Recently a European correspondent, who wished to remain anonymous, wrote to ONE, in part, as follows:-
In one copy of a predecessor of WEG... was printed something which was of infinite help to me and which I have used over and over again in writing to my friends. I quote it, translating from the German, from memory, as I have not the source by me. I cannot, of course, vouch for its truth-but true or not, it enshrines Truth as I have always seen it.
"In some remote monastery in Asia Minor was discovered part of a lost Codex of the Gospels which throws a vivid light on Jesus' attitude towards homosexuals. Here is the relevant extract:
As Jesus and His disciples walked through Galilee there came to Him a man weeping and crying-Master, have mercy upon me, for men curse and revile me because of my love for a young man, my servant, with whom I live.' and Jesus answering, said unto him, 'Why doest thou this?' And he said, 'Because my heart burns with love for this young man, my servant.'
And Jesus said unto him, 'If your love be with sin, it shall be cursed; but if your love be without sin, it shall be blessed. Go in peace'."
Does this Codex really exist? Where is it now? Here are questions I have long desired to find out, but do not know how to set about it. But, after all, does it matter? It is just what one would expect of the Christ-complete comprehension, the realization that the love of one man for another can be both with and without sin (and the best definition I know of 'sin' is 'anything that comes between God and myself').»
Prior to the teachings of the Christ, the judgment of individuals was by law, that is, according to the overt acts of the individual. By doing certain things, he was counted righteous; and by doing certain other things, he was counted unrighteous, or a "sinner". Thus, the matter of righteousness was determined by entirely objective standards. But, since righteousness is now understood as a status whose ACTUAL basis lies in the motives and intentions behind the act, this ancient (and also modern) tendency to judge a subjective status by objective criticisms could result in nothing other than a great many injustices and absurdities. With the teachings of the Christ came the most profound revolution in historical record of the methods and standards of human judgment. Now, humanity was invited to judge questions. of righteousness according to inner, subjective, and rigidly scientific criticisms, from which not even the slightest thought or impulse was exempt. For example adultery, in pre-Christian thought, was an act. But the Christ said:-"Whoever looketh upon a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart."
What is the essential, the general message of this statement? Does it imply a denunciation of adulterous acts? Doubtless, but this could scarcely be its main purport, as acts of adultery had already been condemned under the law for centuries. Does it imply a denunciation of the adulterous intention behind the act? Doubtless, also-but again, this could not be its major implication, as the Speaker was thoroughly aware that unworthy intentions could not be uprooted merely by denouncing them, either within oneself or to others. This leaves only one other possible interpretation, which is that the statement was
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