It Gets Better - Prof. Stephen Sprinkle

A Christian perspective from Brite Divinity School's Professor Sprinkle. Take it from this out and proud minister and professor of theology: it really does get better. A lot better.

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[AnimeFanOmega]

I'm gay and 16. I came out to my parents, brother, and best friend not too long ago. I'm still in the closet to the rest of my family and friends. I was depressed for a long time about being gay but seeing this video has made me happy again. Thank you.

[sharonkingcampbell]

Thank you for this. Many liberally-minded young people (myself included) tend to veer away from religion because we expect a passive intolerance that you have just stood up against.

Thank you for not just "tolerating the lifestyle." Thank you for living the life.

[chexmixultimate]

I'll PM you. (:

[brokeneggshells]

@chexmixultimate ...I apologize if I come off as flippant in saying so, but I find your admonishment that I need to "capture the real spirit and message of the Bible..." ludicrous, and as a Christian, insulting. The Bible is not open to interpritations with feelings. Granted, there are some bits that are a bit confusing, but on homosexuality there is no ambiguity. I love this man just the same as I love any other sinner, but it IS sin and should not be defended or supported as anything else.

[brokeneggshells]

@chexmixultimate ... He has a problem with homosexuality, just like someone might have a problem with lying or sexual impurity. This doesn't mean he isn't welcome in the church. On the contrary, he is encouraged in it. "A hospital is not there for the healthy, it's there for the sick". However, it does mean that he, while living in sin, should not be leading the church, let alone teaching Theology.

[brokeneggshells]

@chexmixultimate ...There is a pervasive lie circulating in the church today that homosexuality, though clearly defined a sin, is ok. It's not. It's just like any other sin. A sin is a sin is sin. God's word, in one aspect or another, has been unpopular throughout every age of this world, even in the church itself. True institutions of faith would admonish and try to work through this sin with this man.

[brokeneggshells]

@chexmixultimate ...It means that Jesus has taken the ultimate punishment (death), so that we don't have to.

The idea of the Bible not being taken literally is insane on the face of it. The Bible is God's word. If he had not meant it to endure, he would not have said it, let alone written it. Revelations 22:18-19 clearly states that we are not to add to or take away from the word of God. Shaping it to fit societies standards is doing exactly that (Also a sin, incidentally.)

[brokeneggshells]

@chexmixultimate The verses that refer to stoning your wife for adultery are part of the old covenant. The convenant that Jesus replaced when he was crucified. That's why I was very careful to reference New Testament verses in defense of my point. His death was for the atonement of our sin, so that we didn't have to pay for them with our own blood anymore. I hasten to clarify that this does not mean we should simply ignore all of the old testament, as it is still God-breathed...

[chexmixultimate]

@brokeneggshells The Bible also says to stone your wife for adultery, but not to murder. That's just one example! The Bible cannot be taken literally because times change and society changes. If you want to be true to it, you need to capture the real spirit and message of the Bible. Maybe you should read it again.

[brokeneggshells]

...That being said, unchecked homosexuality within the church and amongst clergy is wrong. Gods will is not subject to popular opinion. This man is living in sin, and should not be in leadership in the body of Christ, much less arbitrating policy on its behalf.

[brokeneggshells]

I realize that this is a very unpopular thing to say, and that I will be called prejudice, bigoted, whatever (I'm not, BTW). The truth is: Homosexuality is a sin as defined by the Bible (Rom. 1:26-27,1 Cor. 6:9-10). However, there's nowhere in the Bible that says followers of Christ should hate and alienate them...

[oneonthedepthchart]

@Jessevprince  God has condemned homosexuality. How dare you make a mockery of Christ. Repent and then come back to God, free from this sin. Only then will you know HIS peace.