Dr. Larry Dixon
New! Unlike Jesus
Our latest book, Unlike Jesus: Let’s Stop Unfriending the World is a call to becoming a friend of sinners like the Lord Jesus was! You can order this through Amazon or directly from me (send $10 [which includes shipping] to my address).
My address:
Dr. Larry Dixon
117 Norse Way
Columbia, SC 29229 Cell: 803-201-9745
Dr. Larry Dixon
kierkegaard204
March 8, 2015 at 6:49 am
When a ship sails, it can always turn around and come back to port. Moral decline is not inevitable. What is most clear, though, is that the Rob Bell ship has certainly left the port of biblical authority. And he can still return as well, if he will.
Adrian Renee
March 8, 2015 at 7:09 am
People did not think it was important to have a true knowledge of God. So God left them and allowed them to have their own worthless thinking. And so they do what they should not do.
They know God’s law says that anyone who lives like that should die. But they not only continue to do these things themselves, but they also encourage others who do them. (Romans 1:28, 32 ERV)
Clare Flourish
March 8, 2015 at 2:30 pm
Thank God for Rob Bell. At last, gay people do not have to conform to straight rules. Thank God. So, the choice of the homophobes is simple: they can continue to be a stumbling-block, driving people away from Christ, or they can shut up about their nasty little hatreds and fears and realise that gay people are OK.
Dr. Larry Dixon
March 8, 2015 at 6:39 pm
Thank you for your comment, Clare. My only question for you would be: What is your source of authority to decide if homosexual behavior is honoring to God? {I’m also interested in how you came across my blog, but that’s a less important question}. I really appreciate your voicing your view. Blessings. Larry
Clare Flourish
March 9, 2015 at 9:56 am
Well, the Bible gives us a choice. You can argue the Sodom story is about homosexuality, even though gay bars at their wildest do not normally involve gang rape. Or you can accept the love of David and Jonathan, or Ruth for Naomi- “Where you go I will go”- and really look at the gay couples you know. What possible good would splitting them up do? So my question is, what authority you have for claiming the Bible supports your view, and why you feel you have the right to harm people who have not harmed you?
I came to your blog from the WordPress Reader.
Gerry T. Neal
March 8, 2015 at 9:15 pm
Note that the word “I” appears six times in the quotation from Rob Bell. Three “I am for”s and three “I think”s. Meanwhile the Scriptures are dismissively spoken of as “letters from 2000 years ago” the quotation of which makes the church irrelevent. It would seem that Bell has a much higher view of himself and his own opinion than he does of the words of Christ and His Apostles, for 2000 years received by Christ’s Church as the authoritative written Word of God.
Mindy
March 9, 2015 at 10:46 am
Sin is sin, the Bible clearly spells out what God thinks sin is. David and Jonathan and Ruth and Naomi did not have a homosexual relationships. It’s disgusting that people these days take friendships and say that’s proof that homosexuality is right when God clearly spells out in the Bible that it is sin.
Unfortunately, much like God has said in his word, people will stop looking to the Bible for their authority, much like you have done Clare, and when that happens, He will give them up to their urges. Will this “giving up” happen to many churches in the United States? I’m afraid it will. Christians who choose not to follow the teaching in the Bible have thought many things that are sin are OK now. So it shouldn’t be a surprise what Rob Bell has said.
The Bible does not give us a choice, so much in telling us what God’s holy standard is and than saying, of course you can choose not to live up to that standard. Since that is my choice, I will choose to set aside my “feelings” on the issue and live my life according to God’s holy standards (as much as I humanly can, and with much help from the Holy Spirit).
Dr. Larry Dixon
March 10, 2015 at 7:16 am
Clare:
Thank you for your comment. If you wish to examine the Sodom and Gomorrah story, I’d be glad to. The text itself (not commentators on the text) makes it clear that homosexual behavior is the issue there. David’s love for Jonathan or Ruth’s love for Naomi are not homosexual examples. Christians should not focus only on the homosexual issue, but the gay agenda forces, I believe, the topic on us for a biblical and loving response. We who take the Bible seriously must show Christ’s love for these for whom Christ died. There’s a challenging message for Christians by Paul Copan found at http://www.bethelcollege.edu/assets/content/studentlife/chapel/archive/audio/spring10/4710.mp3. May I ask you to listen to that 20 minute talk — and then we can continue our conversation? Again, thank you for your comments. Blessings. Larry