my sanctuary, and to profane my holy name.
20:4 If the people of the land all hide their eyes from that person, when he gives of his seed to Molech, and don't put him to death; 20:5 then I will set my face against that man, and against his family, and will cut him off, and all who play the prostitute after him, to play the prostitute with Molech, from among their people.
Note the phrase "to play the prostitute with Moloch." This is the concern and it is presented in sexual terms because temple prostitution was particularly offensive.
Following this certain abuses are listed and then we come to verse 13, again specifically concerning the use of semen and sex magic.
Throughout their history the Israelites had a weakness for idolatry according to the Bible. This is simply another example of God seeking to control that weakness.
SOURCE:
These two verses say nothing about homosexuality.
Never doubt:
God's best,
Romans 10:12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich to all who call on him. 10:13 For, "Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved."
~Pastor John
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