Submit to our authority...but what exactly is that?

1^st Peter 2:13-17 [ESV]

Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, ¹⁴ or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. ¹⁵ For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. ¹⁶ Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. ¹⁷ Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

On Sunday mornings in the congregation where I serve, I am preaching through the book of 1^st Peter verse by verse.  Two weeks ago on Sunday we reached 1^st Peter 2:13-17. 

The Apostle Peter is writing to dispersed Christians throughout the Roman Empire; and the directive he gives these dispersed Christians is, “be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution…”  He mentions specifically the Emperor. 

This is shocking.  For those that do not know, the Emperor at that time was no friend to Christians, did not hold Christian prayer meetings in their chambers, and did not bow the knee to the Lord – that Emperor was a Caesar.  He was wicked, evil, and cruel.  His governors often ruled with iron fists.  The Roman government was known for violence and often questioned people, “by flogging.”  Yet, Peter makes it clear that as far as they were able Christians were to be subject to that wicked ruler – even suffering unjustly for doing good.  They were to do all of this, “for the Lord’s sake.” 

The key when dealing with a text like this, however, is to attempt to apply the principle to the modern-day American Christian.  We have no Emperor.  We have no Roman governor.  Yet, the principle remains – be subject, for the Lord’s sake, to every human institution.

So the key is to answer the question, “what is the human institution that God has placed me under to which I am to be subject to?”  That is a very important question and I am afraid that many Christians have no idea how to answer that question; and it is our collective ignorance of the answer to that question that is the root cause of the degeneration of our freedoms in our beloved country. 

Let me explain.  I live in Maryland.  The Governor of our state is a Republican, Gov. Larry Hogan.  I live in Southern Maryland and my U.S. House of Representative is Steny Hoyer, a Democrat.  No matter your political persuasion, the example will hold – so in your head choose either of these men and either of their positions in the following example. 

Suppose the Governor or Congressman Hoyer appeared at my house and said, “I am the authority.  I am the Governor/Congressman – this house now belongs personally to me.”  Would I acquiesce to this request?  He is the authority, is he not?  He is the Governor.  He is the Congressman.  I think we know the answer to this question – of course I would not.  I would fight the directive of the Governor and the Congressman precisely because by making such a declaration the Governor and the Congressman would be stepping outside the clearly enumerated authorities given to them and attempting to usurp authority not vested in them by the people.  Basically, they would be breaking the law. 

This is an important distinction between the differing human institutions between the one Peter lived under and the one 21^st century Americans live under.  When Peter wrote, there was an Emperor.  As I write, I live under a Constitution; of which gives powers to the President, the Congress, and the Judiciary.  The powers of these authorities are clearly articulated and enumerated within the Constitution.  The President, Congress, and Judiciary receive their just powers from the consent of the governed. 

The second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence has within it amazing words.  It reads, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed…:”

We live in a place where our documents acknowledge that our rights are gifts from God; no President, Congress, Or Judge can possibly take them away or bestow them.  The purpose of civil government is to protect God given rights. 

I have done a very unscientific poll [meaning I have simply asked a bunch of people J] and I ask them the question, “where do our rights come from?”  Most people answer, “the government” or they answer, “the constitution.”  Both answers are incorrect.  According to the Declaration, our rights come from God and we the people formulated a government to protect those rights.

I write all of this simply to say that when people seek out the government to, “bestow” rights we live in a dangerous place.  We live in a place where if government can, “give” rights they can also take them away. 

We now live in a country where unelected lawyers on the Supreme Court drastically usurp the authority of the people, and the other branches of government, by judicial fiat; and the sad thing is that many of our politicians declare when five unelected judges make a judgment that it is, “the law of the land.”  Umm….according to the Constitution, “all legislative powers are vested in a Congress…”  Can someone show me the Law that says that two men can marry as it has been passed by a Congress and signed into law by a President?  Can someone show me the law where a Congress passed and a President signed into law that children can be murdered in the womb?  It does not exist.  Yet, everyone simply acquiesces.  Governors, state legislatures, and local officials simply say, “well…the Supreme Court says…” 

Justice Scalia perfectly encapsulated this with his dissent in the same-sex marriage case that was recently decided in June.  He writes below:

The substance of today’s decree is not of immense per­sonal importance to me. The law can recognize as mar­riage whatever sexual attachments and living arrange­ments it wishes, and can accord them favorable civil consequences, from tax treatment to rights of inheritance. Those civil consequences—and the public approval that conferring the name of marriage evidences—can perhaps have adverse social effects, but no more adverse than the effects of many other controversial laws. So it is not of special importance to me what the law says about mar­riage. It is of overwhelming importance, however, who it is that rules me. Today’s decree says that my Ruler, and the Ruler of 320 million Americans coast-to-coast, is a majority of the nine lawyers on the Supreme Court. The opinion in these cases is the furthest extension in fact—and the furthest extension one can even imagine—of the Court’s claimed power to create “liberties” that the Consti­tution and its Amendments neglect to mention. This practice of constitutional revision by an unelected commit­tee of nine, always accompanied (as it is today) by extrav­agant praise of liberty, robs the People of the most im­portant liberty they asserted in the Declaration of Independence and won in the Revolution of 1776: the right to govern themselves.

The decision was tyrannical and unconstitutional, yet it is blindly followed.  Why?  Sadly, for too many I believe it is an underlying belief in a misapplication of 1^st Peter 2.  The human institution that we live under in America is the Constitution.  That is what we are to obey.

Now, this is going to be a little inside Lutheran baseball.  For many Lutherans we believe in the doctrine of the two kingdoms or two, “governments.”  The kingdom of the left and the kingdom of the right.  The kingdom of the left is the kingdom of government.  The Kingdom of the right is the Kingdom of the church.  We do not want the government handing out our sacraments and we do not want the church arresting criminals.  Both Kingdoms are ruled by God but have separate purposes.  The Christian, according to Lutheranism, has no need for the Kingdom of the left, for they ought by the Spirit of God be doing the things the law requires.  However, not all people are Christians.  Therefore, the Kingdom of the left is absolutely necessary to enforce the Law and to restrain evil. 

For too many Lutherans I hear them use the, “two kingdoms” approach to why it is no big deal for government [in particular our govt.] to do clearly ungodly things.  However, the doctrine of the two kingdoms states clearly that God rules over both kingdoms – and the government’s duty is to protect the citizenry through the 1^st use of the Law; so when the government begins to clearly punish righteousness and reward wickedness, it is the church’s duty to proclaim righteousness to the left-hand kingdom.  When the government condones what is clearly immoral activity and no longer functions according to the dictates of its duty to protect and when the left hand kingdom clearly goes over the authority given to it by God [and in our system, by the people] then it needs correction. 

We must begin with education.  We must re-educate the population of the United States of America as to what the purpose of civil government actually is.  We must re-educate the Christian populace of the clearly enumerated powers of the different branches of government.  If we do not, I honestly fear for the Republic. 

You see, as a Christian it is absolutely important – indeed commanded – that I be subject to the human institution under which I live.  Yet, how can I truly do that if I cannot even identify who that authority is?

Chris

Love vs Sentimentality

I have been reading the book of Jeremiah in my personal devotional life, and I came across a verse that struck me.  I believe it perfectly encapsulates our culture at this time; sadly, even the culture of God's church.  The verse comes from Jeremiah 7:8-10:

"Behold, you trust in deceptive words to no avail.  Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, make offerings to Baal, and go after other gods that you have not known, and then come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, 'We are delivered!'- only to go on doing all these abominations?"

A little context here:  Baal was a false god at the time of Israel.  To worship Baal was to violate the 1st commandment which succinctly states, "you shall have no other gods before Me..."  In this text God is speaking through the prophet Jeremiah and asking a simple question, "do you suppose that you can commit all these sins, worship false idols, and then hop on in to the Temple - the place that is called by My name - and expect me to deliver you while you change nothing?  Surely you jest..."

What the people were doing at the time of Jeremiah was paying lip service to the God that delivered them from Egyptian slavery, carved out the Promised Land, and consistently forgave their sins.  They were honoring Him with their lips but by their deeds and actions they were following their own desires and the idols of the day.

However, I am sure that if you asked a typical member of Judah during that time, "do you love Yahweh, the God of our fathers?"  they would answer enthusiastically, "why yes I do!"  It is this that I want to address in my blog today.

In order to do this, I want to ask the ladies a question.  If you had a husband that consistently cheated on you, slept with other women, did not spend time with you, neglected the children, but said the words, "I love you" would you believe them?  I hope not.  Yet, sadly, I have sat and prayed with many a woman that has a boyfriend/husband just like this.  They say, "I love you" but their deeds showcase they do not.

And when you speak to these men many of them actually believe they do, "love" their wives/girlfriends.  How can that be you say?  Because they have positive feelings for their wife or girlfriend.  I have actually had a conversation with a man that really believes that he, "loves" two women.  He has pledged himself to both in his mind.  To leave one would hurt them - and love would never hurt another!  [enter sarcasm and the roll of my eyes]

The problem of our culture and our church in America is we have confused real love with sentimentality.  Sentiment is nothing more than tender emotion. Positive sentiment often accompanies love, but it certainly does not encapsulate it.  Sadly, though, in our society we think that if we have strong feelings for someone than that means, "we love them."  This is utter and pure nonsense.  It was Jesus that said, "if you love Me, you will obey My commandments" [John 15] Furthermore, when you look at how the Apostle Paul defined love in 1st Corinthians 13 not one sentiment is mentioned.  It is filled with doing words.

Love is a verb.  It is action.  And real love demands the giving up of self for the other.  Again our Savior said it, "greater love has no one than this, that they lay down their life for their friends."[John 15]  To love another is to uplift their desires, wants, needs, above your own.  This goes for the Lord as well.  To love God predisposes obedience.

Now, I know many of my Lutheran brothers and sisters are shaking now thinking that perhaps I am veering into a theology whereby what I do somehow merits something with God.  I assure you that I am not.  I am saying simply this - we are saved solely and completely by God's grace, with no merit on our part, and when I do trust in Christ I will seek to live my life for Him out of pure love for Him. I desire to merit nothing - I only desire Him.

Yet, in our culture we can say, "I love Jesus" and yet shirk his commands on sexual purity.  We can say, "I love Jesus" and idly stand by and fund the murdering of our children through abortion.  We can say, "I love God" and yet shirk what He says about worshiping other gods.  It is shocking how many Christians - and even Christian pastors - believe that Christians and Muslims worship the same God.  How can this be?  Can you have the Father without the Son?  Listen to the clear words of Scripture from 1st John 2:22-23, "Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also."  Muslims do not believe Jesus is the Son of God.  Muslims do not believe Jesus died on a cross.  Muslims do not believe Jesus rose from the dead.  Muslims do not believe Jesus is God in the flesh.  Yet, many Christians say we worship the same God....how can this be?  The same can be said for the Jew - do they not deny the very Messiah that came to save them?  What is the point of Paul in Athens telling them that Zeus is no god, that Athenia is no god, etc...if all gods are gods simply because we, "feel" for them and, "Love them" then heck...we do not need Christ at all!

Let us at least be honest.  The New Testament declares very clearly what is sinful and what is righteous.  Yet, so many of us simply say, "I love God" with no thought to amending our lives to conform to His likeness.  We want to, "love God" and yet hold the same opinions as the world.  This cannot be so.  It is not real love.  It is simply sentiment.  And sentiment will not save.

Now I know what you are asking - um...what has gotten into Chris?  Why so rough?  Because here is the real truth - forgiveness does not come until one returns to God in repentance and faith; and why would anyone repent if they honestly do not think anything is wrong.

Here is the truth about me - I have failed to love God with all my heart.  I have failed to love my neighbor as myself.  I have failed to keep the commandments of God.  Lord, I am sorry.  I repent.  Forgive me.  And let me tell you this - I am sure that the blood of Jesus washes me clean.  But make no mistake - I do not wink at sin.  I do not say, "eh...it is no big deal..."  It is such a big deal Jesus died to pay for it.  Look at what the Lord says in the above Jeremiah Scriptures - it is not even their abominations that He condemns them for - but for after coming to the Temple simply planning to continue in sin.  It is mere lip service.

So please hear me - come to Jesus with your sin.  Yes, you have sinned.  So have I.  We have sinned grievously.  But come to Him with no excuses.  Simply lay that sin at the foot of Christ and seek His forgiveness - and He WILL forgive you.  And then you will leave changed.

The forgiveness and grace of God is transforming.  Imagine a God who will forgive and love you in spite of what you have done?  That is the God of the Bible.  He only demands we admit what we have done and left undone.  What point is there for a Savior if we do not need saving?

So come to Him.  Bring your abortions.  Bring your sexual sin.  Bring your adultery.  Bring your pornography.  Bring your homosexuality.  Bring your hatred of others.  Bring your racial hatred.  Bring your abandonment of the poor.  Bring your favoritism.  Bring your factious, angry, and bitter nature.  I will bring mine.  Let us together make no excuses.  And then receive forgiveness from God.
Yes, come as you are; but do not leave as you were.

In Christ,

Chris Ogne

The Supreme Court, the Bible, The Gospel, some misnomers, and Homosexuality

So much has been written concerning the Supreme Court decision on Same-Sex marriage.  This post is a reaction to that ruling; but only insofar as I have seen and read some horrifying theology and shocking Biblical illiteracy concerning how we, as Christians, react to this ruling. 

So, at the outset I want to say that this post is all about what the Bible teaches.  If you do not believe what the Bible teaches, then this post will most likely do very little to sway any hearts or minds. What I would like to do in this post is clear up some of the more ridiculous things I have read as it concerns the Bible's teaching on the subject of homosexuality.  So, here we go; I want to take them one by one.

Leviticus condemns homosexuality, but it also condemns eating shellfish and all kinds of other stuff; if you are to be consistent, you shouldn't eat shellfish - what do you say to that!

It is embarrassing that I have to write concerning the above statement.  Christians who say such things ought to know better; honestly.  I have actually seen clergy say something of the above.  This is inexcusable.  But to answer this, let us start here.

When you open your Bible's to the contents page, you see that the Bible is divided into two sections - the Old Testament and the New Testament.  This is important.  We do not use the word, "Testament" that often, but where we still use it is appropriate - someone's, "last Will and Testament."  The word, "Testament" is synonymous with the word, "Covenant."  A covenant is a lasting ordinance that comes into effect through death.  For example, I get the belongings of the will when that person dies.  It has long been known that for 2000 years Christians understood that the Old Covenant - the old way that God dealt with people - has been abrogated through the death and resurrection of Jesus.  Circumcision, animal sacrifice, dietary restrictions, festivals and Temple celebrations, etc...are all over the Old Testament - and we Christians are not commanded to follow them.  Why?  Because Jesus fulfilled the Old Law and established the New Covenant; hence the words of Jesus at the Last Supper, "Take and drink, this is the New Covenant of my blood, shed for you..." 

So the obvious question is, "how do I know those laws that were only for the Jews living under the Old Covenant, and how do I know the ones that apply to me today?"  An easy answer is if it is condemned as immoral in the New Testament it obviously still applies.  Hence, every condemnation in the Ten Commandments are repeated in the New Testament - because the Ten Commandments were not unique to the Mosaic covenant with the Jews; as Temple worship, animal sacrifice, dietary restrictions, etc...are. 

Which leads me to the next statement.  The New Testament has much harsher language concerning homosexual practice than the Old Testament does.  So let's actually see what the Old - and New - Testament actually reads.

Leviticus 18:22, "You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination."

Romans 1:18, 26-27

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth...[I quote this because the below is part of why, "God's wrath" is coming according to the Scriptures.]

For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; ²⁷ and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.

1st Corinthians 6:9-10

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, ¹⁰ nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

1st Timothy 1:8-11

Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, ⁹ understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, ¹⁰ the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, ¹¹ in accordance with the glorious gospel of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.

Jude 1:5-7

Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. ⁶ And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day- ⁷ just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.

Please look at and read these Scriptures.  Also, recognize that only the 1st one comes from the Old Testament.  The rest are all New Testament Scriptures.  Yes, many sins are mentioned.  Yes, they are all bad.  However, look at the simple description that the Bible says about homosexual conduct.  It is an abomination, it is the exchange of natural for unnatural. [Please take the time to consider this - every single human that exists - every one - is the result of male and female.  Transgenders, homosexuals, heterosexuals, and whatever else someone is, if they exist and are reading this page they are the biological result of a man and a woman.  Hence, nature - that which is natural - produced you.  To engage in activity that strikes against the biological function of the organs is unnatural.  Honestly think on this - eyes are for seeing, ears for hearing, lungs for breathing, heart for pumping blood....what is an anus for?  What is a woman's egg for?  What are sperm for?  If we use them for purposes other than what they are created - by definition - it is unnatural.] 

Furthermore, we are told that those who practice homosexuality will not inherit the Kingdom of God.  We are told that the Law of God was created to condemn sin - of which obviously included homosexual activity, and in Jude we are told that Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed because they went after unnatural desire. [I have read the strangest things about how Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed because they lacked hospitality...certainly they did but really?  Jude, a New Testament author, just comes out and tells us why they were destroyed.  It is right there.]

I would challenge one person to show me one Scripture - in either the Old or New Testament that showcases an erotic or intimate homosexual union in a positive way.  The only thing I have seen is laughable - when people say that King David was secretly a homosexual with Jonathon, Saul's son.  Not only does no text say this...but if King David was secretly gay then I have a hard time believing he would solicit sex from a married woman simply by seeing her bathe...I do not think homosexual men do this.  So I do throw out a challenge - show me one Scripture that highlights an erotic homosexual desire in a positive light.  There is not one.

On to the 2nd lie.

Jesus never said a thing about homosexuality

This one bothers me for many reasons; not the least of these is that Jesus, by His nature, is God in the flesh.  Jesus was the one that threw fire from heaven on Sodom and Gomorrah and Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  Nevertheless, let us simply say this.  Jesus did address sexual sin when He walked this earth in His state of humiliation.  Here in Mark 7:21-23 Jesus says these words:

For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, ²² coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. ²³ All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person."

Now, Jesus condemns sexual sin here actually in three different ways - with a general term, "sexual immorality" and then with the term, "adultery", and then with the term, "sensuality."

How can I know that homosexuality was condemned here?  Well...if you are looking for Jesus to not use a, "catch-all" word to condemn all sexual sin, then I guess you must think Jesus did not address polygamy, bestiality, pedophilia, rape, orgies, and the like; because again, He never addresses that stuff either by name; so using your logic I guess that stuff is okay too right?  Jesus simply says, "sexual immorality" is condemned.  Homosexuality, in all quarters, was considered sexually immoral at the time of Jesus. 

Jesus, of course, tells us the appropriate place for sexuality in Matthew 19:4-6:

He answered, "Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, ⁵ and said, 'Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh'? ⁶ So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate."

Look at the language - Father and mother, male and female, these two - one flesh.  Jesus addressed every other sexual union by limiting the sexual union to one union - the union of male to female, husband to wife.  He states that the man leaves, "Father and mother" because that is the only way a person gets here - by a mother and father.

Of course Jesus addressed it. 

The next misnomer:

Every person is worthy of love

Who said they weren't?  Jesus died for the sins of the whole world that is clear.  Every person is created in the image of God.  Every person sins.  Every person is in need of salvation; and every person was died for by the Christ. 

However, if by the above statement you really mean, "every person is worthy to be affirmed in every desire that they have" then of course I disagree.  I have desires inside of me that are opposite the will of God.  Loving someone does not mean celebrating their unhealthy desires.  This is just crazy.  The Bible actually defines what love is in 1st Corinthians 13 and part of it reads, "love does not rejoice with evil, but rejoices with the truth."  The reason for this is because love is not an emotion - it is a verb.  The term, "I love you" does not mean, "I have strong feelings for you."  That is dumb.  Positive emotional feelings may accompany love - but it is not the summation of love.  Imagine this sentence, "For God so loved the world that He had strong feelings for the world...."  No, the sentence is, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son..."  Love is a verb, it's an action.  Love is wanting and working for the best of another; and if you celebrate that which is not God's best for another, that is decidedly unloving.  The above statement misuses the term, "love" and attempts to make it co-terminus with the word, "affirm."  And no - every person's every desire is not worthy of affirmation.  I know my every desire is not.

We are all sinners

Well of course we are.  That is not the point though, is it?  We are attempting to be told that homosexuality is NOT sin.  That is the real question.  The above statement is a smokescreen.  If we all agreed that homosexuality was a sin, then we would know what to do - put those desires before the foot of the cross and ask/receive forgiveness.  The problem with our general culture is we are told that homosexuality is not sin; so to say, "well divorce is a sin, living together outside of marriage is a sin, etc..." my response is, "yep.  You are right.  Your point?"  No one here is claiming those things are not sins and areas of brokenness; we are talking about homosexuality here.  Sometimes one feels like you are in that fight where you say to someone, "I wish you wouldn't leave your clothes on the floor" and they respond, "well I wish you would put your dishes in the sink..."  Umm....okay, but we were talking about clothes on the floor. 

The next misnomer:

People used to use the Bible to condemn interracial marriage, and now they are using it to condemn homosexual marriage...

Let me simply say this.  If I were black, I would be deeply offended by the co-opting of the term, "Civil rights" for what the homosexual agenda is doing.  Our country treated black people like chattle - and we were wrong to do it.  To liken what the homosexual agenda is doing and what the Civil rights fought for by people of color in this country did is laughable.  It is not even on the same planet.

Yet, to address the above statement, here we go.  It has never been that Christians throughout the millennia condemned interracial marriage.  As a matter of fact, while it is true that interracial marriage was condemned by some, "Christians" is true.  But the equal statement is true as well.  "Christians" were in the South holding slaves; but it was Christians that freed them.  Hence, there was not agreement.  It was NEVER agreed upon by Christians - not even slightly - that interracial marriage ought to be condemned.  Within the anals of Christianity, that was a minority opinion amongst Christians. 

Christians did enslave...to our shame...but Christians fought to free.  Christians did conquer - but we also were the agents of freedom.  Christians have fought amongst ourselves. 

Yes, Christians have done some bad and horrifying stuff; but do you know who stood against them when they did?  Other Christians.  Christians were disagreed with by other Christians.  So the statement above is simply incorrect.  All Christians did NOT condemn interracial marriage.

Yet, for 2000 years not one Christian church, religion, denomination, reformer, etc...ever - ever - ever - argued for the acceptance of homosexuality.  Never. There was no disagreement in two millennia by Christians. 

So let me simply say this - why am I so passionate about this?  Because I love people.  And I believe Romans 1:16, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes..."

I am angry at the disservice we have done to homosexual people.  We have told them that what they feel is good.  We have told them that their desires are natural.  We have likened their behavior to the natural behavior of husband and wife; and because of this we have told them that they have no need to repent.  Remember, Jesus came to save the sick - not the righteous.  If we actually say that our sickness is righteousness, we will never admit sickness - and therefore never achieve righteousness. 

I get the impression that some Christians are embarrassed by what the Bible really teaches; and so they are attempting to simply look over it or excuse it.  Please stop.  The Bible is what it is.  It says what it says.  If you do not like the Bible, abandon it.  But at least be honest. 

I am passionate because I love God, and I love people, and I want all people to receive the Gospel. 

The Gospel is simple - God loves you.  You sinned.  I sinned.  He sent His Son to die for you.  He did.  He rose again.  If you repent of your sins and believe in Jesus, you will be saved from hell, death, and everlasting condemnation and you will inherit forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and an everlasting union with the Creator of heaven and earth. 

We have to stop telling everyone that what they feel is good, okay, and acceptable.  We feel a lot of stuff that is broken, backward, and evil; and when we do we need to lay that sin at the foot of the cross and receive forgiveness of sins. 

He stands at the ready.  He is standing with open arms.  Yes, come as you are - but do not leave as you were.


Chris

The Supreme Court, the Bible, The Gospel, some misnomers, and Homosexuality

So much has been written concerning the Supreme Court decision on Same-Sex marriage.  This post is a reaction to that ruling; but only insofar as I have seen and read some horrifying theology and shocking Biblical illiteracy concerning how we, as Christians, react to this ruling. 

So, at the outset I want to say that this post is all about what the Bible teaches.  If you do not believe what the Bible teaches, then this post will most likely do very little to sway any hearts or minds. What I would like to do in this post is clear up some of the more ridiculous things I have read as it concerns the Bible's teaching on the subject of homosexuality.  So, here we go; I want to take them one by one.

Leviticus condemns homosexuality, but it also condemns eating shellfish and all kinds of other stuff; if you are to be consistent, you shouldn't eat shellfish - what do you say to that!

It is embarrassing that I have to write concerning the above statement.  Christians who say such things ought to know better; honestly.  I have actually seen clergy say something of the above.  This is inexcusable.  But to answer this, let us start here.

When you open your Bible's to the contents page, you see that the Bible is divided into two sections - the Old Testament and the New Testament.  This is important.  We do not use the word, "Testament" that often, but where we still use it is appropriate - someone's, "last Will and Testament."  The word, "Testament" is synonymous with the word, "Covenant."  A covenant is a lasting ordinance that comes into effect through death.  For example, I get the belongings of the will when that person dies.  It has long been known that for 2000 years Christians understood that the Old Covenant - the old way that God dealt with people - has been abrogated through the death and resurrection of Jesus.  Circumcision, animal sacrifice, dietary restrictions, festivals and Temple celebrations, etc...are all over the Old Testament - and we Christians are not commanded to follow them.  Why?  Because Jesus fulfilled the Old Law and established the New Covenant; hence the words of Jesus at the Last Supper, "Take and drink, this is the New Covenant of my blood, shed for you..." 

So the obvious question is, "how do I know those laws that were only for the Jews living under the Old Covenant, and how do I know the ones that apply to me today?"  An easy answer is if it is condemned as immoral in the New Testament it obviously still applies.  Hence, every condemnation in the Ten Commandments are repeated in the New Testament - because the Ten Commandments were not unique to the Mosaic covenant with the Jews; as Temple worship, animal sacrifice, dietary restrictions, etc...are. 

Which leads me to the next statement.  The New Testament has much harsher language concerning homosexual practice than the Old Testament does.  So let's actually see what the Old - and New - Testament actually reads.

Leviticus 18:22, "You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination."

Romans 1:18, 26-27

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth...[I quote this because the below is part of why, "God's wrath" is coming according to the Scriptures.]

For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; ²⁷ and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.

1st Corinthians 6:9-10

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, ¹⁰ nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

1st Timothy 1:8-11

Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, ⁹ understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, ¹⁰ the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, ¹¹ in accordance with the glorious gospel of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.

Jude 1:5-7

Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. ⁶ And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day- ⁷ just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.

Please look at and read these Scriptures.  Also, recognize that only the 1st one comes from the Old Testament.  The rest are all New Testament Scriptures.  Yes, many sins are mentioned.  Yes, they are all bad.  However, look at the simple description that the Bible says about homosexual conduct.  It is an abomination, it is the exchange of natural for unnatural. [Please take the time to consider this - every single human that exists - every one - is the result of male and female.  Transgenders, homosexuals, heterosexuals, and whatever else someone is, if they exist and are reading this page they are the biological result of a man and a woman.  Hence, nature - that which is natural - produced you.  To engage in activity that strikes against the biological function of the organs is unnatural.  Honestly think on this - eyes are for seeing, ears for hearing, lungs for breathing, heart for pumping blood....what is an anus for?  What is a woman's egg for?  What are sperm for?  If we use them for purposes other than what they are created - by definition - it is unnatural.] 

Furthermore, we are told that those who practice homosexuality will not inherit the Kingdom of God.  We are told that the Law of God was created to condemn sin - of which obviously included homosexual activity, and in Jude we are told that Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed because they went after unnatural desire. [I have read the strangest things about how Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed because they lacked hospitality...certainly they did but really?  Jude, a New Testament author, just comes out and tells us why they were destroyed.  It is right there.]

I would challenge one person to show me one Scripture - in either the Old or New Testament that showcases an erotic or intimate homosexual union in a positive way.  The only thing I have seen is laughable - when people say that King David was secretly a homosexual with Jonathon, Saul's son.  Not only does no text say this...but if King David was secretly gay then I have a hard time believing he would solicit sex from a married woman simply by seeing her bathe...I do not think homosexual men do this.  So I do throw out a challenge - show me one Scripture that highlights an erotic homosexual desire in a positive light.  There is not one.

On to the 2nd lie.

Jesus never said a thing about homosexuality

This one bothers me for many reasons; not the least of these is that Jesus, by His nature, is God in the flesh.  Jesus was the one that threw fire from heaven on Sodom and Gomorrah and Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  Nevertheless, let us simply say this.  Jesus did address sexual sin when He walked this earth in His state of humiliation.  Here in Mark 7:21-23 Jesus says these words:

For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, ²² coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. ²³ All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person."

Now, Jesus condemns sexual sin here actually in three different ways - with a general term, "sexual immorality" and then with the term, "adultery", and then with the term, "sensuality."

How can I know that homosexuality was condemned here?  Well...if you are looking for Jesus to not use a, "catch-all" word to condemn all sexual sin, then I guess you must think Jesus did not address polygamy, bestiality, pedophilia, rape, orgies, and the like; because again, He never addresses that stuff either by name; so using your logic I guess that stuff is okay too right?  Jesus simply says, "sexual immorality" is condemned.  Homosexuality, in all quarters, was considered sexually immoral at the time of Jesus. 

Jesus, of course, tells us the appropriate place for sexuality in Matthew 19:4-6:

He answered, "Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, ⁵ and said, 'Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh'? ⁶ So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate."

Look at the language - Father and mother, male and female, these two - one flesh.  Jesus addressed every other sexual union by limiting the sexual union to one union - the union of male to female, husband to wife.  He states that the man leaves, "Father and mother" because that is the only way a person gets here - by a mother and father.

Of course Jesus addressed it. 

The next misnomer:

Every person is worthy of love

Who said they weren't?  Jesus died for the sins of the whole world that is clear.  Every person is created in the image of God.  Every person sins.  Every person is in need of salvation; and every person was died for by the Christ. 

However, if by the above statement you really mean, "every person is worthy to be affirmed in every desire that they have" then of course I disagree.  I have desires inside of me that are opposite the will of God.  Loving someone does not mean celebrating their unhealthy desires.  This is just crazy.  The Bible actually defines what love is in 1st Corinthians 13 and part of it reads, "love does not rejoice with evil, but rejoices with the truth."  The reason for this is because love is not an emotion - it is a verb.  The term, "I love you" does not mean, "I have strong feelings for you."  That is dumb.  Positive emotional feelings may accompany love - but it is not the summation of love.  Imagine this sentence, "For God so loved the world that He had strong feelings for the world...."  No, the sentence is, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son..."  Love is a verb, it's an action.  Love is wanting and working for the best of another; and if you celebrate that which is not God's best for another, that is decidedly unloving.  The above statement misuses the term, "love" and attempts to make it co-terminus with the word, "affirm."  And no - every person's every desire is not worthy of affirmation.  I know my every desire is not.

We are all sinners

Well of course we are.  That is not the point though, is it?  We are attempting to be told that homosexuality is NOT sin.  That is the real question.  The above statement is a smokescreen.  If we all agreed that homosexuality was a sin, then we would know what to do - put those desires before the foot of the cross and ask/receive forgiveness.  The problem with our general culture is we are told that homosexuality is not sin; so to say, "well divorce is a sin, living together outside of marriage is a sin, etc..." my response is, "yep.  You are right.  Your point?"  No one here is claiming those things are not sins and areas of brokenness; we are talking about homosexuality here.  Sometimes one feels like you are in that fight where you say to someone, "I wish you wouldn't leave your clothes on the floor" and they respond, "well I wish you would put your dishes in the sink..."  Umm....okay, but we were talking about clothes on the floor. 

The next misnomer:

People used to use the Bible to condemn interracial marriage, and now they are using it to condemn homosexual marriage...

Let me simply say this.  If I were black, I would be deeply offended by the co-opting of the term, "Civil rights" for what the homosexual agenda is doing.  Our country treated black people like chattle - and we were wrong to do it.  To liken what the homosexual agenda is doing and what the Civil rights fought for by people of color in this country did is laughable.  It is not even on the same planet.

Yet, to address the above statement, here we go.  It has never been that Christians throughout the millennia condemned interracial marriage.  As a matter of fact, while it is true that interracial marriage was condemned by some, "Christians" is true.  But the equal statement is true as well.  "Christians" were in the South holding slaves; but it was Christians that freed them.  Hence, there was not agreement.  It was NEVER agreed upon by Christians - not even slightly - that interracial marriage ought to be condemned.  Within the anals of Christianity, that was a minority opinion amongst Christians. 

Christians did enslave...to our shame...but Christians fought to free.  Christians did conquer - but we also were the agents of freedom.  Christians have fought amongst ourselves. 

Yes, Christians have done some bad and horrifying stuff; but do you know who stood against them when they did?  Other Christians.  Christians were disagreed with by other Christians.  So the statement above is simply incorrect.  All Christians did NOT condemn interracial marriage.

Yet, for 2000 years not one Christian church, religion, denomination, reformer, etc...ever - ever - ever - argued for the acceptance of homosexuality.  Never. There was no disagreement in two millennia by Christians. 

So let me simply say this - why am I so passionate about this?  Because I love people.  And I believe Romans 1:16, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes..."

I am angry at the disservice we have done to homosexual people.  We have told them that what they feel is good.  We have told them that their desires are natural.  We have likened their behavior to the natural behavior of husband and wife; and because of this we have told them that they have no need to repent.  Remember, Jesus came to save the sick - not the righteous.  If we actually say that our sickness is righteousness, we will never admit sickness - and therefore never achieve righteousness. 

I get the impression that some Christians are embarrassed by what the Bible really teaches; and so they are attempting to simply look over it or excuse it.  Please stop.  The Bible is what it is.  It says what it says.  If you do not like the Bible, abandon it.  But at least be honest. 

I am passionate because I love God, and I love people, and I want all people to receive the Gospel. 

The Gospel is simple - God loves you.  You sinned.  I sinned.  He sent His Son to die for you.  He did.  He rose again.  If you repent of your sins and believe in Jesus, you will be saved from hell, death, and everlasting condemnation and you will inherit forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and an everlasting union with the Creator of heaven and earth. 

We have to stop telling everyone that what they feel is good, okay, and acceptable.  We feel a lot of stuff that is broken, backward, and evil; and when we do we need to lay that sin at the foot of the cross and receive forgiveness of sins. 

He stands at the ready.  He is standing with open arms.  Yes, come as you are - but do not leave as you were.


Chris

The Supreme Court, the Bible, The Gospel, some misnomers, and Homosexuality

So much has been written concerning the Supreme Court decision on Same-Sex marriage.  This post is a reaction to that ruling; but only insofar as I have seen and read some horrifying theology and shocking Biblical illiteracy concerning how we, as Christians, react to this ruling. 

So, at the outset I want to say that this post is all about what the Bible teaches.  If you do not believe what the Bible teaches, then this post will most likely do very little to sway any hearts or minds. What I would like to do in this post is clear up some of the more ridiculous things I have read as it concerns the Bible's teaching on the subject of homosexuality.  So, here we go; I want to take them one by one.

Leviticus condemns homosexuality, but it also condemns eating shellfish and all kinds of other stuff; if you are to be consistent, you shouldn't eat shellfish - what do you say to that!

It is embarrassing that I have to write concerning the above statement.  Christians who say such things ought to know better; honestly.  I have actually seen clergy say something of the above.  This is inexcusable.  But to answer this, let us start here.

When you open your Bible's to the contents page, you see that the Bible is divided into two sections - the Old Testament and the New Testament.  This is important.  We do not use the word, "Testament" that often, but where we still use it is appropriate - someone's, "last Will and Testament."  The word, "Testament" is synonymous with the word, "Covenant."  A covenant is a lasting ordinance that comes into effect through death.  For example, I get the belongings of the will when that person dies.  It has long been known that for 2000 years Christians understood that the Old Covenant - the old way that God dealt with people - has been abrogated through the death and resurrection of Jesus.  Circumcision, animal sacrifice, dietary restrictions, festivals and Temple celebrations, etc...are all over the Old Testament - and we Christians are not commanded to follow them.  Why?  Because Jesus fulfilled the Old Law and established the New Covenant; hence the words of Jesus at the Last Supper, "Take and drink, this is the New Covenant of my blood, shed for you..." 

So the obvious question is, "how do I know those laws that were only for the Jews living under the Old Covenant, and how do I know the ones that apply to me today?"  An easy answer is if it is condemned as immoral in the New Testament it obviously still applies.  Hence, every condemnation in the Ten Commandments are repeated in the New Testament - because the Ten Commandments were not unique to the Mosaic covenant with the Jews; as Temple worship, animal sacrifice, dietary restrictions, etc...are. 

Which leads me to the next statement.  The New Testament has much harsher language concerning homosexual practice than the Old Testament does.  So let's actually see what the Old - and New - Testament actually reads.

Leviticus 18:22, "You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination."

Romans 1:18, 26-27

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth...[I quote this because the below is part of why, "God's wrath" is coming according to the Scriptures.]

For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; ²⁷ and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.

1st Corinthians 6:9-10

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, ¹⁰ nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

1st Timothy 1:8-11

Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, ⁹ understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, ¹⁰ the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, ¹¹ in accordance with the glorious gospel of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.

Jude 1:5-7

Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. ⁶ And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day- ⁷ just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.

Please look at and read these Scriptures.  Also, recognize that only the 1st one comes from the Old Testament.  The rest are all New Testament Scriptures.  Yes, many sins are mentioned.  Yes, they are all bad.  However, look at the simple description that the Bible says about homosexual conduct.  It is an abomination, it is the exchange of natural for unnatural. [Please take the time to consider this - every single human that exists - every one - is the result of male and female.  Transgenders, homosexuals, heterosexuals, and whatever else someone is, if they exist and are reading this page they are the biological result of a man and a woman.  Hence, nature - that which is natural - produced you.  To engage in activity that strikes against the biological function of the organs is unnatural.  Honestly think on this - eyes are for seeing, ears for hearing, lungs for breathing, heart for pumping blood....what is an anus for?  What is a woman's egg for?  What are sperm for?  If we use them for purposes other than what they are created - by definition - it is unnatural.] 

Furthermore, we are told that those who practice homosexuality will not inherit the Kingdom of God.  We are told that the Law of God was created to condemn sin - of which obviously included homosexual activity, and in Jude we are told that Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed because they went after unnatural desire. [I have read the strangest things about how Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed because they lacked hospitality...certainly they did but really?  Jude, a New Testament author, just comes out and tells us why they were destroyed.  It is right there.]

I would challenge one person to show me one Scripture - in either the Old or New Testament that showcases an erotic or intimate homosexual union in a positive way.  The only thing I have seen is laughable - when people say that King David was secretly a homosexual with Jonathon, Saul's son.  Not only does no text say this...but if King David was secretly gay then I have a hard time believing he would solicit sex from a married woman simply by seeing her bathe...I do not think homosexual men do this.  So I do throw out a challenge - show me one Scripture that highlights an erotic homosexual desire in a positive light.  There is not one.

On to the 2nd lie.

Jesus never said a thing about homosexuality

This one bothers me for many reasons; not the least of these is that Jesus, by His nature, is God in the flesh.  Jesus was the one that threw fire from heaven on Sodom and Gomorrah and Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  Nevertheless, let us simply say this.  Jesus did address sexual sin when He walked this earth in His state of humiliation.  Here in Mark 7:21-23 Jesus says these words:

For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, ²² coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. ²³ All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person."

Now, Jesus condemns sexual sin here actually in three different ways - with a general term, "sexual immorality" and then with the term, "adultery", and then with the term, "sensuality."

How can I know that homosexuality was condemned here?  Well...if you are looking for Jesus to not use a, "catch-all" word to condemn all sexual sin, then I guess you must think Jesus did not address polygamy, bestiality, pedophilia, rape, orgies, and the like; because again, He never addresses that stuff either by name; so using your logic I guess that stuff is okay too right?  Jesus simply says, "sexual immorality" is condemned.  Homosexuality, in all quarters, was considered sexually immoral at the time of Jesus. 

Jesus, of course, tells us the appropriate place for sexuality in Matthew 19:4-6:

He answered, "Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, ⁵ and said, 'Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh'? ⁶ So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate."

Look at the language - Father and mother, male and female, these two - one flesh.  Jesus addressed every other sexual union by limiting the sexual union to one union - the union of male to female, husband to wife.  He states that the man leaves, "Father and mother" because that is the only way a person gets here - by a mother and father.

Of course Jesus addressed it. 

The next misnomer:

Every person is worthy of love

Who said they weren't?  Jesus died for the sins of the whole world that is clear.  Every person is created in the image of God.  Every person sins.  Every person is in need of salvation; and every person was died for by the Christ. 

However, if by the above statement you really mean, "every person is worthy to be affirmed in every desire that they have" then of course I disagree.  I have desires inside of me that are opposite the will of God.  Loving someone does not mean celebrating their unhealthy desires.  This is just crazy.  The Bible actually defines what love is in 1st Corinthians 13 and part of it reads, "love does not rejoice with evil, but rejoices with the truth."  The reason for this is because love is not an emotion - it is a verb.  The term, "I love you" does not mean, "I have strong feelings for you."  That is dumb.  Positive emotional feelings may accompany love - but it is not the summation of love.  Imagine this sentence, "For God so loved the world that He had strong feelings for the world...."  No, the sentence is, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son..."  Love is a verb, it's an action.  Love is wanting and working for the best of another; and if you celebrate that which is not God's best for another, that is decidedly unloving.  The above statement misuses the term, "love" and attempts to make it co-terminus with the word, "affirm."  And no - every person's every desire is not worthy of affirmation.  I know my every desire is not.

We are all sinners

Well of course we are.  That is not the point though, is it?  We are attempting to be told that homosexuality is NOT sin.  That is the real question.  The above statement is a smokescreen.  If we all agreed that homosexuality was a sin, then we would know what to do - put those desires before the foot of the cross and ask/receive forgiveness.  The problem with our general culture is we are told that homosexuality is not sin; so to say, "well divorce is a sin, living together outside of marriage is a sin, etc..." my response is, "yep.  You are right.  Your point?"  No one here is claiming those things are not sins and areas of brokenness; we are talking about homosexuality here.  Sometimes one feels like you are in that fight where you say to someone, "I wish you wouldn't leave your clothes on the floor" and they respond, "well I wish you would put your dishes in the sink..."  Umm....okay, but we were talking about clothes on the floor. 

The next misnomer:

People used to use the Bible to condemn interracial marriage, and now they are using it to condemn homosexual marriage...

Let me simply say this.  If I were black, I would be deeply offended by the co-opting of the term, "Civil rights" for what the homosexual agenda is doing.  Our country treated black people like chattle - and we were wrong to do it.  To liken what the homosexual agenda is doing and what the Civil rights fought for by people of color in this country did is laughable.  It is not even on the same planet.

Yet, to address the above statement, here we go.  It has never been that Christians throughout the millennia condemned interracial marriage.  As a matter of fact, while it is true that interracial marriage was condemned by some, "Christians" is true.  But the equal statement is true as well.  "Christians" were in the South holding slaves; but it was Christians that freed them.  Hence, there was not agreement.  It was NEVER agreed upon by Christians - not even slightly - that interracial marriage ought to be condemned.  Within the anals of Christianity, that was a minority opinion amongst Christians. 

Christians did enslave...to our shame...but Christians fought to free.  Christians did conquer - but we also were the agents of freedom.  Christians have fought amongst ourselves. 

Yes, Christians have done some bad and horrifying stuff; but do you know who stood against them when they did?  Other Christians.  Christians were disagreed with by other Christians.  So the statement above is simply incorrect.  All Christians did NOT condemn interracial marriage.

Yet, for 2000 years not one Christian church, religion, denomination, reformer, etc...ever - ever - ever - argued for the acceptance of homosexuality.  Never. There was no disagreement in two millennia by Christians. 

So let me simply say this - why am I so passionate about this?  Because I love people.  And I believe Romans 1:16, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes..."

I am angry at the disservice we have done to homosexual people.  We have told them that what they feel is good.  We have told them that their desires are natural.  We have likened their behavior to the natural behavior of husband and wife; and because of this we have told them that they have no need to repent.  Remember, Jesus came to save the sick - not the righteous.  If we actually say that our sickness is righteousness, we will never admit sickness - and therefore never achieve righteousness. 

I get the impression that some Christians are embarrassed by what the Bible really teaches; and so they are attempting to simply look over it or excuse it.  Please stop.  The Bible is what it is.  It says what it says.  If you do not like the Bible, abandon it.  But at least be honest. 

I am passionate because I love God, and I love people, and I want all people to receive the Gospel. 

The Gospel is simple - God loves you.  You sinned.  I sinned.  He sent His Son to die for you.  He did.  He rose again.  If you repent of your sins and believe in Jesus, you will be saved from hell, death, and everlasting condemnation and you will inherit forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and an everlasting union with the Creator of heaven and earth. 

We have to stop telling everyone that what they feel is good, okay, and acceptable.  We feel a lot of stuff that is broken, backward, and evil; and when we do we need to lay that sin at the foot of the cross and receive forgiveness of sins. 

He stands at the ready.  He is standing with open arms.  Yes, come as you are - but do not leave as you were.


Chris

Yesterday I went down to the Supreme Court of the United States.  The nine justices of the Supreme Court yesterday heard a case concerning homosexual marriage.  There is a couple from Michigan suing the state claiming that their state constitution’s ban on same-sex marriage violates the equal protection law of the 14^th amendment to the constitution. 

            It is no secret the Bible’s stance on homosexual marriage.  The Bible clearly defines marriage as the sacred union of one man and one woman [Matthew 19] – with sexual fidelity between that one man and one woman until death parts them.  I am not here to rewrite things I have written before.    

            I went down to the steps of the Supreme Court – 1^st, because I was invited to go down by a parishioner; but also to see the protest and engage with the protesters on both sides of this issue – to really get a handle on why people were down there, what their purpose in being there was, and to speak with human beings that are passionate about this issue. 

            Within this experience, I believe the Lord taught me a very valuable lesson.  It is a lesson I would like to share – especially with those that confess faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

            What I would like to do is share two conversations I had with two different people – from two completely divergent points of view.

At about 1030 am I was in the front of the Supreme court and there was a couple thousand people there.  80% of the people there, I would say, were in support of same-sex marriage.  They were holding signs bearing the words, “equality for all” and flags that had, “equal signs” and the like.  The great majority of the people there were kind, hospitable, and calm in their opinions.  There were the sensationalized people – men in wedding dresses with their face painted, or a man in a tu tu, etc…but the majority of people there looked and acted respectfully. 

            On the other side of the issue were people holding signs concerning one man and one woman – signs that declared that every child deserves a mother and a father – and of course the obligatory signs of God’s judgment on the sodomites.  There was also a man clothed in sack cloth declaring God’s judgment – and the obligatory people making fun of him and screaming at him.  It was quite a morning.

            But in the midst of the crowd I overheard a man telling another man that he was a pastor.  I immediately decided that I wanted to talk with him.  He was sitting down and I approached him and sat down next to him.  He had a sign on his lap which read something along the lines of, “equality for all” and in his Green Bay cap was a flag with an equal sign.  I began the conversation by putting my hand out to shake his – which he shook in return.  I introduced myself as Chris, and I told him that I overheard him say that he was a pastor.  I asked if he would be willing to speak with me, and he graciously said yes.  Our entire conversation, I would say, was pleasant. 

            I began by saying that from the looks of it, as it pertains to him holding the sign that he had, that we were on different sides of this debate.  I told him that I, too, was a pastor, and I wanted to talk with him.  He was exceptionally cordial, and we began to talk.  The conversation went something along the lines of this.  I believe I remember that his name was Nathan. 

 

ME:  Nathan, can you tell me why you are in favor of same-sex marriage?

 

Nathan:  Well….from my reading of the Bible, I see a God who is a God who is merciful, forgiving, and loving…and I just don’t see how God would condemn people for wanting someone to love, to share their life with, and have experiences with.  I just can’t see how God would want people not to be able to love who they love….to choose the experiences they choose to have with one another.

 

ME:  I also believe that God is a God of mercy and love.  But I do want to ask a question Nathan – you believe in sin and evil right?

 

Nathan:  Yes, I do.

 

ME:  How can we know what sin is Nathan?  I mean, how do we know that which is wrong and that which is right?

 

Nathan: [thinking] You know what…I’m not sure that I can answer that…I am a sinful human being, and I don’t know that I should judge anything like that…as Luther said, “I cannot by my own reason or strength come to know God….”  So I’m not sure I can tell what is sin and what isn’t sin.

 

• It was at this point that I knew that Nathan was a Lutheran Pastor – he quoted the small catechism – at this point I shared that I too was a Lutheran Pastor – he from the ELCA and me from the LCMS. [Two different Lutheran denominations within the U.S.]

 

ME:  Well Nathan, it’s clear to me that you’re familiar with the small catechism.  Tell me, when we get to things like the 7^th commandment – it’s about stealing.  [as Lutherans number them] You know that stealing is wrong right?

 

Nathan:  Yes, of course.

 

ME:  And I’m assuming you know that hate, murder, blasphemy, etc…that this is all wrong – you know that?

 

Nathan:  Of course

 

ME:  So then you and I would agree that certain things are sinful.  I think we’d also agree that we have some of these desires inside of us.  I have hate sometimes, I have lust sometimes, I have greed sometimes – and that if you saw me acting those out – you would tell me, lovingly, that this was wrong – wouldn’t you?

 

Nathan:  Yes – I would say that would be loving.

 

Me:  So then really Nathan – the reason we’re divergent on this issue is that you think that same-sex attraction is good, ought to be celebrated, and affirmed.  I believe that same-sex attraction is bad – that it does against nature and nature’s God’s best for humanity – so we’re both acting on what our idea of a loving God would demand. If someone is endangering themselves, it’s loving to tell them they’re endangering themselves.  If what they want is good – then it’s loving to tell them that it’s good.

 

Nathan:  That’s true.

 

[Some additional bullet points]

 

• Nathan shared that his daughter had come out as a lesbian; and he was there supporting his daughter’s right to love – and be loved – with whom she chose.

 

• I shared a story about a woman who was in a committed lesbian relationship for over three years – repented of her sin – and has produced children with her now husband of many years.  The question I posed to Nathan was – who is right?  If same-sex attraction is good, holy, and right – then that woman who broke another woman’s heart and ended that relationship would have given emotional and psychological pain to another for no good reason other than a false sense of repentance – if she was right than his own daughters’ attraction is wrong.  Same-sex attraction is either wrong or right – it is either condemnable or not.   
   
• We ended the conversation cordially – I believe it was healthy and good. We agreed to disagree on this issue.  I do not have complete space to write our conversation in totality, but we did also address adultery, sexual sin, and the purpose of marriage.  Is marriage simply a love contract between adults, or is there more to a marriage? 

 

The main point is this –Homosexuality is either wrong or it is right….if It is wrong, it is loving to tell others it is wrong.  If it is right – It is loving to affirm and celebrate the desire.  The issue really is all wrapped up in whether homosexual desires are good or evil.  My point is if the Bible is correct about hate being wrong, greed being wrong, lust being wrong, selfishness and pride being wrong, and the Bible is the source to which we appeal to find right and wrong – then homosexual tendencies are sinful as well; and they need to be repented of and Jesus needs to be embraced for forgiveness of this sin.

At this point I moved closer to the steps of the courthouse.  I approached someone on the opposite end of this spectrum.  He had a clerical collar on and he had a shirt over his clerical collar shirt which read and listed reasons why God would judge homosexuality and queers and how they were all under God’s immediate judgment. 

 

• I introduced myself as Chris – he would introduce himself only as, “tears for children.”  He would not give me his first name.
   
• He was very angry.  He was a man of raw emotion.  Our conversation went something along the lines of this:
   

ME:  Can you tell me why you are here?  What is your purpose for being here?

 

TFC: [Tears for children] I am here because this is Dragon City [DC – the Dragon being Satan – and basically saying DC is Satan’s city] and I am here to announce God’s judgment on homosexuality and homosexuals.  In 37 states queer families are being taught as correct to our children – and the Supreme Court is about to make it legal in all 50 states.  I weep for our children.

 

ME:  Do you think that homosexuals can repent and believe in the Gospel – be saved – and receive Jesus Christ?

 

TFC:  Well, what does the Bible say – homosexuals are likened to dogs and cannot enter God’s Temple – they stand condemned already and there is no hope for them.

 

I do not have space to go into the entire conversation, but while me and TFC agreed that homosexuality was sinful – TFC didn’t think there was hope for them.  As a matter of fact, he wasn’t there to sway hearts and minds – he was there simply and forthrightly to condemn homosexuals.  That is why he was there.

 

• I left both of these conversations civilly; but here’s the thing.

 

I left both of these conversations totally self-righteous in my heart.  That’s a fact.  It took a while for me to process this but I was self-congratulatory.  With my conversation with Nathan I left thinking, “this guy is a pastor…and he can’t even tell the difference between wrong and right?”  And with TFC I left thinking, “this guy is a self-righteous jerk who doesn’t even care about people that Jesus died to save!” 

And then it hit me.  My goal in these conversations with these people was to show that I was right.  “Being right” – that was my goal.  And I don’t think that was the goal of Jesus when He encountered people.  This is shown in His ministry, and how His Apostle’s carried out His ministry, especially the Apostle Paul.

The Apostle Paul, before coming to know Christ, martyred Christians.  The Scripture declares that he would breathe out murderous threats against Christians.  He did not simply condemn Christians – he sought them out to arrest them, condemn them, and put them to death.  All of this he was doing because he thought – he thought – he was doing it in service to God.  He thought he was God’s righteous right hand of murder to the Christian.

Jesus met Paul on the road to Damascus – and interestingly enough it was a drastic conversion.  “Saul…why are you persecuting me?”  Jesus reveals himself to Paul.  Jesus takes Paul’s heart of stone and makes it a heart of flesh.  He is saved – he is born-again, he is then baptized – and Paul becomes the greatest evangelist the world has ever known.  He wrote at least 13 of the 27 New Testament books that we have.  He was imprisoned, he was beaten, he was stoned, he was shipwrecked, he was persecuted for a great portion of his life witnessing the love of God in Christ. 

And something that Paul writes in 1^st Corinthians 9:20-22 I believe is imperative for us as Christians:

 

To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. ²¹ To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. ²² To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.

 

Paul sacrificed some of his liberty in every situation – to the Jews he lived like a Jew, to the Greek, like the Greek, to those under the law, as under the law…etc – why?

Because his goal was to draw people closer to Jesus Christ.  That was it.  In every single thing he did that was his goal.  His goal was never simply to be right – his goal was never to simply make people feel good – his goal was to draw people to Jesus – to make the true introduction.  Why?

Because only Jesus can save. 

Now, I want to be clear in the context – it was Paul that wrote Romans 1, 1^st Timothy 1, and 1^st Corinthians 6 – which clearly condemns homosexuality.  He didn’t become homosexual to save homosexuals. 

He also in Romans 1 condemns the arrogant and the proud – he didn’t become prideful to save the prideful.

What he is saying is that he kept the goal in mind – if people need to repent, he called them to repentance.  If people needed compassion, he gave compassion.  He sacrificed his own liberties in the Gospel to satisfy the goal – which was to save.

This is the attitude and heart of Jesus.  Our Lord sacrificed much more than any Apostle or any man.  He left the throne of grace in glory so that He could serve the very sinners that killed Him.  He died.  He was, and is, the sacrifice.

Why?

To draw them to Himself. 

There are two questions I want us to ask ourselves as we engage other human beings.  The 1^st is this:

 

In my dealings with others Is it my goal to make sure the other person knows I’m right or draw them closer to Jesus Christ?

 

This is a great question for myself and TFC.  I am not sure our goal was to bring people to Jesus.  TFC needs to see the homosexuals as people Jesus died to save.  Instead of anger, grief and sadness ought to strike him – and through that a heart of love for lost people that hopefully will draw people to the Lord.  Yes, repentance of sin is necessary – but so is the hope of forgiveness offered in Christ.

Now, I want to broaden this past homosexuality.  How many times in conversations with co-workers, with conversations with wives and husbands, children, neighbors…are we fighting just so that they know we’re right and they’re wrong…remember, we want to draw people to Jesus.  Yes, this may take conviction – but it will come quite differently if we are trying to draw people closer to Jesus instead of simply, “making them see” that we are right

The 2^nd question is equally important. 

 

Is it my goal in my dealings with others to make the other person feel good about themselves and their decisions or ro draw them closer to Jesus Christ?

 

This is Nathan.  I am convinced when we tell those in sin that they’re ok in sin – even our own children – we’re making them feel good in the moment, we don’t want to see any distress in their lives – but we’re sacrificing them having a real relationship with Jesus.  When we do this we have tricked ourselves into thinking we are being nice for the others’ sake; but really we want me and them to be okay – and we’re sacrificing their relationship with Christ just to make them feel okay – and our relationship with them to feel okay.

I pray for a heart of Jesus – that was lived out by Paul – I just want to win them to Christ so that they might be saved.  Lord, give me this heart.  Amen.