Homosexuality, The Church And God.

"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: (27.) 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

This year the U. S. Supreme Court will hear a case for gay marriage, I believe they will decide on the side of gay marriage making it legal in all 50 States no matter what the people of that state wants. While this is a victory that will be waved and taunted in the face of Christians everywhere and rejoiced mightily by those who want it and those who hate Christians enough to want it, it will not matter. God still condemns Homosexuality in any form. Just because the U. S. government authorizes something does not mean God authorizes it. God will still condemn the very acts of it and God will never change. It is not my job as a Pastor or as a Christian to condemn those who live in a gay relationship no more that it is for me to condemn any other horrible act mankind does and the U. S. government authorizes. However, it is my job to be unacceptable of it in society and in the Lords churches. As far as I and this church are concerned we will not associate ourselves with this ungodly act in any form. We are a church and we adhere to the laws of God and not with the laws of man. God told us as Christians and churches "If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men." Romans 12:18 God never told us to allow them to overwrite His laws and to accept them. We will continue to live peaceably with those of gay marriage as long as it does not affect our churches. Our rules and laws as a church will never change where gays are allowed as members nor will our church or our Pastor ever be forced to marry a gay couple. It will remain an unacceptable act as far as we are concerned. We will also not accept people living in adultery or fornication as members. Churches have standards according to the scriptures and we still abide by those laws. Those who claim that God is ok with this act have changed Gods truth into a lie. Romans 1:25 "Who changed the truth of God into a lie..." Hebrews 13:8 "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever." It is for this reason we will not change unless we find ourselves in error and on this subject we are not in error. James reminds us in James 1:17 with God there is no; "...with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." We as Christians will continue to live peaceable with men of all sorts on this earth as long as we are not forced to act against God with them. I believe this will just put us one step more toward the Tribulation Period where the wrath of God is showered down from the heavens bringing much pain and destruction to this ungodly world. We will never stop anyone from coming to church, but it stops there. As we said before we are not out to hurt anyone, but we will not allow anyone to force us to hurt our relationship with God.

Understanding the Bible Is For Believers Only.

John 8:43 “Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.”

It may be of a surprise to some but not everyone has the ability to understand the bible. It’s not a simply book to understand, it is not an average book written by an average author. In fact it’s not a book; it’s the word of God. The bible was not written to the world it was written to believers as we are told in 2 Timothy 3:16, 17 "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (17) That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." The lost person doesn’t need any of this teachings, all they need is Jesus Christ preached to them. Until they understand in their hearts who Jesus Christ is they do not need very much of a biblical education. Jesus asked these folks “Why do ye not understand my speech…” We must understand as Christians that people don’t understand us because they are lost and therefore cannot understand the things of God. God declared in 1 Cor. 1:23 that the scriptures were foolishness to the lost and a stumbling block to the Jews. I know that people are smart, in fact probably 99.9% of the people on this earth are smarter than I am, however, unless they are saved they will never understand the word of God. While school smarts in life are wonderful and most needed to get through life they have nothing much to do with a biblical education. For example a person can have the greatest of educations and never understand the basics of Gods word. Therefore, please do not ever judge a pastor or biblical teacher on their worldly education. Remember God did not choose the strong of the word but rather the weak. 1 Corinthians 1:20 "Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?" Even those who are well educated in this world God tore down their education in order to teach them His word. This is done so that we can properly understand the scriptures. The teachings of this world will keep us from understanding Gods word. 1 Corinthians 2:12 - 13 "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. (13.) Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual." Jesus went on to say in John 8:43 “…because ye cannot hear my word.” That is because they are spiritually deaf to His words. If one is dead spiritually then they will never hear the scriptures no matter how smart they are. In fact they will never hear the simply truth of salvation until the Holy Spirit makes their spirit alive. This is why we have so much disagreement in teaching Gods word. Man not understanding, attempting to teach a book they have no truthful understand of it. Jesus went on to say in John 8:45 “And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.” Because they simply did not understand it. It confounded them and did not set in as reality to them. Man cannot understand what does not fit the worldly education. This is why T.V. programs such as the History and Discovery Channels are so confounded in trying to prove the bible. What they need is men of God explaining the bible and not a bunch of professors with only worldly educations. Man kind will never understand the bible without the Holy Spirit teaching it. “…we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God…” 1 Corinthians 2:12 and in Luke 21:15 "For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist." So the next time someone just doesn’t get it, just remember, only the saved does get it. Now please remember man is smart and doctrine can be learned even by the lost, but never understood by the lost.

Abstaining from evil.

1 Thessalonians 5:22 "Abstain from all appearance of evil."

As Christians we sometimes loose our way in serving the Lord. It is so easy to get lost in a world as bad as ours is. Sin prevails almost every time because it is the way of Satan and he controls this world system. God is allowing Satan to win in this world because it is his to rule until Jesus Christ takes it back in the Millennium Period. This world will never get any better than it is today, I know some folks see this as negative thinking but it is a fact none the less. We already allow so much evil here in America and in the world. We have a government out of control, and IsIs is about to take control of the middle-east, and Gay marriage is a sure thing in the U.S. Supreme Court. It is easy to look at the world and wonder how a Christian is able to survive in it. With temptations on every turn, getting caught-up in them is easy. I am afraid that respect for God and the churches have been lost even by most of those who attend worship services and even some in churches today. We are to teach those who attend services to fear God and the chastening of God but instead so many are being taught that God is one who can be controlled and ignored. Once a person no longer accounts the scripture as God’s Holy Word, then they loose all faith in God. How can a Minister teach laws if the laws have no teeth. No more than a Police Officer can control the speed limit if he is asleep on the job. This world is not bad because God cannot control it, it is bad because it is God’s predetermined plan. When the Court passes Gay marriage it will not mean God has been defeated nor the bible has been defeated, it will mean it is one more thing God will judge America and the world for. God told us not to look at the lost, because their prosperity is not a sign of victory. God foretold of this prosperity in Psalms 73:12 “Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.” Asaph a writer of a few Psalms went as far to say "For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked." Psalms 73:3 so we can all see the easiness of getting caught up in the evil of the world. However, it is every believer’s responsibility to hold themselves up above the temptations of the world. The Lord told us to abstain from all appearance of evil; this means we should not even put ourselves around it at all. If preachers do not preach the truth don’t listen to them, if your friends only want to do what’s not right then ignore them. Beloved if something even appears to be evil then please stay away from it. Serving God is more important than enjoying the evil of this temporal world. I know things that are worldly seem tempting and harmless but disobeying God is never harmless. We as Christians have the opportunity to walk in a way that makes those who are lost take a look. God told us in 1 Thessalonians 4:12 “That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without and that ye may have lack of nothing.” showing them that Christians are not without pleasure and joy. It does not take worldly joy to be happy, believers are truly happy and blessed. We are examples to them who are without Christ and to those who are in Christ but may be young or weak. Abstaining from evil takes discipline on our part because we still have the old man, but we also have our new Godly nature and it can override the old nature unless we do not want it too. Beloved abstain from evil and what even looks evil because being around evil is nothing short of temptation. If you are weak then ask God for strength, He has plenty to give.