DEAR MADAM - There has been much said in recent days about same sex marriage and homosexuality. Is it right or wrong?

Very soon the people in the Irish Republic will be voting on this issue of same sex marriage. I have no doubt that many today have no time for what the Bible says on this subject.

It is not my purpose to go out of my way to offend anyone but as a Christian Minister I have a duty to preach what the Bible says on this subject whether men agree with it or not.

God’s Word clearly calls homosexuality sin. People may not accept or agree with what the Scriptures say but no-one can deny what is said in Holy writ and surely as a Bible believing Christian, I have a right to express that opinion.

In the New Testament in the book of Romans ch. 1 vs 26-28 we read, “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient.” These words speak for themselves. No explanation is needed. It is clear from Romans chapter one that God condemns the behaviour of homosexuality in the strongest terms. Therefore if such behaviour is condemned and looked upon as sin by the God of heaven it goes without saying that such a union in marriage would be condemned by the Creator as well. I hope and pray that the people in the south of Ireland in their referendum will be wise and honour God’s Word.

Yours faithfully, (REV) JOHN GRAY Bethal Free Presbyterian Church, Enniskillen.

DEAR MADAM - There has been much said in recent days about same sex marriage and homosexuality. Is it right or wrong?

Very soon the people in the Irish Republic will be voting on this issue of same sex marriage. I have no doubt that many today have no time for what the Bible says on this subject.

It is not my purpose to go out of my way to offend anyone but as a Christian Minister I have a duty to preach what the Bible says on this subject whether men agree with it or not.

God’s Word clearly calls homosexuality sin. People may not accept or agree with what the Scriptures say but no-one can deny what is said in Holy writ and surely as a Bible believing Christian, I have a right to express that opinion.

In the New Testament in the book of Romans ch. 1 vs 26-28 we read, “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient.” These words speak for themselves. No explanation is needed. It is clear from Romans chapter one that God condemns the behaviour of homosexuality in the strongest terms. Therefore if such behaviour is condemned and looked upon as sin by the God of heaven it goes without saying that such a union in marriage would be condemned by the Creator as well. I hope and pray that the people in the south of Ireland in their referendum will be wise and honour God’s Word.

Yours faithfully, (REV) JOHN GRAY Bethal Free Presbyterian Church, Enniskillen.