Should The Church Allow Same Sex Marriages?

I am quite impressed by the outright condemnation of the sin of homesexuality by everyone who has had something to say so far.  One thing of note here is that as Christians, we love the homosexuals, but we just hate the concept (or better put, sin) of homosexuality. 

I live in the United States, and I know the homosexual community regards the church as it's greatest threat in the sense of social acceptance.  Consequently, they have been on the offensive for a while now and are trying to pass a "hate crime bill", which is carefully worded such that it might be a crime for Christians and Pastors alike to preach against homosexuality.  http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=40774. The church is aware of this, and is working to expounge that portion from the bill.

I agree with GL that the Bible very strongly condemns homosexuality.  The reason for this, I believe is two-fold.  The number one reason is because it perverts the spiritual principle of Headship which is typified in the flesh by the act of sexual intercourse between a Male and a Female.  It is the act of sex that can make two become one.  Genesis 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.   1 Corinthians 6: 16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. 17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. .

The second reason, I believe is one of the greatest mysteries in the Bible.  It has been so well hidden over the years, but God is beginning to open our eyes to it.  I am of the opinion that homosexuality is the means by which the anti-christ will create his own "church" which will be one with him in the spirit just as christians are one with our Savior Christ Jesus.  That is why it became necessary for God to destroy the city of Sodom and Gomorrah because they were creating a state of the anti christ before the time permitted by God.  We are told in the New Testament that it is the Church that restrains the full manifestation of this man of sin, but there is a preparation for the coming of this great one, and homosexuality will only remain on the rise till the fullness of his appearing.   

@TV01,

You know I love you and I have nothing but respect for you and reverence for your heart which I know is utmostly dedicated to our Lord and Savior - Jesus Christ.   However, I must confess that you baffle me atimes with some of your conclusions which you seem to derive from the Bible.  If I am not mistaken, you seem to frown at Christians being involved in politics.  How scriptural is that stance?  Are we not supposed to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world?  How can we do that effectively if we shirk our responsibilities to the State?  I have been thinking about starting a thread before now, and I think I will have to do that so we can thrash this matter out once and for all.  Never mind that you are yet to give me any satisfactory answer to the issue of tithing which we were discussing.  Any way, look out for the new thread (Faith and Patriotism)since this is not the appropriate forum to discuss this.

@ajia23,
For a while, I thought you were up to your usual mischief, but it seems you really wanted answers and I hope you got them.  I think GL and everyone else did a great job in stating the Bible position on homosexuality.  Let me add one more thing.  God is not in the business of enforcing one law while compromising on His principles.  For instance, God will not overide your will just to make sure you do not fornicate or steal, or sin.  The Western nations that you seem to put all the blame on is the ideal that God wants for man.  God placed us here and has given us the freewill to choose to serve Him and obey Him or to go the other way.  However, we will all give account at the end what we did with that free will
that He gave to us.  Any system of government that supresses the free will of man has set itself against God, and He will judge that system by all means. 
Never mind that homosexuality and other vices seem to be more prevalent in the West.  The only reason why it appears so is because it is an open community.  I'm sure same situations exist in the Islamic nation, but they presfer to hide it.  The Western civilisation makes for honest people even though they are sinful, but the Arab civilisation makes for hypocrites who are no less sinful than their counterparts in other regions of the world.

at the end of the day, we will all have to come back to scripture and as excellently stated above by many, xtianity does not support homosexuality or even heterosexual adultery in any form. The bible even gives explicit descriptions of what a church leader should be (read this in the epistles according to Paul).
    It is up to christians to resist perverting or diluting their message under the influence of a western-influenced post-modernist pressure.

TayoD

Why would you think I am up to mischief whenever I post my misgivings about anything I disagree with? Wouldn't you agree with me that if we were to use the same standards, then even you to are guilty of mischief as it concerns your own misgivings? Let us always put ourselves into the shoe of the other person when we make statements or post our opinions. That is the begining of respect.

Like I said, Homosexuality is condemned in Islam and chrisitianity, but we need to do more to combat its renascent upsurgence. While it is true that God would want a truly free human race and will not subvert the freedom He gave us, it is also true that He would want us as His vicegerent or Image, to be an embodiment of Him. He also would like to see an earth where it is the exception to do evil, and not the rule. Muslim nations may face the threat of increasing homosexualism, but they enact laws in accordance with God's will to prevent a proliferation of this vice, so that he who does it, is at least discreet about it. This will help keep the levels down. So it is not a question of hiding it, but that of making it difficult to do. I am positive christianity would not oppose such a move. This is true of every other crime human-beings are prone to. Islam allows you freedom to do as you please in your homes, but not in public such that it can have a profound effect on the society. I am positive that your advocating christians to participate in politics has amongst it's aims drawing up laws that you think the present secular society is too liberal on including but not limited to abortion, stem cellresearch etc. This is exactly what Islam seeks to do.

NO to same-sex relationships! ! !

The day GAYS are allowed to be married in church is the same day black people will be allowed to join the KKK.

Hisssssss