Email to Rev James Gracie:
"I was disgusted and appalled to hear of your comments on Radio Scotland last week. Your discriminatory rhetoric under the guise of 'Christianity' gives homophobia a platform to exist.
You may accept that homosexuality exists but wish not to marry same sex couples in your church, but please, please answer me how the love of two consenting adults compare to the evil act of paedophilia?"
JosephReply to Joseph from Rev James Gracie
Dear Joseph
Thank you for your e-mail.
Your comments are, of course, incorrect in that I did not compare homosexuality with paedophilia. I made the legitimate point, in the context of the marriage debate, that if one accepts the premise that the debate is all about 'love' and 'equality' then how can one argue against any other section of society claiming marriage is for them? Subsequent to introducing same-sex marriage in Canada polygamists are already at law demanding that their lifestyle should be recognised as marriage? Homosexuals arguing as they do could not, without being inconsistent, deny the polygamist his rights. That is not equating the homosexual with the polygamist, it is simply taking the arguments used by the homosexual to its logical conclusion. And there are religions that will support the polygamist's view. If the people of Scotland want this, then that is up to them but surely the people of Scotland are entitled to know this before making any decision to go down this road.
On the other point that was made, you have in fact the whole issue around the wrong way. It was not me who equated homosexuality with paedophilia - it was the homosexual on the program who raised the issue by stating that homosexuality was genetic i.e. he was born that way. I simply pointed out the danger of such an argument because the paedophile will claim exactly the same thing. Indeed, Psychologists claim mass murders are born the way they are. I deny that it is genetic and I thereby effectively separate the homosexual from any of these evil practices.
You refer to 'the evil act of paedophilia'. Who says paedophilia is evil? There are sites on the Internet that argue that sex with children should be legalised. Both you and I say they are wrong and that this is evil. But on what basis do we make such an assertion? For us to say it is evil just because we think it is evil is surely the height of arrogance on our part. There are obviously others who disagree with us. I say paedophilia is wrong because the Bible tells me it is wrong. I say polygamy is wrong because the Bible tells me it is wrong. I say the union of two consenting adults of the same sex is wrong because the Bible tells me it is wrong. All of these are completely different. But they are alI wrong according to the Word of God which I have as my rule of life and manners.
Further, the Bible tells me that a homosexual is not born a homosexual; he is born a sinner just as I was born a sinner. Apart from the Grace of God that is found in the Gospel, my heart is no better than your heart or anyone else's heart for that matter. To bring the good news of salvation by the Saviour - the Lord Jesus Christ - is not to hate or despise homosexuals. It is the greatest show of true love and concern for their souls that any person can do for his neighbour. The Bible tells us what true love is: "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins" (1 John 4:10). Homosexuality in the Bible is described as a sin, but Christ Jesus came into this world to save sinners. He did not save me as a righteous man, he saved me as a sinner just as I pray he will save you.
I therefore commend to you the Love of God as described in that great verse John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" and the further verse, "If ye love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15).
I do pray the Lord will bless His own Word to your soul.
Rev James Gracie