There Is A Way That Seems Right To Man

Towel Elephant

For many years the cry from the left was that you could not legislate morality. Now, they openly celebrate the Supreme Court doing exactly that. This latest attempt by the highest court to legislate from the bench has far reaching implications. The Federal government has made behavior, how one chooses to live, a protected class. It has also opened the door for all sorts of legal persecution of people of faith who recognize the Eternal consequences of those choices.

Marriage is not a legal right. The question should never have gone to trial. Marriage is a covenant, ordained by God between one man and one woman. That has always been the ideal. Adam was created first. Eve was taken from him. Meaning that the two together were one complete person. God, who knows the heart of individuals, brings them together in marriage to be a whole person – spirit, soul, and body. Anything that deviates from this original ideal leads to problems, as is obvious from the many examples in the Bible, and life itself.

The question is, in a Constitutional Republic, how do you guarantee the rights of Believers, while accommodating the desires of the world. In this case, the only solution is to get the government completely out of the marriage business. They had no business getting involved in the first place. You don’t redefine and diminish the marriage covenant, to indulge the world.

I will defer to the legal experts on how best to make this work. Instead, I would prefer to address the Biblical and Spiritual aspects of this issue. The moment this case made news, everyone on the planet was suddenly a Biblical scholar. Even some clergy got in the act, telling us that we did not understand God’s Will on this issue. So let’s dive in and see what God’s Word has to say on this topic.

It must be made perfectly clear that a Believer in Jesus, a follower of His Word, does not hate homosexuals, or any sinner for that matter. Sin means separation from God. Everyone is born spiritually dead, the sin nature has severed the connection to God, and instead connected them to the father of lies, Satan. There is only one way to reconnect to your Heavenly Father – faith in Jesus Christ, making Him Lord of your life. (Romans 10:6-13) It is God’s Will, and He is very patient, that all be saved. (Mark 16:14-16, John 3:14-17, 1 Timothy 2:1-6, 2 Peter 3:9) He wants you to choose Life, to choose Him. In this dispensation, He will never force you to choose Him, and protect your right to reject Him, all the way to the grave. And even to the very end, He will continue to love you, reach out to you, and desire that you turn to Him, so that you may be saved, not only in this life, but be eternally with Him.

For the wages which sin pays is death, but the [bountiful] free gift of God is eternal life through (in union with) Jesus Christ our Lord. — Romans 6:23 (<AMP>)

Its spiritual death, and then the rejection of Jesus that brings judgment. Sins are simply a symptom of the fallen nature in unbelievers, and an unrenewed mind, or the sin nature still influencing a Believer. Sins have consequences, and they are often not pleasant. Satan has one clear mission – to steal, kill, and destroy. Jesus came to give Life, in abundance, and to the full. (John 10:10) Don’t make Satan’s job any easier.

Sexual sins – adultery, fornication, homosexuality, molestation, and rape are especially egregious because they so often affect others, sometimes whole nations. From the Bible, we can see how adultery can break up families, lead to murder, and even civil war. Fornication can lead to unwanted pregnancies, murder of the unborn, health complications, and emotional scars. Sexual perversion and abuse creates both physical and emotional victims, who often repeat the cycle. When it comes to sexual sins, there are no winners. That is why God has established the ideal. He is not a killjoy. He identifies sin and tells you to avoid it because He knows what comes from it. He knows you better than you know yourself. He sees the very best in you, and knows that the enemy is looking for an opportunity to deprive you of everything, including your life. Sin may seem exciting at first, but it rarely ends well.

The left is fond of pushing the narrative that anyone who preaches against homosexuality is preaching hate. Some countries are already prosecuting preachers, and the persecution of churches is well underway here in America. The homosexual community once called for tolerance. Now, they demand endorsement of their lifestyle choice. This is done by intimidation, lawsuits, and in some cases violence. In order to accommodate a very tiny, but seemingly powerful group, freedom of speech and religion are to be compromised. What has become of this once free nation? Can we not disagree, and not be disagreeable?

Towel Elephant
The Elephant In The Room

What prompted this article was reading some of the musings of preachers on this issue. I was amazed at their willingness to abandon Scripture, claiming Believers simply misunderstand God’s Word. And even demanding that the Bible be altered to reflect the times we live in and embrace homosexuality, well, in the same way churches have accepted most sexual sins. I am also amused when they change their views based on the majority opinion. Somehow, I don’t think God works by consensus. I’m not going to link to any of their posts because my goal is not to embarrass anyone.

So much of Christendom has become nothing more than religion. They teach a social gospel, having long ago abandoned preaching the Word. The Seed, the Word of God sown in the spirit brings Life. Religion can’t do this. It cannot be earned. Only the Word of God can accomplish this in someone’s heart. God’s Word is alive and powerful (Hebrews 4:12). It is the source of the Believer’s armor, and the only offensive weapon for spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:10-17). Religion evolves, theologians change opinions, but the Word of God is Eternal, Incorruptible Seed (1 Peter 1:13-25). The Word is the source of faith, and its impossible to please God without faith (Romans 10:17, Hebrews 11:6). It is milk for babes in Christ, but meat for the spiritually mature. (Hebrews 5:10-14, 1 Peter 2:1-3). If you want to change someone’s fruit, you must first change their root. The only way that happens is by people hearing God’s Word.

Can two walk together, except they be agreed? — Amos 3:3 (<KJV>) 

So Jesus said to those Jews who had believed in Him, If you abide in My word [hold fast to My teachings and live in accordance with them], you are truly My disciples. And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free. — John 8:31-32 (<AMP>)

His Truth sets people free. Whether its the bondage of sin, religious bondage, or even ignorance, God’s Truth will set folks free. If Pastors disagree with His Word, how can they effectively share it? How is it possible to be a Light to the world, if one compromises with darkness? And sharing the Word does not require condemnation. Its the Holy Spirit who convicts the sinner. You can share the Word and still love the person. Consider Jesus and the woman caught in adultery. He did not condemn her when the religious folks demanded her stoning. Instead, he pointed out their hypocrisy, and they all walked away. Jesus remained with the woman and told her to go, and sin no more. He did not applaud her actions, or make her comfortable in her sin. Instead, he wanted her to be free from the bondage of sin. Follow Jesus, the Light of the world, and you will not be in darkness. (John 8:1-12)

Consider another example. You are on a boat in an ocean surrounded by shark-infested waters. If someone desires to go swimming, do you encourage them, help them in the water, or do you warn them of the danger? Once they are in the water, and the sharks are circling waiting to attack, do you take pride in their bravery, applaud their commitment to swim with the sharks, or do you plead with them to get on the boat, and try to pull them out of the dangerous water? As the feeding frenzy begins, do you just shrug it off and say it was their choice, or do you do everything humanly and divinely possible to save them before its too late? Now, consider how God feels as He watches His children forget His instructions and jump into the shark infested waters. And even worse, what does He think about those He has called to teach His Word when they are encouraging people to jump into the dangerous sea, and even stay there?

There should be no discussion about whether homosexuality is a sin. The Bible has much to say on sexual sins, and provides many example of their consequences. The emphasis on homosexuality is also way out of proportion. The media and entertainment industry has relentlessly pushed this agenda, and too many churches took the bait and tried to fight back in the flesh. Homosexuality is no better or worse than any sexual sin. It just has not been “normalized” like adultery or fornication. There are people in churches who routinely engage in sexual sin throughout the week, and then take their place in the pews on Sunday. Some may even be saved, but certainly not sanctified, or set apart from the world by God’s Word.

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. Don’t participate in the things these people do. For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. — Ephesians 5:1-9 (<NLT>)

Paul wrote this to Believers. People who are Born Again have the power inside, and God’s Word, to change and resist sin. Its far more difficult for an unbeliever to make substantive changes without first being born from above. However, the Believer who feeds on the Word will be set free. They can be led by the Spirit, and walk in the Light. After a steady diet of God’s Word, they will not even recognize their carnal behavior of the past. Darkness cannot endure the Light.

This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. — 1 John 1:5-7 (<KJV>)

Those trapped in sin, whether homosexuality or something far worse, must be set free from the bondage of sin, made alive in Christ. This is only possible by hearing God’s Word. You can tell someone a million times that they are a sinner, or what they are doing is a sin, and not change them one bit. Share the Gospel, allow the Holy Spirit to transform them from the inside out, and you have a new brother or sister in Christ. Believers are Born Again by the the Incorruptible Seed sown in their heart. Whosoever believes in Jesus has Eternal Life. That promise is for everyone who believes. But how will they believe without someone sharing the Gospel? They must hear God’s Word. (John 3:1-21, Romans 10:1-17, Ephesians 2:1-10, 1 Peter 1:22-24)

There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. — Proverbs 14:12 (<KJV>)

When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right. And what was the result? You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom. But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. — Romans 6:20-23 (<NLT>)

All of Romans 6 is applicable here. Sin has a price, both in this life, and for eternity. It is something you earn by rejecting God’s free gift of Salvation. Eternal Life is available to anyone who believes in Jesus. Along with that comes freedom from the bondage of sin. Instead of beating the lost over the head with condemnation, Believers should be imitating Jesus, inviting them to experience the freedom in Christ. People flocked to Jesus because He loved them, healed them, fed them, and gave them the Words of Life. Is the Body of Christ truly imitating Jesus? Are they walking in the same Anointing, Love, and Wisdom as the One who dwells in them? (John 14:9-21, 1 John 4:1-21)

You’ve Got To Catch The Fish Before You Can Clean Them!

Not exactly sure who first coined this phrase, but there is a lot of wisdom there. You will never change someone in the flesh. True, and permanent change occurs in the heart, and by the Spirit. If the Body of Christ behaves no different than the world, there is no reason to consider Jesus. However, if the Body of Christ is shining bright with the Light of Life, speaking the Truth in Love, people will depart from darkness and flock to the Light. Within everyone, buried deep inside, is a desire to be set free. And only God’s Truth will make it happen. (John 1:1-14, John 4:21-24, John 8:28-37, Ephesians 4:8-16, 1 John 1:1-7)

The battle continues, but the war is over. Believers won! The struggle is not with flesh and blood, but with the spiritual forces of darkness. Armed with the Word of God, and the name of Jesus, Believers CANNOT lose. (Ephesians 6:10-18, Philippians 2:8-11, Colossians 2:1-15)

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;  — Ephesians 6:10-18 (<KJV>)

Maranatha!

Related Content
Christian Dating – Advice From The Bible – God’s plan for dating and marriage

Comments

comments