Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Anybody still out there?

I know I have been lax of late, but the blog has fallen onto the shoulder of my chaotic highway. I am going to try to post more again, mainly because I love the back and forth that goes on in the comments. We need to sharpen each other and be sharpened all the time. So with that, I post this gem of blasphemy. (It might take a minute to load):

See more Jack Black videos at Funny or Die


Alright, let's hear your defense of christianity the way you would say it to your gay brother (if you had one, of course)...

7 comments:

whoRU said...

Well that was definitely a funny dramatization of the controversity in America. I do have a gay cousin and we agree to disagree. I personally am at a grid lock on how to debate with those who refuse the bible as a source of moral and behavioral standard.

Anonymous said...

We must love the person, not the sin. We must show God's love to the sinner instead of debating and beating over the head with the Bible. Be a friend and let your life (outward testimony) point the way to Christ. Remember in God's eyes sin is sin. Homosexuality is a sin the same as a lie. It is man who rates the severity of sin.

Anonymous said...

I agree that we must love the sinner and not love the sin.

However, but not all sins are equal. Christ clearly speaks about specific sins, sexual sins, sins against children and blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.

The Sin of blasphemy of the Holy Spirit in not forgiven? Matthew 12:31 "Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven."

Why would we need to correct another believer if all sins are the same and we are not to judge behavior?

Jesus in Matthew 18:15 "" If your brother sins , go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother."

The sin of Murder of a pregnant mother is the same as a lie?

If our God is a Just God, there is no way He associates murder with a lie.

Sexual sin that leads to a family being torn apart and affecting dozens of people, that is the same as a single person coveting a new computer?

Rape is the same as stealing a pencil?

There is Scripture in both the OT and NT where God and or Christ speak of this.

All sin is a seperation of us from God because of His Holiness, why we must not give in to temptation which can become sin.

All sins are equal is a cultural cancer that has been growing since the 60's!

Christ calls Christian to keep each other as confessed believers in check.

Read what Christ says in Luke 17:1-4 , Jesus tells Peter when Peter ask how many times are we to forgive "1He said to His disciples, "It is inevitable that stumbling blocks come, but woe to him through whom they come! 2"It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea, than that he would cause one of these little ones to stumble. 3"Be on your guard! if your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4"And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, 'I repent,' forgive him."

The interaction is different with non believers, but within the faith we are commanded to keep each other accountable.

Because I love people and I do not want to see anyone fo to Hell, I must speak the truth as Scripture clearly tells us.

Not becuase I think I am better than a lost person who many times is in bondge to sin, but because I love them as Christ commanded me to!

Sharing the Gospel truth of life is not beating them over the head, it is offering them an opportunity to search their soul.

To let a person live life in absolute disobedience to God and not share with that person Biblical truth, that is not love, that is cultural tolerance!

let us sharpen some iron...

Peace and Love

eric said...

Hey everyone, it has been a while, great topic as usual Pastor P. The issue of homosexuality has been coming up rather frequently around me...not sure if that means anything or not but this is what I shared with the other people who asked. Homosexuality is unarguably a sin (1 Corinthians 6:9) that is easy enough to prove, however try telling that to someone who is a homosexual and see how far that gets you. Most often the argument becomes how could being homosexual be a sin if that is the way God made me? Some would respond that God did not make them homosexual but that the person chose to be homosexual, others would say that it is not a choice but that the person is born that way...my response is both. Allow me to explain myself, everyone who was born into this world (with the exception of Jesus) was born into sin therefore technically they were born that way, but just because I was born a sinner doesn't mean that it is OK to sin. Obviously someone who is constantly surrounded by homosexuality is more prone to becoming homosexual than some who is not surrounded by it, but we can all be deceived by satan, it doesn't matter who you are or how you were raised, due to the fact that we were all born into sin we can all be deceived by satan. I believe that homosexuality is no different from any other sexual sin I.E. pornography, lust, fornication, adultery, masturbation...all of these sins can become difficult if not impossible to escape without the help of Jesus Christ and homosexuality is no different. So with that being said the likely hood of someone escaping the clutches of homosexuality with out first being saved would be slim to none. Therefore my approach to witnessing to a homosexual is the same as it is for anyone else 1) show them that they are a sinner by bringing up the ten commandments 2) explain that they have sinned against God and deserve hell 3) explain what Jesus did for them so that they wouldn't have to go to hell and most importantly 4) do all of that in LOVE! because if we don't have love, we have nothing. On a side note I would tend to agree more with anonymous #1 in that sin is sin, meaning that it does not matter what sin you commit, all it takes is one to separate you from God. I do see anonymous #2 point in that there are different consequences for different sins, obviously someone who steals a pencil will not be looked upon as harshly or judged as harshly in this world as would someone who murdered another person, but the bottom line is that they will both be going to hell without a savior.

Eric.
Ps. As always I welcome any questions or comments.

Anonymous said...

Still out here thanks to JT fixing my computer. I have to admit I thought the video was sad and not even a little funny. As for what to say to a homosexual I believe the Way of the Master approach is best because it makes anyone regardless of their sin aware of there need for a savior. As far as "beating them over the head with the Bible," if that means quoting scripture or lettng some one know what the Bible says I say beat away. The way I lead my life will have about as much impact on them as theirs has on me. The Apostle John said it best in 1John 3:4-10 " Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. But you know that He appeared so that He might take away our sins. And in Him is no sin. No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen Him or known Him. Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as He is rigteous. He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. No one who is born of God will contiue to sin, because he has been born of God. This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother."
The difference between telling a lie and living a homosexual livestyle is that you are not continuing in the sin. Yes we all sin but we don't continue in it and most importantly we do not say our sin is right and approved by God. If we truly love our brother we will let him know what scripture says about sin but then with all the humility we can muster let him know what it says about grace and forgiveness. That in the same way that I was dead in sin and in need of a saviour,God is faithfull and will forgive him just as he did me. In this way there is no difference in sin because Jesus will forgive all the same.
Blessings,

Anonymous said...

Eric and John, very well said.

John, your spelling of savior(Saviour) is evidence of your King James translation upbringing! :)

At some point we all realize we have a tendency to be weak to certain sins of the world.

Pastor Phil once said in a sermon, Amputate those things in your life that tempt you.

Homosexuals might very well be tempted at some point in their lives to act on it.

Just like another person could be tempted at some point to be tempted to commit murder because of rage or anger.

Psychology, sociology and life experiences all play a part in our decision making process throughout our lives.

I have meet homosexual's who enetered that life because they were accepted by that group of people.

Sin is sin, but The Bible makes distinction of different Sins!

Blessings
Keith

Carol Wolfe said...

I wrote a long diatribe about my very strong feelings on how many Christians deal with this so wrong in my opinion, but I erased it. When speaking about it with Bob Kirtley, he reminded me of what Billy Graham said when asked about how to deal with a homosexual and Billy Graham's answer was "I would love him more". That sums up my response so beautifully! It also made me realize how thankful I am for those first beautiful feet of the ones who came alongside me to love me first, share the gospel and then SLOWLY and LOVINGLY reveal to me how disgusting my sin was to God. I might add that homosexuality was about the only sin not thrown in the ugly mix but I was a mess no matter how y'all Christians rate sin.