THE CHURCH MILITANT
Ephesians 5:11-"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them". This Christian News Blog maintains a one stop resource of current news and reports of its own related to church, moral, spiritual, and related political issues, plus articles, and postings from other online discernment ministries, and media which share the aims to obey the biblical commands to shed light on and refute error, heresy, apostasy, cults, and spiritual abuse.
"When you give God your heart, he will comb the kinks
out of your life in due time"
Written by George M. McGuire | Saturday, April 26, 2014
TheBible affirms the importance of human relationship and provides wise guidanceon howto we can be healthy andhappypeoplehereandineternity.Godasourcreatormadeusasweare, knowswhatisbestforusunderallcircumstances,andmadetheguidelinesclearinhisWord.Healsoknowswhatwillwreckourlivesandbringdestructionofbody,soulandsociety.
Was there ever a country taken over as quickly in our lifetime as Crimea was? So quickly did that annexation come that the world could not even get its diplomats in place when for all practical purposes it was over. I cannot recall anything happening as fast as that since studying the sinking of that great ship, the Titanic. Down she went to the bottom in a matter of hours.
We in the Christian Reformed Church have neatly tucked away a very fine denominational position statement on homosexuality, affirming that love, support, and encouragement should be given to those who experience same-sex attractions while maintaining that homosexual practices are “incompatible with obedience to the will of God” as is all other sinful practices. Our statement is clear, but what are we as a Church body and as individuals in that body doing to address the cataclysmic shift taking place in our culture on these matters and actually embracing for ourselves the responsibilities that our statement calls us to, namely addressing with the life changing gospel those overtaken in“explicit and overt homosexual practices.”
One might wonder just how fast is our culture changing? So quickly is this wave overcoming us that only two years ago no major national candidate could win an election who endorsed the gay agenda, [New York Times for 4/6/14] and now the reverse is true. The church as a body and we as individuals have a scriptural obligation to speak to the world on moral issues and not give our silent consent to evil.
I write this simply wanting to begin another denominational conversation, for I have read a great deal, thought and prayed long and hard on this and still do not see clearly either the biblical norms and how they actually apply, nor the way to really reach out in love and effectiveness to those caught within these sinful practices. Pastors have training in handling the other sexual sins, but the sexual sins becoming so dominant today bring in their wake very little counsel so far for helpers and many undiscussed problems to work out. Yet we are biblically commanded to “tospeakouttowarnthewickedtoturnfrom their wickeddeedsandlifestylesothat they maylive” (NET, Ezek. 3:1).Wealso hopefully can follow in the steps of Jesus who was able to treat first the heart and then tell his listeners to go and sin no more.
May the following seven things begin to move us to thinking and action. The Lord seems to say in his word to all sinners, and that includes those in the LGBT community:
IloveyoubecauseIcreatedyouandcametosaveyou! (Ps. 86:15; Jo. 3:16; Rom. 5:8; I Jo. 4:8-10).The God of the Bible from ancient times is known as being a loving and compassionate God who is full mercy and love, especially for those who will come to him. Christ, the Son of God, was sent to win the hearts of sinners to God so that they could have a full and free relationship with the Lord for eternity. The reality is that God sent Christ into this world even though all had rebelled against God and no one really on their own sought God’s friendship. When all peoples were still rebels Christ died to save those who would receive Him as their Savior. Christ came to save the lost no matter what they have done or who they are. When that happens, God is both our creator and savior.
IunderstandrejectionforIwasrejected(Isa. 53:3; Ezek. 18:21-23; Mt. 26:55-56; Mt. 27; Mk. 3:20-21).Christ Jesus, who came to earth to save sinners, was rejected. He was rejected by his own nation and people. He was rejected by his personal followers, the disciples. He was rejected by the leaders of his country. He was even rejected most of his ministry life by his own family. It was not until he arose from the grave that any of his brothers and sisters believed in him. In fact, the most familiar Old Testament title for him which was carried over into the N.T. was “Man of Sorrows.” Rejection is a horrible and tragic thing to endure, but Jesus said, “Anyone who comes to Me, I will not send away/reject!” (John. 6:37).
IalsounderstandtemptationforIwastempted (Heb. 2:17-18; 4:15-16; 12:2-3 7-11).The New Testament book of Hebrewsmakes a rather strong point that Christ Jesus was seriously tempted in every way just as everyone else is tempted, yet without sin. The Gospels tell the account of Jesus being tempted in the wilderness when he was at his weakest physical condition. To be tempted is not a sin, but the yielding to the temptation is. God’s promise is good for you also: “Godisfaithfulwhowillnotallowyoutobetemptedbeyondwhatyouareabletobear,butwillwiththetemptationalsoprovideawaytoescapethatyoumaybeabletobearupunderit” (ICor.10:13).
Iunderstandwantingadifferentidentity(Mt. 26:39; Phil. 2:6-11).All of us at one time or another go through times when either we wish we were someone else, or not who we are. Does it surprise you that Jesus did also? In the reference in Matthew Jesus was in such grief over what was ahead for him that he fell to the ground and begged his Father to make this cup pass from him. The cup was becoming the sacrifice of death for you and me. It seems he would have done anything to switch places and bypass becoming our sin. But he did not! In the verses in Philippians there is a partial description of what Jesus left behind in heaven. I am sure that in a certain sense Jesus experienced some sort of regret as he was leaving heaven for this sinful and mixed-up world to spend 33 1/2 years in a sort of exile. In human terms we would say that a person in such a situation would wish to switch places and let another go in his stead.
Iwantmoreforyouthanjusttemporary,physicalsatisfaction—find your joy and satisfaction in Me, your Savior! (Mt. 19:4-6; Eph. 3:17-21; I Tim. 2:4).Neither the Bible nor Jesus do deny the physical pleasures of life. They do tell us that physical pleasures are fleeting and temporary and must be under the control of the laws that God has set up, or the warmth of pleasure will become the fire that burns the house down. The Scriptures also at every turn tell us that the spiritual is eternal and the physical is temporal. That is why Jesus taught and the apostles passed on things like, “Set your affections on things that are above/in the heavens and not on things that are below/only here on this earth” (Col. 3:2). And “The one who sows to the flesh shall reap corruption, but the one who sows to the spirit shall reap everlasting life” (Gal. 6:8).
Thesexualsinyouarecommittingisruiningyourbodyandcondemningyoursoul(Gen. 19:1-28; Lev. 18:22, 20:13; Ezek. 16:46-50; Mk. 10:6; Jo. 10:35; Rom. 1:18-27; I Cor. 6:9-10; Jude 7-8).This article is not about tendencies or attractions but rather explicit and overt homosexual relations. The Scripture teaches that marriage is between a man and a woman, and that the sexual relationship is to be expressed within this relationship. Biblical teaching confirms this truth by pointing to the creation ordinance where God made man and woman and declared the two were to become one flesh. All other joining of flesh is looked upon by Scripture and hence the universal church (up until very recent times), as being unnatural (“againstnature;”Rom. 1:26-27) and sinful. The Bible affirms the importance of human relationship and provides wise guidance on how to we can be healthy and happy people here and in eternity. God as our creator made us as we are, knows what is best for us under all circumstances, and made the guidelines clear in his Word. He also knows what will wreck our lives and bring destruction of body, soul and society. Paul said in Romans 1 that sexual sins are “theseedsofdestructionandtheirownruintothoseinvolved.”
Iwanttheeternalbestforyouandwhenyoutoowantthat,Iwillbehereforyou!(Hos. 14, Rom. 2:4; I Pet. 5:7; 2 Pet. 3:9). The pleading passages of Scripture are too many to list. God is pictured as the one who is asking the question of the nation Israel, “Whywillyoudieinyoursins?” Jesus is the Savior who says, “Comeuntomeallyouwholaborandareheavyladendownwithyoursins,andIwillgiveyourestforyoursoul.” Then as he enters Jerusalem for the last time he weeps over the hard-hearted people of that city, crying loudly: “OJerusalem,Jerusalem,youwhokilltheprophetsandstonethosewhoaresenttoyou.HowmanytimeswouldIhavegatheredyouasamotherhengathersherchicksunderherwing,andyouwouldnot!Yourhouseisleftuntoyoudesolate!” (Mt. 23:37-38).
Many people speak up for the rights of the LGBT community, and they should have the same rights as anyone else. But who speaks for God? He warns all of us that we can destroy ourselves through sinful forms of behavior and living. This is true for all forms of addictions and behavior: to alcohol, to drugs, to work, and to sexual vices in all their forms. What does Jesus say to all of us no matter how sin has taken hold of us:
repent(first a change of mind then a turning, a change of actions) from all sin and wrong
believeandtrust/restinMeasyourSavior
receivethefreegiftofeternallifeandliveforever
An important word:When we do come to Christ he does not promise to take away every thorn, scar and maladjustment that our sinful world, sinful nature and sinful acts leave behind as long as we are in this body of flesh. But he does promise earthly and eternal peace of heart and mind as he gives us his grace to bear up under any and all trials(II Cor. 12:7-10). Over time, through the process of Christian growth, believers come to understand that they are called to be conformed to Christ and they fix their eyes on this wonderful goal. As someone once said: “When you give God your heart, he will comb the kinks out of your life in due time.”
GeorgeM.McGuire is a retired pastor in the Christian Reformed Church.
BUTTERFIELD'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY, TESTIMONY, OR POETIC LICENSE? IN ANY CASE, A SODOMITE ELECTED, SAVED, REFORMED, BUT NOW A "BRIDGE BUILDER" BETWEEN CHURCH AND GAY COMMUNITY, NOT WITHOUT A LOSS TO THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST: SEE: http://rosariabutterfield.com/
TRAIN WRECK OR SWAN SONG OF REGRET?:
SEE:http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2013/january-february/my-train-wreck-conversion.html; EXCERPT: "Then, one ordinary day, I came to Jesus, openhanded and naked. In this war of worldviews, Ken was there. Floy was there. The church that had been praying for me for years was there. Jesus triumphed. And I was a broken mess. Conversion was a train wreck. I did not want to lose everything that I loved. But the voice of God sang a sanguine love song in the rubble of my world. I weakly believed that if Jesus could conquer death, he could make right my world. I drank, tentatively at first, then passionately, of the solace of the Holy Spirit. I rested in private peace, then community, and today in the shelter of a covenant family, where one calls me "wife" and many call me "mother." I have not forgotten the blood Jesus surrendered for this life. And my former life lurks in the edges of my heart, shiny and still like a knife."
EMOTIONS NOT CHANGED AFTER ALLEGED "CONVERSION"? MAYBE THE "CONVERSION" WASN'T THE BIBLICAL SALVATION OF A "NEW CREATURE" IN CHRIST?
SEE:http://www.breakpoint.org/features-columns/articles/entry/12/22867; EXCERPT: "She speaks of her conversion as a "train wreck" because its immediate effects were anything but comforting and satisfying. She knew she needed to deny her sexuality, even though she believed it to be closely entwined with her identity. She decided to break off a long-term lesbian relationship because she now believed it was wrong, even though her emotions were not yet changed. She lost most of her relationships in the LGBQT community, including relationships with students for whose clubs she was the faculty advisor. She even left her tenured position at the university to teach at Geneva College. And there she met Ken Butterfield, a student in the ministry. They married and adopted children, whom they homeschool."
MAYBE REGRETS HAVING "BURNED BRIDGES" WITH GAY FRIENDS THAT CAUSED THE ALLEGED "TRAIN WRECK"
MATTHEW 10: 34-39-
"Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man's enemies will be the members of his household. He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it."
THE GOSPEL DESTROYING PROPAGANDA
REACHING OUT TO GAYS & LESBIANS IN A FEMININE WAY; WANTS TO "SUGGEST" THAT UNBELIEF IS A GREATER SIN THAN HOMOSEXUALITY
"THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ACCEPTANCE & APPROVAL" OF GAYS
EXCERPT:"God and the Gay Christian shows a third way—one that honors those who are different and the authority of Scripture. In this carefully researched and important book, Matthew Vines makes a compelling case for biblically-grounded responses to such questions as: How could traditional beliefs have been wrong for thousands of years on such an important topic? What is the story of Sodom and Gomorrah really saying about human relationships? Can celibacy be a calling when it is mandated, not chosen? What did Paul have in mind when he warned against same-sex relations? Do biblical teachings on the marriage covenant preclude same-sex marriage or not?
Matthew attended Harvard University from 2008 to 2010. He then took a leave of absence in order to research the Bible and homosexuality and work toward LGBT inclusion in the church. In March 2012, Matthew delivered a speech at a church in his hometown about the Bible and homosexuality, calling for acceptance of gay Christians and their marriage relationships. Since then, the video of the speech has been seen nearly a million times on YouTube, leading to a feature story in The New York Times.
In 2013, Matthew launched The Reformation Project, a non-profit organization dedicated to training LGBT Christians and their allies to reform church teaching on sexual orientation and gender identity. He is now expanding his efforts with conferences and regular speaking engagements across the country."
DISCOVERS THAT THE BIBLE IS NOT ANTI GAY?
OH, THE EMOTIONAL DRAMA!
"ERADICATING HOMOPHOBIA" IN THE CHURCH
MONOGAMOUS SODOMY BIBLICALLY OK?
HOW SAD! HOMOSEXUALITY NEVER DEBATABLE GROWING UP
VINES IMPRESSES HIS PRESBYTERIAN FATHER & CONGREGATION
"Justin founded The Gay Christian Network in 2001 as a place for Christ-centered support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals and those who care about them. He serves as GCN’s executive director, overseeing the organization’s operations and working to ensure a continued focus on Christ in all things."
Can you be gay and Christian?: NO
"I'm Gay & I'm Christian" - Exclusive Interview With Justin Lee: "Having a More Productive Dialog":
Published on Jul 25, 2014
Justin Lee (born September 7, 1977) is the founder of the Gay Christian Network (GCN), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides resources and support to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Christians. According to the GCN website, "We also work with churches and other Christian organizations to help educate the Christian community about sexual orientation issues from a Biblical standpoint." In August 2001, Lee founded GCN to "build a supportive community to support fellow gay Christians in their Christian walks."
GREW UP SOUTHERN BAPTIST
DOES 1 CORINTHIANS 6:9 CONDEMN GAY RELATIONSHIPS?: YES
BRIAN HOUSTON OF HILLSONG, GAY APOLOGIST TO CHRISTIANS:
Hillsong and the Gay Issue;
Brian Houston: "The World, The Weight, and the Word";
Except He Would Rather Submerge the Word:
Published on Mar 17, 2014
On Sunday 18 August 2013, Hillsong's Senior Pastor, Brian Houston, preached a message that was broadcast to all Hillsong congregations around the world in over 100 services. What was significant about this sermon was that during the message he publicly began a conversation about the Hillsong churches need to come to grips with the 'gay issue'.
HELLSONG: They Will Not Endure Sound Doctrine
Published on Jul 23, 2015
A warning about the false doctrines of Hillsong "mega-pastors" and pragmatic prosperity-pushers Brian Houston and Carl Lentz.
In his new book, The Zimzum of Love: A New Way of Understanding Marriage, Bell says he would conduct a same-sex wedding ceremony, arguing, “This is a justice issue. We believe people should not be denied the right to have someone to journey with.” One review of The Zimzum of Love says, “If Christianity were outlawed and a mob amassed to burn Christian books, The Zimzum of Love would not be at risk.”