In The News

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LOVE LOUDLY


To my fellow Americans across the nation,

I'm sure by now you are all aware that recently, the Supreme Court decided that it is now legal for same sex couples to be married in all 50 states. There has been an outcry of "Love wins!", dancing in the streets and parades celebrating such a huge, history making decision. Facebook profile pictures and even our White House have been lit up with rainbow colors to celebrate. It seems all across our lands people are rejoicing, whether homosexual or not.

I am a Christian.
Now, before you refuse to read further, or applaud that statement, let me tell you, that may not mean what you think it means in association with this topic.

First of all, it is important to take the sensationalism out of this topic for a moment and look at what it really means. It means that couples that have been living together like they are married already, are now, through a legal marriage, granted the same rights as heterosexual couples when it comes to legal documents and federal laws. Social security and taxes are just a couple examples where they will now be treated equally. Do I see this as a bad thing? No. Not necessarily. Our country has claimed life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for a long time. Our soldiers have gone to war many times and countless have not come back, in order to keep our nation free. Who are we to say where that freedom should start and end? So from a legal standpoint this may just be a fair judgement for gay and lesbian couples.

Now, my Christian friends, I emplore you to think of it in these terms. What exactly is marriage in the eyes of God? This could be a hotly debated topic in and of itself. Is it when we obey the laws of the land as we are told to in Romans 13? Is it when we engage in sexual intercourse? There are a great many ways to interpret the Bible and try to understand the mind of God. It cannot be done. But I have a difficult time believing that adding the right to file taxes jointly, for same sex couples that have been and will be together regardless, changes much at all. Though it seems huge to us, I can't say with any certainty that a man-made piece of paper with some signatures on it changes anything in God's eyes. This is where we have to say that we are accountable before God for our relationships and they are accountable for theirs.

That being said, let me be completely clear on where I stand. I do believe that God created man in His image. He created woman from Adam's side to be by his side. He created them to become one flesh and He created sexual organs to produce children and multiply, filling the world with people that would hopefully choose to love Him. Throughout time, sin has turned the sexual pleasure He blessed us with from something beautiful and private between a married man and woman into something perverted that people persue. We are a society inundated with sexual images and the pursuit of sexual pleasure. This takes form in multiple ways. Sex with multiple partners. Pornography. Adultery. Homosexuality. Even things as devestating as rape and child molestation. No one is exempt from this sin. Atheists and Christians alike. Sin is sin and it can and will get in anywhere if it is allowed to. Just because I say that from a legal standpoint it may be the fair decision for some, does not mean I believe it is ok from a Biblical standpoint. God's law always has been and always will be far superior to man's law. This is a view many Christians share but please, let me expand on that.

In the Old Testament homosexuality is spoken of specifically in 2 places. Leviticus 18:22 and Leviticus 20:13. It is clear that God proclaims this sinful and unGodly. However, because in the New Testament Jesus came to Earth to set us free and do away with the old law, I do not wish to dwell on these passages of Scripture. Much like many things in the Bible it becomes a great resource for knowing how things were back then and tells historical accounts of things that happened. It was also against God's law to do many other things that are common practice now. Things most Christians do without a second thought. But again, that was old law done away with by Jesus. Also, let us not confuse historical accounts of events with actual law handed down by God. This is something done quite commonly by non-believers to discredit the Bible. So now I'm going to move on to the new law, brought by our Saviour.

In the New Testament we see in Romans 1 Paul writes to the Romans about God's wrath and anger coming down upon people for their sinful ways. This includes verses 26 & 27 "Women used their bodies in ways God had not planned. In the same way, men left the right use of women’s bodies. They did sex sins with other men. They received for themselves the punishment that was coming to them for their sin." Some have used the argument that Paul also wrote in 1 Corinthians 11 that a man should not have long hair and a woman should have her head covered out of respect for her husband. If you look closely at the content surrounding those two separate passages of Scripture Paul makes it clear in Romans that he is talking about God's wrath for sin and in 1 Corinthians he says "follow my ways of thinking". God's wrath and a man's way of thinking are clearly 2 very different things. Content is important to look at. All too often people will use a Scripture without reading anything around it and therefore taking it out of context and conforming it to fit their viewpoint. Paul again speaks against homosexuality later in 1 Corinthians 5 and again in 1 Timothy 1. I urge you to pray and research these verses on your own. In my research I have found that God has warned us.

While we are on the topic of Scriptures let's visit these.

LOVE
Matthew 22:37-39
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'

John 13:34-35
A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.

1 John 4:7-8
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

Matthew 5:44-45
But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

John 15:12-13
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

JUDGING
James 4:12
There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?

Ephesians 4:29
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

John 8:7
And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.”

Clearly, just as strongly in the Bible, if not stronger, is the command from God that we love and not judge one another. He doesn't say to love only those that agree with us. He doesn't say to love only those who don't sin. That would be no one. He said to love. If we are not following this commandment we are sinning.

So now we find ourselves in a difficult place. How do we take a stand against something we believe is wrong without judging others and while still loving them? I have struggled with this for several days now. I have heard from Chritians who are preaching fire and brimstone. Christians who are mean and slanderous. Some Christians don't seem to follow God's commandment to love and they say hateful things such as "You're going to burn in hell" and "you are an abomination!" And yet the lack of love in these statements is a sin itself!

I have heard a lot recently from Christians who are defending same sex marriage, saying that it is not in fact a sin. They work the verses in the Bible with excuses why they don't apply today. Perhaps some Christians find themselves with loved ones that are homosexual or perhaps they are homosexual themselves. So they want desperately to find some way to believe that it isn't wrong. Take care that you are not deceived! 1 Timothy 4:1 says "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils."

I have heard from Christians who are..... well, silent. So I haven't actually heard from them at all. It is an uncomfortable place to be. I have prayed with every conversation on this topic that approaches that God would speak through me in love. Past conversations in public forums such as Facebook have lead to me being called a nut case. People have stated things like, Christians don't realize that they are just another cult. We are hate-spewing, close-minded zealots that will be the downfall of mankind. I am apparently homophobic, though I truly am not afraid of homosexual people at all. I am afraid FOR them rather than afraid of them. I was even told in one conversation that I needed to "shut up, woman." Yet in everything I have said and done, I have not called anyone a single name, I have not said anything hateful or out of anger. I have only stated that I disagree with the Supreme Court decision based on my belief in the Bible. It is not hard to understand why some Christians choose to remain silent on the topic. It seems when we speak up we cannot win. No matter what we say or how we say it we are veiwed as hateful and narrow minded. I have answered people with genuine statements that I will pray for them and that Jesus loves them. Apparently this was unacceptable. But I thought love won?

See, a world in sin cannot see the truth if they are not looking for it. Our nation has hardened it's hearts against God in countless ways. We kill defenseless, unborn, innocent children in the name of conveinience. We tell God He was wrong when He knit us together in our mother's womb by declaring "I should have been male!" or "I should have been female!" We, as a nation, shake our collective fist in the face of God and tell Him we will do whatever we want. We don't want to believe in God but yet we blame Him when things go wrong. People ask "If God is Love why doesn't He stop all the sadness on Earth?" My God is a loving God. He created us to have fellowship with Him. But He does not want robots. He gave us the right to make decisions for ourselves. We can choose Him or we can choose sin. Our choices may be our own to make, but that does not mean that they do not come with consequesnces. The sins of the fathers are passed down to future generations. The sin past generations have lived in takes it's toll now and what we do will take it's toll now and in the future. We have allowed sin to run wild throughout our nation and our world and we are coming to a point where I do not believe God will stay silent much longer. He is Love, but He is also a just God that will not allow a sinful world to continue turning their backs on Him. He will put an end to the sadness and pain on Earth. He will make His presence known. Those of us who are persecuted for His name will have our reward when we get to be with Him.

So, no, I will not judge individuals for the choices they make in their personal lives. I don't care if that choice is same sex marriage, adultery, idolatry, lying, stealing or anything else. That is between them and God. Whether they choose to believe in Him or not. Yes, from a legal standpoint, the Supreme Court passed a fair bill to allow same-sex marriage. However, from a Biblical standpoint I cannot be a part of the voice of our country that is shouting in the streets that it is a great victory either. I would not celebrate any sin, no matter what it is.

What has God led me to, as my answer on how to love without judging others? I am to love believers and non believers alike. As stated in 2 Peter 3:9 God is not willing that any should perish. I am not either. I believe that life on this earth is short and temporary. There is so much more waiting for us. What is in store beyond this life is so incredible we can not wrap our human minds around it. God wants this amazing gift of eternal joy, happiness and life to be for eveyone. True love would dictate that I want that for everyone as well.

If you could look into the future and you knew beyond any doubt that a loved one was going to get cancer and die a slow, painful death because they made a choice to smoke cigarettes, wouldn't you plead with them to quit? It is the same logic, only on a much greater scale, that compells those of us that believe in the Bible as God's Word to plead with people living in sin and hardened against God to turn to Him. We don't want others to face what we believe is coming for those refusing God. We pray for our country out of love because the more, we as a nation take a stand for things we are told to turn from, the closer we get to God's judgement. In desperation for those around us to be saved from God's wrath and be given the future we know we have as His children, we cry out for people to turn from sin. We know that no temporary pleasure here on earth compares to what is to come. It is not meant to be passing judgement, criticizing or condemning. Rather a plea made in love for the fear of a future many will face. Unfortunately too many Christians have gone about sharing this message in a way that comes accross as judgement and not love. When a person can get a warmer welcome and feel more at home in a club or a bar than in a church why should they listen to us? We, as Christians, must make it our focus to share the love of Jesus. Every word we speak on the topic should be done with prayerful consideration. We will still be hated and slandered but more will see and hear and know we are Christians by our love.

Now the tide is turning. Christians are quickly becoming the minority. I believe as time goes on we will see more and more discrimination and hate towards Christians and our persecution will take place. Let's re-visit life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for a moment. Let's think again about all the soldiers who have fought for the freedom of Americans. Yet, people are facing jail time and large fines already for the refusal to make a wedding cake, perform a wedding ceremony or provide flowers for same sex weddings. Freedom of speech and freedom of religion are quickly becoing something you can have only as long as you agree with the majority. For those who claim that the legalization of same sex marriage doesn't hurt anyone, this is proof that it does. But followers of Christ, don't be troubled by this! In the end true Love certainly will win. God placed His rainbow in the sky as a promise to us. He has kept that promise and will keep His other promises as well. He always keeps all His promises! His rainbow means far more than anything the world does to it.

This world will not last forever. Even some that don't believe in the Bible believe that something has to give.

Matthew 24:44
Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Luke 21:25
And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
(I trust everyone is aware of the blood moons, eclipses and planet alignments that have been taking place lately. Earthquakes, tsunamis and natural disasters everywhere. Scientists find ways of explaining away why these things occur without giving thought to Who created the very science they are using! God is trying to get our attention!)

2 Peter 3:3 & 4
Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

Stand up for your beliefs! Stand up for your Savior! Don't be ashamed of the Bible! Always make sure you do all of these things in love. This is a call to love loudly! See others through the eyes of Jesus and love them like He would. Know that people will despise you. Expect to hear hurtful, hateful things. We are told in 1 Peter 4:14 "If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed because the Spirit of Glory and of God rests on you." I don't believe it is my place to judge individuals and the choices they make. Only to share with them the amazing grace of God. But as a collective nation I do not stand behind the sinful turn we have taken and what that means for our future. Our nation is arrogantly crying out "Pride!" But pride comes before destruction. (Proverbs 16:18)

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