Standing on the Word of God

In the chain of human events, the birthday of the nation is indissolubly  linked with the birthday of the Savior.  The Declaration of Independence laid the cornerstone of human government upon the first precepts of Christianity.

John Quincy Adams

I confess, there was a part of me that was afraid to make a comment about the recent SCOTUS ruling on gay marriage.  My fear of speaking out did not stem from the Gay and Lesbian community and its supporters, my fear came from fellow Christians...

Fear born out of grief and dismay watching fellow Christians rebuke Believers who are standing on the Word of God and it's clear admonition against homosexuality, calling them judgmental - not showing the love of Christ.  

I was then convicted by the Holy Spirit to defend the Word of God...

For whoever is ashamed of Me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when He comes in glory of His Father with the holy angels.  

Mark 8:38

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The words I am about to write, I am saying as the "Chief of Sinners".   No person's sin is greater than the other.

For all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God.

Romans 3:23

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Standing on the Word of God

Those who know me well can tell you that I do not like to be accused of a motive that has never even entered into my thoughts, let alone shown itself in my actions.

When I meet someone, anyone, I am loving, kind and respectful, no matter what their sexual orientation.  It would never even enter my mind to treat a gay or lesbian person differently than I would anyone else.  I personally have had people in my life who are gay and lesbian and very much enjoyed spending time with them - just like I would anyone else.  

The same could be said of an acquaintance or friend who has had an adulterous affair.  I will still spend time with them, treating them with love and respect.  

I believe that God's Word is very black and white and not up for interpretation when it comes to admonishing the sin of homosexuality and of adultery.

Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable. 

 Leviticus 18:22

Because of this, God gave them over to their shameful lusts.  Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones.  In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another.  Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.  

Romans 1:26-27

Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.  

Hebrews 13:4

You shall not commit adultery.

Excodus 20:14

The comparison of  homosexuality and adultery helps to make the point of the Bible's clear, black and white warnings and consequences against both sins.  

Christians and non-Christians alike find adultery to be reprehensible.  Why then is homosexuality now up for interpretation by a growing number of Christians??  Why is the gay marriage narrative among some Christians about accusations of judgmentalness and lack of emulating Christ's love to the gay community rather than leading those who are going astray to the way Everlasting.

Sadly, I am watching many churches rethink their position on gay marriage, some even accepting and approving same-sex marriage.  Compromising the Word of God...

Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches the others to do the same, shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven, but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Matthew 5:18

This is such a slippery slope.  If churches are not going to call sin sin, what will any of us need a Savior from??  What other compromises will be made from the Word of God.  Will adultery become acceptable??  Will the multitude of my besetting sins be okay in the church's eyes??  

If the modern day church embraces gay marriage, how is that showing the love of Christ? 

For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines.  

Hebrews 12:6

God's church is called to teach the precepts of God through his Holy Word; enacting discipline where necessary.  

THIS is showing the love of Christ.  This is NOT judgmentalness.

We are the hands and feet of the Church.  If we see a friend or loved one in the throws of addiction, adultery or any sinful behavior we reach out to them, hoping to help them in their struggle, leading them TO Christ or BRINGING THEM BACK TO Christ.

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should 

restore him in a spirit of gentleness...

Galations 6:1

THIS is showing the love of Christ.  This is NOT judgmentalness.

Essentially, the narrative condemning fellow Christians who are standing on the Word of God concerning the sin of homosexuality is actually a narrative of WITHHOLDING God's love.

Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you strike him with a rod, he will not die.  

Proverbs 23:13

The most loving aspect of parenting is to teach our children right from wrong so that they will avoid painful circumstances that come with disobedience.

The most loving aspect of the Church to it's congregation is to stand on the Word of God, faithfully teaching its precepts, lovingly administering wise counsel and discipline to believers and unbelievers alike who have fallen into sin so that they will either be restored to Christ or avoid eternal life without God.

For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost and is found.  And they began to celebrate. Luke 15:24

By re-interpreting Scripture and accepting and approving sinful behavior in our churches, I shutter to think of what the church will look like in the years to come, as sin becomes taboo to share from the pulpit, leaving those in the congregation who don't know the Lord without knowledge of why they would need a Savior in the first place, and those of us who do know the Lord without conviction to repent of our sinful behaviors.

 A WHOLE New World

Independence Day had a bittersweet meaning for me this year in the shadow of the SCOTUS ruling on gay marriage when the Supreme Court disregarded the will of a majority of Americans and the will of the Lord, moving forward with the White House's own political agenda...  Our Christian nation barely recognizable...

When our founding fathers came to this country, they came to establish a New World where they could serve God Almighty freely.

We have this day [Fourth of July] restored the Sovereign to whom all men ought be be obedient.  He reigns in Heaven, and from the rising to the setting sun, let His Kingdom come.

Samuel Adams

The [Fourth of July] ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty.

John Adams

The general principals on which the fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity.  I will avow that I then believed, and now believe, that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God.  

John Adams

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Oh, that our Nation would return to the Lord; that our churches would conduct themselves as Holy and Separate, living in the world, but not of the World; that Christ's love would be evident through His people holding fast to the Word of God , unwavering, sharing a Gospel of repentence and believing in Christ's atonement for sins that leads to freedom in Christ and eternal life.

You might find me on these link-ups:
Grace & Truth Link-up, Woman to Woman Ministries,  Growing in Grace Link-up, 3DLessonsLif4e, Livefree Thursday,Everyday Jesus, SDG Gathering, Inspire Me Monday, Titus 2 Tuesday, A Wise Women Builds Her Home, A Look at the Book,  Sunday Stillness, The Weekend Brew, Spiritual Sundays, Soul Survival,  Give Me Grace, A Little R&R, Testimony Tuesday, Women with Intention Wednesdays, Still Saturday, Good Morning Mondays, Tell His Story, Blessings Counter Link-up Party,Faith & Fellowship Blog Hop, Motivate and Rejuvenate Mondays, Be Salty, Monday's Musings, The Art of Home-Making Monday, Tuesday Talk, Waiting on Wednesday,Dance with Jesus,Looking Up Link-Up, Reflect His Love & Glory, Friend Sharpens Friend, Wholehearted Wednesdays