Jimmy Carter supports same-sex ‘marriage’ as he launches his new Bible

[WKUHilltopper]

Jimmy Carter supports same-sex ‘marriage’ as he launches his new Bible

by Ben Johnson

Wed Mar 21, 2012 07:03 EST
Comments (27)
Tags: jimmy carter, zondervan publishing



ATLANTA, GEORGIA, March 20, 2012, (LifeSiteNews.com) – Former president Jimmy Carter has been strongly identified as a “Born Again” Christian and as a liberal Democrat for nearly five decades. He is once more blending those roles as he promotes “his” latest book, his own study Bible.

The NIV Lessons from Life Bible: Personal Reflections with Jimmy Carter contains the full text of the New International Version of the Bible and the former president’s prayers, reflections, and asides.

During his book tour to promote a study of the Scriptures, Carter mentioned he supports same-sex “marriage.”

President Carter told Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, senior religion editor of The Huffington Post:

Homosexuality was well known in the ancient world, well before Christ was born and Jesus never said a word about homosexuality. In all of his teachings about multiple things – he never said that gay people should be condemned. I personally think it is very fine for gay people to be married in civil ceremonies. (Emphasis added.)

However, he said he drew the line, “maybe arbitrarily, in requiring by law that churches must marry people.”

“If a church decides not to, then government laws shouldn’t require them to,” he said, adding his own church accepts “gay members on an equal basis.”

When Raushenbush pressed him about whether he believed the Bible is God’s word, Carter answered, “the basic principles of the Bible are taught by God, but written down by human beings deprived of modern day knowledge. So there is some fallibility in the writings of the Bible. But the basic principles are applicable to my life and I don’t find any conflict among them.”

“There are many verses in the Bible that you could interpret very rigidly,” Carter said, “and that makes you ultimately into a fundamentalist.”

“Fundamentalists,” he wrote in his 2005 book Our Endangered Values, tend “to demagogue emotional issues” and “are often angry and sometimes resort to verbal or even physical abuse against those who interfere with the implementation of their agenda.” Carter applied this term to figures as divergent as the Ayatollah Khomeini and Pope John Paul II, to atheist neoconservatives and his fellow Baptists.

He contended the “mandated subservience of women by Christian fundamentalists” contributes to the Islamic practice of female genital mutilation.

Carter wrote that he exchanged harsh words with the late Pope John Paul II during a state visit over what Carter classified as the Pope’s “perpetuation of the subservience of women.” He added, “there was more harshness when we turned to the subject of ‘liberation theology’.”

The former president, who has released recordings of the Sunday School classes he teaches and written previous books about the Bible, disassociated himself from the Southern Baptist Convention in 2000. He and former President Bill Clinton attempted to realign the Baptist faith in a more liberal direction by calling for a new Baptist convention in 2008. The formation of this new Baptist body, he wrote, constituted an “historic event for the Baptists in this country and perhaps for Christianity.”

Carter, whose single term in office was marred by turbulence at home and abroad, has denounced those who disagree with his political views in strident terms.

Pro-lifers, Carter wrote, “do not extend their concern to the baby who is born.” He instead suggested the nation support contraceptive sex education, taxpayer funding of international “family planning,” and embryonic stem cell research.

In addition to nuptial vows, Carter encouraged the military to end the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy in 2007, and in 2010, he told the website Big Think it was time to elect “a gay person” as president.

The new study Bible, published by Zondervan, is available from bookstores nationwide.

Jimmy Carter supports same-sex ‘marriage’ as he launches his new Bible | LifeSiteNews.com

[micah719]

Keep digging, Jimmy....just a few more shovelfuls and you'll have arrived.

Note....research Dr. Marten Woudstra and Virginia Mollenkott.

[SteveJM]

Jimmy Carter supports same-sex ‘marriage’ as he launches his new Bible

by Ben Johnson

Wed Mar 21, 2012 07:03 EST
Comments (27)
Tags: jimmy carter, zondervan publishing



ATLANTA, GEORGIA, March 20, 2012, (LifeSiteNews.com) – Former president Jimmy Carter has been strongly identified as a “Born Again” Christian and as a liberal Democrat for nearly five decades. He is once more blending those roles as he promotes “his” latest book, his own study Bible.

The NIV Lessons from Life Bible: Personal Reflections with Jimmy Carter contains the full text of the New International Version of the Bible and the former president’s prayers, reflections, and asides.

During his book tour to promote a study of the Scriptures, Carter mentioned he supports same-sex “marriage.”

President Carter told Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, senior religion editor of The Huffington Post:

Homosexuality was well known in the ancient world, well before Christ was born and Jesus never said a word about homosexuality. In all of his teachings about multiple things – he never said that gay people should be condemned. I personally think it is very fine for gay people to be married in civil ceremonies. (Emphasis added.)

However, he said he drew the line, “maybe arbitrarily, in requiring by law that churches must marry people.”

“If a church decides not to, then government laws shouldn’t require them to,” he said, adding his own church accepts “gay members on an equal basis.”

When Raushenbush pressed him about whether he believed the Bible is God’s word, Carter answered, “the basic principles of the Bible are taught by God, but written down by human beings deprived of modern day knowledge. So there is some fallibility in the writings of the Bible. But the basic principles are applicable to my life and I don’t find any conflict among them.”

“There are many verses in the Bible that you could interpret very rigidly,” Carter said, “and that makes you ultimately into a fundamentalist.”

“Fundamentalists,” he wrote in his 2005 book Our Endangered Values, tend “to demagogue emotional issues” and “are often angry and sometimes resort to verbal or even physical abuse against those who interfere with the implementation of their agenda.” Carter applied this term to figures as divergent as the Ayatollah Khomeini and Pope John Paul II, to atheist neoconservatives and his fellow Baptists.

He contended the “mandated subservience of women by Christian fundamentalists” contributes to the Islamic practice of female genital mutilation.

Carter wrote that he exchanged harsh words with the late Pope John Paul II during a state visit over what Carter classified as the Pope’s “perpetuation of the subservience of women.” He added, “there was more harshness when we turned to the subject of ‘liberation theology’.”

The former president, who has released recordings of the Sunday School classes he teaches and written previous books about the Bible, disassociated himself from the Southern Baptist Convention in 2000. He and former President Bill Clinton attempted to realign the Baptist faith in a more liberal direction by calling for a new Baptist convention in 2008. The formation of this new Baptist body, he wrote, constituted an “historic event for the Baptists in this country and perhaps for Christianity.”

Carter, whose single term in office was marred by turbulence at home and abroad, has denounced those who disagree with his political views in strident terms.

Pro-lifers, Carter wrote, “do not extend their concern to the baby who is born.” He instead suggested the nation support contraceptive sex education, taxpayer funding of international “family planning,” and embryonic stem cell research.

In addition to nuptial vows, Carter encouraged the military to end the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy in 2007, and in 2010, he told the website Big Think it was time to elect “a gay person” as president.

The new study Bible, published by Zondervan, is available from bookstores nationwide.

Jimmy Carter supports same-sex ‘marriage’ as he launches his new Bible | LifeSiteNews.com

Here is my brief response- ready?-

[JAyres]

Wouldn't buying a bible from Jimmy Carter kinda be like buying a cook book by Jeffrey Dahmer?

[daygo]

What planet does that guy live on its not planet earth.

[LivnForChrist]

[arapahoepark]

Wouldn't buying a bible from Jimmy Carter kinda be like buying a cook book by Jeffrey Dahmer?

More like buying a cook book from Alfred Packer.

Jimmy may be a Christian, but he definitely does not put his heart and soul into doctrinal issues even the most simple like inerrancy. Well, at least this comes from the man who will go down as probably the 3rd worst president in history after Buchanan and Harding. Both he and Buchanan had no guts to do anything, and the latter may have been homosexual. Well from what's coming from Carter's mouth sounds like they could be best friends on that 'emotional' issue.

But Carter will go down as the stupidest president. The previous ones mentioned at least had brains.

[Olga]

Pro-homosexual issues hit so close to home for me, because I was attacked by those feeling starting at age 12 or even earlier. Most homosexuals can feel something isn't right about them, but they attribute it to being told it's a sin and thus they can't shake the feeling of guilt. They don't realize that comes from within, not an outside source. It isn't being told you're sinning that does it, it's your very nature telling you you're doing something wrong. I was "out and proud" at 15, it felt good (much like a drink of alcohol feels good to an alcoholic for awhile), but in the back of my mind I heard, "What are you doing? This isn't right. You can't raise children if you're this way. You can't act as nature would have you act if you're female and you're after other females." I just thank God for those feelings of uneasiness that saved me. And I feel so sad for those other poor souls trapped in homosexuality that won't listen to that voice because they're being told it's people who are giving it to them, when in reality it isn't. It's your mind trying to free itself from your illness. If they're taught to ignore the feeling, I fear they're lost forever.

That's why I get so angry at other so-called Christians who support homosexuality. You aren't doing these young people any favors. You're just making it harder for them to break out and led normal lives. I'm just thankful I was reached before I trained my mind to ignore the voice.

[RanYakumo]

Jimmy, if you keep opening your mouth, people might not be as inclined to vote Obama as a worse president than you. Just food for thought.

[Everlasting Life]

Here is my brief response- ready?-

A most excellent response. Right there with you....yeesh!

[Everlasting Life]

Pro-homosexual issues hit so close to home for me, because I was attacked by those feeling starting at age 12 or even earlier. Most homosexuals can feel something isn't right about them, but they attribute it to being told it's a sin and thus they can't shake the feeling of guilt. They don't realize that comes from within, not an outside source. It isn't being told you're sinning that does it, it's your very nature telling you you're doing something wrong. I was "out and proud" at 15, it felt good (much like a drink of alcohol feels good to an alcoholic for awhile), but in the back of my mind I heard, "What are you doing? This isn't right. You can't raise children if you're this way. You can't act as nature would have you act if you're female and you're after other females." I just thank God for those feelings of uneasiness that saved me. And I feel so sad for those other poor souls trapped in homosexuality that won't listen to that voice because they're being told it's people who are giving it to them, when in reality it isn't. It's your mind trying to free itself from your illness. If they're taught to ignore the feeling, I fear they're lost forever.

That's why I get so angry at other so-called Christians who support homosexuality. You aren't doing these young people any favors. You're just making it harder for them to break out and led normal lives. I'm just thankful I was reached before I trained my mind to ignore the voice.

Olga! You are so very brave to share this...thank you!

Do you mind me asking if there were any outside forces in your life that contributed to being attacked by these feelings?

How wonderful that Christ has worked in your life in this way...what a great testimony!

[Cricket55]

Best not say anything.....I am not a supporter of Jimmy Carter.

[Olga]

Do you mind me asking if there were any outside forces in your life that contributed to being attacked by these feelings?

How wonderful that Christ has worked in your life in this way...what a great testimony!

I don't know of any. My family is pretty liberal but there weren't any family members who identified as homosexual before me, and hopefully I'll be the one and only afflicted one. My sister's brother-in-law is gay, but I was already saved before I met him.

I'm very grateful God got me through it and gave me a wonderful husband and children. I wish all young homosexuals knew if they put in the effort, God would meet them halfway.

[mikhen7]

I don't know of any. My family is pretty liberal but there weren't any family members who identified as homosexual before me, and hopefully I'll be the one and only afflicted one. My sister's brother-in-law is gay, but I was already saved before I met him.

I'm very grateful God got me through it and gave me a wonderful husband and children. I wish all young homosexuals knew if they put in the effort, God would meet them halfway.

I agree wholeheartedly with EL. Olga what a shining testimony!! "Those Who Are Wise Will Shine!!" I love the fact that you express the attack, then the confusion later and the resolution in Christ. Your review puts Homosexuality in the same camp as other sins. They all are the same in attack and are resolved in those steps. We are tempted, we sometimes fail, we recognize it is not right, we turn to Christ, we are healed. If you do not mind can you express whether the same feelings ever still try to inch back in?

Also I imagine you often look at the wonderful creations God has given you, your children, and just whisper a prayer of thanksgiving considering that he helped you make the right choice. The same going for your husband. I have never had to battle that, there have been other things but I thank God for the Annointing, the "Chrio" in Greek, which is used in Luke 4:18; Acts 4:26; 2 Cor. 1:21-22 of God's annointing call and ownership of our lives. I love the word because it so closely identifies us as Christ's and of Christ.

Praise God for the wonderful work He has done in the lives of those who love Him!!

[YeuEmMaiMai]

Utter blasphemy against our Holy God......and God did warn about adding to and taking away from the word....Woe unto them...

[Meg]

I wanted to believe Carter was a good Christian... But someone I know is from his hometown, and when a local man was violently abusing his family, and that man was a professing "Christian", everyone turned a blind eye. There's a lot of people going to church on Sunday in the South while compromising with all manner of sin. They call that the "Dirty South" down here, and its something of an inside secret. They so conveniently ignore James rebuke that faith without works is dead. Leave it to Zondervan to publish Carter's so called "study Bible".

[arapahoepark]

I wanted to believe Carter was a good Christian... But someone I know is from his hometown, and when a local man was violently abusing his family, and that man was a professing "Christian", everyone turned a blind eye. There's a lot of people going to church on Sunday in the South while compromising with all manner of sin. They call that the "Dirty South" down here, and its something of an inside secret. They so conveniently ignore James rebuke that faith without works is dead. Leave it to Zondervan to publish Carter's so called "study Bible".

Well it's Zondervan. I have stopped trusting them, they publish whatever has the Christian label anymore.

[Olga]

If you do not mind can you express whether the same feelings ever still try to inch back in?

Oh, yes, they do. I liken homosexuality to alcoholism (or any addictive disease, really) in this way. You can beat it and escape it, but it's always there. Some days the feelings are strong, some days they're mild, and some days they aren't there at all. But on the days when it seems to be hitting me hard, all I have to do is look at my husband and my children to know that whatever happiness I may have found in homosexuality (if any) would never compare to the happiness I have with my husband and kids. I just knew God would help once I had decided to turn my back on my sinfulness for good, and He certainly did. I can't imagine life being better than it is right now.

[David T. McKee]

Oh, yes, they do. I liken homosexuality to alcoholism (or any addictive disease, really) in this way. You can beat it and escape it, but it's always there. Some days the feelings are strong, some days they're mild, and some days they aren't there at all. But on the days when it seems to be hitting me hard, all I have to do is look at my husband and my children to know that whatever happiness I may have found in homosexuality (if any) would never compare to the happiness I have with my husband and kids. I just knew God would help once I had decided to turn my back on my sinfulness for good, and He certainly did. I can't imagine life being better than it is right now.

I could be wrong, but I would suggest that the feelings are not much different than the feelings of a person who lusts after the opposite sex and feels that those emotions are almost uncontrollable. Sometimes this has a chemical/neurological cause, but acting out the desired behavior is where the sin line is crossed - in Gods eyes it is no different and no worse than any other particular sin, and Jesus died for all of it, thank God!

And, btw, you are an inspiration.

-DTM

[Suzanne]

I agree completely. The way that Carter has treated Israel is a crime. I can't even hear his name anymore without my blood pressure reaching new heights.