November 2, 2016

Hebrews 4:13

(All scripture is from the New King James Version unless otherwise indicated.)

God is omniscient!  That means that He knows everything!  The most concise Scripture that encapsulates this idea is found in Hebrews 4:13:  “…there is no creature hidden from His [God’s] sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” (See Psalm 139:1-6).  Considering this truth, God’s viewpoint on the issues we face, especially in this presidential election time, is the most comprehensive and correct view we could possibly have!  And the Bible, authored by God Himself through His Holy Spirit (see II Peter 1:21), reveals that truth to us!

The first issue we will tackle in this blog is controversial but important.  And I want to present this in a true but loving way.  It may take this whole blog to do it!

•      Homosexuality – This has increasingly come to the forefront of society, especially since gay marriage has been legalized in the majority of states.  The following statistics are gleaned from the infoplease website, U.S. Policies on Same-Sex Marriage:

            Thirty seven states now recognize same-sex marriage and issue marriage licenses for that purpose.

            On June 6, 2013, the Supreme Court, in a 5 to 4 decision overturned the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) which defines marriage as between a man and a woman.

           On June 26, 2015 – The U.S. Supreme Court ruled, 5–4, in Obergefell v. Hodges that same-sex couples have the fundamental right to marry and that states cannot say that marriage is reserved for heterosexual couples.

            The LGBT community increasingly is making headway in the fight against discrimination.  One of the latest battle fronts is which bathrooms transgender people have the right to use – with the guidelines:  students may use bathrooms according to their self-identified gender.

•      What does the Bible say about the issue of homosexuality?

      ✞      As stated in yesterday’s blog – from Genesis 1:1; 2:7, 22, 24; and Malachi 2:15 – “In the beginning…the LORD formed man….Then… He made…a woman and He brought her to the man….Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall be one flesh….And why one?  He seeks godly offspring.”  Only the traditional view of marriage (as expressed in DOMA) can fulfill this Biblical view!

      ✞      Leviticus 18:22 – “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination.”

      ✞      Leviticus 20:13 – “If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination.”

      ✞      Romans 1:26, 27 (Contemporary English Version) – “God let them follow their own evil desires.  Women no longer wanted to have sex in a natural way, and they did things with each other that were not natural.  Men behaved in the same way.  They stopped wanting to have sex with women and had strong desires for sex with other men.  They did shameful things with each other, and what has happened to them is punishment for their foolish deeds.”

A general rule for the Christian life is God’s standard found in Matthew 5:48 (Bible in Basic English) – “Be then complete in righteousness, even as your Father in heaven is complete.”  As it says in the New King James Version, “Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”  The only way this can be fulfilled is by having our sins forgiven and washed away by the blood of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross! (See Psalm 103:12; Isaiah 1:18; I John 1:7, 9).  And then He robes us with His own perfect righteousness! (See Isaiah 61:10; Zechariah 3:1-5; II Corinthians 5:21).

What should be our Christian response to the homosexual and related LGBT issues?  God loves everyone, enough to die for them so they can be forgiven and have eternal life! (See John 3:16, 17; I John 4:7-11).  Such love will reach out to those in sin to help them into God’s way of life! (See Jude 1:22, 23).  But as committed Christians, we cannot bless what God says is sin!

There is the argument that says, “I was born this way.”  This is opposed to those who believe homosexuality is a learned behavior.  I do not think it matters either way!  I was born with a penchant for alcohol.  I became an alcoholic by age 15.  I have not had a drink of alcohol for 35 years now.  But I believe if I started, I would be right back into alcoholism!  Even though I was born with such an addictive nature, it does not give me the right to drink!  I have also fought in my life against addictions to food, nicotine, pornography, gambling, and drugs.  By God’s grace I have victory over all of them.  But I do not have the right to give in to my natural leanings and pursue destructive behavior!  I think we all struggle with something.  But God can and will give victory!