Last night I was watching C-Span. No, it is not my typical bedtime ritual. But last night I was captured by the words of an author who wrote a book entitled, "Would Jesus Discriminate?" A few years ago, I would have my stomach turned by what I heard. But last night, I just felt sad.
To the average church goer, it may have sounded like a good explanation of a Biblical text. To a non-church goer, I'm sure that it sounded like a logical interpretation. However, this leader of an international denomination that caters to the gay and lesbian community took the Word of God totally out of context to make it sound like the sexual preferences of non-heterosexuals was not only allowed, but encouraged. (Galatians 3:28) This text has nothing to do with sexual preference, but with a religious system that tried to restrict people from coming to God through faith in Christ.
I have heard this and other arguments before...but not on national television...and certainly not as a promotional piece for that line of thinking. Unfortunately, this is only one area where we are bombarded with un-biblical truth and thought. I think that it made me more aware of the fact that culture in not just trying to get Bible believers to be more tolerant, but are trying to invade the church with unbiblical thinking. They are intentionally storming the church to destroy it.
No, I am not surprised at any of this. But it makes me more convinced than ever that we must be diligent at teaching the Word of God...and teaching people to read, study, and know the Word of God themselves. Secondly, instead of being mad at the people who were speaking...I have become increasingly angry at the one who has blinded their eyes to actually believe this stuff.
Finally, to answer the question..."Would Jesus Discriminate?" Well, with the understanding that He is God, "Would God Discriminate?" Yes! All the time! From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible is full of discrimination. The difference is that God does not discriminate on the basis of petty things like people have...for centuries. God's discrimination takes place based on the our acceptance of Him as Sovereign and our trust in Jesus Christ as our Savior.
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2 comments:
Dear Art,
Thank you for listening to C-SPAN and for expressing your opinion. I feel sad as well when I know how far apart we are in our understanding of Scripture and the love of God. As you said, the passage in Galatians has much to do with a religious system that tried to restrict people from coming to God through faith in Christ. I believe this as well. The difference is that I believe that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are people who have the opportunity to come to God through faith in Christ just as as you do. They are not "second-class citizens" who need a special VISA or dispensation other than that already provided for in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. And, they are no more "cast out" of grace than anyone else by any of their actions.
I believe that your judgement of them is based on interpretation of scripture that has been proven to be incorrect. That is where we differ. I encourage people to really study the Scripture for themselves and am grateful for the opportunity that the question "Would Jesus Discriminate?" seems to create for more study.
Blessings and Peace,
Rev. Dr. Cindi Love
Blessings and Peace,
Art,
I, too, believe all people have the opportunity to come to God through the blood of Jesus Christ. To do this all that has to be done is to ask for forgiveness of sin, truly believe that Jesus is the only begotten son of God, that He died for our sins through crucifixion, and rose three days later to be seated at the right hand of the Father.
We are given examples throughout the scriptures of how vile the sin of homosexuality is in the eyes of God (Romans 1:24-32; 1 Chorinthians 6: 9-11 for example). But, praise God, we can be cleansed by the blood of Jesus. Now, these examples are in the Bible and I believe them. I do not believe that the scriptures can be "...proven to be incorrect." I believe the Bible is the true, infallible , inerrant, God-inspired, word of God.
Thank you for your witness and testimony that you display in your daily life.
Ronnie Greene
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