Homosexual "Marriage" Not Acceptable to God

During a wonderful walk on a beautiful day at the beach yesterday, my good friend and I got in a discussion about "gay" marriage, civil unions, and traditional one man and one woman marriage.  We both shared the fact that we know Christians - some who even appear to be very devout - who have fallen for the lie that homosexual marriage is acceptable.  Apparently, they choose to no longer acknowledge that homosexual marriage (and behavior) is unacceptable to God and goes against His laws.  God created marriage.  The definition has always been the union of one man and one woman.  Period! 

In fact, the reprobate idea of homosexual "marriage" is not new.  It is ancient!  Recall that Solomon tells us, "there is nothing new under the sun."

When Jesus was asked what the signs would be of his return, he stated:

Mat 24:37 “But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.

Luk 17:26 “And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man:

Luk 17:28 “Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built;
 
Luk 17:29 “but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.

Luk 17:30 “Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.


What did "the Days of Noah" and "the Days of Lot" have in common?  Besides unbelief, moral depravity, murder, evil, and general sinful behavior, they both had the sin of homosexuality in common.


My friend had not heard of the ancient Jewish writings that shared the fact that contracts of  "men marrying men" and "women marrying women" happened back before Noah and the flood.  It was one big reason why the flood occurred.  Therefore, I sent her an email with links to blog posts that shared this information.

 I wrote:

As always, I enjoyed our walk, talk and lunch together today!

I told you about the evidence given by Jewish Rabbis in the Babylonian Talmud, but there were also other writings that shared information about "men marrying men," and "women marrying women" in Noah's time.


The following  is a link to one of  the best Talk Wisdom blog posts about this topic  that I wrote back in 2011.  It includes additional information from The Midrash Rabbah Genesis - which  is a specific form of rabbinic literature of
ancient Judaism commentaries of the Hebrew Scriptures.

http://talkwisdom.blogspot.com/2011/06/as-in-days-of-noah-revisited.html

The following is a "search" at my blog with several posts about this topic all in a row:

http://talkwisdom.blogspot.com/search?q=As+In+The+Days+of+Noah

There are many additional links within the posts from other writers who have done extensive research on this topic.  Just thought I would share this with you since we were talking about it today!

~  Chris

*******

In addition to this, I revisited a post over at GCMWatch (Gay Christian Movement Watch) that displays the utter depravity of some gay behavior affirming churches.

GCMWatch: MCC Clerics Demonize Jesus

Note - There is a warning regarding the content included at the links within the post:

WARNING: Read this post only if you want irrefutable proof of the depth of depravity currently saturating the gay christian movement.

I have often mentioned that the term "gay" always precedes the term "Christian" in the movement as a whole;  as well as when it is written in the description of the churches and even the individuals who self-identify as such.  Why is that?

Jesus told us that "no one can serve two masters."

Mat 6:24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

Luk 16:13 “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”

The second sentence in these verses directly discusses the inability of servants of Christ serving both God and mammon (money).  However, it is not only money that people can choose to serve ahead of Christ - it can be ANY master.  And in the "gay Christian movement," the behavior of the individuals trumps Christ, God's Holy Word, God's Laws, and Christ's admonition to "leave your life of sin" (which he said to the woman caught in adultery).

Jhn 8:11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and[fn] sin no more.”
NU-Text and M-Text add from now on.


Notice that Christ did not condemn her (because those who were about to stone her had to drop their stones when Christ said, "if any of you are without sin, cast the first stone.")

Now, I have been accused at this blog of figuratively "throwing stones" at people who self-identify as gay.  Nothing could be further from the truth!  God wants ALL to come to salvation through Jesus Christ's sacrificial death at the cross for the forgiveness and remission of sins.  However, those who celebrate a sinful lifestyle right along with people who haven't repented of such sin, are allowing them to miss being reconciled back unto God.  Which is more egregious?

Let's take a physical example.  What if you knew of someone who was about to jump off the top of a tall building because someone convinced them "you will surely not die?"  What if your excuse was that you didn't want to offend their sensibilities on the subject?  Therefore,  you supported their decision to go ahead with the act.  Who in their right mind would call such a warning offensive?  It's the same when it comes to spiritual matters. 

The book of Jude tells us how difficult it can be to help pull someone "out of the fire" of sinful behavior, but it is the most compassionate thing to do despite the fact that many will curse you for attempting to do so!  Being uncomfortable in this world is the life of a true Christian.  Jesus told us, "in this life you [we] will have trouble.  But take heart!  For I [He] has overcome the world!"  He also told us that "He is not of this world."  So therefore, because we have made the commitment to belong to Him, we are not of this world either!  He told us that the unsaved will hate us, because they hated Him first!

All that we can do is share the TRUTH with the unsaved.  The Holy Spirit of God (through each human act of confession and repentance of sin and the request of each individual for forgiveness through Christ's sacrificial act of saving grace at the cross) will indwell the heart of a new believer and lead him/her to a new life in Christ!  The old sin-filled self gradually goes away (called sanctification) and the new life within the believer WANTS to sin no more and please God!

Well, once again I have said my peace on this issue.  There will inevitably be people who will vehemently disagree and call me a bigot, hateful, homophobic...you name it...because they do not know the Living Word of God - Jesus Christ, or the written Word of God - the Bible.  Plus, it is likely that they have not accepted God's gift of salvation so that they can spend eternity with God in heaven.

One more link to share.  It was a post I did as a reaction to GCMWatch: MCC Clerics Demonize Jesus.

Talk Wisdom: The Spiritual Oblivion of the Reprobate Mind.

Excerpt:

The term "oblivion" is certainly a fascinating word. At the end of this post, I have included several of Dictionary.com's definitions of the word.

It is interesting to note the following fact, which is mentioned in the third source below:

It [the term, oblivion] has lost its original sense of "no longer aware or mindful," however, and now means simply "unaware" (1862). Properly should be used with to, not of.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper

Sin and reprobation of the mind can lead to a state of spiritual oblivion that knows no bounds. This was my thought after reading about the absolute depravity of a person named Robert Goss who masquerades as a reverend. The idolatry, brokenness and demonic strongholds in this man's life are most evident in Pastor DL Foster's post called, MCC Clerics Demonize Jesus.
[...]

Look at the NLT version of verse Jeremiah 25:7

"But you would not listen to me," says the Lord. "You made me furious by worshiping your idols, bringing on yourselves all the disasters you now suffer.

We know what this man's idol is. This man's thought life is so far from God it's astounding.

The Proverb verses tell us how important it is to keep God's commandments. The two brilliant statements from our Lord (in bold and italics here) can be attributed towards identifying Mr. Goss as a false convert. At the same time, the words absolutely destroy his reprobate-thinking theology:

Pro 3:1 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:


Pro 4:4 He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.


Pro 7:2 Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.


Jhn 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.


Jhn 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.


What does God's Word tell us about our thought life?

Phl 4:4   Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

Phl 4:5   Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.

Phl 4:6   Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

Phl 4:7   and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Phl 4:8   Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things.

Philippians 4:4-8 NKJV

In conclusion, this illustrates just one reason why Jesus told us that he did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it. If Jesus came to abolish the law, then we could live in any morally relativistic (or morally reprehensible way as the corruption of Mr. Goss shows us) way we so choose.

But we steadfastly know that Jesus came to fulfill the law, not abolish it. Therefore, His statement, "If you love me, keep my commandments" flies in the face of the gay Christian reprobate theologians who choose to be "no longer aware or mindful" of what God's Word teaches. Scripture will always condemn and expose false prophets, teachers, and theologians like Mr. Goss. And the depravity of their minds will continue to expose the spiritual oblivion that they choose to reside in.

Hat tip:

GCMWatch: MCC Clerics Demonize Jesus

God's Plan For The Gay Agenda

This morning, I turned on Fox News and heard Peter Johnson Jr. discussing that Washington state (which recently approved homosexual "marriage") has taken further steps to stomp on traditional marriage by changing all marriage certificates from listing the married couple as "bride and groom" to "spouse A and B."

This is another example of the rabid and reprobate continuation of unrepentant man towards the destruction of God's idea for true, traditional marriage; which is reserved for heterosexual couples. 

We have already seen the attempts to erase the terms "mother and father."  Why?  Because lesbians want Mother's Day cards to say, "my two moms?"  Sometimes the idiocy is so ridiculous we can only shake our heads in disbelief!

Our culture today is rapidly reaching the point where "gay" agenda approval has expanded to the point where it is just commonly accepted - even by some who would call themselves Christian.

We would expect this of non-religious individuals, but Christians?  In their attempt to appear "non-judgmental," and avoid the labels of being "bigoted," "hateful," or worse, Christians just shrug their shoulders and say, "let it be."  Well, that is an attitude straight from hell!

I recently received an email from someone who objects to the new California law that rejects change therapy for men and women who have undesired same-sex attractions.  Here is what was written about it:

Under this outrageous new law, a young boy sexually molested by the likes of a Jerry Sandusky who develops an identity crisis, suffers emotional distress, and begins to experience unwanted same-sex attractions, will be further hurt by a law that deprives him and his family of sound counsel.

What is wrong with this picture, people?  If every sexual desire is OK in the scheme of things on this earth, and former heterosexuals are "celebrated" when they come out "gay," then why can't someone who once had same-sex attraction THAT IS UNWANTED be celebrated when they get counseled and born-again of Jesus Christ to get out of such attraction and become heterosexually attracted to the opposite sex?  See the glaring hypocrisy?

The reason is this:  the homosexual agenda is a one-way street and all of the LBGTQ (Lesbian, Bi-sexual, Gay, Transgender, Questioning) groups rabidly oppose such a "change" that would bring someone back to what God intended for their lives.  After all, He "made them male and female."

This fierce opposition has moral evil behind it.  Plain, simple and unquestionable!

In previous posts, I have gone into detail regarding how Scripture reveals the sin of homosexual behavior, and how the rise of its acceptance points to the end times.

Please see:

Talk Wisdom: The Days of Noah Are Here

As In The Days of Noah Revisited

The Homosexual Agenda Is A Spiritual Problem

John MacArthur has written an essay that explains even further why God opposes such behavior and what God's Plan For the Gay Agenda:

Articles By Grace to You

God's Plan for the Gay Agenda

John MacArthur

 

If you've been watching the headlines over the last couple years, you may have noticed the incredible surge of interest in affirming homosexuality. Whether it's at the heart of a religious scandal, political corruption, radical legislation, or the redefinition of marriage, homosexual interests have come to characterize America. That's an indication of the success of the gay agenda. And some Christians, including some national church leaders, have wavered on the issue even recently. But sadly, when people refuse to acknowledge the sinfulness of homosexuality — calling evil good and good evil (Isaiah 5:20) — they do so at the expense of many souls.

How should you respond to the success of the gay agenda? Should you accept the recent trend toward tolerance? Or should you side with those who exclude homosexuals with hostility and disdain?
In reality, the Bible calls for a balance between what some people think are two opposing reactions — condemnation and compassion. Really, the two together are essential elements of biblical love, and that's something the homosexual sinner desperately needs.

Homosexual advocates have been remarkably effective in selling their warped interpretations of passages in Scripture that address homosexuality. When you ask a homosexual what the Bible says about homosexuality — and many of them know — they have digested an interpretation that is not only warped, but also completely irrational. Pro-homosexual arguments from the Bible are nothing but smokescreens — as you come close, you see right through them.

God's condemnation of homosexuality is abundantly clear — He opposes it in every age.
- In the patriarchs (Genesis 19:1-28)
- In the Law of Moses (Leviticus 18:22; 20:13)
- In the Prophets (Ezekiel 16:46-50)
- In the New Testament (Romans 1:18-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Jude 7-8)

Why does God condemn homosexuality? Because it overturns God's fundamental design for human relationships — a design that pictures the complementary relationship between a man and a woman (Genesis 2:18-25; Matthew 19:4-6; Ephesians 5:22-33).

Why, then, have homosexual interpretations of Scripture been so successful at persuading so many? Simple: people want to be convinced. Since the Bible is so clear about the issue, sinners have had to defy reason and embrace error to quiet their accusing consciences (Romans 2:14-16). As Jesus said, "Men loved the darkness rather than the Light, [because] their deeds were evil" (John 3:19-20).

As a Christian, you must not compromise what the Bible says about homosexuality — ever. No matter how much you desire to be compassionate to the homosexual, your first sympathies belong to the Lord and to the exaltation of His righteousness. Homosexuals stand in defiant rebellion against the will of their Creator who from the beginning "made them male and female" (Matthew 19:4).
Don't allow yourself to be intimidated by homosexual advocates and their futile reasoning — their arguments are without substance. Homosexuals, and those who advocate that sin, are fundamentally committed to overturning the lordship of Christ in this world. But their rebellion is useless, for the Holy Spirit says, "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God" (1 Corinthians 6:9-10; cf. Galatians 5:19-21).

So, what is God's response to the homosexual agenda?

Certain and final judgment. To claim anything else is to compromise the truth of God and deceive those who are perishing.

As you interact with homosexuals and their sympathizers, you must affirm the Bible's condemnation. You are not trying to bring damnation on the head of homosexuals, you are trying to bring conviction so that they can turn from that sin and embrace the only hope of salvation for all of us sinners — and that's through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Homosexuals need salvation. They don't need healing — homosexuality is not a disease. They don't need therapy — homosexuality is not a psychological condition. Homosexuals need forgiveness, because homosexuality is a sin.

I don't know how it happened, but a few decades ago someone branded homosexuals with the worst misnomer — "gay." Gay used to mean happy, but I can assure you, homosexuals are not happy people. They habitually seek happiness by following after destructive pleasures. There is a reason Romans 1:26 calls homosexual desire a "degrading passion." It is a lust that destroys the physical body, ruins relationships, and brings perpetual suffering to the soul — and its ultimate end is death (Romans 7:5). Homosexuals are experiencing the judgment of God (Romans 1:24, 26, 28), and thus they are very, very sad.

1 Corinthians 6 is very clear about the eternal consequence for those who practice homosexuality — but there's good news. No matter what the sin is, whether homosexuality or anything else, God has provided forgiveness, salvation, and the hope of eternal life to those who repent and embrace the gospel. Right after identifying homosexuals as those who "will not inherit the kingdom of God," Paul said, "Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God" (1 Corinthians 6:11).

God's plan for many homosexuals is that they come to salvation. There were former homosexuals in the Corinthian church back in Paul's day, just as there are many former homosexuals today in my church and in faithful churches around the country. With regenerated hearts, they sit in biblical churches throughout the country praising their Savior, along with former fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, thieves, coveters, drunkards, revilers, and swindlers. Remember, such were some of you too.

What should be your response to the homosexual agenda? Make it a biblical response — confront it with the truth of Scripture that condemns homosexuality and promises eternal damnation for all who practice it. What should be your response to the homosexual? Make it a gospel response — confront him with the truth of Scripture that condemns him as a sinner, and point him to the hope of salvation through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. Stay faithful to the Lord as you respond to homosexuality by honoring His Word, and leave the results to Him.

© Copyright 2004 by Grace to You. All rights reserved.

This article originally appeared here at Grace to You.

Redeeming the Rainbow

Received an email this evening from MassResistance. Scott Lively has written and released a free online book entitled, Redeeming the Rainbow: A Christian Response to the 'Gay' Agenda

I have not started reading this book yet, but I have read many excellent commentaries and articles written by Scott Lively over the years at his "Abiding Truth Ministries" site. I first learned about Dr. Lively's efforts to combat homosexual indoctrination in schools when the infamous "Fistgate" controversy occurred in Massachusetts several years ago.

This book reveals 20 years of experience that Dr. Lively has gained in fighting against the radical homosexual agenda.

You can go to the link and download the entire 232-page book (PDF format), or, download individual chapters (PDF format).

Please feel free to post comments about the book. I plan to read it over the next few days.

Right now, I am reading Glenn Beck's book - Common Sense. The first few pages are already awesome!

"Fine Line" Event

My blogging friend Carlotta - over at Christocentric - has done a great job of providing some details about the "Fine Line" event which was simulcast to hundreds of churches and seen live on the Internet via iProtectMarriage.com.

Here is a link to her post. Lots of great comments there, too.

The following comment is still awaiting moderation. But I wanted to bring it over here because I think that it brings home the point about true salvation verses following false prophets (which Jesus warned us would happen the closer we get to the last days).

The book of Jude contains similar warnings. It's placement - just before the book of Revelation - shows how important proper discernment will be (is!) in our day.

My comment (below) was in response to a blogger named Andrew. Here is what he wrote:

One could say that there are two fundamental components to the kingdom of God - salvation (I am forgiven and am going to heaven) and then sanctification (I am becoming more and more like Christ). It starts with salvation, and salvation here is salvation from the penalty of sins. But before one can be saved, a person has to come to the realization that they are a sinner and need saving.

Jesus said, “Go and learn what this means: ‘I want mercy and not sacrifice,’ because I did not come to call righteous people, but sinners.” If by calling homosexuality a sin will help but a single soul to realize their need for a savior and cause them to repent and turn to Christ for forgiveness and salvation all the effort and criticism should be worth it. “In the same way, I tell you that there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who don’t need to repent.”

Saving marriages in this world is indeed important but saving souls for heaven is most important. “For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage”.

My response:

You have made some really good points, Andrew.

I think that we now need to ask people who call themselves Christians, whether or not they have been born again. Jesus told us in Scripture, “you must be born again.” It is NOT an option. It is not a “denominational” difference. It is a fact.

The liberal side never seems to want to talk about repentance. Why is that? They also don’t like talking about the cross of Christ.

When Jesus walked the earth, he began his ministry by proclaiming, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

What you wrote regarding the joy of celebration (both in heaven and on earth) when even just one sinner being called to repent is born again in Christ as a result of their repentance, goes to show how important both repentance and being born again in Jesus really is! They go hand in hand. Can’t have one without the other.

I agree that the sanctification process takes time -perhaps our entire lifetime and beyond. A person who has truly given their life over to the Lordship of Jesus Christ is a changed life. It is no longer the bondage of the flesh that rules them. They are set free in Jesus Christ. Their desire is towards holiness and righteousness. No one (on this side of heaven) ever completely “arrives,” but Scripture tells us “by their fruits you shall know them.”

A telltale sign of true repentance, salvation, and agape love for Jesus is our obedience to him and His Word. Jesus did tell us, “if you love me, keep my commandments.”