(Scriptural Truths concerning Christ & Homosexuals)

The Spirit speaketh expressly.....Part I

Episcopalians vote for gay bishop * United Church of Christ faces a stir over gay marriage * Church struggles with same-sex marriage * Cleric sexually assaulted four children……..

In anguish I read the above headlines and cried out to God, “Lord what is happening to your people?  I can understand how the world might get caught up, but your church?  How can anyone who study and teach your word say that you accept homosexuality as an alternative lifestyle?”

The Holy Spirit responded:  “Now the spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils:  Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;” 1 Tim. 4:1, 2

The above passage of scripture was written by the Apostle Paul to Timothy concerning things that would occur “afterwards” within the Christian community.  That same truth is relevant in our day.

 “……some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils:”

Any individual, group or church that participates and condones homosexuality as an alternative lifestyle acceptable to God has departed from the faith and are being led and taught by seducing (demonic) spirits. The Bible is explicit in its stand against immoral sexual vices which includes homosexuality.  I Corinthians 6:9-10 states that those who partake in such activity will not inherit the Kingdom of God.  In the Old Testament (Lev. 18:22; 20:13), homosexual practice is listed as heinous and an abomination to God, punishable by death.

Associate Pastor Cindy Maddox, an ordained Lesbian of the United Church of Christ, who has served as minister of Christian Education at First Congregational UCC in Asheville, N.C. since July 2001, is quoted in the on-line Southern Voice News as saying,

“Many of us in the United Church of Christ believe that we have a responsibility to reinterpret the scriptures in light of contemporary understandings.”*

To reinterpret the scriptures in light of contemporary acceptance of homosexual lifestyle, those practicing the vice would still reap condemnation from the scriptures, especially from New Testament passages of scriptures that were written during the Greek and Roman period whose culture legally fostered homosexual practice as a way of life. 

The philosopher Socrates, though married with children, practice homosexual activity among his students who ranged in ages from adolescents (pederasty) to young adult men.  In his own words he said he was guided by his personal “daimon” (translated from the Greek as demon) in his pursuit of life.  Besides Socrates and other philosophers, many of the Emperors and soldiers were also practicing homosexuals.

It is because of the homosexual culture of the Greeks and Romans that God divinely inspired Paul to warn Christians that homosexual practices (as well as other immoral vices) were not to be found among them.

*Lesbian UCC Minister Ordained in Western N.C.

The Spirit speaketh expressively…Part II (Scriptural Truths concerning Christ & Homosexuals)

 “Speaking lies in hypocrisy;” - I Timothy 4:2

In Matthew 7:15 Jesus warns His followers to beware of false prophets (wolves) pretending (play acting, hypocrisy) to be Christians (in sheep’s clothing).  Their purpose is to devour the real sheep (children of God) with lies and heresies.

Hear what Peter says (II Pet. 2:12 NIV Translation), “But there was also false prophets among the people (referring to the Israelites under Moses’ leadership), just as there will be false teachers among you.  They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who brought them—bring swift destruction on themselves.  Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.”

The lie (heresy) being introduced by false teachers within mainstream Christianity, leading many in the church astray is the teaching that since we are no longer under the law, and is under grace, practicing homosexuals are welcomed and accepted into fellowship with Christ and His church.

How absurd!  “What then?  Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace?  By no means!  Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?”-Romans 6:15-18 (NIV)

In order for a practicing homosexual to unite with Christ, he must confess with his mouth in agreement with what Christ says about his current lifestyle, denounce it, turn from it and surrender himself to Christ, that Christ may fill him with His spirit that will produce a lifestyle that glorifies God.  Any person who continues in homosexual activity without conviction and a desire to stop, the Spirit of Christ is not in him and he is not apart of Christ which means he has NO fellowship with Christ or His body which is the church (Romans 8:5-14). 

Does Christ love the people who practice homosexual behavior?  Yes!  He loves them so much that He died on the cross for their sins.  But until they come to Him in repentance with a desire to change, they are barred from communion (uniting, becoming one) with Christ.

“Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the Kingdom of God?  Do not be deceived:  Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the Kingdom of God.  And that is what some of you were.  But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11, NIV)

In closing, Jude 4-7 – “For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you.  They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only sovereign and Lord.  Though you already know all this, I want to remind you that the Lord delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe.  And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their own home—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day.  In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion.  They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.” (NIV)

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