Dr. Bock,

You're right, and I apologize to you for answering Sean's accusations against me in such a direct manner. His letter contains no biblical argument, but is nothing more than an attack on me, and a false and baseless one at that. I stand by what I have said about his words...but it serves no purpose to have actually said it. It does more to place me in the category of what you are speaking of here, at least in how it comes across, than it does any good for this truth that I have every reason to believe God has led me to write about. There is a big difference between where I am coming from in my letter, and where he is coming from, because I am defending myself against false accusations. He is also stating that I have been "shown" to be speaking falsely about the Bible, as if to say it makes it true. What I am speaking about is biblical truths, and an interpretation on what I believe was intended in the statements regarding same-sex relations, which is exactly how I have presented myself.

I'll write a little more about my beliefs about the writings of Scripture on your blog, if you allow me to, but it will not be in a personal dialog with any individual who speaks hatred through false and baseless allegations about my heart, my intentions, and my personal relationship with God. I will, however, still be interested in whatever Sean has to say in regards to where I have been shown to be speaking falsely in any way, and the other questions that I asked of him.

To Richard...I do not disagree that the Bible presents homosexuality as sinful, but there is more to all that God presented in His Word, than to take this in what I believe to be a manner that looks at passages standing by themselves. The Bible that God gave to us is not Dick and Jane, for lack of a better comparison, and many gay and lesbian believers, who love God with all their hearts, do not share your conviction about the Bible's meaning on the issue. Indoctrination is likely the difference in regards to our consciences, and I do not find that this law is written on my heart, nor are many other laws of Scripture. When God said, "I will make a new covenant, and I will write My laws on their hearts." (Hebrews 8:9-11)...He clearly did not write the body of the Mosaic laws on our hearts. What is written on my heart, though, is a confirmation from the living God on how I have understood His Word, regardless of anyone else's belief about me. He is first in my life. You speak your own conviction, and you are entitled to that; I don't believe it is a proven truth, any more than it is a fact that people who eat pork are committing an abomination, or people who work on the Sabbath are worthy of death in God's eyes. True, these specific things were addressed in the New Testament as having liberty applied to them, but it is quite a contrast from the severity that God spoke of in the Old Testament, to have this liberated. This and many other biblical truths are compelling to me...only God can decide what people are accountable to have understood in regards to these truths and this issue, but He will never endorse anyone who lies.

Dr. Bock, again, I profoundly apologize to you and to your readers. I ask that you try to understand why I answered the way I did. I came here for a Bible-based discussion, and nothing is more difficult to listen to than lies about oneself. Thank you again for hosting a discussion here, and I appreciate your requirements. Anything more that I write will be kept brief, and will not be an attempt to present my entire argument. I feel that I'm almost finished here. Jim, I'll be writing a new edition of my book, and I would like your perspective and experience to be present in it, if you will allow it. Please contact me by email through my blog, if you want to and if you're reading this, although I no longer allow comments there, and it is now only an examination of writings from the Web. Sorry, I don't seem to know how to be real brie

Lynn