This past Sunday my home church held a special session to talk about homosexuality and to give us some guidelines as to what our response as Christians ought to be. As we all know the homosexuals are forcefully pushing their way into our communities and schools. I want to share some of what was shared by our church leadership. Perhaps it will help those of you who read my blog to be encouraged.
The Bible teaches us firstly to love God and secondly to love your neighbor. There is no greater commandment.
Mark 12:30-32 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
The Bible teaches us firstly to love God and secondly to love your neighbor. There is no greater commandment.
Mark 12:30-32 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
What does this look like?
1 Corinthians 13 has the answer - verses 4-5 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
Love must not be only in words - it must be words and actions.
Sex is a gift of God to be experienced only within the bonds of covenant marriage between man and wife. Marriage is to be between one man and one woman. There are no other options.
Homosexuality is sin, as is every other form of sexual activity outside of the one man and one woman covenant marriage. This is counter cultural.
Romans 1:26-27 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.
How do we as Christians respond in our culture?
We must show respect and honor when dealing with those in authority over us, but we must remember to obey God above men.
If we are being asked or required to do things contrary to the teachings of the Bible, we must always obey God even if this means hardship to us - such as loss of a job, loss of friends or persecution and imprisonment etc.
We need to stand up, speak up, protest in a peaceful way.
We must be willing to listen to those expressing an opposing view and always remember that what the homosexuals really need is salvation through Jesus Christ.
We must never slander the homosexuals, nor gossip, nor disrupt meetings
Canadians need Jesus.
Our goal is not to merely make morally upright people - our goal is to bring people to Jesus for salvation.
To have people come to know Jesus is the fundamental need.
We need to speak out - there is a time and place to declare that homosexuality is sin.
We must not be quiet nor run and hide.
Fear and hate have no place in our conversations.
Be very very cautious with "righteous anger".
We are not abandoned in this world.
The Holy Spirit's job is to convict the world of sin.
It is not our job to force people to change. Our job is to bear witness to God. Let the Holy Spirit convict.
John 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
Ask God for wisdom.
Our goal is not to only prove our point but to point people to Jesus.
Becoming Practical
* Pray Pray Pray - for the teachers, the teacher's aides, the schoolboard, the government
* a child's greatest influence comes from their parents - so make a point to teach and influence your children.* as parents, we have been commanded to teach our children
* let your kids see you speaking out in love, your children will learn how to respond when you do this
*examine your life - show grace, mercy and truth
As Christians we are representatives of God in this world.
Speak the truth in love.
We must show respect and honor when dealing with those in authority over us, but we must remember to obey God above men.
If we are being asked or required to do things contrary to the teachings of the Bible, we must always obey God even if this means hardship to us - such as loss of a job, loss of friends or persecution and imprisonment etc.
We need to stand up, speak up, protest in a peaceful way.
We must be willing to listen to those expressing an opposing view and always remember that what the homosexuals really need is salvation through Jesus Christ.
We must never slander the homosexuals, nor gossip, nor disrupt meetings
Canadians need Jesus.
Our goal is not to merely make morally upright people - our goal is to bring people to Jesus for salvation.
To have people come to know Jesus is the fundamental need.
We need to speak out - there is a time and place to declare that homosexuality is sin.
We must not be quiet nor run and hide.
Fear and hate have no place in our conversations.
Be very very cautious with "righteous anger".
We are not abandoned in this world.
The Holy Spirit's job is to convict the world of sin.
It is not our job to force people to change. Our job is to bear witness to God. Let the Holy Spirit convict.
John 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
Ask God for wisdom.
Our goal is not to only prove our point but to point people to Jesus.
Becoming Practical
* Pray Pray Pray - for the teachers, the teacher's aides, the schoolboard, the government
* a child's greatest influence comes from their parents - so make a point to teach and influence your children.* as parents, we have been commanded to teach our children
* let your kids see you speaking out in love, your children will learn how to respond when you do this
*examine your life - show grace, mercy and truth
As Christians we are representatives of God in this world.
Speak the truth in love.
