HOMOSEXUAL
In the Bible this sin is called an “abomination” (Leviticus 18:22). This is about loving God, not hating anyone. “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet” (Romans 1:26–27). Homosexuals can be saved and live a new life: “Nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind…And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:9–11).
Are Christians now to be persecuted because we believe God and not the world? It was Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve. Was Phil Robertson judging? Phil Robertson of the hit reality show Duck Dynasty paraphrased from memory 1 Corinthians 6:9–10 that says, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God” (see also Leviticus 18:22; Romans 1:26–27).
The same Christ who said, “Judge not” also said, “Judge righteous judgment” (John 7:24). Today if you tell someone that according to the Bible what they are doing is wrong, they may respond, “You’re not to judge.” I am not their judge, nor am I judging them but saying what is wrong according to God’s Word. If someone sees his neighbor who is rich and thinks to himself, “He must have done something dishonest to have all that money,” that would be judging. For we do not know how he received his money; perhaps he inherited it or worked hard for it. But if someone sees a man rob a bank and says, “He stole and that is wrong,” that is a fact or “righteous judgment.”
A headline said, “Judge orders Kentucky clerk to jail for refusing to issue marriage licenses for gay couples.” One argument that is being put forth is that because of the recent Supreme Court decision, this is now the law of the land. Abortion is also the law of the land, but no one is putting nurses and doctors in jail for refusing to perform an abortion because of their religious beliefs. If a doctor will not perform an abortion, the mother can go to someone else. So why do gays demand we take part in their marriages when we disagree? Do you think they will stop with county clerks? None of the pastors I know would marry them. Where is our freedom of religion guaranteed in the First Amendment?
HOPE
Our great hope is our expectation that things will get better (no one ever hoped that things would get worse in his life). And God has given us hope in this lifetime, and we should use it. We are told to hope in God, that He will turn things around (see Psalm 42:5, 11). Often in the New Testament the word “hope” refers to the rapture, which is called “that blessed hope” (Titus 2:13; see also DISAPPOINTMENT).
HUMILITY (see PRIDE)
HUSBANDS (see MARRIAGE)
In the Bible this sin is called an “abomination” (Leviticus 18:22). This is about loving God, not hating anyone. “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet” (Romans 1:26–27). Homosexuals can be saved and live a new life: “Nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind…And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:9–11).
Are Christians now to be persecuted because we believe God and not the world? It was Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve. Was Phil Robertson judging? Phil Robertson of the hit reality show Duck Dynasty paraphrased from memory 1 Corinthians 6:9–10 that says, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God” (see also Leviticus 18:22; Romans 1:26–27).
The same Christ who said, “Judge not” also said, “Judge righteous judgment” (John 7:24). Today if you tell someone that according to the Bible what they are doing is wrong, they may respond, “You’re not to judge.” I am not their judge, nor am I judging them but saying what is wrong according to God’s Word. If someone sees his neighbor who is rich and thinks to himself, “He must have done something dishonest to have all that money,” that would be judging. For we do not know how he received his money; perhaps he inherited it or worked hard for it. But if someone sees a man rob a bank and says, “He stole and that is wrong,” that is a fact or “righteous judgment.”
A headline said, “Judge orders Kentucky clerk to jail for refusing to issue marriage licenses for gay couples.” One argument that is being put forth is that because of the recent Supreme Court decision, this is now the law of the land. Abortion is also the law of the land, but no one is putting nurses and doctors in jail for refusing to perform an abortion because of their religious beliefs. If a doctor will not perform an abortion, the mother can go to someone else. So why do gays demand we take part in their marriages when we disagree? Do you think they will stop with county clerks? None of the pastors I know would marry them. Where is our freedom of religion guaranteed in the First Amendment?
HOPE
Our great hope is our expectation that things will get better (no one ever hoped that things would get worse in his life). And God has given us hope in this lifetime, and we should use it. We are told to hope in God, that He will turn things around (see Psalm 42:5, 11). Often in the New Testament the word “hope” refers to the rapture, which is called “that blessed hope” (Titus 2:13; see also DISAPPOINTMENT).
HUMILITY (see PRIDE)
HUSBANDS (see MARRIAGE)
