Marriage: The Debate Continues
North Carolina passes a law against Gay Marriage, then President Obama comes out in favor of gay marriage in light of Vice President Biden’s statements, then the world of Facebook and Twitter erupts with messages of disgust, approval and complaining about the states legislating morality. I hesitate to discuss these matters because I know the views of some will never change, but I know that unless evil is confronted then evil will triumph. I am constantly reminded of the quote attributed to Edmund Burke, “All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to remain silent.”
While I have read of some in the church griping at the states for passing laws banning marriage because they believe the government should not legislate morality, maybe they should applauded the efforts of the states (30 in all) because at least the citizens of those states are taking a stand.
On a Biblical note, homosexuality is wrong. Christians can come up with theories and dissertations as to why it is not wrong, but the fact of the matter is, homosexuality is wrong. This does not mean Christians hate homosexuals, it just means it is a sin and they need to be brought to Christ.
Let be clear:
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This discussion is not about divorce. (we can do that later)
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This discussion is not about hating one group more than another.
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This discussion is not about politics.
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This discussion is not about what I want.
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This discussion is about what God wants.
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This discussion is about sin.
From the beginning marriage, the Bible is clear, marriage is between a man and a woman (Genesis 2.18-25). This marriage is between the two genders that God created, not one gender. Be honest and you will see that the “parts” do not fit in a homosexual relationship. One aspect of the marriage of two people of the same gender is for the continuation of the human race and homosexual marriage does not allow for pro-creation.
Jesus emphasizes again the relationship of man and woman in marriage in Matthew 19.5:
He answered, "Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate."
(Matthew 19.4-6; ESV)
It seems that two people cannot become one flesh unless it is male and female who marry. How can two people who are of the same gender become one flesh? They cannot. It is against the arrangement of the Creator.
The apostle Paul’s words regarding marriage are consistent with the beliefs of the foundations of Genesis 2 – one man + one woman.
But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband.
(1 Corinthians 7.2-3; ESV)
From Paul’s words, you cannot only see the arrangement of husband and wife, but also the conjugal rights of both parties. Once again, Paul is discussion the role of male and female in marriage.
Consider also Ephesians 5.22-33 and see the relationship of marriage and the illustration of Christ and the Church. Paul defines the roles of male and female, husband and wife, in relation to Christ and the church. Paul is giving details and roles of men and women, not of people of the same gender.
“Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 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.”
(Romans 1.22-27; ESV)
Notice the words of Paul as he describes how people gave themselves up to selfish desires and not the thoughts of God. Not only were men creating idols apart from God, but they were worshipping man instead of God. God gave them up, He allowed them to continue in their debased minds. They were doing things unnatural with the human body – homosexuality. Notice the last word in the English Standard Version in this passage, “error.” They were committing an error against God. Why? They were departing from the faith found in God and they were seeking gratification in self.
The fact of the matter is, homosexuality is wrong. It is wrong like murder, idolatry, adultery, sex before marriage, stealing, envy, covetnessous, and lying. No sin is great than another, they are all sin. The penalty of sin is death (Romans 6.23).
For those describing themselves of Christians to promote and encourage such behavior is sinful (Romans 1.32; ESV). To encourage others live in sin and to continue down the pathway to hell is a task which not only finds itself outside of God but to continue in it will see oneself apart from God for eternity.
As mentioned previously, this argument is not about hate, it is about staying true to the word of God because the lusts of the flesh, lust of the eyes and the pride of not are not of the Father but of this world (1 John 2.16; ESV). But those who do the will of God will live forever (1 John 2.17; ESV).
God desires all men to be saved (1 Timothy 2.4; ESV). It is time that message is preached in relation to the eternal fact that sin kills, not just for a day, but for eternity.
My friends, there should not be hate, but compassion for the lost because the lost are hell-bound. May Christians strive to stand for the word, not hide behind the status quo. The Bible has spoken and still speaks, will you stand firm on its teachings.
Read Galatians 6.9.
Just my thoughts,
Letters to My Children–Dating and Marriage
To my dearest children,
Your hearts are some of the most open hearts I have ever seen. Your lives are beyond the life of others because your compassion is present every week.
Sooner or later you will fall in love and begin the rollercoaster ride of emotions during the dating stages of life. One of the greatest principles taught by my parents was simple and had powerful benefits. The principle was this, “you should date someone you could marry.” The thought of dating someone becomes different as society progresses. The thought of dating whoever and whenever has become the style in many places. But I am encouraging you to date a person of your values.
When your values are in line, the person to whom you will date will be inline. The values a person possesses determines their actions. Look for the value in the person, not necessarily the value of looks. The value of a person of God will greatly outweigh the value of riches, wealth and good looks. A mate found as a child of God is a true gift.
When you find a date, treat them with respect and be sure they treat you with respect as well. When you are not respected, you need to leave. Call me, call your mom, call someone. The moment the respect stops, so does the date. Respect is a trait which shows the inner thoughts and the heart of a person’s soul. Even if they do not respect you, you respect them.
Pray! Pray before the date, during the date and after the date. Be assured that your mother and I are already praying for you and the spouse you will choose, if that is God’s will. It is our desire to see the best person for you come into your life and we petition God to allow that to happen.
When the day comes for you to leave father and mother and be joined with someone to become one flesh, your mother and I will cry. We will shed tears of happiness because you are making an outstanding commitment. This commitment is not between you and your spouse, but it is a commitment between you and the Lord as well.
Honor your spouse. Forgive often and love daily. The trials of this world will press upon your relationship, but it is my prayer that you both will find security and trust in the Almighty. As the Bible says, you are not one flesh. You are in a relationship as one, not two. 50%/50% will no longer do and never has, it is 100%/100% now. Give your lives to each other, but give them to God first.
As the bumps happen in marriage, turn to the Lord. Do not talk to others until you have both approach the Lord. Be faithful to each other in good and bad as you are faithful to the Lord. Approach your marriage with success in mind and that success is reaching heaven together.
Most of all, be a person after the heart of Christ.
Your praying father,
Letters to My Children – Money
To my children,
Money can bring good or it can bring bad. Money can bring positive results for yourself or have tragic results. The way you use the money God has blessed you with will show your priorities. It has been said many times, “Show me your checkbook and I will show you your priorities.”
Money can be a blessing in the life of people as long as they know from where it comes. While your paycheck may have the name of a company, remember it is the Creator of the universe who made money possible. Every good and precious gift is from the Father above (James 1.17) – Use what you have been given to honor God, take care of your family and bless others.
When you have excess, be thankful. When you have less than enough, be thankful. Your excess and your “less than enough” might be a blessing in disguise. Be sure your life is found in God and your treasure will be found in Him (Matthew 6.19).
As you give to God, do it joyfully. Do not be the Christian who gives out of compulsion, but give out of cheerfulness. Give to God before you give to anyone else. Do not become the person writing and tearing it out during the Lord’s supper, be the person who has already written their check to give and prayed about its use.
Right now, you have all given beyond your means to help others. Whether is be chickens to Honduras, a goat to the Philippines or gifts to other under privileged children, you are already giving people—continue to give and the Lord will give it back beyond a thousand fold when you enter His promised land.
Be wise with your money. Save every time, spend less each time and help others. Save for the day when you will need it, but hold not to it grudgingly, hold it prayerfully.
Be people of honor in finances. Cheat no one for the sake of a dollar, it will never benefit you. When you make a financial mistake, honor it and be truthful.
Most of all, never let your money rule you…only have God as your ruler.
Your proud father,
Letters to my Children–The Church
To my children,
All I really want is to see you in heaven. I want you to be success in this life, but so much more in the life to come. Success in this life is determine by human standards, but success in the life to come is determined by your life with Christ now.
The church is changing; some good and some bad – but always remember, the God side of the church is perfect, it is the human side that is the problem. As humans, we have desires to see changes we want instead of changes we need. I desire that you be the change we need!
Stand firm on your convictions and stand with evidence in the Bible; not on the words of man. Believe nothing you read or hear until you following the Berean example (Acts 17.11). Check the Bible for the truth (John 17.17). Believe not the philosophies of man, but the words of an eternal God (Isaiah 55.8-9). Man’s ways will only take you to the ends of this Earth; God’s words take you to the unending life.
Strengthen the church. Be the strengthening factor in the church. While some will seek to separate the church from Christ, realize it cannot be done. When you separate the head from the body (Ephesians 1.22, 23), the body dies. The church cannot live without Christ. We need Him and the church needs you to tell others about Him and His church.
Looking at you now, I see the desire you have to follow God. You are readers, hearers and doers of the word even when the world challenges you the other way. Continue reading, listening, studying, and living the life you know is the life to live. Let not the world determine your choices. Let your knowledge of the Creator of the universe be your guide. Let the word speak today as it spoke in years past – it changed souls then and it will change lives today (2 Timothy 3.16-17).
Each day, reach for the prize ahead (Philippians 3.12-14) and put aside those things which are slowing down your spiritual life (Hebrews 12.1). Run the race so you may receive a prize, but let that prize be given to you by God and not by man (1 Corinthians 9.24; 2 Timothy 4.7-8).
Live your life in such a way you will see Jesus and we will see each other in the end.
Your proud father,
Dennis the Menace said “Evil”
Several days ago, my family and I were watching “Dennis the Menace” on television and Dennis said the word evil. We were not watching the new shows or movies, but the black and white television show from 1959.
During the show Dennis said the word “evil” and it was considered to be a “bad word.” As soon as it was determined to be a “bad word” I laughed as hard as I could because the word “evil” is not said on television anymore. Not because “evil” is a bad word, but it has been replaced by other words far worse than “evil.”
How far has television gone in terms of bringing those “evil” words into our homes? How far have we gone in allowing them in?
Just some Friday thoughts,
Christians lose!
Tonight, I am sitting and watching the Facebook feed because I am bored, yet the more I watch it, the more saddened I become. My heart aches when I see the Christians mocking the status of other Christians. Yes, mainly it occurs around politics, but mocking still takes place.
Whether or not we agree or disagree on politics, does not allow us to jump to conclusions at every status or every link. It is not our place to elevate politics over our relationship with brothers and sisters in Christ, but there is much of it happening today.
Christians lose when brethren mock brethren. When one person is viciously degraded to prove a point, or sarcastically spoke of to raise our cause above theirs, Christians lose.
We must all admit we hear certain names we will tune them out or tune them in. Names like Glenn Beck, Michele Malkin, Rush Limbaugh stir the democrats to ignore every word, jump on every status or best yet, just “unfriend” those they do not like. On the other hand, names like Keith Olberman, Bill Maher and Hillary Rosen do the same to the Republicans.
I offer a few suggestions to my Facebook friends, before you mock the beliefs of your brother and sister in Christ, try a few of these suggestions:
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Do not judge what you do not know. When a person writes a status you disagree with, ask them, do not pounce on them like a lion on a wounded gazelle. Create discussion not judgment. Sometime you will find their point to be valid if your ears are open. If the brother or sister is wrong, then show them through discussion not through posting a status mocking theirs on your Facebook page.
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Talk like Christ. If you speak tolerance for others, live it yourself. Also, do not run to a Facebook group to make a post about someone. In the age of Facebook, we all have friends scattered about and while the person you are mocking may not view your group post, we can. May I also add, stop being sarcastic and knit-picky; doing so only makes the matter worse.
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Listen to their point. Whether you agree with them or not, listen to their point. They might make a valid point of discussion, but your hardness of hearing may miss the point. Whether they are right or wrong in your eyes, be open to their views. We should be quick to hear and slow to speak.
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Do not comment. Our parents said, “If you have nothing good to say, say nothing at all.” This advice, while not Biblical in words, yields many positive results. Sometimes it is better to not say a word than to speak your mind and destroy by opinion.
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Your opponents may not be your opponents. Those with whom you disagree are not your enemies; well, maybe some are. The majority of the time we make them our enemy by treating them like you and separating yourself based on our opinion.
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Find the evidence. Be searchers of the Word, the history and the heart. Evidence speaks a countless truth, but we must be willing to listen.
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Breath. If you must respond, take a breath first. Remember you may not be the one who is right, you might be wrong. If you are right, be willing to love your brethren in spite of their differences.
Just some thoughts,
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