In God We Trust.

I was listening to the news the other day, and there was this report about somebody who seems to have solved the "Gay Marriage" conflict. His or her solution was to eliminate marriage altogether. In other words, the writer's opinion was "why is the governmetn involved in validating marriage anyway?" At first blush, it sounded pretty radical, and my bias immediately caused me to think: "this must be a gay activist". But then I began to think about it, and I think now that I might just agree with the writer. After all, government didn't create marriage, God did. And just because a couple goes to the Justice of the Peace, or someone else, doesn't mean that the couple has invited God to bless them, nor does it even mean that God brought them together. I haven't researched just how governments began to regulate marriage, but I suspect that it had something to do with taxes. And I think a lot of the reasons why people are fighting to protect the government sanction of marriage is to continue those tax issues. The "Gay Marriage" issue is quite another deal. I've seen very little talk about gay marriage from the standpoint of taxation. I think for the most part, taxation of gays is pretty much the same as straights. I think the Gay Marriage movement has morphed. The issue now is a demand not only for fair treatment, I think that's been achieved for the most part. From what I've seen recently, the movement is seeking approval. That, in my humble opinion, will be an impossible task. In my earlier blogs, I have sought to emphasize and remind others that the "sin of homosexuality" is no more serious to God than the sins of greed, envy, and jealousy. But that same rationale tells me that if God doesn't want us to be greedy, jealous, or envious, then He doesn't want us to practice homosexuality either. So, while I may be in agreement that governmewnt validation of marriage isn't really essential, I could never agree that it's o.k. to keep on living a lifestyle that is opposed to God's teaching. And that's where my opening title applies. Our money has printed on it "In God We Trust". This may be one of the great oxymorons in history. The very fact that we print this on our money demonstrates that we don't trust in God, we trust in our money. I'm reminded that in the Gospel of John, chapter 18, and verse 36 we hear Jesus say: "Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place." Jesus understood that His kingdom is the Kingdom of God. Anyone who chooses to become a follower of Christ transfers his or her allegance from the kingdoms of this world to the Kingdom of God. As such, it should not matter greatly to us what the kingdoms of this world do or don't do. What should matter most is the standard of behavior expected of residents of God's kingdom. So in closing this morning, I'd like to encourage anyone reading this blog who claims to follow Jesus, to consider the ways in which you have failed to transfer loyalty from this kingdom to the Kingdom of God. If you're reading and you're not in agreement with me, or have questions, why not respond? I'll be the first to admit that I can be wrong. I don't have it all wraped up. Have a great day. Talk to me.

DOES GOD LOVE HOMOSEXUALS - PART 3

So, now we have determined that God's original purpose was for man and woman to be united in marriage. And we have also determined that The God who made us all, also loves us all, regardless of our behavior. Romans 5:8-11 says: "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation." It's clear from this passage that God loved us as it says, even when we were His enemies. So, does that include homosexuals? I say yes, even homosexuals. But that isn't where the deal ends. All of us have violated God's laws, and homosexuality is no worse than envy or greed.

We get that, but what many of us don't get is what it actually means to be a Christian. We are separated from God, because of the wrong things we have done. And nothing we do can will restore our relationship. So we need to accept the sacrifice that Jesus paid by dying on the Cross for all the wrong things we have done. Because he lived a perfect life, he is the only human in history that could stand before God and say "kill me in their place." So, by allowing Jesus death to pay for our wrongs, we then become adopted into God's family. The verse I used above clearly state that God loves all of us, homosexual or straight.

But, here's where the conflict starts. The fact that God loves us, and died for us even when we were his enemies, doesn't mean that he intends for us to stay that way. Romans 12, verses 1 and 2 tell us: "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual[a] act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Verse 1 tells us that in view of God's mercy. What mercy? The mercy we spoke of earlier when Jesus died for us even though we were his enemies. These verss tell us that in view of this mercy we should give our lives back to God in service to Him. And it goes on to inform us: "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world." That means that even though God loves us even if we're homosexuals, He doesn't want us to continue on living that way. And, he promises to give us the help we need to stop doing things he doesn't want us to do. In the Gospel of John, and verse 33 Jesus himself said: "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

So, in conclusion, does God love Homosexuals? Of course He does, just as much as he loves people who envy, or are greedy or jealous. But, just like greed, envy, and jealousy, God wants to change us to look like Him, and that includes helping to free us from homosexuality.

I hope this helps people to get over their homophobia, both gay and straight. God is a God of mercy, not just for straight, but for gays as well.

Does God Love Homosexuals - Part 2

In my last entry, I laid the groundwork for why I believe that God loves Homosexuals. The foundation for everything I will now articulate is the premise that the Bible is God's word, without error. Because it is God's word, not mine, and because it is without error, whatever we discover about this issue must be viewed as absolute and mandatory. In other words, if we read something in the Bible, we can't modify it or amend it because of something we really, really, really believe is more true or accurate. Could you imagine taking the Law of Physics and saying "well, I really don't think gravity is accurate, so I'm going to amend my belief of it's principles, and act accordingly. Very quickly you'd be flatter than a pancake! The same God who set the absolute laws of physics in place also set the moral code, and it can be just as disastrous to violate the moral code as it is to violate the laws of physics.

So, let's see if God really does love homosexuals. In the first book of the Bible, Genesis, and in chapter one and verse 27, we already see God's intended order for society. It says "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." Here we see that God created humans as both male and female. And because God is neither male or female, equal value was placed on the creation of both male and female. But, there's also another implication here. We can surmise that God had a purpose for creating both male and female. And in the very next verse, verse 28, God gives us the reason for making man both male and female. It says: "God blessed them and said to them, 'Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." From this verse we can easily see that God's purpose in making both male and female is first, to provide a way to replenish the population. I really don't have to go any further in stating the case that the purpose for the differences in sexuality are for the purpose of propagating the species. And finally, as to whether God loves people, we read in verse 31: "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good." God who created everything that is, saw what he had created and was pleased. That's another way of saying that he loves what he created. Now, here's where the issue begins to surface. Having created man in His image means that God gave us the free will to either love and obey Him, or not. No one has to love God. And certainly, no one has to obey God. But, there can be no mistake in the reasoning of God's creation of male and female. Well then; what happened? Simply put, man chose not to love God or obey Him. Over the next few chapters of Genesis, we see mankind begin to disobey God, resulting in a number of firsts. Murder entered the world. Drunkenness entered the world. Worship of false Gods occured, and along the way, homosexual behavior arose. In Chapters 18 and 19, God pronounces judgement on a city named Sodom, because of the homosexual behavior going on in the city. That is where we get the term "sodomy". In chapter 18, two angels show up at Abraham's door and tell him that this behavior is detestable to God, and has brought about the complete destruction of the city of Sodom.

So, to conclude this entry, we have learned several things. First, God's original plan was for male and female to have sex and populate the earth. We also learned that because God doesn't make us love Him or obey Him, mankind disobeyed and fell into all kinds of bad behavior, including murder, and immorality. And we've also seen that one immoral behavior that God took exception to was the act of homosexuality, or sodomy. In my next post I'll begin to develop the position that God has about those who engage in homosexuality. Thanks for reading. WHY NOT POST A COMMENT?