This is an argument you can’t win with some people. Like you said, Byron, identity for the Christian is not his sexuality; but some people have made it that, and for them it supercedes biblical authority. All I can do is live by what I see in God’s word; to do otherwise would violate my conscience and I’m not willing to do that just to be in someone’s good graces.

I always feel sad knowing someone struggles with temptation, but it’s not my job to analyze why they struggle more than others or understand their feelings. Their feelings do not override God’s word, but it seems we are being judged for our perceived lack of compassion for the “torment” they suffer for being expected to deny their desires in accordance with scripture. I can’t help them with that, only God can; but when you suggest that, they immediately argue that they can’t change – and that may be, but again, there’s nothing I can do about that.

I often feel like I’m being put in the position of being expected to change my understanding of scripture so that someone else can feel comfortable living the way they want to.

Right, Jack, I do agree with that. What I think is less clear is the question of why, say, one temptation is stronger for you than for me, and vice-versa. Could that be “inborn”, for lack of a better term? Again, behavior is never justified by such—no argument there. But some kids are strong-willed seemingly from birth, while others are more docile. I don’t know…maybe we’ll never know that one ’til we get to heaven.