If I picked and chose what parts of the Bible I would and wouldn't follow, my life would certainly be a lot easier. Not more spiritual, but easier. The Bible is both a history text and an instructional text. Of course there are things that don't apply to us today. But we can't just claim something isn't for us today simply because it's inconvenient or hard to follow. If we, along with Biblical scholars, see that certain things were more for people of that time for various reasons, ok. I don't think anyone is going to have a major stumbling block over whether or not women should cover their heads today. But I'm seeing somewhat of a trend where some Christians put more faith in what they as individuals think God wants and simply ignoring anything in the Bible that disputes their belief. This concerns me.

I have my own problems with the Bible. I'm not ashamed to admit it. One thing that has troubled me for years is the admonitions againt homosexual relationships. Even though I'm not gay, being a BLer perhaps gives me a bit more empathy. It's hard for me to understand why a loving relationship between 2 adults can be so wrong. While I'm totally against and turned off by the "in your face" gay activism that demands not only to be accepted, but also to be approved of or suffer the consequences of harassment, (Such as the harassment Ms. California recently received merely for stating her view), I feel gays should be allowed to live their lives as they see fit in peace. But don't ask me to agree that God says it's ok, because the Bible doesn't say that. How gays live their lives is between them and God, not them and me and God. So I don't have a problem with it. And as you pointed out, no one follows the Bible perfectly, so I don't think they will go to hell if they live a gay lifestyle. But again, just don't ask me to agree that it's ok with God. If I am wrong, and it IS ok with God, I will have a lot of serious questions for Him when I get to heaven as to why the Bible speaks so strongly against it. If you want my honest opinion, I think gays should live a celebate lifestyle much the same way I believe pedophiles should live celebate lifestyles. Don't you think that if I saw any way whatsoever for the Bible to justify adult/child sexual relations I wouldn't jump on it with both feet? The added problem with adult/child sex is that unlike adult/adult, you're involving a kid who may or may not be capable of making that kind of decition.

Dakota