Hope for the Homo

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Topic:	Religions > Bible
User:	"Alabama Pete"
Date:	16 Jun 2007 05:18:53 AM
Object:	Hope for the Homo

Hope for the Homosexual
By Travis Allen
Introduction
Homosexuality has emerged as the newest symbol of American indulgence. As a
cultural force, it is demanding equal rights, social acceptability, and
respect. As a sin, it is a terrible beast that degrades society and
destroys individual lives with ferocity. It must be reckoned with, and the
only worldview capable to confront and overcome it is Christianity.
When homosexuality first began to appear on America's cultural scene in the
1960s and 1970s, Christians responded in indignation. At that time, few
Christians in America had ever known or met anyone struggling with
homosexuality and those who practiced the sin were few and quiet-it was
taboo. Many Christians' initial exposure to homosexuality was from a
distance; it was something they heard of, read about, or saw on television
as a defiant demonstration against biblical morality. Christians were
rightly angered by the public celebration of a sin that God so clearly
abhorred.
Some Christians, perhaps most, were quietly appalled and chose not to engage
the issue. They stayed out of the public discourse and away from
homosexuals, not considering that God had them on the earth for just such a
time to be His ambassadors. Other Christians, however, reacted in like
hostility and were labeled 'self-righteous,' 'bigoted,' and 'homophobic.'
Here in the twenty-first century the situation has changed. What was
formerly considered militant activism has become the modus operandi of those
who work at moral deregulation to "define deviancy down" and expand the
boundaries of tolerance.[1] The more homosexuality is tolerated and
promoted, the more people embrace it as an option to express their inward
idolatry. Therefore, many Christians today have been exposed to homosexual
sin at a very personal level. There are some who have themselves struggled
with homosexual lusts and many others who know someone who has struggled or
embraced the sin. Christians today are more inclined toward compassion.
But compassion can go beyond biblical allowances. Some professing
Christians downplay the severity of the sin and offer alternative
interpretations of condemning biblical texts. That should never happen.
When God's condemnation of homosexuality is minimized, dying people remain
in bondage to a soul-destroying sin with no hope of release-all that remains
is despair. What is necessary is a truly biblical response, one that
balances the accurate identification of the sin with a compassionate
response toward the sinner. What is required is for Christians to follow
the example of the Lord Jesus Christ whose mission it was to seek and save
the lost by proclaiming the truth.
Homosexuality has hit the culture like wave with incredible force; it is
highly visible and relentlessly vocal. But coming in with the tide are
people, hollow and hurting. Christians must confront both. They cannot
engage the social force without engaging people, and they can't deal with
people apart from the social force that influences and shapes their
thinking. Understanding the cultural influences behind homosexuality as
well as discerning the true nature of the sin of homosexuality are vital for
counseling the person who struggles with these tendencies.
Homosexuality: The Social Force
The social revolution of the 1960s was a widespread sign
that the American family, an institution that had traditionally been defined
in biblical terms, was eroding. The family was under attack-many men failed
in their God-given task to love their wives, lead their families, and teach
their children; many women increasingly resented, questioned, and abandoned
their God-given role of submitting to their husbands, keeping their homes,
and raising their children. The departure from biblically authority in the
home left children without moorings. Children came to see the constraints
of religion as pointless and, in the academic atmosphere of new ideas-like
evolution, humanism, and deinstitutionalization-, they cast them off
wholesale. Virile young men and rebellious young women sowed to their own
flesh in the infamous sexual revolution; society continues to reap the
corruption of it (Gal. 6:7-8).
The sexual revolution has had a devastating effect on the family in America.
The late senator from New York, Daniel Patrick Moynihan, cited these
statistics in his 1993 essay, "Defining Deviancy Down": "Thirty years ago,
1 in every 40 white children was born to an unmarried mother; today it is 1
in 5, according to Federal data. Among blacks, 2 of 3 children are born to
an unmarried mother; 30 years ago it was 1 in 5."[2] The catastrophe has
resulted in irreversible social consequences: a drastic increase in crime,
alcohol and drug abuse, and sexual promiscuity.[3]
A little over a decade before the 1960s sexual revolution, Alfred C. Kinsey
founded the Institute for Sex Research.[4] He worked to overturn society's
prohibitions against sexually deviant behavior and sought to redefine them
as legitimate. He produced two reports-known as the Kinsey Reports, "Sexual
Behavior in the Human Male" and "Sexual Behavior in the Human Female"-that
suggested that "of the total male population in USA 37% engaged in at least
some overt homosexual experience to the point of orgasm between the start of
adolescence and old age, and that 4% of all (white) males are exclusively
homosexual throughout their lives after the onset of adolescence."[5]
Writing in 1979, David Atikinson said, "much, but by no means all, medical
and psychological opinion has . shifted considerably from the majority
verdict of 15 years ago that homosexuality was a questionable and treatable
condition to the view which promotes and seeks to sustain in good health the
homosexual lifestyle as a 'natural alternative.'"[6] Rather than honestly
attributing cultural ills to the abandonment of biblical standards for the
family and human sexuality, sociologists and educators have chosen to
redefine sinful behaviors as normal. For instance, the American Psychiatric
Association removed homosexuality from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual
of Psychiatric Disorders in 1973 because of political pressure. To ensure
the proper indoctrination of the next generation, educators started to
change the language in textbooks. Senator Moynihan quoted Barbara Dafoe
Whitehead's 1992 essay, "The Expert's Story of Marriage," where she retells
"the story of marriage as it is conveyed in today's high school and college
textbooks."[7]
The life course is full of exciting options. The lifestyle options
available to individuals seeking a fulfilling personal relationship include
living a heterosexual, homosexual, or bisexual single lifestyle; living in a
commune; having a group marriage; being a single parent; or living together.
Marriage is yet another lifestyle choice. However, before choosing
marriage, individuals should weigh its costs and benefits against other
lifestyle options and should consider what they want to get out of their
intimate relationships. Even within marriage, different people want
different things. For example, some people marry for companionship, some
marry in order to have children, some marry for emotional and financial
security. Though marriage can offer a rewarding path to personal growth, it
is important to remember that it cannot provide a secure or permanent
status. Many people will make the decision between marriage and singlehood
many times throughout their life. Divorce represents part of the normal
family life cycle. It should not be viewed as either deviant or tragic, as
it has been in the past. Rather, it establishes a process for "uncoupling"
and thereby serves as the foundation for individual renewal and "new
beginnings."[8]
The original participants in the cultural revolution of the
1960s and 1970s are all grown up now. Those who advocated sex, drugs, and
rock and roll now occupy public office, propose legislation, provide
entertainment, and bring America its evening news. For many of them, the
years have only solidified their commitment to an anti-biblical worldview,
and they've raised their children to walk in their footsteps.
Scientific studies by Simon LeVay in 1991,[9] J. Michael
Bailey and Richard C. Pillard in 1991,[10] and Dean Hamer in 1993,[11] along
with others, continue to look for evidence of a physiological cause for
homosexuality. Though their research consistently yields inconclusive
results, political activists continue to seek legislation to entrench
homosexuality in America as a legitimate lifestyle and to protect it from
those in opposition. The most recent examples come from San Francisco,
Canada, and Massachusetts. San Francisco's mayor Gavin Newsom ordered the
city and county to issue same-sex marriage licenses (on February 12, 2004).
Canada's Svend Robinson, a homosexual activist politician, gained a major
legislative victory when Canadian Parliament passed his Bill C-250, adding
sexual minorities to its list of groups protected from hate propaganda (on
April 29, 2004)-some preachers have already been cited and fined. And
Massachusetts became the first state in the union to allow same-sex couples
to marry (on May 17, 2004).
News outlets put the most positive spin on homosexuality by
providing uncritical and often positive coverage. According to a June 3,
2004 article by correspondent Randy Dotinga, liberal reporters, editors, and
media executives at the local level outnumber conservatives two to one; at
"national news organizations, the gap is even wider-7 percent conservative
vs. 34 percent liberal."[12] And while the news media must strive to
maintain objectivity, the entertainment industry feels no such compelling;
it is aggressive in its promotion of the homosexual agenda. Programs like
"Will and Grace," "Queer as Folk," and "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" are
very open in legitimizing homosexuality. And coming soon from MTV Networks
is a cable channel, LOGO, which will actively target lesbian, gay, bisexual
and transgender viewers.[13]
Predictably, opportunists see the recent popularization of homosexuality as
a chance to make money. According to one article, it appears that MTV
Networks created the homosexual channel because their marketing experts
identified a large, relatively untapped market. "[M]arket researchers
estimate the gay and lesbian population at 15 million adults, with a
projected buying power $485 billion . and it is increasingly the target for
many Fortune 500 companies."[14]
A final component in rounding out the picture of homosexuality as a social
force is a religious one-the development of gay theology. One of the
earliest attempts to defend pro-gay Christianity was D. Sherwin Bailey's
1955 book, Homosexuality and the Western Christian Tradition. Because
pro-homosexual authors since then haven't improved much on his ideas, it is
worthwhile to note David Atkinson's succinct summary of Bailey's arguments
against the Christian condemnation of homosexuality.
[Bailey] distinguishes between genuine homosexuality as a condition
(inversion), and 'perversion' which implies the engagement by heterosexuals
in homosexual practices [.]. Bailey argues that there is no foundation for
the prevalent belief that Genesis 19 and Judges 19 refer to homosexual sin.
On the contrary, he believes, God punished the men of Sodom and Gibeah for
breaching the rules of hospitality. The 'homosexual' conception of the sin
of Sodom first appeared, he argues, in the second century BC among
Palestinian rigorists, and seems to have been inspired by hatred of the
Greek way of life [.]. Bailey blames the traditional Christian hostility to
all homosexual practice on the very profound effect the (wrong, he says)
interpretation of the Sodom story had 'on the fears and imaginations of the
Christian West'. Bailey further argues that the prohibitions against
homosexual practice in Leviticus are not relevant to our contemporary
culture. Furthermore, the New Testament authors were unaware of the
distinctions between inversion and perversion (says Bailey), so that while
the Apostle's teaching (in Romans 1, for example), gives decisive Biblical
authority for censuring the conduct of those 'whom we may describe as
perverts', the New Testament can hardly be said to speak to the expressions
of affection which may take place between 'genuine inverts.' These themes,
among others in Bailey's important book, are now common currency in the
Christian homophile movement.[15]
Equipped with Bailey's arguments, a homosexual minister named Troy Perry
founded the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) in Los Angeles, California
in 1968. He, along with other openly homosexual clergymen and clergywomen,
worked to further to develop a pro-homosexual apologetic against
fundamentalist Christians using the Bible. His radical and unfounded
approach to Scripture, one that mimicked Bailey's, had largely been
dismissed until recently, when scholars from more conservative circles
started promoting similar conclusions.
Lacking biblical justification, the pro-homosexual 'Christian' movement
sought to strengthen their cause with the support of conservative
evangelical scholars. In 1996 Choon-Leong Seow edited a compilation of
articles on homosexuality by a group of Princeton scholars called
Homosexuality and Christian Community. Seow, "an Old Testament scholar and
author of the widely used beginning Hebrew grammar A Grammar for Biblical
Hebrew . authored a chapter titled 'A Heterosexual Perspective'" in which he
speaks as a scholarly advocate for Christian homosexuality.[16] Roy
Clements, a widely respected evangelical pastor in England, left his wife in
1999 to move in with a young man, his research assistant. He had received
endorsements from respected evangelicals like John Stott, Don Carson, Ravi
Zacharias, and Phillip E. Johnson.[17] The late Dr. Lewis Smedes, professor
emeritus of theology and ethics at Fuller Seminary, teamed up with Mel
White, Executive director of Soulforce (a gay advocacy group) to produce the
video, "There's a Wideness in God's Mercy." In the video, Dr. Smedes is
enlisted to "[demonstrate] clearly why that 'clobber passage' in Romans 1
cannot be misused any longer to condemn God's gay, lesbian, bisexual, or
transgender children."[18] Mel White was also a professor at Fuller
Seminary who was married with a child, did some writing for Billy Graham and
Pat Robertson, and was a friend of Jerry Falwell. He left his wife, family,
and ministry to move in with his gay lover and become one of the more
articulate spokesmen for the homosexual movement.
Homosexuality as a social force began with a love for sin and a rejection of
biblical Christianity. As it has grown in strength, it has successfully
redefined homosexuality from a psychiatric disorder, to a genetic flaw, to a
genetic issue, one that is God-given and therefore acceptable and pleasing
in His sight.
Homosexuality: The People
The social forces listed above have influenced those who struggle with
homosexuality and thus there is much to unravel when attempting to counsel
them. But apart from the cultural clutter, each person struggling with
homosexuality presents a different set of circumstances, a specific
background, a unique personality, and an individual blend of sins. Consider
these different types of people who struggle:
Some are more emotional and relational; others are more physically driven.
Some are immersed in the depth of homosexual perversion; others have never
allowed the temptation to go beyond the level of mental fantasy. Some
exhibit flamboyant and feminine mannerisms; others appear wholly masculine.
Some are militant, left-wing activists; others are more reserved and shy
away from political activism. Some are catapulted into homosexuality
through the trauma of childhood abuse; others have been hurt
emotionally.[19] Some have lived the homosexual lifestyle for years; others
experienced a limited number of encounters and fled. Some are very
religious, come from Christian homes, and know the Bible quite well; others
are irreligious and demonstrate an antipathy toward religion. Some have
come to hate religion because they've witnessed hypocrisy, double-standards,
and a sliding scale of sin; others love religion and dive into it as a means
of escape from the enslavement of their desires. Some hate God because they
cannot escape the mechanism He implanted-the conscience-that accuses them
day and night; others are sensitive to the accusations of their conscience
and live in continual despair.
Though there are differences among individuals, many similarities exist as
well to which several have testified. Most homosexuals have swallowed the
genetic argument-it seems to be verified by their experience (i.e., "I didn't
choose homosexuality; it chose me."). Within the framework of that error,
they are left to make sense of their life. Many adopt a victim mentality
and live in self-pity. Many live in continual fear of sexually transmitted
diseases, especially AIDS. Many live lonely, dissatisfied lives and are
ashamed even when they find acceptance among others. Many men are so
ravaged by one another so that they suffer from serious physical
problems.[20] Many women are enslaved to their feelings and are emotionally
dependent on one anther.[21] Both men and women experience the frustration
of living outside God's complementary design for human sexuality described
in Genesis 2-the first human sexual relationship.
Whatever the unique circumstances, background, or personality, the uniting
factor for every person who deals with homosexual temptation is the fact
that they are sinners struggling with same-sex attraction, biblically
defined as a sin. To be sure, there will be sins that led to homosexual
attraction and sins that result from it, but they are sins nonetheless. It
is this fact that gives the homosexual hope. Homosexuals do not need
healing; they need forgiveness.
COUNSELING and HOMOSEXUALity
Points of Preparation
As with every Christian ministry, counseling requires
personal preparation. The pastor/counselor is a teacher who must first
understand how to interpret Scripture accurately (2 Tim. 2:15) and then he
must discern principles that he can apply to everyday life (Col. 1:9). This
is perhaps nowhere more vital than when preparing to counsel someone who
struggles with homosexuality. People who have practiced homosexuality often
enter the counseling office from a world of manipulation and greed, and from
years of stifling an accusing conscience, they have become quite adept at
deceiving themselves and others-including counselors.
Personal preparation is both internal and external. That is
to say, the pastor must look to his own heart when he prepares to counsel,
and he must anticipate and train himself to answer and destroy the
"speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God"
in order to take "every thought captive to the obedience of Christ" (2 Cor.
10:5).
Galatians 6:1 says, "Brethren, even if a man is caught in
any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of
gentleness; each one looking to yourself, lest you too be tempted." For
those whose life before Christ includes homosexual temptations and lusts,
that warning is especially important.[22] But even those who are not
tempted toward homosexual lust can find that they are more susceptible to
sexual temptation when counseling on this issue. Although homosexual
temptation is an extreme deviancy, all sexual temptation is deviancy from
God's original design for human sexuality (Gen. 2:18-25; 1 Cor. 7:1-5). The
sinful flesh, a burden every Christian bears, is utterly deviant and waits
for an opportunity to strike. The wise counselor must enter the arena
prepared.
For the pastor who is not tempted toward homosexual lust and is on the
lookout with regard to his own weaknesses, the threat of temptation still
looms in two ways. First, he can err in sympathizing more with the sinner's
plight than with God's truth. Every Christian must keep his role as Christ's
ambassador in the forefront of his mind (2 Cor. 5:20) and demand that all
his sympathies and loyalties belong to Him. Sympathy to and loyalty for the
sinner instead of Christ is a very real temptation, and a serious sin.
A second temptation a pastor faces is to treat the person struggling with
homosexuality with sinful attitudes (i.e., contempt, ridicule, disgust,
disdain, harshness, etc.). Jude commands Christians to engage in rescue
work with an attitude of mercy (vv. 22-23). Peter says, "make a defense to
everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet
with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience" (1 Pet. 3:15-16).
Gentleness and reverence, even toward the most flamboyant and militant
homosexual activist, is the obedient attitude of the Christian counselor.
One other passage speaks of the godly attitudes one must display in
counseling. 2 Timothy 2:24-26 reads:
The Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to
teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in
opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the
knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from
the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.
That text ought to be committed to memory and used for continual meditation
throughout the counseling process. The pastor who counsels someone in the
area of homosexuality, then, must watch that he not be tempted toward sexual
deviancy or unbalanced attitudes toward the sinner-both involve unbiblical
attitudes regarding compassion. One's love for God and His holiness must
manifest itself in love for people (1 John 4:20-21).
The second area of personal preparation is far more involved since it
requires exegetical work to develop an apologetic against the culture and
against pro-gay theology. The following is a suggested plan in completing
that task.
As in any apologetic endeavor, begin with the Bible. Since
Christianity is a revealed worldview, the pastor/counselor must think within
that paradigm if he is to have the wisdom to counter contrary arguments and
worldviews. Once he understands what God has to say, the counselor is
better prepared to assess the sinful thinking of the culture.
When approaching Scripture the counselor should study human
sexuality, not by examining the counterfeit first, but by first examining
God's original design-he should begin where God begins. The Bible teaches
that God originally designed human sexuality to function within the context
of a one man, one woman, complementary relationship for life (Genesis
2:18-25). Jesus presupposes that paradigm for human sexuality in His
discussion with the Pharisees in Matthew 19:1-12 and He recognized only one
acceptable alternative lifestyle apart from marriage-celibacy. Both Paul (1
Corinthians 7, Ephesians 5, and Colossians 3) and Peter (1 Peter 3) also
assume a one man, one woman complementary relationship for life.
It is always fascinating to see how homosexuals in their rebellion are
unable to escape God's design for human sexuality. In 'committed'
relationships with one another and when performing sexual acts on one
another, one plays the part of the male and the other of the female. Paul's
terminology in 1 Corinthians 6:9 highlights that: "Do not be deceived,
neither the . effeminate, nor homosexuals. shall inherit the kingdom of
God." Those terms signify the one who takes the female role (malakoi.) and
the one who takes the male role (avrsenokoi/tai).
The Bible is clear in teaching that human relationships are to be based on
sacrificial love, not selfishness. To love another means that one must give
of himself to seek the greatest good of the other, and that is to be
pictured at the most intimate human level in a marriage. In loving a wife,
a husband applies the strengths and gifts in his role of leadership and
headship that God gave him to serve his wife; likewise, a wife applies her
complementary sets of strengths and gifts in her role as a helpmeet to the
love and service of her husband. God specially designed a man with a need
to be completed by his wife, and He specially designed women to be dependent
on the strengths of the husband. Marriages are therefore an expression of
mutual dependency and promote self-sacrificial love.
Homosexual relationships stand contrast that design in every way. Whereas
God designed human relationships, especially intimate ones, to be motivated
by love, homosexual relationships are motivated by self-fulfillment and
self-gratification-they therefore can never promote the God ordained good of
the other. Whereas God designed marriages for the expression of
complementary strengths, homosexual relationships have overlapping, and
therefore wasted and unused gifts-at least one of the members cannot
function in their God-ordained role. Whereas God designed marriages as an
expression of mutual dependency and mutual care, homosexual relationships
are celebrations of independence and promote selfishness.
After understanding those texts fully (and others could be included), the
counselor should turn his attention to the perversion of God's design. That
begins where every sin begins-in Genesis 3. Satan was the first proponent
of an alternative lifestyle, one bent on self-fulfillment; and he sold it to
Adam and his wife. Their sin resulted in three things common to every human
sin-they became sinfully self-aware, experienced immediate shame, and
immediately desired to hide themselves (v. 7). They tried to hide
themselves from God (v. 8) and from accountability (vv. 12-13). All of
these patterns, common to every human sin, are replete in homosexuality.
Because of God's judicial curse, there is now marital tension-"yet your
desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you" (v. 16). God
designed an essential unity worked out harmoniously in differing roles-the
husband as the head of the wife and the wife as the helpmeet to the husband;
the Fall destroyed the harmony. Women sought to usurp their husband's
authority and role; men sought to quell the rebellion of their wives through
selfish domination. As the same sad drama plays out over and over in
marriage, men and women separate from one another. Men go outside of God's
design seeking sexual satisfaction; women go outside of God's design seeking
emotional satisfaction. When men totally forsake women to seek intimacy
with other men, and women with women, they've gone about as far from each
other as they can go-only bestiality represents a further departure.
The sexual perversions resulting from the Fall and the war between men and
women are demonstrated in the book of Genesis. Polygamy begins in Genesis
4:19, unnatural unions in 6:1-4, harems in 12:15, adultery in 16:2,
homosexuality in 19:5, incest in 19:33-36, rape in 34:2, prostitution in
38:15-18, and seduction in 39:7-12. Sadly, there is nothing new under the
sun.
Although homosexuality is one of many sexual perversions, it is the only one
God singles out as an abomination, something detestable to Him, in Leviticus
18:22 and 20:13. The Hebrew word generally means the "persons, things, or
practices that offend one's ritual or moral order."[23] Homosexuality
constitutes a departure from God's established order for human sexuality, a
point that Dr. Michael Grisanti makes in his article.
[It] is apparent that homosexuality was a prominent part of Canaanite
practice, most likely an element of their worship (cult prostitution). This
practice of a man lying with another man "after the manner of lying with a
woman" . was abhorrent to Yahweh because it perverted the heterosexual
relationship ordained by him (Gen. 2:24; 4:1). Anyone who committed this
abomination must be executed (Lev. 20:13).[24]
Greg Bahnsen also points out that "homosexual lust is in a sense even worse
[than heterosexual ones]; while heterosexual drives are God-given, promote
the cultural mandate, and are fulfilled within marriage, homosexuality is
always immoral in any context."[25]
God used the Israelites to judge the Canaanites who
regularly practiced homosexuality, and He promised to drive them out as well
if they were to take up the same customs (Lev. 18 :24-30). The destruction
of Sodom and Gomorrah, cities that are presumably at the bottom of the Dead,
became a perpetual reminder to Israel of God's attitude toward such
wickedness. To be sure, Sodom and Gomorrah were cities filled with wicked,
self-indulgent behaviors (Ezek. 16:49-50), but homosexuality crowned them
all and plays a prominent role in the Genesis 19 account.
Before turning to New Testament texts on homosexual sin,
there are some noteworthy observations about the Genesis 19 account that
help the counselor better understand the strong and irrational passions of
homosexuality. Genesis 19:4 says, "Before [Lot and the angels] lay down,
the men of the city, the men of Sodom, surrounded the house, both young and
old, all the people from every quarter." The verse emphasizes the men of
Sodom, perhaps indicating how men dominated the homosexual community in
Sodom, and they are extremely aggressive and driven. In fact, the text
shows the irrationality and strength of their passions when the angels
strike the men with blindness. Verse 11 says they just kept coming, "so
that they wearied themselves trying to find the doorway." When a man comes
in for counseling who struggles with these tendencies, he has raging within
him passions and desires that are often completely out of control-he is in
bondage to them. Another observation that elucidates homosexuality is this:
domination, at least among males, plays a big part in homosexuality.
Homosexuality had completely overrun the town of Sodom; that seems to be the
direction of modern day homosexuality as well. One man who was exposed to a
particular homosexual community described the scene as predators going after
prey, much like what appears to have happened in Sodom.
If there is any doubt that the context surrounding Leviticus
18:22 (vv. 21-30) reveals God's universal condemnation of homosexuality,
Romans chapter 1 should make that quite plain. In verses 18 to 32, Paul
describes how "the wrath of God is revealed against all ungodliness and
unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness" (v. 18).
Three times Paul says, "God gave them over," clearly showing how
homosexuality is God's judgment on those who have committed themselves,
contrary to God's clear revelation of Himself (vv. 19-21). He therefore
gave them over to homosexual passions because they had exchanged the truth
of God for a lie (lit. "the lie") and worshipped and served what had been
created rather than the Creator (v. 25).
A number of observations in this text are significant for
understanding homosexuality. First, and this is terribly obvious, Romans 1
fits into a larger context of universal condemnation (1:18-3:20). The whole
point of Romans 1 is so that all men, whether Jew or Greek, will recognize
their condemnation under God's law (3:9), cease from attempting to establish
their own righteousness based on the law (3:19-20), and turn to the revealed
righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ (3:21-26).
A second point is this: no matter how it looks on the surface, all men have
some knowledge of God from the clear evidence God set before them in the
creation (vv. 19-21), a fact acknowledged and attested to in each man's
conscience (2:14-15). Cornelius Van Til writes,
[M]an has round about him the clearest possible evidence of the power and
divinity of God. [.] Men cannot get away from this evidence. They see it
round about them. They see it within them. Their own constitution so
clearly evinces the facts of God's creation of them and control over them
that there is no man who can possibly escape observing it. If he is
self-conscious at all he is also God-conscious. No matter how men may try
they cannot hide from themselves the fact of their own createdness.[26]
A third observation from Romans 1 is the phrase, "the due penalty of their
error," in verse 27. In the context, mankind's error was the rejection of
the worship of the true God. Suppressing the truth, men refused to "honor
Him as God or give thanks" (v. 21) and "exchanged the truth of God for a
lie" (v. 25). What was the lie? The believed they could find satisfaction
and worth by worshipping the creation, rather than the Creator; they
believed they could find happiness and joy in serving self rather than in
serving God. They opted for self-worship rather than the worship God made
them for.
God chose an appropriate judgment, one that would help men see graphically
what they were doing in their idolatry. As a fitting, reciprocal judgment
for rejecting His original design for worship,[27] God allowed them to
reject His design for human sexuality as well. That is why there is such an
emphasis in this section on reciprocity (i.e., phrases like "for,"
"therefore," and "for this reason"). Men and women most graphically
pictures the corruption and sadness that results from idolatry when they
practice homosexuality. Homosexuality is a fitting penalty for idolatry
(1:27).
A fourth observation is about the nature of homosexuality among women. The
King James translators note what appears in the Greek to represent an
over-the-top situation-"even their women did change the natural use into
that which is against nature" (v. 26, KJV). It would seem to imply that
women are somewhat less prone to homosexual lusts than men, perhaps because
their attraction is primarily at the emotional and relational level. Men,
on the other hand, are under the influence of strong, degrading passions,
such as those demonstrated at Sodom (Gen. 19:11).
A final observation from this important text is the repeated reference to
that which is natural and unnatural (v. 26). The term "natural" means
"according to the natural order," a clear reference to God's original design
for human sexuality.[28] When speaking of that which is "unnatural," Paul
uses the same term but introduces it with a preposition that in context
means "contrary to" or "against." The King James Version rendering best
communicates the sense ("against nature"). Heterosexual attractions,
desires, and acts are natural, according to God's design; homosexual
attractions, desires, and acts are unnatural, contrary to God's design.
Having briefly examined some of the biblical data, it is necessary to have
accurately diagnose of the problem. Put simply, homosexuality is a
byproduct of the sinful human nature. It is a sin that must be confessed as
such, repented of, and put off in order to put on obedience. That said,
every theory that explains homosexuality in terms of upbringing, lack of
male affirmation and love, sexual violation, etc., "can only be viewed as
discussing a possible contributing factor and not a cause of homosexuality."[29]
Edward Welch cites Elizabeth Moberly's book, Homosexuality:
A New Christian Ethic, as providing a deficient psychological explanation of
homosexuality.
.. Elizabeth Moberly suggests that behind almost all homosexuality, male or
female, is a deficit in the relationship with the same-sex parent. The
theory is that there is a God-designed need for same-sex love, affirmation,
acceptance, and bonding. When these allegedly normal attachment needs have
been left unmet, the needs become eroticized at puberty. Homosexuality is a
drive to make good this relationship.[30]
The problem with Moberly's suggestion is that, similar to genetic theories,
"the orientation is still established by forces outside of ourselves, and
orientation precedes sin (Figure 1)."[31]
Welch goes on to explain the difference between Figure 1 and 2[32]:
A biblical view acknowledges that there may be psychological and biological
influences in the development of homosexuality. In fact, the Bible would
warn us not to be too limited in considering the vast number of possible
influences. However, the Scripture is adamant that it is not what
influences us that makes us "unclean." Instead, "from within, out of men's
hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality . All these evils come from
the inside and make a man 'unclean'" (Mark 7:21-23) (Figure 2). This means
that our sinful orientation has innumerable expressions in our lives. With
some it is greed or jealousy, with others it is sinful anger, and with
others it can be expressed in homosexual desire.[33]
Some find it difficult to believe that they are responsible for their
attractions. "I didn't choose homosexuality; it chose me" is the common
refrain. So why does homosexuality feel so natural for so many? Welch
answers the question this way:
Like many other sins, homosexuality does not have to be learned. [.]
Homosexuality is natural in the same way that anger or selfishness is
natural. They are embedded in our humanness. Indeed, homosexuality is
"natural," but only in the sense that it is a natural expression of the
sinful nature rather than some sort of morally neutral, God-given
constitution.[34]
Greg Bahnsen argues similarly:
Of course homosexuality may not be a conscious and remembered choice any
more than is heterosexuality. There may not have been a process of explicit
deliberation, weighing the options, and coming to a decision in either case.
But that does not make homosexuality any less chosen, in the sense of a
voluntary, willful, and personal preference. The occasional homosexual
defense, "I can't help it," cannot be acceptable in light of the Word of
God. Homosexuality is not a cross to be born, but a pattern of behavior to
be thrown off with the old man and his lusts.[35]
Does a fish that spends its entire existence swimming through the ocean ever
feel wet? Similarly, a homosexual may truly testify that he hasn't made a
choice to be homosexual, but along the way in his formative years, he made
sinful choices, responded in sinful ways, sought to gratify sinful
yearnings, or sought to satisfy natural longings in sinful ways. That he
cannot remember the choice doesn't make him any less responsible for the
sin. Therefore, a counselor should not make an artificial distinction
between homosexual practice and homosexual orientation/desire.[36]
One final point of personal preparation is with regard to cultural
influences. In reality, this is the least important of all preparation
since the Bible is so clear in explaining the problem. The social forces
opposing the biblical worldview will always manufacture excuses for sinful
behavior that are fundamentally irrational, because sin is irrational. One
must understand that the purpose behind the argument is merely to provide an
excuse for those who love their sin, to silence an accusing conscience, and
to draw others into their sin (Rom. 1:32). Jesus said it this way, "And
this is the judgment, that the light is come into the world, and men loved
the darkness rather than the light; for their deeds were evil" (John 3:19).
But when people cling to lies, they cut off their only means of escape from
the enslavement of homosexuality. One must "answer a fool as his folly
deserves, lest he be wise in his own eyes" (Prov. 26:5) and remain shackled
in his sin.
There is very little substantial argumentation from homosexual apologists.
Rather, they rely on personal testimony, straw man arguments, and pressure
from a changing political attitude toward homosexuality. Homosexual
advocates often appeal to the exception over the rule-i.e., they ask how
anyone could argue against two people loving one another in a monogamous,
committed relationship. Many former homosexuals would testify that lifetime
commitment and strict monogamy is rare in the homosexual community. And
there is no biblical sense in which the word "loving" could ever apply to a
homosexual relationship.
Homosexuals who argue from the Bible maneuver around clear biblical teaching
condemning homosexuality in two ways according to J. I. Packer: (1) special
exegesis (i.e., "What Paul is condemning is not my sort of same-sex
union."); and (2) experience judges the Bible (i.e., "Gay is us; our
experience is-in other words, we feel-that gay unions are good; so Bible
prohibitions of gay behavior must be wrong.").[37]
As for the scientific studies that so many cite as 'proof' of a genetic or
physiological reason for homosexuality, to date they are inconclusive. Each
study has major problems with its research and there are many resources in
print detailing the problems and the lack of solid, scientific 'proofs' that
are believed at the popular level to exist.[38] The various physiological
studies, like those cited earlier from LeVay, Bailey and Pillard, and Hamer,
are on the World Wide Web.[39]
Points of Instruction
Equipped with an accurate, biblical diagnosis of homosexuality, the pastor
is ready to counsel the person who comes to him with homosexual temptations
in order to lead him through repentance. Essentially, the pastor counsels a
person as he would anyone else with a life-dominating sin-the goal is to
identify idols of the heart that produce sinful patterns of behavior; to
expose heart idols to the light of Scripture in order to confess and repent
of them; and to develop new habits of behavior. To do this, the counselor
will need to gather data, interpret it, and instruct the person in
righteousness.
Because homosexuality is a complex sin involving a whole
lifestyle, data gathering is absolutely crucial.[40] The pastor must take
his time with thorough intensive (specific inquiries about homosexuality)
and extensive questioning (specific inquiries about every other area of
life). Often homosexuals struggle with other life dominating sins
(depression, gluttony, drug/alcohol abuse, fear and anxiety, sleeping
problems, etc.) because of the tremendous guilt that accompanies the
homosexual lifestyle and the complete lack of self-control.
It is very easy for people who are struggling to by myopic about
homosexuality, and sometimes difficult for them to want to focus on other
areas of their life. People who struggle tend to think homosexuality is the
cause of all their problems, when in reality they have an idolatrous heart
like every other sinner. It is the idolatrous heart beneath it all that
worships security, protection, affection, control, self-image, etc. The
counselor's job is to help the person identify and repent of whatever
idolatrous worship he is engaged in and to redirect his worship to Jesus
Christ. That will take time and patient instruction, but that is the goal
for every Christian.
A pastor must be very intent on confronting the person since, as is the case
with all sexual sin, the sin seeks the darkness that pride and deceit
provide. As was mentioned before, the person has become quite adept at
deceiving himself and others. Further, because sexual sin is deceptively
attractive and the person accustomed to the pleasure of it, he sometimes is
slow to desire repentance. Pride, deceit, and reluctance to repent must be
clearly identified and continually confronted in order to help the person to
keep moving toward repentance and so that he will learn to identify it for
himself.
While gathering data, the counselor should be making observations about the
person's spiritual condition-i.e., is this person a true believer?
According to 1 Corinthians 6:9, no one can counsel someone who is still a
homosexual since homosexuality is the condition of an unbeliever. Those who
remain committed to the life-dominating sin of homosexuality, whether in
thought or in deed, are not Christians. If they are not Christians, not
only are they unable to understand spiritual truth (1 Cor. 2:14-15), they
are fundamentally hostile to it (John 8:42-47; Rom. 8:6-8). So it is
absolutely indispensable that one ascertain the true heart condition of the
person seeking counseling.
For those who manifest no evidence of genuine saving faith,
they get the gospel. If a person has not walked through the doorway of
initial repentance unto salvation, they cannot submit to the subsequent
lifestyle of repentance that characterizes the Christian life.[41] A true
Christian will profess a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, will manifest
genuine Christian affections (love of righteousness and hatred of
wickedness), will demonstrate an ability to apprehend truth, will joyfully
adhere to what they learn, and will strive to obey it. Those things may
take time to discern, but they should be manifest after the first few
meetings.
After gathering sufficient data through intensive and
extensive questioning, the counselor must prayerfully interpret his
findings. The pastor should identify the heart-level idols that the person
has sought to satisfy in worship, and then prioritize the list according to
those that seem to have the most extensive affect-those that spill over into
other parts of the life. The pastor should present his list before the
counselee and talk it through; perhaps there is more data that must be
considered; perhaps he has misdiagnosed the root issues.
The next step is to attack each issue, one by one. Whether
the issue is a faulty self-image, bitterness toward a childhood abuser,
sexual lust, etc., instruction in righteousness should follow the model of 2
Timothy 3:16-17-"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for
every good work." To teach doctrine is to teach God's truth about the
issue; to reprove is to point out how the person is not conforming to the
truth; to correct is to teach about how to set it straight; and to instruct
(or train) in righteousness is to help them develop a new, obedient pattern
of living.
The one struggling with homosexuality must be taught what God promises in
the gospel (the forgiveness of all sins and the guarantee of eternal life)
and what to expect regarding biblical sanctification (slow change). Since
the experience of Romans 7 can be very discouraging for any Christian, the
pastor must explain that there are no quick fixes, no instant,
turn-a-switch-and-I'm-healed solutions, but that he must daily embrace a
lifestyle of repentance. He should teach him about the mortification of sin
and the relentless pursuit of Christ (Col. 3) and warn him about possible
pitfalls, temptations, and dangerous situations (Rom. 13:14).
The pastor must teach him what victory over sin looks like, and that sin
doesn't go away until the Christian is forever in the Lord's presence. He
must also teach him how to be completely honest about sin and confess it
quickly so that he can learn how God intended him to deal with the guilt of
sin. He should explain how to seek forgiveness from others and make
restitution if necessary. The pastor should help him retrain his conscience
by renewing his mind with Scripture, filling it with good things (Phil.
4:4-9). These basic fundamentals of Christian living are absolutely vital
for the person who has lived for so long with a defiled and accusing
conscience-one can never overstate the blessing of a clean conscience (1
Tim. 1:5).
As with any life-dominating sin, what the counselee needs is total life
restructuring.[42] As they are taught what it is to be a Christian, to
embrace a lifestyle of repentance, to walk in the Spirit and not in the
flesh, they will experience gradual but lasting change. Christlikeness is
the goal, daily is the fight, and the battle is the Lord's-if Christ is
present in the life, victory and change are guaranteed.
From the very first day, the pastor should assign homework
so that instruction can begin right away.[43] Homework should begin during
the data gathering process, taking the same path as the pastor's preparation
(i.e., God's design for human sexuality, the departure from God's design,
the results of rejecting God's design, etc.). And each homework lesson
should force the counselee to analyze the cultural lies through the lens of
Scripture.
Here are some practical points in counseling someone with
homosexual temptation; they are in no particular order. First, get other
people involved in their life for the purpose of assistance and perspective
for the counselor, and needful accountability for the counselee. Dealing
with a life-dominating sin like homosexuality can be very taxing and it is
helpful if more than one person is watching the person's life. Second, get
the counselee involved in serving others out of an attitude of genuine
Christian love. Many who struggle with homosexuality are tremendous
people-pleasers, an activity that is often mistaken for a servant's heart.
In fact, many people who struggle with the sin seek refuge in the church and
are among the most noticeably servant-hearted members. The counselor should
wisely work through the person's motives to serve to ensure that he isn't
working for some sort of payoff; and that takes time for both to see.
Third, help the counselee how to interact with people. Entering in to
homosexuality in the first place was an outworking of a sinful heart that
has never understood the distinctions and characteristics of the sexes. The
person needs to learn, therefore, how to have appropriate same-sex and
opposite-sex friendships.
In conclusion, two things are encouraging in this task of
confronting the sin of homosexuality. First, the gospel is "the power of
God for salvation to everyone who believes" (Rom. 1:16), including the
homosexual. Second, the gospel has saved homosexuals before: "Neither .
effeminate, nor homosexuals, . shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such
were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were
justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our
God" (1 Cor. 6:9-11). And God is still saving homosexuals .
Personal benefit of this study
My first close interaction with someone trapped in
homosexuality was in 1996. Though I didn't understand the depth or breadth
of homosexual sin, I was convinced of one thing: Jesus Christ could save
and transform the homosexual.
The man I met in 1996 had struggled with homosexuality his whole life. He
had been severely abused by those closest to him and had tried everything he
could to escape 'the struggle.' He had invested in marriage, religious
cults, career success, and materialism, but everything had failed. He came
to me after yet another 'fix' had let him down. His psychiatrist gave him
some psychotropic drugs and encouraged him to move close to his family where
he could give up the struggle and 'come out.' I shared the gospel of grace
with him, and that began a relationship that has continued to this day.
I made many mistakes in trying to disciple this friend, mistakes I hope to
help others avoid. There was so much I didn't understand, so much I wish I
could do over. But the Lord planned to teach me through it all to better
understand the issue and to help others. I have seen what can happen when
the Holy Spirit is working in a person's life, and I have seen what will
never happen when the Holy Spirit is not present in a person's life-both
observations have proved invaluable lessons for me.
This project has been an opportunity for me to clarify my own thinking on
the subject of homosexuality. It has been an opportunity for me to put down
on paper what has been rolling around in my head for years. It has also
revealed what I hope to do better next time, and I am convinced there will
be a next time. The more our society departs from the knowledge of God, the
more Christians will encounter people who are trapped in life-dominating
sins like homosexuality. This project has also revealed some areas I hope
to study more in depth in the future, areas I had neither the time nor the
experience to complete-i.e., more in-depth exegesis, a more detailed plan on
repentance, etc.
As I continue to grow in Christ, I hope to see His life worked out through
me to reach people who struggle with homosexuality. I hope to be a fitting
representative who will introduce them to His love and grace that will break
the soul-destroying bondage under which they suffer that they may experience
the glorious freedom and real joy of life in Christ.
End Notes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1The late U. S. Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan from New York first coined
the phrase "defining deviancy down" in his 1993 essay in The American
Scholar, "Defining Deviancy Down."
2Daniel Patrick Moynihan, "Defining Deviancy Down," The American Scholar
(Winter, 1993).
3Ibid.
4See the book by James H. Jones, Alfred C. Kinsey: A Public/Private Life,
that exposes Kinsey's life and research methodology. The Kinsey Institute
has a review of Jones' book by Martin Duberman posted on its website
(http://www.indiana.edu/~kinsey/publications/duberman.html.
5David Atkinson, Homosexuals in the Christian Community (Grand Rapids,
Mich.: Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1981), 7.
6Ibid., 11.
[7] Moynihan, "Defining Deviancy Down."
[8]Ibid.
[9]Simon LeVay tried to find a physiological cause for homosexuality by
studying the hypothalamus's of homosexual men. Dr. LeVay's home page has
links to other work http://members.aol.com/slevay/.
[10]J. Michael Bailey and Richard C. Pillard sought to discover a genetic
cause for homosexuality by studying homosexuality in identical twins
(http://articles.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2372/is_4_37/ai_72272304).
[11]Dean Hamer tried to locate a chromosome that represented the homosexual
trait. A bibliography and other links can be found at his website
http://rex.nci.nih.gov/RESEARCH/basic/biochem/hamer.htm.
[12]Randy Dotinga, "Newsroom Conservatives Are a Rare Breed," The Christian
Science Monitor (3 June 2004)
http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0603/p02s01-usgn.html.
[13]"MTV Networks to Launch LOGO, A New Television Network for Gay, Lesbian
Viewers," U.S. Newswire (25 May 2004)
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/usnw/20040525/pl_usnw/mtv_networks_to_launch_logo__a_new_television_network_for_gay__lesbian_viewers__advertiser_supported_cable_network_with_a_mix_o,
from http://www.usnewswire.com/.
[14]Ibid. Market researchers have recognized another target group that has
recently emerged in the society sympathetic to homosexuality. It is
identified by the term, "metrosexual." Schuyler Brown, associate director
of strategic trendspotting and reseach at Euro RSCG Worldwide, said, "The
metrosexual male is more sensitive and in some ways more effeminate than his
father probably was . [and] willing to push traditional gender boundaries
that define what's male and what's female." See Richard Trubo,
"Metrosexuals: It's a Guy Thing!", MSN Health (28 July 2003)
http://content.health.msn.com/content/article/71/81366.htm.
[15]Atkinson, 13-14.
[16]James R. White and Jeffrey D. Niell, The Same Sex Controversy
(Minneapolis, Minn.: Bethany House Publishers, 2002), 183.
[17]Clements still keeps their endorsements posted on his website, even
though they would vehemently oppose homosexuality
(http://www.royclements.co.uk/publications00.htm).
[18]"Vatican Waging Holy War Against Sexual Minorities," Soulforce, Inc. (5
Dec 2000) http://www.soulforce.org/vatican.html.
[19]Darlene Bogle says 85% of the women with whom she counsels have been the
victims of some sort of abuse, and all of them "share at least one common
element in their struggle. They have tried to find that one person who
could meet all their yearnings, and they have invested themselves
emotionally in that person when they thought they had found the right
person." Darlene Bogle, "Healing from Lesbianism," in The Crisis of
Homosexuality, ed. by J. Isamu Yamamoto (Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books, 1990),
30.
[20]Bernard J. Klamecki, "Medical Perspective of the Homosexual Issue," in
The Crisis of Homosexuality, 115-30.
[21]Bogle, 28.
[22]Ex-gay support groups, where homosexual temptations are easily stirred
and enflamed, do not take this verse seriously enough in the opinion of this
writer.
[23]Michael A. Grisanti, "b[t" in New International Dictionary of Old
Testament Theology and Exegesis, ed. by Willem A. VanGemeren (Grand Rapids,
Mich.: Zondervan Publishing House, 1997), 4:314.
[24]Ibid., 4:316.
[25]Greg L. Bahnsen, Homosexuality: A Biblical View (Grand Rapids, Mich.:
Baker Book House, 1978), 68.
[26]Cornelius Van Til, cited in Greg L. Bahnsen, Van Til's Apologetic:
Readings and Analysis (Phillipsburg, N.J.: P&R Publishing, 1998), 190-91.
[27]The Greek word translated "due penalty" (avntimisqi,an) "expresses the
reciprocal (avnti.) nature of a transaction as a requital based upon what
one deserves." Walter Bauer, William F. Arndt, and F. Wilbur Gingrich, A
Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian
Literature, 3rd ed., rev. and ed. by Frederick William Danker (Chicago:
University of Chicago Press, 2000), 90.
[28]BAGD, 1070.
[29]Bahnsen, 79.
[30]Edward T. Welch, "Homosexuality: Current Thinking and Biblical
Guidelines," The Journal of Biblical Counseling, 13/3 (1995), 27.
[31]Ibid.
[32]Figures 1 and 2, Ibid.
[33]Ibid.
[34] Ibid., 23.
[35]Bahnsen, 82.
[36]Welch, 23.
[37]J. I. Packer, "And 'No' to Same-Sex Unions," Evangelicals Now, November
2002, http://www.e-n.org.uk/same-sex.htm (11 July 2002).
[38]An excellent article that soundly dissipates homosexual arguments is
from Dr. Jeffrey Satinover of the National Association for Research and
Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH). It was his expert testimony before the
Massachusetts Senate Judicial Committee regarding homosexuality and the
future of the family in America. Cf. the article at:
http://www.narth.com/docs/senatecommittee.html.
[39]John Ankerberg has a concise treatment on his website of LeVay's
hypothalamus study
(http://www.johnankerberg.org/Articles/streams-of-life/SL0703W2.htm) and the
Bailey and Pillard study on identical twins
(http://www.johnankerberg.org/Articles/streams-of-life/SL0803W2.htm). A
concise explanation of the problems with Dean Hamer's genetic research can
be found at http://members.aol.com/qbchoice/HAMER.html.
[40]"He who gives an answer before he hears, it is folly and shame to him"
(Prov. 18:13).
[42]Wayne A. Mack, A Homework Manual for Biblical Living (Phillipsburg,
N.J.: P&R Publishing, 1979), 105.
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end
.

User: "Kevin Cunningham"
Title: Re: Hope for the Homo	18 Jun 2007 06:08:19 AM

"Alabama Pete" <psmith@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:hOOci.4840$tb6.1493@newsread3.news.pas.earthlink.net...

To bad, so sad. I sorry your a closet queer, I'm sure you'll work it out.
Gay people have been around since the start of mankind. Some faggots you
should remember are Rush "Hi Sailor" Limbaugh, Jeff Gannon and the pervert
pastor in Colorado. Now who was Jeff screwing? He was in and out (over and
over) of the White House hundreds of times. Wanna bet on Bush or Cheney?
.

User: "Brother Keith"
Title: Re: Hope for the Homo	29 Jun 2007 12:15:09 PM

"Kevin Cunningham" <smskjv@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:DItdi.977$iz5.921@newsread4.news.pas.earthlink.net...

"Alabama Pete" <psmith@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:hOOci.4840$tb6.1493@newsread3.news.pas.earthlink.net...

To bad, so sad. I sorry your a closet queer, I'm sure you'll work it out.
Gay people have been around since the start of mankind. Some faggots you
should remember are Rush "Hi Sailor" Limbaugh, Jeff Gannon and the pervert
pastor in Colorado. Now who was Jeff screwing? He was in and out (over
and over) of the White House hundreds of times. Wanna bet on Bush or
Cheney?

BIBLE DAYS ARE HERE
THE DAYS OF MIRACLES ARE HERE!
Reports the fact that God is healing and performing other amazing miracles
today in the United States.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE DAYS OF SAMUEL ARE HERE. Samuel told Saul all that was in his heart. He
told this country plow boy things he did NOT know about his father. He was
called a seer, because he could see people's life (I Sam. 10). Remember
Samuel was NOT one of the twelve Apostles. There has been a seer in Dallas,
Texas the last few weeks. He came for a ten day meeting, and stayed for
several weeks. He went back into the audience and told people the secrets of
their personal lives. They fell down and confessed that God was in him of a
truth, because the secrets of their hearts were made manifest (I Cor.
14:25).
THE DAYS OF ANANIAS ARE HERE. As Ananias was praying, God showed him the
names of people, houses, and streets. He let him know Saul's PAST and
FUTURE, yet Ananias was NOT one of the twelve Apostles (Acts 9). Night after
night, we have watched this man of God. He reveals the past life of people,
telling them the details of the car wreck so many years ago, or he would
tell them when they went to the doctor's office, and exactly what the doctor
told them. This caused faith to rise in the hearts of people for instant
healing.
THE DAYS OF CORNELIUS ARE HERE. Cornelius was a devout man. God showed him
in a vision a man's name, where he stayed, whom he stayed with, the location
of the house, and the occupation of the man who owned the house (Acts 10).
Remember, Cornelius was NOT one of the twelve Apostles. This evangelist in
Dallas, Texas tells people where they are from, what they have been doing,
and MANY details about their life. He went up to a lady the other night, and
told her because of a certain injury she had a hole in her back. She did NOT
even know this herself! She had been suffering. Her daughter was amazed as
she felt of her mother's back, and found the disc was gone. Sure enough,
there was a hole in her mother's back. As she prayed, the girl felt the hole
as it disappeared, and a new disc was there. The woman came night after
night with her face aglow, telling the glad news HOW she had received her
complete healing.
THE DANIEL MINISTRY IS HERE. As Daniel prayed, it was revealed to him the
secret of the king's heart and what he dreamed. It saved the life of Daniel,
and the life of his companions; it caused Nebuchadnezzar to be converted
(Dan. 2). Yet Daniel was NOT one of the twelve Apostles. Time after time, we
have seen the secrets of people's hearts revealed, things they had even
forgotten about. This would cause them to be converted and save the lives of
incurable people. The faith in the lives of the cripples would mount to the
place where they could throw down their crutches, or jump from their
wheel-chairs!
THE PHILIP MINISTRY IS HERE. He was NOT one of the twelve, but the sick were
healed in his revivals (Acts 8). Unclean spirits came out crying with loud
voices. There was great joy in the city. There has been a lot of joy in
Dallas the last few weeks! We watched people scream as they were delivered
from demon spirits, as they were cast down to the floor! We have watched
them as they have returned with great joy telling us of notable healings.
The audience would let out a shout of joy as the blind people would be led
to the front and walk away seeing.
THE STEPHEN MINISTRY IS HERE. He was NOT one of the twelve, yet he rebuked
sin without fear or favor. He looked into the faces of people, and preached
so straight that the people stoned him to death. Great miracles and signs
took place in the ministry of Stephen, but how could there be any greater
miracles than what we see as a Spirit-filled Minister works in two services
each day?
Time after time, we saw him set people down in a chair who had a short limb.
Time after time, we saw hundreds of people praise the Lord as they saw a
short leg become the same length as the other one! Time after time we saw
tumors come off people's face, out of their nose, or be vomited out of their
stomach!
THE SIMON PETER MINISTRY IS HERE. The Pharisees no doubt remembered how
Peter had cursed and swore, but the people BELIEVED God was with Peter. They
would NOT be held back. They filled the streets and sought to get in Peter's
shadow. Hundreds of people filled the aisle, the platform, the lobby, and
hundreds were turned away. They could NOT get into the service in the
revival here in the city of Dallas.
Peter looked into the heart of sinners and told them they were NOT right
with God (Acts, chapters 8 and 5). This Spirit-filled man looks down into
people's hearts. He tells them when they are bound by sin and many of them
yield to God there and then.
THE PAUL MINISTRY IS HERE. Paul looked into people's hearts. He told them
when they were right with God and when they were NOT right with God (Acts
13:10). He delivered those who yielded; Paul was NOT one of the twelve
Apostles. Paul saw inside of people. He waited until he perceived that a man
had faith to be healed, before he said "Stand upright on your feet" (Acts
14:9, 10).
This evangelist waits until he perceives that someone has faith to be
healed, before he calls them out of the audience. When he does this way,
there seems to be no failures.
I saw him one night near the beginning of the meeting let about 50 people
stand that had been healed. He had told ALL of them their troubles. One lady
was prayed for who was NOT healed. I personally know that she had NOT waited
until this evangelist came to her and told her her troubles. She went to him
and told him. She did NOT wait on the Lord.
This evangelist walked through the rear of the house night after night and
talked to people. One night he told a girl in our family of a condition in
her neck that was dangerous. He told her that her left ear was deaf. He knew
that she had cancer, but he didn't let her know it right then. We had known
that she had cancer of the neck when she was a baby, but NO ONE knew that
she was deaf in one ear all her life! Her brother-in-law tested her ear, and
it was deaf. After the evangelist prayed, she could hear a whisper, and
still can!
THE JESUS MINISTRY IS HERE. Jesus said WE could do the works that He did
(John 14:12). He called people out who were ready. That is why they were
"healed everyone." At the pool of Bethesda, Jesus found one ready, so this
one man was healed. Jesus left all the rest of them until they became ready
(John 5). This is the success of this man's ministry. God shows him those
who are ready; he walks back and picks them out. This causes others to be
ready the next service. If they will wait on the Lord there will be NO
failures.
The other night, he told a woman EXACTLY what was wrong with her. Her
husband arose and said that he was a medical doctor and said that he could
soon tell whether the woman had that trouble or not. After taking her into a
room and examining her he confirmed what the evangelist had said before
hundreds of people! People gave glory to God! Jesus saw the lame and the
maimed healed. In other words, missing parts were restored! This evangelist
points out little children with missing parts of their bodies. The mothers
didn't even know it many times! Then she examines the child and finds that
the part was gone and the part is replaced under her hand!
THE LAST DAY MINISTRY IS HERE. Jesus prayed, "Make them one." (Jn.
17:20-23). That prayer is being answered. ALL DENOMINATIONS come to these
meetings! The common people hear this evangelist gladly. He does NOT preach
denominations. Like Phillip who went down to Samaria, he preaches Jesus.
Friends, if you ever get an opportunity to attend one his meeting, take
advantage of this opportunity and you'll thank yourself a thousand times.
Your faith will be inspired. It will rise to the place where you can receive
power for deliverance; you will also receive power to deliver other people.
Remember, the Bible says, that Jesus cannot come back until everything is
restored to the church. And the Miraculous gifts are being restored today
(Acts 3:21).
RESTITUTION OF ALL THINGS
We are commanded to earnestly contend for the faith that was once delivered
to the saints (Jude 1). God has no respect of persons. GOD does NOT change!
WE HAVE SEEN THE ELIJAH MINISTRY. Elijah knew that he would be caught away.
He knew that it would NOT rain for forty-two months. He knew that the widow
woman would feed him. He knew who would take his place, and go on with his
ministry. We are men of like passions as Elijah. God made Elijah to know
these things (James 5:17). As a man came into the prayer line the other
night, it was revealed to our preacher that the man had a call of God on his
life. He anointed him and prayed for him. He was set free to go into the
ministry. This revelation gave this fellow faith for deliverance.
WE HAVE SEEN THE ELISHA MINISTRY. By revelation, Elisha knew the valley
would be filled with water (II Kings 2:17). Even without any rain, it came
to pass even as he said. The Moabites were miraculously defeated. Elisha
knew that a child would be born to the Shunammite woman (II Kings 4). Our
preacher KNEW that a woman was praying for a child! He went to her and told
her so. He told her that God would give her the desires of her heart, that a
child would be born to her at a certain time.
Elisha knew that Naaman was NOT ready for healing. He knew what to tell him
to do in order that he would be ready (II Kings 5). Our evangelist, who is
with us now, seems to know when someone is ready for healing, or when one
has pride. He picks out the ones who are ready to yield to GOD. He tells
others certain things that they MUST do in order to conquer their pride.
THE MOSES MINISTRY IS HERE. While Moses was in the Mount, the people danced
around the golden calf. The Lord would NOT hide this thing from his servant,
Moses. When Moses knew from a distance what the people had done, that was
the power of God which made Moses know this. Modern ministers might call it
fortune tellings, to cover up the lack of faith and the operations of the
Miraculous gifts in their own life; And the Lord said unto Moses,"Get thee
down, for thy people which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt have
corrupted themselves; they have turned aside quickly out of the way which I
commanded them. They have made them a molten calf and have worshipped"
(Exodus 32:7,8).
The Lord has people to whom He can talk today. The other night, he turned to
a lady in the center of the building and told her word for word what she had
just whispered to another lady! This lady confessed it! This electrified the
audience until people began to have faith for most any miracle. Many people
were inspired to believe for salvation! They came and gave their hearts to
God. They saw that Jesus is alive today; He talks to His servants! There are
some ministers who have no more than dead methods and rituals.
THE ISAIAH MINISTRY IS HERE. The Lord appeared to his servant, Isaiah, who
was NOT one of the twelve Apostles. He told him that a certain king had an
incurable disease. He even revealed to him the name of that king. He also
revealed to him that Hezekiah was going to die. He also told him that He
would heal him, that he would go up to the house of God in three days. He
told the king the number of years he would live. How the devil would like to
have hidden this knowledge from the man of God. Hezekiah would have died.
The devil only comes to steal, to kill, and to destroy.(Jn. 10:10).
Jesus came NOT to destroy men's lives, but to SAVE men's lives. By this
revelation, Hezekiah was made to know he had this deadly growth, which would
be called a cancer in our time. He came and had a chance to pray and to
trust God. He received healing from the deadly disease.
God is NOT dead or gone on a journey in our time. He yet has servants to
whom he can speak. The evangelist went to a lady the other night and told
her where she had cancer in her stomach. She had a chance to pray and call
upon the Lord. He told her that she would vomit the cancer up. The next day,
sure enough, she returned with the cancer in a jar of alcohol! The people
saw it and gave glory to God. The woman had her life changed!
Elijah was NOT one of the twelve Apostles. His ministry is being restored
today. We are men of like passions. God revealed to Elijah that Ahaziah
would die. He made him to know that he would never get off of his bed of
affliction. He made Elijah to know that this king sent messengers to
Belzebub to see if he would recover. He had failed to inquire after the
Lord. (II Kings 1).
This shows the reason that the Lord wants us to inquire after Him instead of
the devil. He wants us to know that He has as much power as a fortune
teller. He can do as much and more! I wouldn't serve a God that could NOT do
as much as a fortune teller! All the devil has, he copied from God.
God is using a Presbyterian evangelist to tell people their future. God lets
him know the secrets of men's hearts, what doctor they went to, whether or
not they went to a fortune teller, or spirit medium. He was talking to a
lady the other night. He told her how she had been on a chiropractor's
bench, just what was told her, how the chiropractor had failed to help her,
just what was wrong with her, and that she would never be bothered again
with that old trouble.
One man tried to stop his meeting. He saw in his future that this man would
die. It came to pass in a few days! God took him, because he resisted His
servant. One night our preacher arose and said by the Spirit, "There's a
spirit medium back in the audience; GOD will deliver her. Immediately two
spirit mediums ran up there and were delivered of their sins. God saved both
of them and delivered them.
Another night, a fortune teller happened to be in the audience. She melted
down. She confessed. She surrendered to God. God saved her and filled her
with the Holy Spirit. She began to preach and to pray for the sick.
ABRAHAM'S MINISTRY IS IN OUR DAY. God has reserved better things for us
(Heb. 11:40). God would NOT hold his secrets back from Abraham. He let him
know that a child would be born to him and Sarah. Although it was impossible
in the natural, He asked Abraham, "Is there anything too hard for God?"
(Gen. 18:14). GOD let Abraham in on his secrets when he started to destroy
Sodom. He said, "Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do? (Gen.
18:17).
Abraham knew by revelation that Sodom would be destroyed. He interceded for
his nephew. Abraham was NOT one of the twelve Apostles. He did NOT learn
these things in a book or in some college. God talked directly to him. God
has people today with whom he can share His secrets. He lets his
intercessors know things about men as Abraham knew things about Lot. He lets
his people know the future and the things which are soon to come upon earth.
Why would anyone reasonable Bible believing Christian, think it strange that
the Lord would reveal things to a Minister and send him forth to warn men
and women to escape the coming judgment of God? Our evangelist sees these
things coming. They are real. He knows his calling and he knows what God has
said.
THE ISAAC MINISTRY IS SEEN TODAY. Who told Isaac the future of Jacob and
Esau? God did. It was NOT in a book for him to read. GOD revealed it to him
by a direct revelation! There are men today who deny that God talks to
people. Isaac placed his hand on Jacob and told him of his ministry that God
had called him to do. Can't GOD reveal such things to men today?
God does do it night after night! Our evangelist goes to people in the
audience and tells them when they have a ministry from God. The Spirit of
the Lord brings these words with an anointing that honest people can't
ignore!
THE JOSEPH MINISTRY IS MANIFESTED. Joseph knew by divine revelation that a
drought would come and hit the land of Egypt and other nations. He knew
exactly how long the drought would last. He knew what to do about it and how
to save the people's lives. He told the future of God's people for 400
years!
We have a man of God in our midst that shares God's secrets. God tells him
what will take place. Where did he get such knowledge? He got it directly
from the Lord!
WE'RE SEEING A PROPHETIC MINISTRY. Who told Ezekiel, Daniel, John, and all
the other men of God about the coming judgment? God did! He told them
directly. They were ALL persecuted by the MODERN clergymen, but their words
came to pass. Who tells this preacher what to preach and what to say? Did he
read it in a book or did he learn it in Bible college? He is preaching that
the judgments of God are about to fall on America. He tells people to flee
from the wrath to come. He sees thousands of people seeking God. He tells
them to take on the whole armour of God.
He sees destruction coming. He has an insight into the mysteries of the
kingdom of God. He is carrying deliverance to the people of America. He
knows the anti-Christ will take dominion over the world. All the world will
wonder after the beast. He brings deliverance to the captive. He helps the
oppressed to go free.
Who told Agabus about the coming famine? (Acts 11:28). Jesus said the Holy
Spirit would show us things to come! Agabus was NOT one of the twelve
apostles, but God revealed things to him, and used him to warn the people to
escape the judgments of God.
ELISHA DISCERNED DISEASES. He knew that Gehazi would be a leper. He knew the
reason that the leprosy clung to him; it was because he ran after Namaan's
money. (II Kings 5:26). God has men today who can look into the lives of
people and tell them the disease that they have. If GOD ever did that, He
can do it again today! (Heb. 13:8).
Most every night, our minister walks to someone and tells him the name of
the disease that he has. He surrenders to God and is delivered. The leprosy
clung to Gehazi until the day of his death! Our minister told a lady that
she was going to die if she did NOT obey the Lord. Not long after that we
heard about her passing away. About four preachers fought this evangelist in
one city; all of them died!
THE NOAH MINISTRY LIVES TODAY. Noah knew that judgments were about to fall
upon the earth. He knew the earth would be destroyed. He knew exactly how it
would come to pass. He knew the only way that people could escape. God had
chosen him to warn the people. He did NOT read this in a book. God showed
him directly. God has men today He talks to, and shows destruction is coming
upon the world, and how to escape it. As it was in the days before the flood
so it is in our day (Matt. 24:38).
If God can show people far distant into the future, he can also show them
things that are shortly to come to pass. In Orlando, Florida this minister
had a vision of people being hurt, and people being carried away in
ambulances. People made fun of him. One minister told him that maybe it was
people being brought to the tent to be prayed for, he saw coming in
ambulances. He said, brother, I don't need to see that in a vision, because
we see that all time with the natural eye."
When the storm hit, a certain man was standing in front of the tent. The
evangelist had told him the judgments of God would strike him, if he did NOT
repent. A pole hit him and knocked him unconscious. An ambulance came and
hauled him away.
REVELATION GIFTS
Three Spiritual gifts to know are: 1:) the word of knowledge, 2:) the word
of wisdom, 3:) and discerning of spirits. (I Corinthians 12:7-10). By this,
we may know anything that God chooses to reveal to us.
THE WORD OF KNOWLEDGE WAS MANIFESTED THROUGH JESUS. Jesus left his glory
with His father; was stripped of diety, came down to set an example that we
should follow His steps. He showed us that a man can live for God in this
present world. He did no miracles until He was baptized in the Holy Spirit.
The works He did were under the anointing of the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:38).
The word of knowledge operated through the life of Jesus. It was called the
gift of the word of knowledge because He did not have all of God's
knowledge, at that time, while He was in His mortal body. He only had what
the Spirit of God gave Him.
While Nathanael was under the fig tree Jesus saw him. He knew that he was a
man without guile, and saw into his life. This caused Nathanael to come to
Jesus and start living a different life. (John 1:46-50). If a revelation
gift in action could cause Nathanael to follow Jesus, the same kind of gift
can inspire men to follow Jesus today. As Jesus is, so are we in this world
(I John 4:17). As the Father sent Him, even so He sends us (John 20:21),
Jesus set us an example that we should follow His steps. (I Pet. 2:21). We
are to do the works that He did (John 14:12). He did His works by the
anointing of the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:38). We also have the Holy Spirit.
JESUS KNEW ZACCHAEUS. Zacchaeus could not hide. He came down. Why did this
publican come down to be a disciple of Jesus? The revelation gift let him
know that there is a God who is interested in the affairs of men (Heb.
2:13). He left His glory with the Father (John 17:5). He was made like His
brethren in ALL things (Heb. 2:17). He is touched with the feeling of our
infirmities (Heb. 4:15). He learned obedience by the things He suffered
(Heb. 5:8). He operated through the power of the Holy Spirit, just as we
should do (Acts 10:38). The Father that dwelled in Him did the works. It was
NOT Him. If we have the Holy Spirit, then the Father dwells in us also.
Can the Holy Spirit reveal men's thoughts and conditions in our day? The
other night, a lady thought she was hidden. The evangelist picked her out of
the congregation in that large auditorium that holds thousands of people. He
looked at her and asked her if she were a Christian. She said, "Yes." He
said, "Do you drink?" Reluctantly, she answered YES. The evangelist, said,
"Open your purse and take out your package of cigarettes." Immediately, she
fell out under the power and surrendered to God. Her faith was inspired as
she saw that God still lives, and knows all about us, that He is concerned.
The evangelist knew by the Spirit that she was hungry, that she was under
conviction. She was ready to surrender to God if her faith was inspired. He
does NOT embarrass the sinner who is not ready. Zacchaeus appreciated Jesus
coming and picking him out of his hiding place. This woman apprecated this
evangelist coming to her. She surrendered.
Does NOT God's Word say that the secrets of men's hearts will be manifested,
and that they will fall down and report that God is in you of a truth? (I
Cor.14:24-25).
JESUS KNEW AT A DISTANCE ABOUT LEGION. He knew with the discerning of
spirits that man was bound by the devil in another country; he needed help.
He started to cross the Sea of Galilee to deliver the poor sin cursed man.
The devil sent a storm to try to prevent the ship from arriving over there
where the naked man was. By a miracle, Jesus calmed the sea, and arrived on
the other side (Mark 5). By the revelation of the gift of the discerning of
spirits, Jesus knew the man was bound by evil spirits. He knew the name of
the evil spirits. When he let this man know his condition, this inspired
faith for his deliverance.
Jesus knew in advance that the man was willing to be set free, or He would
not have battled the stormy sea in that country for one man's deliverance.
This man fell at his feet, wanting deliverance. Devils in the man cried,
"Leave us alone." Jesus does not deliver against people's will. Else they
would accept the devils back again. The last state would be worse than the
first.
THE REVELATION GIFT BRINGS FAITH. A centurion came to Jesus and told Him
about His servant being sick (Matt.8). Jesus said, "I will come and heal
him." He knew that the man had faith, but He did not know how much faith.
The centurion said something that caused Jesus to marvel. He told Jesus to
only speak the word, and his servant would be healed at a distance. When
Jesus found that much faith the man had He was amazed.
As the man was let down through a roof of the house borne by four men, Jesus
saw their faith. Most people think Jesus only saw their action. But Jesus
saw into the spirit world, and saw their faith. In this case, He discerned a
good spirit. There is something wrong with people who can only discern bad
spirits. They may have the gift of imagination.
JESUS, BY THE WORD OF KNOWLEDGE KNEW THE THOUGHTS OF THOSE WHO STOOD BY.
Telling men their thoughts caused their faith to rise high. The Pharisees
thought evil in their heart. They said He did those things by the prince of
devils; but the multitude marvelled and glorified God (Matt. 9:8). We have a
few religious leaders today who say anyone who tells men their thoughts is
inspired by some evil power; but the multitude felt that was a revelation
gift from God. It caused men to be healed; jumping off their stretchers they
surrendered to God.
Bring all your fortune tellers to our meeting. Let us begin singing "Power
in the Blood," or " At the Cross." Let them see how many invalids that they
can cause to jump out of their wheel chairs. Some ladies went to a hospital
night before last and slipped a young man out of the hospital. The doctors
told them that it wouldn't do; that he was likely to die...they brought him
in a wheel chair. After this young man saw the word of knowledge in
operation through the evangelist, he jumped up out of the wheel chair and
ran all over the big tent.
"When the multitudes saw it, they marvelled and glorified God which had
given such power unto men" (Matt. 9:8). The Bible says that God gives this
power to men. Men can tell people their thoughts. Men can say, "Rise and
walk." We see this proved from night to night. A word of wisdom confronted
Jesus' opposition. The chief priests and elders came unto Jesus and asked
Him by what authority He ministered, and who gave Him license to minister
(Matt. 21:23).
THEY THOUGHT THAT HE WAS IGNORANT AND UNLEARNED. He had NOT been endorsed by
them. I remind you that Jesus did NOT use psychology as some men declare
that He did. Psychology is a science of the natural mind. Jesus had a
Spiritual mind. We have the mind of Christ (I Cor. 2:16). Natural wisdom is
foolishness to God (1 Cor. 1:25). Jesus tells us that when we are brought up
before the rulers for us not to take thought of what we shall say, for the
Holy Ghost will give us in the same hour which we shall say (Mark 13:11). He
set us an example.
It is reasonable and scriptural to believe that the Holy Spirit gave Jesus
the answer to the questions of the high officials. He did NOT have to think
what to say, for the gift of the word of wisdom was working in his life,
operated by the Holy Spirit.
JESUS ASKED THEM: IF THE BAPTISM OF JOHN WAS FROM GOD OR MAN (Matt. 21:24).
They were afraid to say the baptism of John was of men, for fear that people
would stone them, for they recognized John as a prophet. If they said it was
from God, they were afraid that Jesus would ask them why they did not
believe and get baptized. They couldn't answer; so Jesus would not answer
them. Now don't think for one minute that these officials would not have
said that John the Baptist's ministry was of men, or even of the devil, had
they NOT feared the people. They wanted to stop the multitude, but did NOT
know how.
A few modern religious leaders say they do NOT endorse our evangelist. They
say they did not give him the authority to preach or to cast out devils.
They want to voice their opinion against him, but are afraid to do it
publicly, because they fear the people. They would lose some of their
members.
People are coming from every denomination, and getting healed. One night one
religious leader came to our revival and hid behind a tent pole. By the word
of knowledge, the minister pointed him out. God gave him a word of wisdom to
know how to deal with those who oppose. Every one of the opposers left with
their heads hung in shame.
THE WORD OF WISDOM WORKS VERY OFTEN. The religious leaders decided to send a
committee to mix Jesus up in His theology (Matt. 22:15). They tried to use
psychology by passing compliments first before they asked their question.
Then they asked if it was lawful to give tribute to Caesar or not. The
worldly wise people will NOT be so gullible as to come out and say that our
minister is no good, but they will say, "He is a good moral person and means
well, and is doing a lot for God." Some will say, "God's hand is upon him,
but." How could God's hand and the devil's hand both be upon anyone?
No man can serve two masters. No tree can yield two kinds of fruit. A
fountain does not send forth both sweet water and bitter. A house divided
against itself cannot stand. That's the answer that Jesus gave to those
religious leaders who said that He was doing His work by the power of
Beelzebub. Jesus did NOT have to study what to say, for the Holy Ghost gave
Him in the same hour what to say. He called for a penny and asked those
critics whose image was upon it. It was Caesar's image. He told them to
"Render to Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and to God the things which
are God's" Those wolves in sheep's clothing left, and went their way.
Just as the Holy Spirit dropped the words of wisdom into Jesus' heart, at
the right time; so God reveals things to men who are full of the Holy
Spirit.
Not long ago, some people were sent to the evangelist. They first tried
their phychology on him by saying he did good works. They asked him why
people were so noisy in the services. They told him that the services were
too much like a football game. Calmly, the evangelist asked them why one
side at the football game was so quiet, and why they didn't shout like the
other side.
"It is because they are not winning, of course," said the committee that was
sent to the evangelist. "That is why you are so quiet, and reserved," said
the evangelist. "Your side is NOT winning; you are on the losing side." The
committee left with their heads down. The evangelist didn't know he was
going to say that; but the Holy Spirit just gave him what to say at the
right time.
BETTER THINGS FOR US
After we read of how God used all the prophets and apostles in the past; we
read that He has provided better things for us (Heb. 11:40). The angels
desired to look into today when people would preach with the Holy Ghost sent
down from Heaven (I Pet. 1:12). All the prophets spoke of this day (Acts
3:24). The prophets would love to have been in the days that we are in (I
Peter 1:10)!
PETER AND JOHN DEPENDED ON A REVELATION. They passed the lame man everyday.
He was brought up to the temple at the gate called Beautiful, to b