A San Diego Union-Tribune 2/6/23 news story noted that leaders of 3—count ‘em—three denominations want to remove anti-gay beliefs from their churches: Roman Catholic, Anglican, Presbyterian. The pope has repeatedly tried to weaken Christian opposition to homosexuality by saying it’s “not a crime.” Who said it was? It’s a SIN, which is against God, not a crime, which is against human law.
Understand, readers, this isn’t merely logomachy—a dispute about words—the sin Paul condemned in II Timothy 2:14. Homosexuality is a SIN, and unless churchmen willingly stand with God’s WORD calling it a sin they are nothing but philosophers quoting each other, and unworthy of preaching any Bible truth to their people. FOR… essential point in the discussion…since wherever one reads the Bible about homosexuality, it’s called a SIN, Genesis 19:1-26, Judges 19:20-20:48, Mark 7:20-23, Romans 1:1-32, I Corinthians 6:9-11, to name a few references. Note: using sexual immorality in Mark 7:2, Jesus meant all sexual immorality, including homosexuality. Note again: though he didn’t mention bestiality in particular, would anyone consider sex with an animal acceptable? And note an egregious inconsistency: the very people who willingly quote the apostle Paul as Christ’s authority in any point of doctrine consider he’s NOT an authority on the subject of homosexuality. What a convenient theology! Accepting texts that agree with us but rejecting any that don’t. That spirit in us removes us from God’s will. For obedience to God only begins when he says something that we don’t like, but we accept and live by it anyway, because HE is Our Authority. Until then, what we falsely call obedience is merely accommodation. End Part I Next blog: If homosexuality isn’t a sin, what is?
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Russian imperialism in Ukraine continues a historic trend. By the early 19th century it laid claims on land in North America from Alaska to the northern border of America.
At the time our nation had the good fortune of John Quincy Adams as Secretary of State. He knew from personal knowledge what American presidents and diplomats of the 20th century learned by experience,…Russians made extreme claims, hoping to secure a minor gain. Adams, therefore, pre-empted their boast with America’s own: forecasting the later Monroe Doctrine, he declared all the North American continent free of any encroachment from European powers. The spiritual lesson from this story encourages Christians and warns unbelievers. Christians to boldness in teaching God’s word; unbelievers to take seriously what the Bible says. What God once said God continues to mean what it meant then. What he called Right at the beginning of history remains Right as we near its end. What he at first declared WRONG, remains wrong NOW, no matter how many want it to be Right. Written before, read again this assurance: no decision made in Heaven can ever be annulled by any decision made on earth. We know Jesus created the heavens and the earth by God’s command, as Genesis 1:1 ff declare and John 1:3, Colossians 1:16 and Hebrews 1:2 affirm. For a simple reason. Genesis 1:2 says the Spirit of God hovered over the waters. Since the Spirit proceeds from the unity of God the Father and God the Son, the Trinity is revealed in the first two verses of the First Book of the Bible. Then affirmed by Jesus to the disciples before his death, John 14:8-14, 15:15-18 as an example, and to them after his resurrection Matthew 28:18-20.
John 1:1 declares Jesus the Word of God, by whom God speaks to the world, whether by prophets, priests, kings, judgments, prosperity, victory or defeat. In his every appearance through Christ, God revealed something dramatic about himself. Such as his Singularity as God. Such as his Sovereignty over history, nations and enemies. Such as obedience to God always shares his victories, as David proved. Such as rebellion against God always experiences his wrath, while doing nothing to weaken his victories, as Pharaoh demonstrated. All of this emboldens Christians as it encouraged faithful ancient heroes. Christians now have more than our share of failures and disappointments. Even now we live in mortal bodies with high aspirations and reduced morals; in societies world-wide of increasing depravity coupled with Gospel preaching reaching a minority of the unsaved. America has seen a disgusting plummet in Christian values in a religious life now turned into a potpourri of world faiths. With the Psalmist we feel like wailing, “What can we do as truculence against Bible Christianity continues to strengthen, systematically weakening the foundations of society? Psalm 11:3
Above all, Christians, lift up your hearts. As God relied on his own will to confront enemies when Abraham, David and Nehemiah served him, HIS OWN WILL still conquers satanic enemies against Christianity. We do our part by persevering in discipleship, producing the fruit of the Spirit, witnessing to those who want to learn and warning those who don’t want to. But GOD remains victorious:
God wins, whatever the opposition, however long the struggle. And all who remain faithful to him share in his Grace. Patrick Henry matured when political unrest between Great Britain and the American colonies roiled daily life. He had no particular career until he became a lawyer and no special skill but his sending voice. Colonists called it that for his ability to be heard half a mile away.
He used that voice in 1763 to protest Britain’s claim to set the salaries of American preachers. (At a time when state-supported Anglican church ruled religious life.) Again in 1765 to protest the English Stamp Tax. And again in 1775 to stir the House of Burgesses to either protest his boldness or applaud his daring. That sending voice remained his most powerful weapon. A skill, someone said, that made it worthwhile just to hear Patrick Henry “announce the weather.” Story of America, p. 69 MANY references exist in the Bible to GOD’S VOICE. Whenever he speaks, in either testament, he SENT it powerfully. Consider just a few times in Genesis and Exodus:
The Master’s Voice, heard often as God’s under Moses and the prophets, continues as God’s SENT voice to:
However, that SENDING voice will be universally powerful at the end when:
-- his archangel’s command -- his trumpet blast. All heard all over the earth and into the sea, and shaking the heavens into dissolution Peter 3:10. This is hardly an introduction to the impact of GOD’S VOICE in history. Study the subject for yourself. |
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