We are ambassadors

When engaging and confronting our culture, we (as fellow sinners) must patiently exhort in manner that introduces people to Jesus. In this, people will be called both to conviction (as men who have rebelled against God) and to the hope of the work and worth of Jesus.

Deception

C.S. Lewis wrote this after listening to a speech by Adolf Hitler over the radio on the Friday evening of July 19th, 1940, this would become the inspiration for Screwtape Letters:

“I don’t know if I’m weaker than other people, but it is a positive revelation to me how while the speech lasts it is impossible not to waiver just a little… Statements which I know to be untrue all but convince me, at any rate for the moment, if only the man says them unflinchingly.”

We are easily deceived. Do not think that you are above the many Germans enraptured by the speeches of Hitler? They were people just like us.We are people just like them.

And it happens, today, perhaps in more subtle mediums, but the lure of deception and evil is real. Like the foolish woman of proverbs it entices and it attracts with a false beauty. But in the end there is death and stench. It is alive and well in our own culture, promoting murder, hate, and a many other evils, bring destruction to lives and families. 

But the voice of evil is familiar, we barely notice . . .

Jesus challenges culture

Jesus challenged the culture of his day. He will challenge your culture as well.

Open Minded

I am learning that you have to believe in the scriptures in order to be open minded. There is no other way. God's ways are far above our own and any other standard for thinking falls short and is narrow in its expanse and ability to understand the world. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" And "The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God.'"


This will not sit well with a lot of people, even Christians, but the scriptures make us wise in all things in life. And it is a solid ground that can be trusted in. It puts you in a secure place, where you are free to be open minded. 

Catagorical Thinking

I was talking with a friend, tonight, and he mentioned how instead of listening to what people have to say, we tend to put people into categories. For example, in talking about theology or politics, people tend to set categories, so if you approach those subjects people automatically put you into preconceived boxes that they have for you, whether or not you fit in those boxes. We talked about how often, because of this, we get put in boxes that we actually totally disagree with. But because people have already determined this is what we believe and have shut their ears to anything contrary, they don't hear what we actually are saying. And I have done it to others as well.

The problem is that the Word of God doesn't fit into categories, not even close.

My prayer is not necessarily, how do I get others to change, but how can God change me, and help me to communicate lovingly in a way that breaks down any categories. In His grace, I want to be able to speak in a way that is gentle and loving and strong. To speak in a way that makes others feel welcome, maybe uncomfortable and maybe  even hostile at times, but welcome. Jesus, spoke in a way that struck the hearts and souls of men. He was strong and many people rejected Him because of it. But He also said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.". And like Paul, I want to pray that the Holy Spirit will speak clearly through me, breaking down any preconceived categories men have and breaking down any boxes I put God into, so that they might hear clearly what God has to say.

"Church Discipline!? Is that Purpose Driven!?" - Jeff Noblit

Christians who harp on Homosexuality have made a mistake: My sincere apology

Christians who harp on Homosexuality have made a mistake: My sincere apology

There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

There has been a fervent outcry among those of the Christian faith against Homosexuality and the Homosexual agenda, an outcry that has set these people apart. Homosexuality is treated as a “particularly” horrid form of depravity, as if it were one of the deepest sins of the heart. And the Homosexual agenda is treated as a “particularly” corrupting influence in our society. We communicate to the homosexuals that they are more depraved than others who do not commit such a sin. This angers me and my heart hurts for those who are caught up in this sin.

The reason I have heard from people, so many times, for this reaction specifically towards homosexuality is a misunderstanding of Romans 1, where it states,

For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.

These verses are quoted and said to be a descending spiral into the depravity of the human heart, and that here, homosexuality being presented as being “particularly” depraved. However, this is not the argument that Paul gives, at all.

Paul is not talking about the depravity of the heart and its descending spiral. Instead Paul is presenting the madness that comes out of a mind that suppresses the truth of who God is.

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.”

This lack of faith and the suppression of truth is the source of the rotten power of sin that corrupts and erodes mankind and brings them into madness.

“For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became (futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, . . .”

In Isaiah, God speaks of this madness and foolishness.

Surely he cuts cedars for himself, and takes a cypress or an oak and raises it for himself among the trees of the forest. He plants a fir, and the rain makes it grow. Then it becomes something for a man to burn, so he takes one of them and warms himself; he also makes a fire to bake bread. He also makes a god and worships it; he makes it a graven image and falls down before it. Half of it he burns in the fire; over this half he eats meat as he roasts a roast and is satisfied. He also warms himself and says, "Aha! I am warm, I have seen the fire." But the rest of it he makes into a god, his graven image He falls down before it and worships; he also prays to it and says, "Deliver me, for you are my god." They do not know, nor do they understand, for He has smeared over their eyes so that they cannot see and their hearts so that they cannot comprehend. No one recalls, nor is there knowledge or understanding to say, "I have burned half of it in the fire and also have baked bread over its coals I roast meat and eat it Then I make the rest of it into an abomination, I fall down before a block of wood!" He feeds on ashes; a deceived heart has turned him aside And he cannot deliver himself, nor say, "Is there not a lie in my right hand?"

Paul goes on describing our insanity . . .

Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.

And in this insanity and madness God gave us over to its passions. Here Paul uses homosexuality as an example of the fools we have become because there is an obvious exchanging the natural order of things for the unnatural.

However, Paul is not using this example to state that those who commit these unnatural sexual acts or more depraved than others, He is only describing how insane sin makes us become.

Right after this, Paul describes this madness with other sins. If this is a downward spiral, Paul is describing, then these sins fall below homosexuality, and must be more depraved. How many of these sins have you committed? No, Paul is describing the madness of sin and how utterly corrupt we have become.

And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.

Now, let’s read on to the next verse,

Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things. But do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment on those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who WILL RENDER TO EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS: to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation. . .

Paul states that we are . . .

all under sin;
as it is written,
"THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;
THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS,
THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;
ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS;
THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD,
THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE."
"THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN GRAVE,
WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECEIVING,"
"THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS";
"WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS";
"THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD,
DESTRUCTION AND MISERY ARE IN THEIR PATHS,
AND THE PATH OF PEACE THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN."
"THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES."

Paul in his argument brings all men under this madness of sin. We have all become depraved and corrupted. And this is Paul’s point: sin, itself, from the very conception in the heart of man is utterly corrupting, bringing us all under the wrath of God.

So why do some Christians have a special indignation toward homosexuality? Do you who speak out against laws promoting homosexuality also speak out against laws promoting divorce (something that has devastated our society)? Do you who harp about homosexuality outside the church, get angry over adultery and promiscuity and divorce that is so prevalent within the church? How about the sin in your own life? . . . . Do you have contempt for the kindness and tolerance and patience of God, who saved you from such filth?

Paul in his letter to the Corinthians tells the church “not to associate with sexually immoral people –“. But he is quick to say, “not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world.” His judgment is on those who are in the Church. “But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler – not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside.”

The Gospel brings a compassion and conviction to sinners. Christ was known as a man who associated with “sinners and tax collectors”. He brought the Gospel into the madness of this world. He loved those who were unloved and were considered “great” sinners. He spoke the truth and called for repentance, but He did so to all men.

Should we speak out against homosexuality. "Yes", a definite "Yes". It is a horrible and devastating sin. And we do not have to fear to call sin sin. If we love, we will speak out against it, but we must speak out against it in a biblical way. We need to get off our high horse and be real with who we are without Christ and come to the homosexuals as people under the same corruption and filth and madness, people with just as much need of the Gospel as they. Some harp about “specific” sins, without looking at their own, but it is the fact that we are all sinners that keeps us from God. So we have nothing to boast against someone who has done a "specific" sin. Unless I repent, I will likewise perish, and I need the grace of God, through Christ Jesus.