Take a Solid Step

This week I got together with a small group of men to talk about our struggles and confess our sins to one another. Feeling like I needed some accountability, I spoke about my needs and struggles. I also decided I needed to take some definitive steps to get away from the issue.

You see, I struggle (mightily) with controlling how much I play certain types of video games.

Some games I have no problem with, I can sit down, play for a little bit, and shut it down and move on with my day. Others however I completely lose any sense of self-control and go on multi-hour sprees for days or weeks on end. For whatever reason the switch just won't turn off.

In talking about this with these men, I started adding up just how much I played (*very* conservatively) over the last year. Since I got to bed later/wake up earlier than everyone else, that tends to be my "me time." It is in these hours that a good deal of playing comes from. That being said, however, plenty of other time I realized was being soaked up thinking about, planning and researching different aspects of games. I didn't even include that in my estimate. All that being said, I *conservatively* played around 500 hours of video games last year.

500.

Hours.

Minimum.

20.8 days.

Not 20.8 work days, 20.8 twenty-four-hour days.

That is not OK. And remember, that is a conservative estimate. It also doesn't count the thinking/reading/research aspect of it. If I really took the time to go through everything, I would probably stretch closer to the 600+ hour mark, but I'm sticking with 500 because I don't want to feel like a complete waste of space.

That is not OK.

Now don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with having a hobby, or even with playing games as a hobby. They can be good for stress relief, getting out of your head, relaxing and a host of other good things. But 500+ hours minimum shows that I have an idol that needs to be taken care of.

So it is time to take solid steps to do so.

I've done the cold turkey thing before, where I don't play anything for 30 days or so. While that has worked during the break, I eventually go back on a rampage, playing catch-up because "hey, I took a break." I have done this several times before, with the same results So cutting them out this way doesn't exactly work.

Instead, I believe it is to take the games that are a problem, and rid myself of them. Not put them in a drawer or hide them away for a while, but to rid myself of their presence once and for all. Sell the cartridges and discs and uninstall them from my PC. The ones I have no problem putting down and not thinking about I will keep, and use them as a normal, beneficial hobby that keeps me from binging later. The ones that cause me to stumble, will be gone.

The reason I write all this is to challenge you, dear reader. I want to challenge you to take a look at your favorite things and ask yourself if you have an idol to rid your life of. You may need to quit it all completely cold turkey or take a different type of approach like I am. Either way solid, practical steps must be taken if we are going to rid ourselves of idols and distractions and become the people God calls us to be.

Where we spend our time will determine where our priorities are. Do you spend your every waking hour watching TV? Facebook? News? Do you spend it on your job? Working out? On politics?

I am convinced that the most insidious idols are those which are not directly sin. We can easily see how pornography, abuse and cheating are sin. These things go against God's stated law. But when it is something on the side, and when it can even have good effects, it becomes much more difficult to recognize when it becomes a sin problem. It takes time, effort and honesty to say to yourself "this is sin not because of what it is, but what I have turned it into."

I once heard Mark Driscoll state that when a good thing becomes a God thing it becomes a bad thing. Regardless of what you think of the one who said it, the statement is true, and it is up to us to take it to heart. It is time to take a stand.

So I challenge you to look at your life, and start taking solid steps to fix those things which move your further from God and replace it with things that bring you closer to Him. Half-measures will not work. We must be willing to give it all for the One True King.

So let us start moving.

Together.

On the Proper Use of Scripture

It has come to my attention over the last several years that in many cases, I have simply taken what was told to me over the years and incorporated it into my thinking without considering the correctness behind it. This is mainly evident in the use of Scripture to defend or make certain arguments. Taking a look back, I find that the more I study and consider the contexts and points being made in Scripture, the more I see where verses and passages were used incorrectly in order to have a quick "go-to" source for an argument. I do not believe this was done maliciously or with bad intent (in fact I believe just the opposite), but that does not mean that it is OK to continue to let it slide. This post, and possibly another, will explore some of these verses and passages, to see what they mean, and also to look at a better way defend the faith we hold so dear.

This requires a different way of looking at Scripture. Now I am not calling for a totally changed hermeneutic (way that we interpret Scripture), but simply a revisiting of how we use Scripture so that we can do so in the best way possible. This is a good deal harder, and takes a bit more work, than spouting off a single verse to make a defense. In order to make arguments as I suggest, we need a worldview that is not only Biblically centered, but Biblically knowledgeable. This means work, and sometimes is means answering a question with "I don't know, let me get back to you." 

Now I realize I am only one preacher with a small, mostly unknown blog. But we have to start somewhere, so it might as well be here. I hope it is as useful to you to read this as it has been for me to write. :-)


As an example, let's look at the subject of music in worship. Now, the church of Christ arguments tend to center on Colossians 3:16, Ephesians 5:19 and (oddly enough) Nadab and Abihu in Leviticus 10:1. Let's look at what those passages have to say.

Col. 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Eph. 5:19
Addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,

Lev. 10:1
Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to his command.

Now, as I said, these are the go-to verses for the subject of music in worship. However, there is only one problem. They don't actually speak about music in worship at all. 

Colossians speaks directly about putting on our new selves in Christ, resisting sin, and love. Verse 3:16 is a command on how we are to speak with one another all the time. It is a command about how we speak, how we act, and the thankfulness we should have in our hearts towards God.

Ephesians is much the same. Paul writes about walking in love, escaping sin, and making the best use of the time we have in these evil days. Verse 5:19 is about how our attitudes and interactions with each other should be filled with love, affection and holiness while being filled with the Spirit.

Leviticus then talks about Nadab and Abihu and how they did something unauthorized during the sacrifice to God. This is usually used to say "if God didn't say it, we shouldn't do it." There is just one problem with using this particular verse as the go-to argument: that's not the only thing they were guilty of. See, God had been very, very clear about exactly how the priests were to deal with the sacrifices. There are chapters...and chapters...and chapters...that govern everything from clothing to pre-service to post-service and everything in between. Nadab and Abihu did more than add something because they thought it was nice. They disobeyed clear, direct orders from God Himself doing something "contrary to His command" They had been given explicit directions, and did something else. This is generally not where instruments in worship fall today (unless they are saying "I know A, but I'd rather do B instead, so whatever".

Now, if you are a little spooked, that is OK. If you disagree with me, that is OK. But go and read the chapters (even the whole books), to see if what I say is false. Because I have a little secret.

I still see music in worship as not being what God intended.

I let go of the above verses years ago to argue my point, however, because I found a better way. It is a little more difficult, but much more satisfying, because I am no longer using verses on their own pulled out of context, but instead appealing to God's consistency and nature as I see it throughout the Bible.

You see, throughout the Old Testament, God did allow music in the assembly of worship. But it was never done how and when they wanted. God ordained specific instruments during specific times of the worship, as in 2 Chronicles 29:25-30. He was very clear about the hows and direction the music would take. Outside of the assembly worship there seemed to be less restriction, as David danced and had music played in celebratory worship while the ark was brought back to Jerusalem in 2 Samuel 6. So it seems we see two types of worship here: corporate/temple and non-corporate.

Now as we move into the New Testament, remember how God treated instruments in the Old. He used His prophets to say "do this and this and that." We don't see that in the New Testament. In fact, we are given precious little direction beyond coming together, sharing communion with one another and the Lord, being orderly, and putting each other before ourselves. It would seem then, that if God did desire instruments to be used in corporate worship, He would have had the writers make some mention of it somewhere. This is more than an argument from silence. This is an argument based on how God planned and prepared specific uses and purposes for them in the Old Testament. Indeed, if you look at the history of the church, you find that note was made of how instruments were not used in the early church (The Early Church and Today, vol. 1, page 280).

It is because of these things that I do not see the permission to use instruments. We just don't see it and we do see a known, acceptable way to worship the True King of All Creation. If we are chasing the very best of what God wants for us, what keeps us from doing anything else?

Realize, however, that this takes music off the salvation-issue list. We cannot see into the hearts of men. That power is reserved for God alone. People may be doing their very best, but messing up (as we all do so often). This is an issue that can be discussed and debated, but I am not able to see it as a determining factor on whether or not we can have fellowship with another (which, if it is not a salvation issue, must be the side we come down on).

Now this is not to say this is not an important subject. Any subject dealing with our worship of God and the how, why and when is important. We should be honest with ourselves about that. There is nothing more important than that which is about to God, our relationship with Him, our worship of Him and our following His Will. These are the first things in our lives, not the last things we consider.

This is what I mean though when I say we need to rethink our use of Scripture. We are People of the Book, those who chase Truth. As we come to know that Truth, we must be willing to subject ourselves to it, regardless of what that means. We are humans, and we all must grow and we will make mistakes, but let our mistakes be ones of trying our best to follow God, and not ignoring Him in favor of our own predispositions.

If you disagree with me, please let me know. If you think I have misused Scripture, please tell me. Leave a message or email me. I am more than happy to have this discussion at any time. Like I said, I am chasing the Truth, wherever that leads, and I will certainly need help along the way. I know I can't do it myself.

But let us seek Truth together, as friends. As those saved in Christ. As the brothers and sisters that we are.

Facing the Storm: A Discussion on Homosexuality - The Importance of Love

It's good to share good things! :-)

Finally, my last post for (hopefully) a long time on this subject (although I have a sneaking suspicion there may be a part 5...). I have covered pretty much all I want covered as well as I can. I hope it has been useful for any who have read it. If you disagree with me on anything, feel free to contact me and let's hash out what needs to be hashed. I am always open to any discussion, as long as you respect the use of Scripture and the search for truth.

Oddly enough, this could be my most "controversial" post on this subject yet. I actually don't think it is all that controversial, but I do hope it causes us to really think and consider what the right actions for the church to take are. If you have any doubts about where I stand on this subject, I do ask that you read parts one, two, and three before making any judgments. This post stems from those.

Today we talk about the importance of love, and its place in the church in regards to homosexuality. Last week I made a short list of do's and do not's in regards to when visitors, practicing homosexuality or not, come into the church. This post is the practical application of that tiny list. I did a little bit of looking, and while there is a lot of "theory" and personal anecdotes, there does not seem to be a lot of discussion on the practical side of things. Also please note - this article is about visitors and outsiders to the church, so please keep that in mind as you read.

The unfortunate thing about the homosexuality debate is that it has ended up in a place where words say one thing and actions show another. Now I realize I am using a broad brush here, but I believe it is applicable. So often people say "well, its just a sin like any other sin and needs to be dealt with." This is true and correct. However, all too often actions and attitudes seem to speak that this sin is worse and more infectious than others, and if it is not taken care of immediately it will cause worse problems.

This is where we need to understand that things do not happen in a vacuum. Our hearts and words want to do the right thing, but our fears and emotions want us to do another. This is not without cause. One of the casualties of the culture wars has been common sense.on both sides. There is a permeating sense that if one inch is given a mile will be taken, and everything will fall off a cliff. I believe this is the reason why it makes people so nervous when we talk about how to handle things when homosexuals come into the church. On one hand we (rightly) want to protect the faith and especially those who are young in it. On the other hand we (rightly) want to show Jesus' love and grace to all. It is in the application of both these needs that we find our difficulty.

So I am going to throw some situations and ideas out there, because the conversation has to start somewhere, and plans need to be made in advance how the church will respond when people come into the church looking for what only God can give. Please note: this is not an exhaustive list. These are just some situations that the church may find itself in that great good can come through if handled properly. This is only a conversation starter, not the end-all be-all.

----------------------------------

1) A openly gay man or woman come to church.
Just like every other person, please make sure to welcome them warmly and openly. If they are searching for God, what better place to do it than along with God's people? We are the light of the world and the salt of the earth. If we can truly help them to see Jesus, there is a good chance they will come back so they can start to get to know Him. We are the ambassadors of Christ. What is seen is us is how they will view Him. 

2) A gay couple comes to church.
This is where I think people will start to get tripped up, so let me just answer: yes, invite them to the potluck. And the movie night. And dinner at your home. And all the other activities. This will be very uncomfortable for some people. Actually, it will probably be very uncomfortable for a lot of people.

But guess what? Jesus didn't call us to a comfortable life. He called us to His life. His, where He ate with prostitutes and sinners and tax collectors. His, where he went to the poorest and most broken of society. His, where he made His relationships with the outcast and the sick and the weary. Where He showed them His light and healed their wounds and then called them to follow Him. We should follow the same pattern: show His light, bring them to be healed, and then call them to follow, giving up all for the name of Jesus, just as we are to do.

3) A state-married gay couple with kids comes to church.
If you thought the last one was difficult, here is the final big one. Remember, we are not talking about Christians coming in and trying to force your change, we are talking about those outside of Christ who come into the church looking for the Savior. Now yes, there may be those just looking for trouble, but there will be plenty who are honestly searching. We are to be Christ to all people, not just the ones who like us.

So yes, invite them to the potluck, your home for dinner, the family night, etc. Do your best to build a relationship because they need Christ too. Get to know them and what they do and what they like because you will plant seeds of either love or disgust for Jesus. Plant the ones that can grow into a soul-saving faith. Understand that they will be called to give up enormously in order to follow Christ. It will not be easy, fun or simple, and we need to understand what it will mean for them to have to figure out how things will work in the future.

-----------------------------------------

In all cases where those outside of Christ come into the church, our goal is to (in this order) 1) introduce them to Christ, 2) get them to love Christ and His church, and 3) help them to pay whatever price it takes to follow the One True Savior. This will (probably) not happen overnight or even over a month. It may take years. But we cannot give up because Christ did not give up. Whether it is a single mom, a pregnant teen, or a homosexual couple, we will not, we cannot, give up on bringing them to Christ. His will is all that matters. We are to be gentle and generous with all sinners, not just the ones we are most comfortable with.

This is the importance and goal of love: to show Christ's light and love to a broken and sinful world with patience, kindness and charity. To stand firm on the foundation of belief that Christ has set forth while at the same time not dashing the lost to pieces upon it, but bringing them gently before the Savior so that He can have His way with them.

To follow Christ we must give up all. This includes our fears, our worries and our doubts. This means being uncomfortable when needed, and taking joy that we can be used as tools of the Savior. Let us have love, generosity and charity in all things, so that we may reach all who are seeking Christ.

We are those who follow Christ the Risen King.

Let us show it.

Facing the Storm: A Discussion on Homosexuality - Where do we go from Here?

Last week I wrote about the arguments facing Christians on the subject of homosexuality. In that ginormous post I dealt mainly with philosophical and general Scripture arguments while staying away from the so-called "clobber-passages" (I still highly dislike that name) that so many argue over. The overall point was this: that all sexual conduct outside of God's design, whether hetero- or homosexual, is sin, and those who claim to follow Christ must follow His Will in all things, including this. There are no loopholes. There are no back doors. There is, however, grace that far surpasses all our failures, and when we turn our lives over to He Who Saves, we can rest assured that He will cleanse us as we do our best to follow.

All that being said, the question now arises: where do we as the church go from here? There is no denying that the directional flow of culture, especially on this issue, is against us, and that Christians will be put to the test in how they choose to react and serve a world that is dedicated to bending the church to its will not only on this issue, but many (e.g. all) others as well. These are not questions that can be ignored or put aside for later. The path needs to be chosen now, or we will find ourselves in the middle of a war with no strategy, no plan, and much despair.

So let us consider together, as Christ's body and His church under whose Lordship we are under, how we should, need and must respond to the storm that is to come and that is already here.

Christians in Business (the current crisis)
I will keep this (relatively) short, because so, so much has been written about it already. I am going to say this in the nicest way possible, but I know it will offend somebody. Please read through it first.

My Christian family, if a fellow Christian chooses to cater to a "gay wedding," or something similar, you have no right to go and destroy them over it. Shame on you.

My Christian family, if you are not willing to stand up for your brothers and sisters who are being destroyed and wrecked by the world for not catering to an event, you are a coward. Shame on you.

We are called to encourage, exhort and correct in love. We are told that the family of faith is a family bound by the blood of Christ. Do you truly think this is not something that person struggled with? And if they came to a different conclusion than you through honest study and prayer, who are you to come between them and their Lord? Paul states it like this in Romans 14:3-4:

"Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand."

Now here Paul is talking about food sacrificed to idols, but the principle remains the same. There are going to be things that are difficult for people to decide what is right and what is wrong. They will stand in their integrity (or lack thereof) before the Master. We are not the Master, and therefore should leave it to Him whether His servants are acting with integrity and a clean conscience or not.

I will give a warning here, however: do not simply succumb to the pressure of the world and defy your conscience before God. That will be sin, and we are to follow Christ regardless of the consequences. You may lose your business, your home and everything you have worked for. If that is the price you pay, understand that there is a far greater reward for those who give up all in the service of their King. Do not take the easy way out and deny your Lord. Do what you truly believe is right, and follow Him no matter what.

Ministers (the coming crisis)
There will come a time, probably within the next 5 years, where a minister is going to be sued for refusing to service a "gay wedding." This is something that hits me personally, since I am a preacher. This is also something that will affect churches nationwide and is an area where decisions must be made now in order to avoid confusion and despair later. I am also going to be a bit harder in this section, because those in ministry should be able to understand the heart I am coming from with this.

Ministers, preachers and those employed by the church: you have no business being involved in the ceremony for a "gay marriage" ceremony. Biblically speaking, marriage is not just a promise of love. It is a covenant between a man, a woman and God. To invoke His Name to bind something that He has nowhere claimed bind-able is to 1) speak lies in His Name and 2) make yourself the decider of what God "really wants." You have no right nor authority to do either of these things.

Make no mistake, if you refuse, you will almost certainly come under fire of the most withering kind. You will be called horrible things (as I was privately a couple weeks ago), said you hate people, and possibly even threatened or arrested (depending on the country). Welcome to the history of saints who have given that and so much more. Regardless of what happens, though, you must stand firm. Remember, you are not to speak on your own nor of yourself, but that which comes from God.

All this being said, please, please always remember to preach, teach and speak in love. You can do more damage (and do it quicker) than nearly anyone else out there. It you speak out of bigotry or disgust, you will likely turn away souls from God for good. We are here to be salt and light. Now salt may hurt when put on a cut, but if put on gently in love it only burns for a little while and the recipient sees the point of it. If you grind it into the wound you are bringing unnecessary pain and causing that person to see God as a painful, harmful Master. In the same way Light, when given at the proper dosage, is good and helpful and healthy. But if you force someone to stare at the sun for too long you are going to damage their eyes so that light can no longer get in. You will have done such damage that they can no longer see the great gifts and joys that the Father does have in store for them.

Do not be someone who harms. Stand firm. Stand fast. And stand in the love of Christ for others above all else.

Personal Life (the aroma of death & life)
2 Cor. 2:15-16a

"For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life."

Understand, Christian, that you must stand for the truth in love above all else. You may have those dear to you who come out to you to tell you they are gay. Do not deny and reject them the care you held for them at the first. Chances are they are coming to you with the most vulnerable and scary thing they have ever told you. You are to continue to be the fragrance of Christ to them and help them see His will, for their lives, whatever it may be. That may be choosing to fight it, accept it along with God's regulations for sexual conduct, or struggling to find definition and purpose in God's family. The choices you make could very well determine whether they continue seeking Christ or turn away from Him once and for all.

Colossians 3:12 gives us a very good idea of how to handle those around you (regardless of the circumstance you find yourself in), where Paul writes,

"Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,"

Furthermore, if someone comes to you saying that they have sinned in this way, do not recoil and cast them out. They, like you, need Christ's love and mercy. They need strength and encouragement not to fall again. Everyone has their own struggles and temptations. You would not cast out a kleptomaniac for messing up and stealing, nor someone who has difficulty not lying when they slip up. Most would not even throw out an alcoholic for their failure or gambler for theirs. Homosexuality is no different. It is a fight and struggle to deal with and it is far beyond time we understand that. These are our brothers and sisters in Christ, and they cry out for help in following His Will. Let us be those who say "we are here, we are love, and we will help bring you to the One Who Redeems and Saves.

The Church (reactions and necessities)
The Church is facing a crossroads. There will come a time where you will have to decide what to do when someone who is gay, or a gay couple, decides to come into the building. I would strongly suggest that the decision be made as a church before that happens. Again, it will save much confusion and strife if done beforehand. I humbly suggest the following:

1) Do not ostracize, ignore, or lead with the questions about their sexuality. This is of no use. Get to know them as people first. If you are going to lead with judgment, they will leave immediately. Confronting someone's sin without knowing anything about them or building any sort of trust with them will get you nowhere.

2) Do invite them to study the Bible (and not just about sexuality) and church events. Chances are, you would not lead into a Bible study calling out all of a person's sins. In most cases we lead with the fact that all have sinned and fallen short, and that all are in need of God's mercy and grace. If the study goes long enough, they will bring it up. By the time they get to the point they are ready to give up everything to follow Christ in baptism, the choice will have been made whether they are really ready to follow or not. But let it flow naturally, like any other person you would study with.

3) Do not try and make someone change right there on the spot when you first meet and talk to them. Everyone has weaknesses and vulnerabilities. Give time and grace, just as Christ gave you.

4) Do hold a Christian struggling with this issue accountable for their actions, in love. There is nothing loving about giving sin leeway in someone's life. Recognize that, just like every other person struggling with sin (aka: every person on the planet), they too need to be held to Christ's standard in everything. Just like you.

Conclusion
I know I have not answered every question, but neither was it my intent. Indeed it is my goal to have given a basic, Biblical framework so that individuals can figure out how to handle the various situations they can and will find themselves in. Above all, however, remember that we are held to one standard, Christ's, and nothing else matters. If we give up all then so be it. But let the reward we seek be the one from our Father in Heaven, and not the passing things of this existence.

Facing the Storm: A Discussion about Homosexuality - The Arguments

Yes, these posts are made with silly pictures of monkeys.
I have to have something to lighten things up a little, you know?

Just beware, this post is a bit of a beast to get through. :-)

So, here we are again. Part two of our discussion on homosexuality and the church. Please keep in mind that this is not an exhaustive discussion, nor is it meant to be. In order to do that I would have to write a book, and I have zero drive or desire to write one on this subject. This part of the discussion is to address, in broad terms, some of the more popular arguments I have found in my research. We will start with the cultural arguments  before moving into the Biblical.

Please take this with the spirit in which it is written. I am not writing this to be hateful, bigoted or mean, nor do I hate anyone. I write this out of a search for truth  in order to show true love to those who may disagree. To keep silent when one is in danger is far more unloving than correcting them, even when that correction causes some amount of pain. If we desire to truly be Christ-followers then we will accept all of what is said and be willing to crucify our own wants and desires on the cross of Christ. I will admit, this is very, very hard to do and many people (myself included) fail at this all the time. We are human. We make mistakes. But the failures of people do not change truth. They simply show how far we have yet to go in our journey with Christ.

One thing you may notice is that I am not answering anything about the "clobber passage" arguments that so many are fond of using and arguing against. Theses passages include:

Gen 19 [cf. Jude 7; 2 Pet 2:6-10]; Lev 18:22; 20:13; Rom 1:24-27; 1 Cor 6:9-11; 1 Tim 1:8-11

The reason I am not answering based around these passages is because so many people have talked about it already, and I have no desire to write what others have already written dozens or hundreds of times. If you want a good, truth-seeking, solid answer to the Biblical arguments on these passages, I strongly recommend reading this excerpt from Samuel Korateng-Pipim, Ph.D. He answers these passages far more in-depth than I could ever hope to.

These arguments will be in something of a list form so they will be easier to sort through. I am answering these as honestly and truthfully as I can. It is my prayer that it will be useful for both myself and those struggling with this issue in one way or another. If you desire clarity or more discussion on this, comments or contact is welcome, so long as we remain honest, loving and kind to one another, as we should be in all things. Now without further ado, the arguments.

Sometimes it feels like this is how we argue about most subjects,
instead of simply opening ourselves to what God's Word says about them.

Argument:
Affirmation of same-sex relationships is already mostly accepted, all it will catch us up to modern society.

Answer:
Indeed, affirming same-sex relationships would catch us up to modern society on this issue. But that is not the point of the church. For hundreds of years (and today in most parts of the world), the church was persecuted for being different and not giving in to the prevailing culture around it. They were often hated and despised for exactly this. They were peculiar, a kind of curiosity that people looked down upon. They were looked down on like this because of their refusal to accept what the culture at large told them they must accept. They were tortured and slaughtered for refusing the go along. This is why arguing that it will "catch us up to the culture," is a poor argument. Christians have never been called to follow the culture, but to follow Christ. He is our standard, and the only one that those who wear the name "Christian," have any right to follow.



Argument:
The church must affirm and accept same-sex relationships or doom itself to irrelevance.

Answer:
This argument is very similar to the preceding one. The follow-up to this is that churches will continue to shrink and lose members and status until they turn around on this issue. The answer to this argument is also similar to the last. The church should never be about numbers and status. You may have over 43,000 people at your building, but if you are not teaching the truth of the Word of God there is no point to it. Churches not sanctioned by the government in China must meet in people's homes in secret. These are small gathering where you must be careful who you bring in lest they alert the authorities and have you arrested. Even through this, however, the church is growing rapidly. Irrelevance is a non-issue for Christians. Similar to what is stated above, the only standard a Christian has the right to compare themselves to is Christ and His Word. Everything else is (or should be) irrelevant for the Christian to set a standard against, regardless of what it means or what it costs them.



Argument:
The Bible says to love one another. In not affirming or accepting same-sex relationships, the church is being hateful and discriminatory.

Answer:
Yes, the Bible does say to love each other and yes, some Christians are hateful and bigoted in their reactions to others. But that is not all of them, or even most of them. They are, just like militant homosexual supporters, a tiny minority that is shameful to the rest. But we will ignore them for this argument because there are people like that on both sides. I think we can agree that they do not belong in this discussion.

So yes, we must love one another and indeed every person no matter what. That is what God's love is: love for every human that has lived, is living, or will live. We must be examples of that to a broken world. But being loving does not equal affirming a lifestyle of sin. In fact that would be the opposite. If I know my brother or sister is living in sin and I say nothing, I am contributing to their downfall. If I know a man and woman who is living together in defiance of God's law, it is my duty to confront them about it. Not with hate and spiritual beatings, but in love and guidance to the truth. That being said if they refused correction and said it didn't matter because they love each other, that doesn't work. Regardless of how true and honest their love is, it does not change the fact they are living in sin. If they refuse repentance and choose to live in darkness what fellowship can I, as a child of light, have with them?

Affirming same-sex relationships does the same thing. If my brother or sister in Christ comes out to me (it wouldn't be the first time), I will always show love and offer to help however I can. But I cannot affirm as good that which God does not. It is not loving to keep the truth away from those who need it, it is fearful.

Several years ago I had a close friend who unexpectedly got pregnant and wanted to get an abortion. She called me in tears asking what I thought. I told her the truth, that to go ahead with it would be killing an innocent. It would be wrong. I even went so far as to offer to adopt the child myself, and I would have. But I could not give her what she wanted, which was an affirmation of her choice. To do so would have been to affirm something as OK that which was sinful. I did everything in my power to be there for her and comfort her, but that conversation was the last I heard from her, despite many calls and texts trying to get back in touch with her. It cost me a good friend, someone I sincerely cared about, but that was the price of truth, even truth in love.

There is one standard to follow, that of Christ and His Word. It is the only thing we can answer with, even when it costs us dearly. We need to remember that. Always.



Argument: 
The Old Testament has nothing to say to modern Christians about homosexual relationships.

Answer:
Untrue. The Old Testament has quite a lot to teach us about many things, including homosexual relationships. It teaches by command, inference and example. We can see it in the how, why and where it speaks about people's relationships to each other. Even outside of Jewish law, we can see God's plan for humankind. It is made very clear, as long as we are willing to look at it honestly.

It starts in Genesis 2:21-25. This is important. It is God speaking His original plan and putting it into action. This is the same reason why adultery and sex outside of marriage is such a major issue. It goes against God's original plan. God is very clear; a man and woman, when it comes to sex, are bound together as one. There is no longer a divide between the two people. Now some will argue that there were polygamous situations in the Old Testament, which is true. However (and this is a big however), it is never shown to be a good thing, and no one was ever commended for it. The list of those with multiples wives are: Lamech, Abraham, Esau, Jacob, Ashur, Gideon, Elkanah, David, Solomon, Rehoboam, Abijah, Jehoram, Joash, Ahab, Jehoiachin, Belshazzar, and Hosea. In every instance it is mentioned, bad things happen. Abraham was forced to let his wife & child leave, Solomon was drawn away, Ahab was evil anyway, etc. The only possible exception would be Hosea, and God specifically used his marriage to a prostitute to show Israel how they were treating God. Every time a sexual relationship outside of God's plan is mentioned, it is never in a good context. This matters if we want to use every part of God's Word to learn from.

Examples in God's Word matter in the context they have. We use examples every in teaching (especially for children), in showing them the proper way to live. When I teach my children by my example to show kindness, say "please" and "thank you," and treat others with respect, I do not give them permission to act in another way. I expect them to follow my lead. We must do the same with God's Word. Genesis 2 is not an after-thought. It is a positive statement of God's plan. This did not happen under Old Testament law. This occurrence is the 2nd command in the entire Bible. It comes just after the command not to eat of the tree of good and evil. There is no other context beyond God's plan for mankind; to have fellowship with Him in sinless innocence, and for man and woman to become one under His rule. This is the example we are given, and we would be on dangerous ground to simply throw it out as old news.



Argument: 
The New Testament never addresses the "loving, committed," same-sex relationships we see today.

Answer:
Again, not using the explicit commands against it (as stated at the beginning), we have multiple examples of what God does want and what His plan is. This is what puts as a foundation the argument for sexuality from the creation. In Matthew 19:4-6 Jesus uses Genesis 2 as a platform for a discussion about divorce. He states it flatly that this was God's plan from the beginning, and though God did allow Israel to deviate for a short time, that time was now over. In affirming God's plan, Christ rules out other plans. Remember, this was God's plan as stated in the beginning, before the Law came into effect. It therefore stands on its own, outside the Law, as God's plan for mankind.

Going further into the New Testament, we are given further examples of what God considers to be under His Will. In 1st Timothy 3 we have the qualifications for elders and deacons, which includes being the husband of one wife. This, along with several other items, are all things which are considered positive aspects of those in leadership. If it were not important, it would not be there.

Now some will read this and immediately say "if you're going to be that backwards, make sure your wife never braids her hair or wears gold! It says so in 2:9-10!" This, however, mistakes the grammar of the language. That is not a prohibition, but a "not this, but that" argument. Paul writes if women have godliness and good works it doesn't matter, but if they go on adorning themselves without having them it is not right. Basically it boils down to "if you have godliness and good works, what you wear won't be an issue in the first place."

As a further example, we are told in Ephesians 5:30-32 that the marriage relationship mirrors that of Christ's relationship to His church. The same universal plan that God stated in Genesis about 1 man and 1 woman being in a marriage relationship, which Christ confirmed as God's universal plan for mankind, is now extended spiritually to the greatest relationship of all; that of our relationship to the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the level that God's plan reaches. It goes beyond ourselves on this physical plane to an whole new realm of importance in God's plan. This is not something to be taken lightly.

This brings us to our final section, which is about sexual immorality, and especially the gay Christian's response to their situation. Beyond that however, anyone involved in any sort of sexual immorality, including pornography, any sort of sex outside of marriage, etc, would do well to note this. These verses are for everyone.

Sexual sin is not a small thing. Outside of Christ all sin condemns, but not all sin has the same consequences for us here. In I Corinthians 6:18-20 Paul writes,

"Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's."

For the Christian struggling with sexuality and sexual immorality of any kind, these verses are especially important. God states that sexual immorality is not like other sins. It is something that goes against the very self. Remember, this includes all sexual sin, gay or straight. The reason given is enormous; that we are the temple of the Holy Spirit, that we are not our own, that we were bought with a price.

It does not matter what type of sexual sin it is. We are, as Christians, as Christ-followers, to glorify God in our body and our spirit, because they are both God's, having been bought at the greatest price in all the universe and beyond; that of Christ's blood on the cross. This is why, no matter the price, we must choose to follow God's will.

For some that will mean overcoming their sexual sin. For others that will mean choosing to follow Paul's example of celibacy. For most it will mean getting back up and moving forward, not matter how many times they fall. For all it will mean giving up something in this temporary realm of existence in order to gain something much greater and much higher than anything they could dream or imagine.

We were bought with a price.

We are loved beyond this existence.

And we have but one standard, Christ and His Word, by which we as those who choose to follow Him can live by.

It may be a struggle. It may be hard. And there will be times where you wonder and fear if it the weight you are called to bear is worth it.

But remember that Christ has already won the victory. And when you see Him on That Day, and come to His side, you will know that it was. You will know the reason for it all, and you will know that the price that had to be paid was not only worth it, but that it was much smaller than any person should ever have had to pay.

So fight the good fight. You are loved, you are strong, you are able. Because He has already won the ultimate victory for you.

Facing the Storm: A Discussion on Homosexuality - Introduction

You're gonna talk about whaaaaaaa?!?!

Let me say upfront that I really have no desire to write on this topic. So much has already been said (much of it by people more gifted with words than me), and by and large the battle lines have been drawn and people have taken their sides. There will probably be very little changing of allegiances between those invested at this point.

But there are those in the middle, who are not sure which way to go. Both sides seem to bring such strong arguments. There are also those who, having chosen what they think they believe, are still unsure. It is to these two main groups that I write. It is to individuals, families, and churches that these things are written, and I write to all of them because what you as an individual decide will affect not only you, but your family as well. Beyond that what your family decides will affect the church. And finally, where the church lands will affect not only its members, but those of churches across the country and, indeed, the world.

John Donne wrote in his Meditation XVII that "no man is an island." This is especially true when it comes to what we decide about God's Word and spirituality. It affects people and organizations across the spectrum.

It is for these reasons that I feel I must write about this topic, because it is too important not to. To stand quietly aside and ignore a wrong is no better than promoting it. Therefore I hope to clarify things so that any who reads this can come to grips not only with whether or not their beliefs match God's, but also with what it means for their own life and walk with Him.

About halfway down in this post I touch on this subject. Please read that before deciding if I am a hate-monger. It is not out of hate that I write this, but out of love and concern for both God's people and those who do not know Him yet.

Now that I finished that massive introduction, lets get down to the meat of this topic.

Modern "Christianity" (a term I am using loosely here), is rapidly (and I mean rapidly), jumping on the the "Marriage Equality" bandwagon. They claim to use Scripture to back them up and consistently use ideals like God's love, Jesus' inclusiveness, and the call for Christians to be kind and loving to defend their position.

Unfortunately, it is gaining a lot steam and traction. Remember, no man is an island. Beliefs and persuasion spread like wildfire.

So what can be done? What should be done? We live in a culture governed more and more by emotion and desire. How do you combat that? And how do you do so in a way that resonates with those who need to hear it and forms a shield around those who need protection? How do we square the emotions and feelings of fellow human beings with the ideal of a perfect and Holy God?

Perhaps most importantly, how do we move forward in a rapidly changing world? What are the standards Christians are called to when, inevitably, we do have homosexual individuals and couples come through our doors? What is our response when family members or friends come out to us?

Hopefully, this post will help to answer some of those questions.

Actually...this post won't cover those things yet. This is going to end up being a multi-part series. I hope you stick with me through it. My goal will be to go through the main arguments for "Marriage Equality" and examine them through a Biblical perspective, and follow up by the "where do we go now" issues that we need to deal with. As Christians (Christ-followers), we have no option but to stick with what is revealed in Scripture. This means I will, on their face, reject in whole the arguments of people like Rob Bell who state: 

"I think culture is already there and the church will continue to be even more irrelevant when it quotes letters from 2,000 years ago as their best defense, when you have in front of you flesh-and-blood people who are your brothers and sisters, and aunts and uncles, and co-workers and neighbors, and they love each other and just want to go through life."

If a someone who calls themselves a Christian states that what God has spoken is irrelevant, then I not only must reject their statement, but their claim to Christianity as well. This may sound harsh or critical, but I fail to see how one claims to be a Christ-follower while at the same time rejecting what God has said. The Bible either is the inspired Word of God or it is not. Whether or not we believe that has an effect on whether or not we can claim to be followers of God.

As those who desire to follow Christ, it is must be our goal to follow God's Word. This means all of it. His Word on love, marriage, kindness, forgiveness, equality, everything. We either strive to follow all of it, or none of it. There is no room for picking what we like and want and putting away the rest. As I said, we either accept what God says or we do not. There is no middle ground on this point.

The next post will begin with the arguments those in the "pro" camp bring to the table. Again, please understand, I am after truth. Not feelings, not bigotry, not what I want. My goal (and what I believe the goal of all Christians should be), is to chase the truth in God's Word. This means putting ourselves aside and looking with clear lenses what God says about any given subject. The only way we can know what He says is through His Word. It is more than just "letters from 2,000 years ago." It is God's Truth revealed to us so that we can look more and more like Jesus every day.

And regardless of what conclusions are drawn, we are always called to love, kindness, charity and sincerity in all things. Easy and hard. Upsetting or gladdening.

All that said, here is the planned setup for these posts (obviously subject to change):
1. This one, the introduction :-)
2. Answering the arguments.
3. Where do we go from here?
4. The importance of love.

Confronting Your Dragon

I actually think this would be easier...

This morning as I came into the office I was being troubled by some things that I had been putting off and putting away. Not wanting to confront them, I instead had been distracting myself with entertainment, reading, and even work. For some reason, however, I felt the need to address the issue immediately. So I did.

Doing this caused me to consider the importance of confronting the dragons in our lives. Nearly everyone is drawn, at some point, to put things on the back burner so they do not have to be dealt with in the present. They use entertainment or work or something else to keep busy so the dragon can remain hidden for a while longer.

But it doesn't last forever.

Now don't get me wrong, there are times where things simply cannot be dealt with right now, and setting it aside for a short time is necessary. But it seems that for many people a "short time," all to often and all to quickly becomes a longer time than it should be. Instead of running, we need to turn and face the reality of the situation and find a solution.

In the Sword of Truth series of books by Terry Goodkind, the main protagonist, Richard, is taught from a young age to "not focus on the problem, but the solution." How often do we get caught up with an issue, tricked or blinded into only seeing the problem? What might be different if we stopped staring at the problem, and looked for the solution, regardless of our own desires and wishes?

I have a suspicion we would find many more answers than we thought possible.

That being said, being willing to face things head on can be daunting. As I said in the picture caption above, I think it would often be easier to fight a real live, giant dragon than have to dig into the self and discover one's flaws. At least then you have something you can physically hack away at, ha.

So ask yourself what dragons you are facing today. Find time to take a break from the swirling world around you trying to drag you back in. Get away, take a breath, and look at what needs to be attended to.

For the Christian, there is nothing to fear. You have a Helper who can bring you through anything. You have a Father who loves you and who forgives and forgets. You have a Savior who has already destroyed the biggest dragon of all. Any trial, any temptation can be handled and dealt with because you have waiting for you the most brilliant prize of all; Eternal Life.

As long as we are willing to change, God will change us. If we will open ourselves to Him, He will use us. When we give over our lives to be shaped by Him, He will create us beautiful, pure, and flawless in His sight.

So confront your dragons today. He will not let you get eaten by them, not ultimately. Not in the end.

Because in the end, we are victorious because of His victory over all.