TRUTH Part 3

 

What about the argument that members of the LGBT community are Christians? Paul addressed this too. Now, what he said here is not just in relation to the LGBT lifestyle choice of sin. Paul addresses all sin here. And let’s be clear. There are believers who struggle with leaving behind the LGBT lifestyle. Christ followers need to encourage, uplift, and pray for those struggling, because while struggles are real, a true repentant heart can be delivered.

On the flips side of that are people who say they are Christians, but have no intent to stop living ungodly lifestyles (whether it’s an LGBT lifestyle, a promiscuous heterosexual lifestyle, a lifestyle of theft, a lifestyle of abusing people, etc.) This is who Paul is referencing. People who say I’m a Christian but refuse to change their lives to actually live as Christ commands us to can NOT just hide behind the veil of grace and Paul tells us why.

Romans 6:1-23 (New Living Translation):

Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? ² Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? ³ Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? ⁴ For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.

⁵ Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. ⁶ We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. ⁷ For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. ⁸ And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him. ⁹ We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. ¹⁰ When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. ¹¹ So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.

¹² Do not let sin control the way you live; (Or Do not let sin reign in your body, which is subject to death) do not give in to sinful desires. ¹³ Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. ¹⁴ Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.

¹⁵ Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not! ¹⁶ Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living. ¹⁷ Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you. ¹⁸ Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living.

¹⁹ Because of the weakness of your human nature, I am using the illustration of slavery to help you understand all this. Previously, you let yourselves be slaves to impurity and lawlessness, which led ever deeper into sin. Now you must give yourselves to be slaves to righteous living so that you will become holy.

²⁰ When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right. ²¹ And what was the result? You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom. ²² But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. ²³ For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Paul uses the slavery illustration here to help us understand that this is not just something we can run away from. This is serious business! The KEY to it all is DEATH TO SELF! That is how we separate the true converts from those who just call themselves Christians. There is a price to pay to be a follower of Christ. You can’t just convey the title of Christian upon yourself and not do the action it takes to actually be a Christian. As Yoda told Luke in The Empire Strikes Back, “Do or Do NOT. There is no TRY.” You’re either all in or not. No fence riding.

Does this mean you won’t ever sin again? NO! The only perfect one is Jesus. Only he can say that. We will still miss the mark (sin), but there is forgiveness for that. God knows we’re human, so he understands and helps us move past our struggles IF we are willing to die to self. To pass from our old sinful lifestyles that are unholy, displeasing to God, and separate us from him, we must die. Death is the passage way to the New Life of a New Creation that is pleasing to God, holy, and in an intimate relationship with him. That is the key.

So, for members of the LGBT community who want to continue in that lifestyle... you can. It’s your right and your choice. However, you can NOT claim to be a Christian and continue in the lifestyle. You also can NOT attack Christians, the Word, the faith, etc. to justify your lifestyle. If you truly love your lifestyle, then OWN it! It’s yours! Leave Christ out of it. Just say you love it and live it without bothering anyone else.

Just don't be surprised when the guilt of your own conscience weighs most heavy on you, and nature itself testifies to you that what you choose to do is wrong. There will be a price to pay for it in the end. The reality is this conflict from within is what drives the attacks against Christians and God’s Word. It’s classic displacement to make one’s self feel better about the choices one makes.

Christ followers love you, just not your lifestyle choice, because it is a sin. God is CRAZY about you, just not your lifestyle choice, because it is a sin. You don’t have to stay there. There is hope. You can change. It all involves your power of choice.  

There are many former members who have awakened to the truth. Their stories of deliverance from a lifestyle choice of sin are so amazing. This is just 1 of many. There's no better honesty that a person sharing the genuine reality of their story.

Powerful Testimony

TRUTH Part 2

2) The second argument of the LGBT community is that homosexuality is OK, since Jesus never mentioned it.

Jesus did not mention it, but that does not make it OK. He clearly painted the accepted way of love with several analogies. Being a Jewish Rabbi, He was a natural teacher, versed and trained in Jewish law and customs from a young age. This is why we hear him refer back to the creation account of male and female that God made. He uses the analogy of the bride (her) and groom (him); feminine and masculine pronouns. In Hebrew it’s known as “ish” (male) and “isha” (female). He spoke of the family unit as mother and father with children. It was crystal clear what Jesus was saying when he defined marriage and the family.

3) The third argument of the LGBT community is that the word homosexual cannot be found in Bible translations prior to 1960. Therefore, it has been added later as a conspiracy by Christians to put an end to their way of life.

The word “homosexual“ may not be found in the original Hebrew or Chaldean languages of Leviticus 18:22, but the meaning is still clear. Man shall not have sexual relations with a man, as he does with a woman, for it is an abomination to God. Not calling it by its modern day name does not change the fact that the description fits the lifestyle. By the way, this whole chapter is about sexual relations. Having sex with one’s family member was an abomination to God then and now (we call it incest and it’s against the law today). Having sex with an animal was an abomination to God then and now (we call it beastiality and it’s against the law today).

Yes, there are stories of people in the Bible who did some pretty bad things, but that does not make them right. The law is the law. Jesus said it still stands. Just like if your kid said to you, well Johnny’s mom lets him do it, your reply would be, well I’m not Johnny’s mom. These are my rules and you will live by them. Just because Johnny does it and his mom lets him, does not make it right! God is our Daddy, so he does not play that game with us either.

The argument I have yet to hear rebutted from the LGBT community is one for Romans chapter 1. I think this is because the way Paul says it, there is no room for error about what he is saying. You have to understand that Paul was a Pharisee (a teacher of the law). He knew it like the back of his hand. Paul expounds upon the Levitical Law to give us the how and the why answers to our questions. He leaves no stone unturned in his very descriptive use of words. Again, Paul was writing to churches on issues the churches were dealing with from within and in the greater context of society, as the church was to engage the world, but not be part of it.

The book of Romans was written to the main church hub, centrally located in the ruling and reigning empire of the day. It would be like sending a letter to Washington, DC churches today about the church’s involvement in American culture and society on key issues in culture. Rome was the capital city of a massive empire, which ruled Jerusalem.

Homosexuality was a key issue in that day, as it is in ours today. It was popular in culture in Rome. Its roots stemmed from the armies of the ancient Greek and Roman worlds. Sodomy was used by both the Greeks and Romans to break a young boy’s will. It was thought of as a way to toughen him up for battle. Homosexuality was also a practice for sexual gratification amongst men, while away from home. Because of pagan practices and lust, there was an LGBT community in the ancient world (it just wasn’t called that then). None of this changed the fact that such acts were detestable to God both then and now, because they are unnatural.

Paul had to write the churches about this to clarify that it was still detestable to God. From his description, it sounds like people were talking about it. No doubt there were people in all camps of belief, just like today. While 2,000 years separate our time from theirs, things really are not all that different in society and culture. More than likely there were people who said, “God made me this way.” “Who are you to judge?” There were probably people who quoted Levitical Law and said God said, “it’s detestable to him and that settles it.” There were probably people on the fence that said, “love is love, who am I to judge?” “We have to just love people as we are commanded.”

There were probably people (even church leaders) who struggled with the issue, especially in light of new converts. They probably said, “how do I balance truth from God’s word about what is right and pleasing to him verses what is wrong, and then how do I teach that to these new converts in a way that they won’t get offended and will still understand that God loves them and Christ followers do too.” They probably struggled with that balance of when is the timing acceptable for old ways to become old ways and how do I/we (Christ followers)  extend grace to those struggling with forsaking their former lifestyle to follow Christ.

Paul addressed all of this in his letter to the Roman church, namely in chapters 1 and 6. In chapter 1, he goes straight to the heart of the issue, defining it, explaining it, and telling what happens when it continues. He says this in Romans 1:18-32 (New Living Translation):

¹⁸ But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. (Or who, by their wickedness, prevent the truth from being known.)

¹⁹ They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. ²⁰ For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.

²¹ Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. ²² Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. ²³ And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles.

²⁴ So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies. ²⁵ They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.

²⁶ That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other.

²⁷ And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved.

²⁸ Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done. ²⁹ Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. ³⁰ They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents.

³¹ They refuse to understand, break their promises, are heartless, and have no mercy. ³² They know God’s justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too.

When God created the heavens and the earth, animals, man and woman, he had an original intent and purpose that has NOT changed! He set natural laws into motion so that everyone would know. Nature testifies of God and his ways. Recently, there has been another attack launched by members of the LGBT community to twist even this. The argument is that there are animals that have homosexual relations, so therefore it MUST be natural and is OK. This is a blatant attack on this scripture to try to justify this lifestyle CHOICE of SIN and to try to NORMALIZE it for everyone to ACCEPT the LGBT community and its agenda.

The #1 goal of the LGBT community is to destroy Christianity, because it is the only thing opposing their lifestyle choice. It won't happen, but this is why there have been such heinous attacks against Christians and their faith. Recently there was such a disgusting attack and mockery of Jesus and the cross by LGBT protestors. While many Christians have sat back and been tolerant of members of the LGBT community, the favor has NOT been returned by many in that community.

Making a sacrilegious mockery of Jesus and the cross with perverse sexual displays of an unnatural lifestyle choice is the ultimate LGBT intolerant insult spat back in the face of God and his true followers! This kind of behavior is happening for a specific reason. It's been a gradual (slow fade) step by step, methodical process from demanding equal rights by riding on the back of the Civil Rights Movement of Dr. King Jr., saying God made them that way, attacking and devaluing the Word of God to omit the "sin" factor to what they do, infiltrating the church, so they can say they are Christian too, and then attacking traditional marriage, and trying to destroy the faith. This is a spiritual battle and believers need to wake up, rise up, and change their world!

I’m not advocating violence or hate speech, although I am sure that is what it will be labeled! True believers must still reply with love, but with eyes WIDE open! We must use wisdom and speak truth to counter the lies from the other side. No more of this fence riding, maintain the status quo, upset no one, “love is love and everyone can do what they want” attitude and behavior. That's what got us to where we are now. No! Let’s call it what it is!

This is a lifestyle choice of sin based on the lust of the flesh to go a way that is unnatural and defiantly smacks God in His face. Yes! They have the right to choose that way of living, but there are consequences to those choices and a price to be paid for them that they must individually pay, when they stand before God. He is the judge! We are simply repeating what the word has to say about it.

We are not the author, just the messengers. We convey the message of the Creator in love, so that educated choices can be made. It’s time to rise up and let our light shine. In this, we will not tolerate attacks on the Bible or true believers, as scapegoats to excuse a lifestyle choice of sin in order to try to normalize or downplay what it truly is. No one is born gay. It's a choice. Research has proven this (BTW, it was research conducted by scientists in the LGBT community).

Dr. King Jr.'s Civil Rights Movement was absolutely justified. The LGBT community trying to use that movement for approval of their sexual preference and lifestyle choice is both unacceptable and disrespectful to Dr. King Jr., everyone who marched, and all people of color. Ethnicity is not a choice that can be changed, but who one lusts after is a choice and it can be changed. If it were not so, there would not be the success stories of people who were delivered from the lifestyle.

It's time to push back the lies with truth. Haters are gonna HATE the TRUTH and try to twist it, so beware, but do NOT be silent! TRUTH is what sets people FREE! So speak the TRUTH in love, unashamedly and unapologetically. Remember, you are the messenger, not the Author! You relay and convey the Author’s message. It’s up to the Holy Spirit to convict and bring change after that. Remember the word says, how will they know unless they are told and how will they hear the good news unless people are sent? We have to go and tell. We can’t sit and be quiet or passive.

Stay tuned for TRUTH Part 3...

American Government and American History 101:

WE THE PEOPLE...

...Need to speak up! It's time to contact our elected officials and demand a Constitutional Amendment to the Supreme Court's ruling! Remember that 52 of the 55 Founding Fathers were active members in their churches. Many of our Founding Fathers could quote the Bible chapter and verse. Countless Congressional speeches and National addresses, which have been long erased from our history books prove this. Church services were held on Capitol Hill, in Congress, for the first 100 years of our nation's history. Monuments, like the Washington Monument were inscribed to give glory to God. Our nation's history was based upon the Bible and Bible believing leaders who were NOT ASHAMED of the gospel of Jesus Christ. My, how far we've come in less than 300 years!

The Founding Fathers risked their lives to RISE UP against their government that had become too powerful and too big. It was usurping the will of the people and something HAD TO BE DONE! To bring charges against their king meant treason, punishable by death, but they were willing to pay the price. This decision was bathed in prayer. They sought God in the most desperate of times. It's time once again for us to make AN APPEAL TO HEAVEN (which was our nation's 1st commissioned flag, as our Founding Fathers made an appeal to heaven for God's guidance to lead our nation).

Carman said it best in his song "America Again" (see the lyrics below). Let it stir you up and call you to action! Contact your representatives and elected officials. We elect them to represent us and we pay their salary, so they work for us!

http://www.house.gov/
http://www.senate.gov/

WE THE PEOPLE voted on this issue, and the results were the majority of Americans said NO to same sex marriage. Yet, 11 state legislatures usurped the WILL of THE PEOPLE, enacting same sex marriage laws. Now, 39 states who also said NO to same sex marriage have also been usurped by the United States Supreme Court. The JUDICIAL branch (that is ONLY supposed to INTERPRET laws of the states and lesser courts) crossed the line and PASSED a law yesterday (YES, this is ONLY the ROLE of the LEGISLATIVE branch). They crossed the line and it's TIME that WE THE PEOPLE remind them of the line and the boundary lines the US Constitution LIMITS them to.

This is HOW our Government is SUPPOSED TO OPERATE!

 

Our 9th and 10th Amendments have been violated!

 

Now, here's how this works...2/3 of the Congress is needed to PROPOSE and 3/4 of the state legislatures are needed to RATIFY, in order to overrule what the Supreme Court just did. Don't think this is impossible or that we shouldn't even try, like Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina told Fox News. (Shame on you Senator!) I remind you that only 11 of 50 states had legislated laws on same sex marriage, which were forced upon the people and against their will.

It's simple math guys!

39/50=78% This is the amount of states that did NOT have same sex marriage laws!

2/3=67% This is the amount of votes needed to PROPOSE a Constitutional Amendment!3/4=75% This is the amount of votes needed to RATIFY a Constitutional Amendment!

...and again, I EMPHASIZE...
39/50=78% This is the amount of states that did NOT have same sex marriage laws!

The President and the left wing news media outlets would have us to believe that MILLIONS upon MILLIONS of Americans who have been denied marriage rights now have them and our country will be better for it. NO friends, this is just the beginning of the unweaving of the fabric of the very flag of America! It's like the song, "SLOW FADE" by Casting Crowns...it's one little step at a time that we ignore, let slip, and look away from. It's the old story of how you boil a frog (not by throwing it in boiling water, but by placing it in a nice, comfy, lukewarm pot of water and then slowly turning up the heat on the stove, until it boils).

By the way...only 1.6% to possibly 5% of Americans self-identify as being members of the LGBT community. We're talking 5 to max 16 million Americans in a SEA of 320 MILLION Americans. So that means 304 MILLION to 315 MILLION Americans are NOT members of the LGBT community. In our system of government, 51% constitutes a simple majority. We are in the majority, so don't believe the hype of the news media or shrink back in fear!

 

PERSPECTIVE!!!

 

DO NOT BE SILENT! History has shown us what happens to those who do NOT speak up!

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

~ Martin Niemöller (1892–1984)

He was a prominent Protestant pastor who emerged as an outspoken public foe of Adolf Hitler and spent the last seven years of Nazi rule in concentration camps.

What's needed? YOU and YOUR VOICE!

What's the CALL TO ACTION? Contact your elected officials and DEMAND a Constitutional Amendment to overturn the US Supreme Court's decision!

And PRAY!!! Make AN APPEAL TO HEAVEN for God to intervene!

As Lisa Bevere says in her best selling book, Lioness Arising, it's time to:

• WAKE UP!
• RISE UP!
• and CHANGE YOUR WORLD!

America Again (The Standard Album Version)
By Carman

"America Again" Video

George Washington, Thomas Jefferson
Samuel Adams, First Chief Justice John Jay
Names synonymous with the spirit of our country
Founding fathers of the U.S.A.

Over 200 years ago they shook off the chains of tyranny from Great Britain By divine call
Citing 27 biblical violations they wrote the Declaration of Independence
With liberty and justice for all

But something happened since Jefferson called the Bible the cornerstone
For American liberty then put it in our schools as a light
Or since "Give me liberty or give me death", Patrick Henry said
Our country was founded on the Gospel of Jesus Christ

We eliminated God from the equation of American life
Thus eliminating the reason this nation first began
From beyond the grave I hear the voices of our founding fathers plead
You need God in America again

Of the 55 men who formed the Constitution
Fifty-two were active members of their church
Founding fathers like Noah Webster who wrote the first dictionary
Could literally quote the Bible chapter and verse

James Madison said, "We've staked our future on our ability to follow
The Ten Commandments with all our heart"

These men believed you couldn't even call yourself an American
If you subvert the Word of God

In his farewell address, Washington said, "You can't have
National morality apart from religious principle," and it's true
'Cause right now we have nearly 150,000 kids carrying guns
To these war zones we call public schools

In the '40's and '50's student problems were chewing gum and talking
In the '90's, rape and murder are the trend
The only way this nation can even hope to last this decade
Is to put God in America again

The only hope for America is Jesus
The only hope for America is him
If we repent of our ways stand firm and say
We need God in America again

Abe Lincoln said, "The philosophy of the school room in one generation
Will be the philosophy of the government of the next"
So when you eliminate the Word of God from the classroom and politics
You eliminate the nation that Word protects

America is now number one in teen pregnancy and violent crime
Number one in illiteracy, drug use and divorce
Every day a new holocaust of 5,000 unborn die
While pornography floods our streets like open sewers

America's dead and dying hand is on the threshold of the Church
While the spirit of Sodom and Gomorrah vex us all
When it gets to the point where people would rather come out of the closet than clean it
It's the sign that the judgment of God is gonna fall

If there's ever been a time to rise up Church, it's now
And as the blood bought saints of the living God proclaim
That it's time to sound the alarm from the Church house to The White House
And say, "We want God in America again"

I believe it's time America to stand up and proclaim
That one nation under God is our demand
And send this evil lifestyle back to Satan where it came from
And let the Word of God revive our dying land

For Jesus Christ is coming back again in all His glory
And every eye shall see Him on that day
That's why a new anointing of God's power's coming on us
To boldly tell the world you must be saved

Because astrology won't save you, your horoscope won't save you
The Bible says these things are all farce
If you're born again you don't need to look to the stars for your answers
'Cause you can look to the very One who made those stars

History tells us time and time again
To live like there's no God makes you a fool
If you want to see kids live right
Stop handing out condoms and start handing out the Word of God in schools

The only hope for America is Jesus
The only hope for America is him
If we repent of our ways stand firm and say

We need God in America again
(repeat)
We need God in America
God in America
God in America again

Songwriters: OMARTIAN, MICHAEL / LICCIARDELLO, DOMINIC
© Universal Music Publishing Group, THE BICYCLE MUSIC COMPANY
For non-commercial use only.

TRUTH Part 1

In light of the Supreme Court's decision and the numerous attacks on Christians, the Bible, and Christianity by the LGBT community, I feel it is time to shed some light on all of it with some truth.

According to demographic statistics, it is estimated that only 1.6% to possibly 5% of Americans self-identify as members of the LGBT community. There are just over 320 million people in America. So, there are approximately 5-16 million people who self-identify as members of the LGBT community.

Recent reports indicate that over half of all members of the LGBT community say they are Christians, even though they fiercely attack Jesus, his followers, and the Bible. This is ironic, because the literal translation of the word means “little Christ’s,” which better translates as imitators or followers of Christ. So what does that mean, to be a follower of Christ?

Well, Jesus himself said in order to be his followers, we had to deny ourselves (meaning of what we want or think is best for ourselves), forsake all other things (meaning loving him more than other things and people, so that he is our # 1), and take up our cross daily (meaning to crucify or kill fleshly desires; anything that goes against his ways and law), and follow him.

Living a lifestyle associated with the LGBT community is not synonymous with being a follower of Christ, because it goes against his law and teachings found in his word, the Bible (both Old and New Testaments).

There are three arguments that I have heard from members of the LGBT community, who proclaim to be Christians, which have been twisted versions of scripture and God’s word on the subject.

1) Levitical Law – found in Leviticus in the Old Testament, or the Jewish Book of the Law. The argument is that it’s outdated and invalid in today’s culture.
 

The argument against this is as such: The Levitical Law says you can’t eat certain foods, it’s OK to own slaves, women are the property of men, and certain fabrics and types of clothing should not be worn. None of these are relevant to today. i.e., we can wear what we want, eat what we want, women have rights and owning slaves has been so out since President Lincoln. Therefore, homosexuality is not just OK, but should be celebrated, because of equality (based on Dr. MLK Jr’s Civil Rights Movement and legislation that followed), and the "God made us this way" argument.

There are numerous problems with this argument. For starters, Christianity is not defined by what’s “accepted” or “celebrated” in pop culture. The Bible stands alone on this and we must interpret the Bible with the Bible, NOT pop culture. We will look at the Creation account for this (found in Genesis 1, in the Old Testament, or Jewish Pentateuch written by Moses, circa 1445 BC), the Levitical Law (found in Leviticus in the Old Testament, or the Jewish Book of the Law, also known as the Jewish Pentateuch written by Moses, circa 1445-1407 BC), the teachings of Jesus (found in the 4 gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John in the New Testament, written by 4 different eye witnesses to Jesus’ life, teachings, and ministry, circa 55-90 AD), and the book of Romans, chapters 1 and 6 (written by Paul, also in the New Testament, circa 57 AD).

But before we go there, let’s break down the points of the arguments and address each one. In order to do so, we must understand one very important detail, and it’s something Jesus himself said. He said, “I have not come to do away with The Levitical Law (meaning it still stands), but I have come to fulfill the law" (meaning I met every requirement to pass God’s test of holiness, according to the law). When Jesus died on the cross he fulfilled the law in his sinless perfection, so that there could be a way to escape the law and the punishment for breaking it. Jesus is our loop hole against the law, but to bypass its penalties, we have to be found in him. We have to be his followers, as he charged us to be.

There were certain aspects of the law that were nullified under the law of grace found in the New Testament, based on Jesus’ teachings. Dietary laws, laws on fabrics and clothing, the treatment and elevation of women as equals, even the treatment of slaves and the concept of slavery were all changed because of Jesus and his teachings. Jesus said it is not the food that goes into the body and passes out as bile that makes one unclean, but it is the condition of one’s heart that makes him unclean. The same was said about clothing by Jesus and Paul. Peter was given a vision of all animals, even those that were once considered unclean and he was told to eat them all. When he argued with God about this, God said do not call something unclean that God has declared as clean. Jesus elevated the position of women in society by the way he treated them, spoke about them, and reminded everyone that God created male and female, both equal in his image (mirrored reflection).

SIDE NOTE...
Much has been misunderstood about this in Paul’s letters to a few churches who were dealing with some cultural issues related to women converts of the cults of Baal and Ashtoreth (temple prostitutes who vocally lewered men into the temple for pagan sexual acts of worship to Baal and Ashtoreth. It was natural for these worship leaders to lead the men in these acts in loud and boisterous ways. These former temple prostitutes approached their new faith in Christ in a similar way, leading men into new holy acts of worship in loud and boisterous ways. This was a distraction to many new converts and caused chaos and confusion in the early church, so Paul made a cultural judgment call for that particular church to help them get past the issues causing church division. He simply said let the women be quiet in church and not lead the men. This was for then, in light of what had been happening. It was not for all time.

Paul also mentioned these women needed to cover their heads and wear proper attire in church. Again, it goes back to who they were before they converted to Christianity. They thought it was come as you are and act as you always have. And why wouldn’t they think this, until instructed otherwise? If that’s what they only knew, that’s how they would continue to be. They used to dress for sexual worship of pagan gods, so it was most definitely provocative and seductive. They also shaved their natural hair, so they could wear very colorful “look at me” wigs for their former roles as pagan worship leaders. Showing up to church with a shaved head gave away who they were in their previous lifestyle, and we all know church folks love to gossip. So, you can just imagine the struggle that church had just trying to stop the drama and the gossip to be able to preach a sermon. Hence, Paul makes an executive decision for that church at that time. As these new converts learned about Christianity, their old ways became old ways and what had been issues in the church were no longer issues. Hence, there’s no other mention of it, or to other churches for that matter.

END SIDE NOTE:

Jesus himself told the women at the tomb to go and tell his disciples, who were men, that he had risen. They were preaching to men and leading them to the truth about Jesus’ resurrection. They had to set a leadership example for men who were in deep sorrow and in hiding after Jesus’ death on the cross. If he wanted women to be silent, trust me, he would have sent a man to do the job. Jesus’ ministry was supported financially predominantly by women. Again, if they were inferior, he would not have allowed this. In other books of the New Testament, Paul mentions several women in the faith who were in leadership roles, and he encouraged them to keep strong in their faith and what they were doing. One was teaching men in her home, with her husband in one of the first home life groups of the early church. I am referring to Priscilla and Aquilla (notice Paul mentioned the wife first).

Slavery was an accepted practice in ancient times amongst all cultures, not just those found in the Bible. Both Jesus and Paul had a lot to say about the view of slavery and the treatment of slaves. One major key concept was that no master is greater than his servant. This meant equality. By teaching this, slaves and servants were basically changed into employees who worked for an employer. This meant no unfair treatment or abuse of one’s servant was acceptable. The very concept of slavery became an analogy for Paul to explain how God is his master, and he is God’s servant, just as we are today. He willingly and gladly bound himself to God, as a faithful servant. Paul refers to himself as a slave of Christ, which paints a very different picture of what we knew of as slavery. Culturally, things were changing and it was all due to Jesus’ teachings.

By the way, slavery still exists today, so members of the LGBT community that use Lincoln’s abolition of slavery as an argument that the Old Testament is outdated are seriously wrong and missing the worst case of slavery in human history! This form of slavery has just taken on a different form than what we learned about in history class. There are more slaves on planet earth today in our civilized, modernized, culturally tolerant 21^st century than has ever existed on the planet! That’s 27 million to be exact; mostly women and children, who are sex slaves (forced against their will). It’s called Human Trafficking and it happens all over the world, as well as right here in America. Many young girls, women, and even young boys in the porn and sex industry are victims of human trafficking. Where is the anger at this great injustice and where is the compassion of the LGBT community to rise up and fight to eradicate this evil from the planet?

SIDE NOTE:

The modern day Harriet Tubman’s and William Wilberforce’s that I see are Christ followers, like Christine Caine of Hillsong Church in Australia, who founded the A21 Campaign to educate, expose, and eradicate this most heinous form of slavery. Did you know that’s what A21 stands for A=Abolishing slavery in the 21=21^st Century. Christine and her husband Nick are fighting a fierce battle and winning. The tide is turning. Laws are changing worldwide to seriously  sentence and fine traffickers. Slaves are being set free once again and the abolitionists are once again unashamed Christ followers! Nancy Alcorn, who founded Mercy Ministries right here in America, is one of my Great American Heroes! Joyce and Dave Meyer founded Hand of Hope to end this evil and many others. James and Betty Robinson, Lisa and John Bevere, and the list goes on and on…all caring, loving, giving, unashamed Christ followers risking their very lives to free slaves! Yet, the LGBT community calls them bigots and judgmental people when it comes to LGBT issues.

END SIDE NOTE:

Homosexuality is the only thing in the Levitical law that was not overturned by either Jesus’ teachings, nor his disciples or apostles. You will not find one place in the Bible where it is acceptable behavior. Jesus did not mention homosexuality by name in his teachings, but he didn’t have to because he clearly defined what was acceptable to God in terms of love relationships.

Stay tuned for TRUTH Part 2...

#DADDYISSUES Day 24

Excerpt from my book, ‪#‎DADDYISSUES‬...day 24 of 24. Get your author signed and personalized copy from my website at: pastorwendyschmeling.org

#DADDYISSUES Day 23

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#DADDYISSUES Day 22

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#DADDYISSUES Day 21

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#DADDYISSUES Day 20

Excerpt from my book, ‪#‎DADDYISSUES‬...day 20 of 24. Get your author signed and personalized copy from my website at: pastorwendyschmeling.org