Since the Supreme Courts recent ruling on Homosexual "Marriage" the Christian blogosphere has been in an uproar and pretty much everyone I know is choosing up sides. The reactions range from "Whoo hoo!" to "The End Is Nigh". Now that the militant intollerant left has taken the SCOTUS decision as personal direction to attack the bride of Christ the "end is nigh" is probably the wisest reaction.
Personally I lean toward the "The End Is Nigh" side of things only because unlike a lot of people I know in this world, I've actually read the bible. Several times. And I believe it is the word of God, and I'm still reading it. Those of us that read it know that this nightmare scenario has been prophesied over two millenia ago.
Ok, so the end is nigh, what do we do in the meantime? Harvest Ministries Greg Laurie has offered some great advice to we Christians, we Band of Brothers and Sisters, as the end grows nigher (is nigher a word?)
“The Supreme Court can do many things, but the Supreme Court can't put Jesus back in that tomb. Jesus of Nazareth is still alive; He is still calling the universe toward His kingdom." -Russell Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission
One - "don't panic; God is still on the throne... the church thrives when it is in sharp contrast to the culture around it." The first century Christians also lived in a pagan culture where immorality was rampant. It wasn't a godless civilization, hardly. Like today there were dozens, scores, hundreds of gods that were being worshiped.
These early Christians thrived and "they turned the world upside down" and they didn't do it through protests, marches, parades, they did it by out-loving, out-praying, and out giving the pagans and non-believers.
Two - "we need to remember that Romans 8:28 is still in the bible... even a ruling like this can, in God's sovereign will work together for our good and His glory"
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)
This may be God's way of cleansing the Bride of Christ, separating the wheat from the tares. What this is, is a call to be better than we were, a call to show the world love and forgiveness, a chance to help the lost to dig their way out of the holes they dug through their selfishness and sinfulness
Three - "we need to show this culture what a biblical marriage looks like... Your marriage should be a testimony and an example" to the non-believing world
The reason why marriage, real marriage, is a big deal to God is beacuse "of all the pictures, of all the illustrations He could have chosen to illustrate His love for the Church and His Church's love for Him, He chose marriage. If you have problems in your marriage, "forgive and move forward" because differences between spouses are bound to happen, but love can over come them.
Four - we need to show the love of Christ to everyone. To do that we need to meet them where they are and greet them with the Gospel. "God loves everyone, no mater what they have done." No one is born homosexual, One may be tempted with attractions for the same sex but these attractions are human weekness which can and has been resisted. "The Gospel does not define us by our temptations, but by the righteousness of Christ,"
We need to love the homosexual people but not condone or accept homosexuality. Evaluating and speaking the truth in love are not judging or condemning.
Five - we need to engage all people with the Gospel. Deep down everyone is searching for a relationship with God, the entire world is our mission field and the opportunities to spread His word are growing every day.
Six - pray. Pray every day, pray without ceasing. We are going to undergo trials, we're going to loose battles, but if you peek at the end of The Book, we win the war.
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. (Ephesians 6:10-13)
No comments:
Post a Comment