Letters: February 25, 2017

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Language barrier

RE Bishops are two-faced ( Adver Alan Scotford 16/2/17).

Christians are said to be homophobic simply because they condemn homosexual behaviour as sin.

The term homophobic, however, is simply a word used by homosexual activists and supporters in their attempts to deflect criticism.

Such activists accuse anyone who opposes the unnatural practice as harbouring hatred, bigotry and intolerance.

While scripture condemns homosexuality it never instructs that homosexuals are to be hated. It does not, as Mr Scotfold suggests, “despise those who are gay.”

Mr Scotfold claims that “nowhere in the Gospels does Christ mention, let alone condemn gay people.”

Christ affirmed that people are either to be single and celibate or married and faithful to one spouse of the opposite gender (Matthew 19).

Also, are we to believe that any and every action is good unless Christ specifically forbade it? If that were so, then anything goes!

Jesus, for example, never specifically said that kidnapping is wrong or child abuse, yet we know it is.

The point is Christ did not need to itemize sin, especially when further revelation contained in the Epistles removes all doubt as to homosexuality’s sinfulness.

The Holy Bible teaches that followers of Jesus are to practice sexual purity and that includes abstaining from same-sex activities.

John 21:25 says that many things Jesus taught were not recorded. Christ would have had no cause to mention homosexuality, as the Jewish religion was strictly opposed to it - unique among the ancient religions.

Jesus only spoke of sexuality in the context of lifelong heterosexual marriage.

Paul in Rom 1:24 treated homosexual practice ( and adultery) as comparable to idolatry insofar as both radically suppress the truth of scripture.

Homosexuals maintain that the church opposes same-sex love. Not true! The Church opposes homogenital sex, which is not about love, but about obsession, addiction, and compensation for a compromised masculinity.

The Holy Scripture never identifies people according to their sexual attractions (ie gay, lesbian, transgender, straight). It divides people into two groups, male and female (Genesis 1:27) with redemption offered equally to each.

Like Orwell’s 1984 it seems that the main battlefield is language.

If gay activists can redefine a key term like “marriage” they win.

JEFF ADAMS

Bloomsbury, Swindon

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Make views known

THE recent wide press and TV reporting of the debate by the General Synod of the Church of England on “Marriage and Same Sex Relationships” revealed to the public that the C of E is a homophobic institution. Bishops confirmed this in a meaningless statement of repentance for the hurt the Church has caused to those who are gay. While the Bishops’ Report to the Synod to perpetuate the denial of marriage to gay couples was defeated the default situation remains, whereby the Church will bless mice and hamsters at a Pet Service but not the committed loving relationship between two human beings of the same sex. If people of colour or race were treated in the same way there would be an outcry from the pews.

There has been a reluctance for clergy to preach and for congregations to openly talk about this issue. Bishops have now failed to offer any acceptable leadership. Is it possible that churches, at grass roots level, across North Wiltshire can begin to lead the way to try to resolve this shameful issue?

To spend time in the coming months to openly talk about this matter so that every congregation knows where it stands and can convey their position upwards?

In doing so each should realise we might have been born with a different sexuality than the one we possess. Also, that Christ never mentioned let alone condemned gay people, but did say we should love our neighbour in the same way we seek to be loved.

If your North Wilts Church does reject a homophobic stance and in unconditional love can fully and unreservedly welcome gay folk into your fellowship perhaps it might register as a “Visible Congregation” on the “OneBodyOneFaith” Gay Christian Movement web site to indicate all are welcomed by you. Currently not one church in Wiltshire appears on that list.

ALAN SCOTFORD

Chippenham

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The list goes on

I WAS reminded by a business friend of some of the losses we suffered in our manufacturing sector due to cheap EU labour rates. And all made possible with cheap EU grants/loans.They are as follows:

n Cadburys to Poland

n Ford Transit to Turkey

n Jaguar Land Rover to Slovakia

n Peugeot Ryton to Slovakia

n British Army’s new Ajax fighting vehicles to Spain

n Dyson Vacs to Malaysia

n Crown Closures Bournemouth (Metal Box) to Poland

n M&S manufacturing to the Far East

Hornby Toys to ?

n Gillette to Eastern Europe

n Texas Instruments to Germany

n Indesit, ekisui Alveo, and Hoover (Wales) to the Netherlands and Czech Republic

n Boots to Italy

Add to this the number of British companies flogged off to Spanish, German and French companies and roughly 39 per cent of British invention patents passed to foreign companies for good measure, has made us all the dogsbody of the wonderful EU set-up.

I suggest Theresa May has nothing to lose with or without a so-called deal in her negotiations with a failed and doomed European Union.

The only losers are all those greedy corporations and investors who are all now crying foul play. And urged on by silly unelected members of the House of Lords.

IAN HUNT

Hill View Road, Swindon

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Cheer the team on

IT wasn’t so long ago that we were urging Swindon Town fans to get behind their team as they embarked on a promotion push - that last play-off final, although best forgotten, was only two years ago.

Now the club is staring relegation in the face, but they need our support more than ever.

This has been a dismal season, and is close to being a catastrophic one, but Town need our support more than ever.

JOHN WRIGHT

Old Town, Swindon