US Supreme Court vs the Word of God

I am certain I will take a great deal of heat for this post. I have little doubt I will further be labeled a hater, a bigot, evil, mean, and much worse. Somehow that doesn't really bother me. The truth is the truth, and that is what I expect in response.

Today will go down in history as either a major win for evil and the "Evil One" himself - Satan, or it will be raised up on a poll and idolized as a great day for "equality".  The problem is  - there is nothing inherently "equal" about today's Supreme Court decision, nor is there anything in our Constitution that guarantees equal results or equal outcomes for any circumstance. But this fight was never really about "equality".  The issue is much deeper and darker.

You see - the Bible clearly speak, both in the Old and New Testament, about homosexuality. Indeed, the language is quite clear time and again. Further, marriage is referenced 100% of the time in connection to male + female.  Never in Scripture has marriage been depicted as a same-sex union.  Despite hundreds of years of attempts to change the meaning of scripture, and recent decades trying to rewrite the clear language in the Bible regarding marriage and same-sex acts, the definition of marriage, both in natural law, and by God's design is one  man and one woman joined for life.

But this presents a huge problem for those who refuse to give up, and instead just keep ratcheting up their war on God. So long as the majority believe the biblical version of marriage is correct (even if they often fail to be good examples of it), those who desperately desire to practice homosexuality will be marginalized.  But there is a "solution" - it is the normalizing of what God calls abnormal.  It is a mainstreaming of what God calls an unnatural and even an abomination.

You see, even the unregenerate mind knows, down deep, that homosexuality is wrong. It is not unloving to point this out. I know - people have been "driven" to kill themselves hearing such words. I am so sorry, but people have been taking their own lives for a lot of things related to the corrupt and sinful heart. That is often how sin works - destroying you from the inside. But far too many have chosen to continue to raise their voices while at the same time, undermining reality and the truth of God's Word.

Add to the equation, there are false teachers (as the Bible warns repeatedly about) who have thrown their support behind this issue, not as a means to "grace, but as a way to fill their bank accounts and pews, and to promote themselves.

Just a few years ago, a movement began to protect the definition of marriage through a Constitutional Amendment. Many notable politicians loudly objected saying that marriage was a right for each individual state to determine. Fast forward less than a decades and what do we see - they were flat wrong.  Maybe they were as guilty as those crying out for "gay marriage"?

The Southern Baptists (of which I am not a member of) recently had their annual Convention, at which they resoundingly voted to support the biblical definition of marriage, no matter come what may. I applaud their action, though I fear this will not be universally applied among their churches.

My own association, the Baptist Missionary Association of America began the two-year process of amending our national Constitution/Articles of Agreement to include the biblical definition of marriage. The local church I lead included a very clear definition of marriage in its founding Constitution as well.

I could spend my next days and weeks weeping and mourning for this nation.  But I refuse. This nation has bought its path, much as old Israel and Judah bought their own judgment and brought down righteous wrath from God. I could get ramped up and spew my own anger all over every form of social media, but that would accomplish little. So I will simply speak/write/post the truth. John 8:32 records the reassurance that "...the truth will set you free".

God's Word also commands that I love my neighbor - and that represents nothing new. It often is a struggle to love those who would rather you be silenced or even dead because you speak the truth, but indeed the command is still there.

But I also am under conviction from the Lord God who created me, and who designed marriage, to never willfully participate in or condone sin. Again, this is nothing new, yet the very definition of sin (according to the world and to the US Supreme Court) is being altered in that ongoing rebellion against God.

One final thought that I want to share (this is my blog, so it is my prerogative!): Those who practice homosexuality, particularly those who are celebrating this landmark U.S. Supreme Court case, you may celebrate for a time, and you may even find some level of "freedom", yet you will never, ever find genuine peace.  Even if your neighborhood "church" (using the term in a very lose way) gleefully climbs on board with this decision, you will find no peace in your heart until you call your sin what it is - SIN. And the wages, the just payment for sin is death - an very real and eternal punishment that is the just and righteous Wrath of God. Sure you can live a life of denial. But the reality is there before your eyes. You can file lawsuits. You can scream and holler.  You can play your "pride parade" games, while forcing good, God-fearing people out of business for refusing to condone or participate in your lifestyle.  But you still will find no peace apart from a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. Period. Oh - but you say you "prayed a prayer", or that you believe in a God who is love, not a god of wrath.  You had better check your Bible again! The Word of God is clear - those who are genuinely saved by faith WILL not continue in willful sin. Repent! turning from your sins and believe in the One and Only Jesus Christ - "The Way, The Truth, and The Life".

Just because black-robed judges who have chosen to completely change the meaning of words and laws, who have decided to twist and rewrite what is not even in their legal authority to do so have chosen to condone this form of sin, does not change God, nor does it change the definition of Sin in the eyes of the One you WILL stand before in judgment.

Quick Question - Does This Mean That?

This week, the nation's largest Baptist association, the Southern Baptist Convention, voted this week to firmly and resolutely uphold "God's definition of marriage" as between one man and one woman in a lifelong, covenant relationship. Of course, the responses were immediate and often filled with vitriol.

But my question (actually a couple), since I did title this "Quick Question" is this:

1. Does taking a stand on marriage, as based clearly on the Bible (what this denomination lays claim to being it's foundation to all things of faith and practice), automatically make the organization "anti-gay"? (Indeed - what does the term anti-gay REALLY mean?)
2. Does taking a stand on marriage, as based clearly on the Bible automatically mean that you "hate" anyone?

Does this not ooze of the same logical fallacies as the automatic label of "racist" when one opposes the policies and general political ideology of President Obama?

I am personally glad to see a major denomination actually taking an official stand on this issue.  I would like to say, in all fairness, that I would also like to see them take an equally firm stand on all sorts of sins that are plaguing our nation and world - there are plenty chiseling away at what little is left of our moral foundation as it is.

I'm also glad that the association in which I serve, the BMA of America, is also int he middle of the process to include the Biblical definition of marriage in our Constitution/Articles of Cooperation. And a summary look at the constitution of the little church relaunch that I lead will find that we too have articulated the Biblical definition of marriage into what we believe and live by.

Immorality Destroying the Church

Paul wrote to the Corinthian Church:

      It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father's wife.  And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you.

For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing. When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.

Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?  Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world.  But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.  For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge?  God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”

We like to read this passage and think - man - what a nasty, horrible thing was going on - so horrible that Paul had heard, at a distance, of this ugly act of immorality.  But what we have to understand from this passage is that - while Paul highlights this particularly ugly and vile sin being overlooked in the church - he is using it as an illustration of a greater reality - that it was just the "tip of the iceberg".  

The Corinthian church was ignoring this sin - taking no action to bring correction - because many were engaged in other immoral acts.  To bring attention and corrective action on those involved in this heinous case would have brought the spotlight on their own sins.

We hear the statistics of marriage - and the failure rate which mirrors the outside world even within the local church... and we wonder why...  

We see churches failing to have an impact on their communities - and we wonder why...

The answer isn't too hard to find - as Paul addresses it in this very chapter of Scripture!  It is because we fail to address the immorality WITHIN the church.  1 Peter 4:17 should remind us where judgment must begin - and that is in the house of the Lord (the church).  

How many local churches have couples living together outside of marriage (justified by a plethora of excuses and vain justifications)?  How many have young people who play the "good Christian kid" when meeting together with the church, but outside they are engaged in every worldly form of sexual immorality they can find?  Further - how many professed Christian church members struggle with pornography, adultery (both physical and mental), and so much more?

And have we not seen local churches, then entire denominations compromise on the issues (with a particular emphasis of late on sexual immorality of all varieties)?  Why?  Because if they are to correctly and scripturally address one area of sexual immorality, they will find themselves having to address far more or otherwise be labeled as hypocrites.  Unfortunately, the complete failure to address any of it is just as hypocritical as selective correction.

A particularly revealing verse from this passage is verse 6 - "...do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?"

When we overlook this, that, or another "little sin" (which we already know is not little in the eyes of God), it impacts - it "contaminates" the entire church.  I know of a local church that saw a leader in that church commit adultery with another member of the church.  Both were married, yet both chose to step outside their respective marriages to commit the adulterous act.  But when the truth came to light - and some attempted to take action - they were quickly silenced as the rest of the "leadership" chose to just cover it all up.  Exactly how can any pastor or church body speak to moral issues as God's Word so clearly does, and be taken seriously when they so callously shun their responsibility to declare and act on the truth?

Of course - this all begs a return to the bigger question - what are we trying to do as a local church?  What is our purpose?  Is it to fill seats and offering plates?  Or is our purpose to shine the light of Jesus Christ and His redeeming Gospel to the lost and dying communities around us, making disciples, and seeing lives truly CHANGED?

Then maybe we need to again pray about what Peter wrote in 1 Peter 4:17

For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?

What Is "Marriage"?

I have been contemplating posting on this subject for some time, but with the recent events here in Arkansas, I will risk the label of "reactionary" to publish this.  One word of caution - this post is likely to be long, as there are so many factors and points to address.

#1 - What Is Marriage?

I will just jump right off on the subject.  I find it nearly impossible to grasp that in my lifetime, this is even a question being asked.  Most of us who have been alive more than a decade can recall a time when this question would have been though of as "silly".  But the answer is far from it.

Biblically, Marriage is the form of relationship established by God between one man and one woman.  This was first exhibited in the first humans to walk the earth - Adam and Eve.  God created Adam, then seeing that it was not good for Adam to be alone, God created Eve, beginning with a rib from Adam.  Eve was created as a "helpmate" - a lifelong companion and help.  Yes, not so long thereafter, we find that Eve was far from a "help" when she chose to cooperate with the serpent in the deception, opening the floodgates of sin and corruption that we are still facing and suffering with today.  But that does not diminish the picture God put into place - His divine plan played out time and again (and has been corrupted time and again by humanity) through the ages.

Both the Old and New Testaments clearly depict God's intent for humanity is to either live within the bonds of His definition of marriage (one man, one woman - for life Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:5), or to live single and celibate (1 Corinthians 7:1-8).  He gives no other option to still be living within His will.

Marriage has never, either in biblical terms or on the so-called "laws of nature" been defined as between two of the same gender.

#2 - What's Going On?

In the span of about a decade, a war has been launched by those choosing to live the "homosexual" lifestyle.  A war that gained a great deal of traction in a government that has thrown God out of the public realm.  As this war began heating up, several states began passing legislation, and even constitutional amendments to "protect" (maybe better - enshrine) the definition of marriage according to historical and biblical definition - one man and one woman.  Arkansas was among those states, with the legislature voting overwhelmingly for a piece of legislation, and with the voters approving a Constitutional Amendment to protect this definition.  Many felt the battle was over, but while this issue was working its way through both the legislature and to the polling place, one county in Arkansas chose to issue marriage licenses in violation of these laws - Carroll County, Arkansas (Eureka Springs).  While these "licenses" were overturned, it proved that some would not give up so easily, even in the face of overwhelming opposition by even those outside of Christianity.

Over the course of the last several years, the war has been taken up in other states where there is measurably more sympathy for homosexuality.  Even in California, a state that has long been identified as pro-homosexual, a Constitutional Amendment was passed by voters by a large margin - only to be overturned by a court.  State-by-state, courts have ignore the will of the people and the very constitutions these judges swore to uphold and protect.

And Arkansas has found itself now the center of the spotlight in the nation in the same war.  This past Friday (May 9), Circuit Judge Chris Piazza issued a ruling, right at the close of business, overturning both Arkansas' "Marriage Protection Act" and Arkansas Constitutional Amendment 3 of 2004, based on the "Equal Protection" clause of the US Constitution.  In that ruling, we find that Judge Piazza was acting, not based upon law or the Constitution, but on a personal political agenda.  There is little other explanation on how a judge can find a Constitutional Amendment to be unconstitutional.  But the real evidence comes when one considers that the judge waited until the very last moments of business hours Friday to issue his verdict - precluding there being an appeal and a likely stay issued before the weekend.  And imagine this - but the same Carroll County Clerk was ready and waiting to be open on Saturday (outside their normal business hours) to issue a slew of "marriage licenses" to same-sex couples.  How much more blatant and obvious could the coordination be?

But what it comes down to - Marriage is being redefined daily.  The Word of God is being further thrown out, and this nation will pay a high price.

#3 - How Did We Get Here?

This is the "Million Dollar Question", and yet when we begin to take an honest (and not very popular) look, we will find that we shouldn't' be so surprised by the events of the last decades.

You see - the war on marriage has been going on since the very first couple in the Garden of Eden.  As I mentioned earlier, Even willingly participated in the corruption Satan plotted to insert into creation.

Then, as the biblical record unfolds, we find that even among many of God's chosen people and leaders - they stretched and adulterated God's definition of marriage - through polygamy, adultery, and the failure to live as God called them to live.

God gave Moses instructions in dealing with those who wished to "put away" their wives - not because God condoned divorce, but because He fully knew that corrupt and sinful man would mess up anyway, so He gave some very specific guidelines for divorce (Deuteronomy 24:1-4).  Jesus addressed divorce in somewhat stronger language in Matthew 5:31-32.  Indeed, this latter reference is the one most troublesome in the current war on marriage.

You see - Christianity, while not the only voice in favor of natural marriage (one man + one woman), has long been the most influential voice in moral issues for this nation.  Yet what have we made Marriage?  Divorce among professed Christians is the same as those outside the church.  Entire denominations have accepted divorce as the "norm".  Right along with that - both by Jesus definition of adultery, and in literal adultery, "the church" has been relatively silent.  We have condoned adultery and divorce as somehow morally acceptable (moral relativism), but have even encouraged it - providing excuse and soft talk to justify it.

Then, to further muddy the waters, how many local churches have members or the families of those members, who live together outside of wedlock?  They "enjoy the physical rewards" without the legal or moral commitment of marriage.  Generations now have been raised in such conditions - and we wonder why each subsequent group grows more sympathetic and even approving of cohabitation and by extension - the redefinition of marriage.

The sad and hard fact we must face - because the church has failed to live as the church - as the "Christ" we love to claim - because we have failed to "keep His commands".  Because we ourselves have failed to give evidence of a greater Hope in Christ Jesus - our influence and our voice has been muffled and even silenced.

And this doesn't even begin to touch on the related issue of unregenerate church membership (a whole other future blog post).

We have as much brought the current destruction of marriage on ourselves as those promoting homosexuality have inflicted.  And the unfortunate reality is - we have cornered ourselves into a reactionary position.  Now, when we speak out against homosexuality and the forcing of it as acceptable and to be supported by all - it sounds as if we have some kind of irrational hate to spew because we are focusing on the one issue at hand. We are in a difficult position.

#4 - So Now What?

The reality is - unless we, as born-again Christians wake up and return to God's Way - to the "Commands of Christ", we are going to accomplish little.  What it will take to change the course of events in this nation is a genuine revival.  Not a superficial "back to church Sunday" kind of revival, but a genuine revival, empowered by the Holy Spirit that spreads like wildfire.  But where does God's Word say revival must begin?  It must begin where judgment begins (1 Peter 4:17) - in the "household of God".  We who have received the Truth must LIVE according to that truth.  Recall the old saying - "your actions speak louder than words"?  If we speak the Truth, but fail to live lives reflecting the Truth - then we are no better than they hypocritical "do as I say, not as I do".  If we want to see marriage respected as God intended it, we ourselves must respect it.  As long as self-identified Christians continue to make a mockery of marriage - the world will think no higher of it.

This does not mean we should remain quiet and by said silence, condone the current assault on marriage.  But it does mean we must remove the motes from our own eyes before we begin digging out the splinters in the rest of the world's eyes.

If we are not willing to clean out our own spiritual house, then we have no right to try to clean out the rest of this nation's moral failings.  In this flesh, we are not perfect, but that is no excuse to live willfully in sin.

The truth is - no-one will ever find genuine happiness and contentment engaged in the homosexual lifestyle, regardless of any legal recognition or mandates by a court.  Just as those who willingly engage in any sinful behavior never find genuine joy.  The only try joy and fulfillment in this life comes through a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.  Whether it be homosexuality (and all forms of sexual immorality), adultery, idolatry, pride, or any other chosen sin - we must be willing to shun it all.  We must fight against ALL sin, beginning with ourselves, our households, and in our local churches.  If we fail in this - then we WILL fail to see a moral (and spiritual) revival in this land.

And eventually - we will incur the judgment and wrath of a Holy and Righteous God.